Today, I stood aboard the deck of the greatest ship the world has ever seen. They call her the Titanic, and although she might not be the fastest on the ocean, she is definitely the grandest. Standing atop the deck, I could barely see the crowds that had gathered to send us off. The decks of this massive ship are just so high.
To think that a ship this size can stay afloat is incredible! They call her unsinkable. Apparently, there is something in the construction of this great ship that will prevent her from sinking should the unthinkable happen and she take on water.
Papa has secured us a stateroom, and now we shall enjoy all of the comforts of home. We even have a small electric heater in our room to keep us warm as we cross the Atlantic. I think the most impressive decoration I have experienced so far is the beautiful grand staircase joining the upper decks. It stretches between the floors, all gleaming oak and painted gold. Above, there is the most breathtaking glass dome to let the light stream in. I have never seen anything like it, even in the grandest home!
Oh, how lucky we are to be sailing to New York on this floating palace!
Read the article The Unsinkable Ship:
On a cold Atlantic night in 1912, one of the most well-known maritime disasters occurred. The Titanic, a ship thought to be unsinkable, plunged to the bottom of the icy Atlantic, taking more than 1500 lives with her. This event shocked the world as the ship was deemed "unsinkable" and "an engineering marvel" by the newspapers of the day. More than one hundred years later, the name Titanic still brings feelings of curiosity and sadness to those who hear it.
To begin, it is important to understand what made the ship so remarkable. Constructed with comfort instead of speed in mind—at least for its first-class passengers—the Titanic was built with an eye toward luxury. First-class guests enjoyed a private walking deck, lounge chairs, a gymnasium complete with a personal trainer and a heated saltwater pool. Such luxury was almost unheard of on land, not to mention on the seas!
Luxury was not the only thing that made the Titanic a remarkable ship. Its construction was just as spectacular, especially considering that it was built in 1912. At 882 feet long and more than 100 feet tall, the steam-powered ship was the largest human-made moving object in the world at the time. Its design included sixteen watertight compartments that could be sealed automatically from the bridge in the event of a leak. The Titanic could stay afloat as long as no more than four compartments filled with water. This was some forward-thinking technology in the early 1900s, and it was worlds better than the easily damaged wooden ships of the past.
How does the point of view impact what the reader learns about the events? (2 points)
The author of the firsthand account is very interested in shipbuilding, so the reader learns more about how the ship was constructed than in the secondhand account.
The author of the firsthand account was on the Titanic before it sank, so the reader learns what it was like to be on the ship, but the secondhand account only shares facts about the ship.
The author of the secondhand account is interested in sharing people's opinions about the Titanic, so the reader learns more about what people thought about the Titanic than in the firsthand account.
The author of the secondhand account thinks the Titanic was the worst ship ever built, so the reader learns more about what was wrong with it than in the firsthand account.