After it all

  Looking back on all of my English blogs for my freshman year has been interesting. This is my very first experience blogging. It didn't go badly it was sort of a hassle at first but I made it through. I remember our first assigned blog; Introduction To My Blog. Wow, I think my writing, skills, and hobbies have changed over this long year and I think my blog really shows that. I think over all that the whole idea to do a blog was sort of meant for us to not only enhance our writing skills and ability to analyze things but also to actually be able to trace the process of it. I have learned a lot being in Mrs. Gilman's Honors English class, she's an awesome teacher. Her assignments have really helped me a lot to get comfortable with the standards of becoming a better writer, reader, and especially being able to analyze things that I normally wouldn't have even thought of having another meaning. To say the least, her class has shaped me to be open minded when it comes to writing and reading those long books and essays because it was all worth it in the end and not just for a good grade.
   My favorite writing assignment on here was the second one about "My Boo Radley." I thought that was a really cool one by linking a misinterpreted character to something in my life. And by the way I really enjoyed To Kill A Mockingbird. It was great. Out of all the books we have read this year my favorite ones were: To Kill A Mockingbird, Romoe and Juliet, My Sisters Keeper. All of these books have actually had an impact on my outlook on things I hope to read more books like these in the future and if you have any references please share :)
    One of the things that I didn't get around to sharing with my teacher was my idea about analyzing music. It's kind of like analyzing poetry, don't get me wrong I love reading and writing but I love music, when I'm listening to music by myself I always find myself wondering. I think other people would also enjoy this. When I say analyze I mean interpreting what the artist is truly saying, what the song symbolizes, and what it stands for. All year I have been thinking about this and I would like to try and see where it could go.
   To end my final post, I would like to thank mainly my English teacher Mrs. Gilman for putting up with my late work! I have learned a lot form you this year! I would love to have you as a teacher next year. I know that wont happen but I still can hope. You could get stuck with me the year after that though!:) Once again thank you for all you do/ did!

GE essay collab.

Kylie and Emma,

My body paragraph (beging ernest) hasn't changed from what you saw on Friday. I made slight alterations in word choice so that it would be so repetitive. I have found some words coming up alot in our paper as a whole but also in my separate paragraph. Emma, Kylie and I have not seen your body paragraph! This would be super helpful for you to post so that we know how it ties in and what/who you are writing about.If you could post it or email it to me that would be great. Kylie, you said you weren't going to be in class on Monday so would it be possible for you to post/email me your body paragraph? So Emma and I can put the paper together even though you won't be there.

If we have all of that we should be fine, we do have our introduction but we still haven't finished our conclusion!

We should try and finish it through the blog so that we at least have the majority of it complete!

Please comment and reply on this post!

Romeo and Juliet #3

"Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion." I wish that I could say that I have known this quote my entire life. It I had, I would have probably done a lot of things differently and made decisions based on different factors. But I haven't and neither has Juliet. Through my reading I think that Juliet's main conflict is with herself and her own emotions. That is true for most teenage girls though, and wasn't a bug surprise for me to read. She has the conflict of being forced to marry a man she doesn't care for, and not be able to be with the man who is the love of her life and her everything. She doesn't really know how to react, because there isn't much she can do, to be honest.
I think this internal conflict relates to all high schoolers in general, not just me. High School is crazy time in our life when we are forced to grow up and decided who we want to be. And most of the conflict is between ourselves. So it is easy for people to relate to Juliet because of the struggles she goes through with herself. She doesn't have friends and support around her, and thank goodness most high schoolers do now days. But still, I think it is a struggle for every teen having the internal conflict.

Roemo and Juliet #2

Pretty Little Liars. I would be flat out lying to the entire world if I didn't say that a majority of my 8th grade school nights where spend watching the series to the early morning hours. I was obsessed. The drama, the love stories and the murder mysteries had me never setting the books down, besides in my all important classes of course! But my two all time favorite characters where Aria & Mr. Fitz. They had a complicated, but completely meant to be romance that was never in a million years supposed to happen. Mr.Fitz's was Aria's English teacher but that didn't stop their relationship from secretly continuing. To the outside world in was wrong on every level but to them it was a connection that nothing could break.

