Journal 3

Fahrenheit 451 Anticipation Guide

Read the following statements. Circle the number on the scale that fits your opinion the best.  Write at least two sentences explaining your thoughts about each statement. There are no right or wrong answers! We will be discussing your answers in class.

            1                                  2                      3                                  4                      5

always true            sometimes true            depends              sometimes false     always false

1.      Laws are always written for the protection of the citizens.

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Most laws are written because something bad happened to some family's child, or family member. So they push for some ridiculous law with the rest of the people's safety in mind. So most are written to protect people.

2.      Some books are evil and should be destroyed.

1                      2                      3                      4                      5

Books can't be evil, most of the time they're not even true. Sometimes what's written in them can be cruel, but never evil.

3.      In a world filled with constant, 24-hour news, there are no true facts.  (Things keep changing.)

1                      2                      3                      4                      5

I guess if there was 24-hour news things would keep changing, because things constantly change. But there would have to be some true facts.

4.      If it was against the law to read books, I would break the law and read anyway. 

1                      2                      3                      4                      5

If books were against the law odds are I would want to read them. It's human nature to want what you can't have. I don't enjoy books now unless it's a really good book, but if it was illegal i'd want to read all the time.

5.      It is impossible to be close friends with people who think differently than you. 

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Friends normally think alike, which is why you're friends with that person. But you can be friends with someone who doesn't think like you, most of the time it just gives you something interesting to talk about.

6.      If most people believe something, then it must be true, even if there is no proof.  

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Gossip. Most people end up believing it, even though no one admits to it it still may be true. But if there's no proof, you'll never know if it's true.

7.      Only those who are hired to protect society’s laws, such as police officers, should be allowed to own and use guns.  

1                      2                      3                      4                      5

I think police should have guns to protect themselves and us. I also think people who hunt should have guns, they shouldn't be able to sell guns to just anybody.

8.       There are some things so important in life that they are worth risking your life for. 

1                      2                      3                      4                      5

I wouldn't say material things are worth risking your life for. People are.

9.      In today’s world, writers and artists are not as important to society as scientists and engineers. 

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Thinking about this it's kind of true. People over look writers and artists, the only people who really pay attention are the people who are really interested in it.

10.  Laws are clear in our society so that we don’t break them.

1                      2                      3                      4                      5

I'd say the laws are pretty clear, but that doesn't stop people from breaking them. Some people saw the laws are meant to be broken.