The love story of Romero & Juliet and Aria & Mr.Fitz's might not be exactly the same, but the have the underlining fact that both of their love was absolutely forbidden. The two couples where not meant to far in love, but they did. The both fell for each other at the first moment and nothing else mattered. They both had people who would do anything to break them up, but their loved stayed strong. They had times that tested their relationship, and one couple did better than the other. Because with Forbidden love the outcome is unpredictable.

Romeo and Juliet

I think that the character most like me is probably Romeo. When I have something on the forefront of my mind I can only think about that subject. That being said I often have a lot of thoughts bouncing around in my head. It is fun for me to see how his character is developed. His lines often consist of many different thoughts, which is the way that I feel most of the time.  I also have a tendency to be overdramatic in situations that are irrelevant.  

At first glance, reading Romeo and Juliet can seem a very daunting task. Yet, after reading into it a while it becomes easier to understand. The story so far has been exciting as the characters begin to develop their personalities. The family rivalry between the Montegues and the Capulets seems to become more and more of a important role in the plot of the play. I like the fact that we read and discuss the book in class after reading it at home because I am able to pick up on even more details the second time around. I like reading for other characters as well, and I think that I understand what the characters are saying when I have to read for a certain part.

Reading GE

When we first started Great Expectations, I was not excited at all. It seemed very boring. To me, the book didn't really get interesting until towards the end of the book. I know this is a classic book, but I didn't really enjoy it that much. Not enough things happened for me and I didn't really like and get attached to any of the characters. I also thought that both of the endings were bad and didn't like either of them.

This is the only book I have read by Charles Dickens, but so far, I do not like his writing style. It was very hard to understand and follow. He also referred to many things I didn't understand. I know that I was supposed to look up everything I didn't understand, but if that were the case, it would take me all day to read the required chapters for the day. Although there were a lot of things I didn't understand, I think I did pretty good compared to other people in the class. I also hate computers and don't turn mine on unless I'm doing homework and I actually didn't use spark notes once!

I was actually very proud of myself for how well I kept up on my reading. I only got behind twice and it was only by a couple chapters. I actually did have a routine too. If a book is hard for me to understand, I like to listen to it. Before I put the chapters on my I-pod from Librivox, my mom would very kindly read it to me and when something important would happen, I would yell "Stop" and she would hand me the book so I could write an annotation. The reading was always the last homework of the day I did and I read before bed. Some nights it was late though and I was very tired. When that happened, it affected my reading because I forgot a few details because it was harder to pay attention.

Overall, I guess I would say this was an okay book. I liked how organized this unit was and liked knowing what we were going to do in class every day.

connections/picture

To represent Great Expectations, I chose a picture of a rose with it's petals falling. I believe that this is a good representation because it reminds me of Pip. This is like a flower growing up from the ground, which represents Pip starting as a child in the marshes and then growing to be a respectable gentlemen in London. Although the more you grow, you should get stronger, but Pip doesn't seem to. This flower keeps losing petals the higher up it goes. The petals represent everything that Pip is losing the more he becomes a gentlemen and chooses to make all of the decisions he making. From Pip's decisions, he has lost Joe, Biddy, Estella, and all of his happiness. Now he is starting to realize and miss what he used to have, but will it be to late? This photo accurately represents Great Expectations in many ways but the most important ways are that it represents the motifs and themes of becoming a gentlemen, shame, and guilt.

GE stage 2

 In the second stage of Great Expectations there are many new characters that Pip encounters. One of these is the Pale Young Gentleman that he had previously fought with at Miss Havisham's house. This time they are introduced differently, and Pip learns that the Pale Young Gentleman is really Herbert Pocket. (pg. 173-175.) Pip and Herbert become friends at once and are so excited by this new friendship they decide to be roommates. This is a coincidence in the book because they had first met, Pip had been rather frightened of him, and then beat him in their fight (though when they meet again Herbert remembers himself winning). Herbert also agrees to help Pip with his manners to make him a better gentleman. 

     The two boys meeting each other and becoming friends relates to the motifs we have been talking about in class of becoming a gentleman, and mystery. Herbert helps Pip with his manners and therein allowing him to be a better gentleman. This is good for Pip because Pip wants to be a gentleman so badly, but he is used to the manners from his lower class life. Pip is being taught by Herberts father, but more school type things rather than how to eat properly. Herbert also tells Pip about Miss Havisham and Estella. He clears up why she is in her wedding dress with the food rotting and the clocks stopped at 8:40. This is because the man she loved sent her a note on their wedding day at the exact time, and she has remained stuck there since. Herbert also tells Pip that Miss Havisham adopted Estella. That clears up some of the mystery surrounding Miss Havisham and Estella, but still leaves some holes. Who was the man that left Miss Havisham on their wedding day, and why did he decide to leave her and split money with her brother instead? How and when did Miss Havisham adopt Estella? These are all questions that are left open and continue the mystery motif created in the first stage.

Pip quote

    In this quotation, Pip is referring to that now he knows about the upper class society, he wants to be like that. He wants to be a gentlemen for Estella and Miss Havisham. He is ashamed of Joe and his lower class lifestyle. In the first nine chapters Pip is a young boy: sweet, innocent, and cute, but as he gets older he isn't so much so anymore. When he starts to become embarrassed of Joe he turns into a less like-able character. When he says he is ashamed of Joe's "commonality" he is just a bad character in the readers eyes because Joe is so kind. It is hard for the reader to see Joe criticized and therein the view of  Pip is changed. He has become a totally different character.

     A life-alterning day for me was the day I found out I had a bone cyst. It was when I was four so I don't really remember it that well. I know that it meant that I would have multiple surgeries over the following years of my life. I can't remember what happened that day very well, but has been described to me by family members since then. It seems that everyone in my family knew that this was a day that would change my life, and effect theirs. Now I have to deal with constant hip pains and soreness. I have built up scar tissue in my hip that makes it really tight. I have pain when I run and play soccer that makes it harder for me to play sometimes. I think that it is going to be a pain I have to live with for the rest of my life. It is just a bump in the road that I will have to overcome. To this day during my soccer games I will have hip pain, but I can play through it because of my love of the game

Reflecting on a Memorable Assignment

I think the most memorable assignment I have done this year was the summer assignment. I remember when I first look at it. The first thing I thought of was what did i get myself into. Also I thought to myself wow this is a huge assignment and how am I going to get this done over the summer. I was dreading the first day when I had to turn it in.

All ended well because I got a great grade in the assignment. Also I ended up like the class even though it might not be my strongest subject. I think this is the case because of Mrs. Gilman. She is a wonderful teacher and I was lucky to have her. So thanks Mrs. Gilman!

poetry

I was trying to think about one great experience I had with poetry. Although I cant really remember it that well my mom used to read me the poem "Guess How Much I Love You" every night before bed. I think this gave me a positive out look on poetry.

I used to look forward to it every night. In fact I still have the book that I read every night. I would want me mom to read it more and more every night. I think that was just the beginning of poetry for me because then I got turned onto nursery rhythms. 

From what I can remember this poem had repetition. I think that in most kids poems they have a lot of repetition because it is easy to follow that way.  Also I think in a lot of kids poetry they make everything rhythm because that is appealing to there audience.

When I hear the word poetry I think of something in loved in love. Like they are going to tell a sappy love story. But I think that I like most poetry. I don't think that I like the really long ones but the short ones that have a light topic.

Romeo and Juliet: its everywhere!

Romeo and Juliet are just like Shrek and Fiona for the movie Shrek. They are both start locked away from each other. Fiona is looked in a tower and Juliet is locked in her house. But Romeo and Shrek are free to go where they may. But they all fight through because of love and end up seeing each other.

Connecting to Romeo and Juliet

At some points about the characters in Romeo and Juliet I understand but others I am having trouble agreeing with. I don't feel like Romeo, Juliet or any of the other teens really act like our teens today, for example Romeo at the beginning of the play he is depressed and sad because he likes a girl who don't like him back. Today if you have a crush and the person doesn't like you back you learn to move on you don't get depressed that would just be taken as a dramatic today. Romeo's family comes off to be more concerned about how he feels and keeping him safe compared to Juliet's family who seem to be worried about how they look to the public and who important Juliet marries but not how she feels.

       I really enjoy reading the book at home and then going over the section in class the next day. It helps but reading it and annotating then going over what I should have annotated and comparing it to what I go the day before. I feel that I decipher some of the story, then at school I realize what more to decipher and to annotate for which it really helpful. Over all I am totally for this reading at home then reading and talking about it after school, I feel it's really useful.

Wrapping up Great Expectations

In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations many different themes are introduced and interpretations can be different. A theme I noticed woven through the book is that self-improvement and ambition can be virtuous things but can be irruptive when constant shame is involved. In our lives we all have had times when we want to for example; get an A on a paper or do better in a sport. These things are great in themselves but if our goals cut out our past then how do we really know who we are? Our past shapes us into who we are now and who we will be in the future. Self-improvement should be something that we are proud of but if shame haunts our every step than how can we really improve ourselves and become better people? Dickens uses Pip to show how this is something that everyone goes through as they grow up. Growing up is hard in its self, but if shame follows our every move we will never reach the potential that we have inside ourselves.

I think that this picture relates to Pip becoming and being a gentleman. Also when the topic of Pip becoming a gentleman comes up I always think of Pips expectations. This is the main plot of the book. This was the most important part of the book to me.

Great Expectations - Question about a Passage

Throughout my reading I did not understand what the word "wretch" means. For example on page 81 in chapter 11 " why don't you cry again, you little wretch?" Charles Dickens used this word many times and I never quite understand what it means because it seems different every time he says it.

Animal Farm Project Evaluation

Emily-  

2. artwork 

3. I think she was pretty effective. She did compare her project to the Russian Revolution. Also she has an creative way of displaying her project.

Sidney- 

2. poem 

3. I think that she was effective. She brought the whole story into play and tied it together nicely. She had a lot of the main parts included. 

Tal- 

2. diagram

3. I believe that Tal was pretty effective. She brings up the fact of them being equal and I feel that she made a good point about that. Also she was creative with her computer skills. 

Hailey-

2. poem

3. I thought that her poem was very creative with the rhyming. She brought up some key points in her poem. Also she didn't make that poem to hard to understand witch is good for all shorts of viewers. 

Adora- 

2. poem

3. I think her poem was very effective. She clearly got the theme across. Also it seems as though she put a lot of effort into this project.

Daniel-

2. sketch 

3. I believe that his sketch was alright. He did well on comparing it to the Russian Revolution. But I feel like some of the elements where not clear. 

Angela-

2. collage

3. I believe that her collage is effective. She clearly shows and states each of the levels and how they are different. That means that she show the elements well two.   

Dan-

2. Comic Life

3. I think he was kind of effective. He showed the pigs and the story well. I don't understand how it relates though.

Paden-

2. diagram

3.Some what effective. I feel like he could have put a little more detail into it. But he does show the book and the Russian Revolution. 

Giselle-

2. slide show

3. I thinks she was effective. She did a great job with presenting her project. She show the elements very well. I really like her project.            

new years extra credit blog

          Now that the new year is starting I had to think of something I would like to accomplish. I think the hardest part was just picking one thing that I would like to accomplish.  So I made a list and the two top things was becoming more physically fit and to get my grades up higher.

          One thing that I want to change this year is becoming more physically fit. This will improve my volleyball skill that will lead me to my goal of playing in college. I have had this goal since I was little and don't know what I would do without volleyball. This will also allow me to live a longer and happier life.  Also this will keep me on the right track and keep me busy so I don't get myself into trouble.

          Another thing I would like to accomplish this year is to improve my grades. School is my key to success. I want to go to college so I can get a steady job so one day I can help support my family. It is really sinking in now that my grades really do matter right now. I will have no time to make up classes throughout high school. Every grade counts for me and this is my future I am slowing letting slip away. I need to grad the ropes while I can and become more aware of my grades. I know I can make this happen by studying harder and paying as close attention in class that I can.

          No one ever said achieving goals where easy. I am ready to face them but i know it will be lots of hard work. But that's how bad I want both of these things. I am willing and ready to work on it and commit myself to reaching both of my goals for this year.