Writing Wrap-Up

Throughout the school year our English class has written a couple of big essays and the WrAP test with it’s dull writing prompts. And throughout the year my writing has gotten better, yet in some spots I’ve begun to lack. The subjects to write about, to me, have become harder and harder to form many ideas and to support them. You could day in some way I have become lazy with coming up with strong ideas to write about.

                The first paper that our class was the Literacy Narrative, were I wrote about a book that changed my outlook on reading. I mad a 90/100 on this paper which I found rewarding. Ideas, voice, and word choice received 9.5’s, and 8.5’s on organization, sentence fluency, and conventions. I was also suggested to revise the awkward wording section in the paper, and to make the first sentence more of a hook to catch the reader’s eye.

                 The second essay was a Profile was I wrote about a café, this was my favorite essay I wrote overall his year. However, I received the same type of score on organization, sentence fluency, and conventions bringing in a solid B, and ideas and voice as A’s. While writing I wasn’t sure how to fix the errors that gave me B’s. Overall on the paper I got a 31/35.

                The Literacy Analysis was enjoyable for me to write about. I like the story that I was analyzing. My thesis got an A, but the support for it acquired a B. the Lowest technique grade was organization, I suppose it was because I was focusing on the thesis and how to support it more than anything so I lost sight of how the support was organized to create a clearer pattern. The paper turned out to be a 87/100, which is a good grade. The biggest problems that needed to be fixed were to support the thesis with stronger evidence. And grammar and how to introduce the quotes.

                The Global Issues paper to me was my least favorite to write. I didn’t do so well with supporting my thesis which got a D I lost the drive to write about this issue because it didn’t connect to me or interested me very much. With this paper I became lazy to cite things correctly, and I could have done much better than the grade that I received, but that paper that I turned in did.

                And finally the WrAp essay was we had to write about whether you were for or against free music downloading. I was for downloading free music and told why and supported my ideas. I received 4.0’s for all the techniques scoring an overall 24.0. I was really happy with this because I have never received all 4’s; I usually had a couple 3.5’s. I thought this was a good step up for me with the WrAP writing prompts.

                Overall throughout the year my writing has progressed in some place, but fell in others. And throughout the year all my papers had some similarities that fell on the technique of organizing my ideas better. I like writing about places and object that I have seen or in contact with. I hope in later years my writing will continue to grow better. And I also hope that I will organize my paper better with writing more essays and papers.

Common Errors List:

1. Semicolons must have and independent clauses that are closely related on both sides.

ex: Call me tomorrow; I will give you my answer then.

2.Use commas before or surrounding the name or title of a person directly addressed.
ex:Will you, Haley, do that assignment for me? 
Yes, Doctor, I will.
3. Commonly confused word: affect vs. effect 
rules :Rule 1. Use effect when you mean bring about or brought about,cause or caused. Ex:He effected a commotion in the crowd.
Rule 2. Use effect when you mean result. EX:What effect did that speech have?
4.Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence. You can remember subject pronouns easily by filling in the blank subject space for a simple sentence.
EX:______ did the job.
I, you, he, she, it, we, and they all fit into the blank and are, therefore, subject pronouns.

 5.If a word answers the question how, it is an adverb. If it can have an -ly added to it, place it there.

EX:She thinks slow/slowly.

She thinks how? slowly.
She is a slow/slowly thinker.
Slow does not answer how, so no -ly is attached. Slow is an adjective here.
6.When the entire whoever/whomever clause is the subject of the verb that follows the clause, look inside the clause to determine whether to use whoever or whomever.

EX:Whoever is elected will serve a four-year term.Whomever you elect will serve a four-year term.

Free Reading

this week I have read Mockingjay the last book in the Hunger Gamer series I have read the required 150 minutes. along with the Mockingjay I have also read some of my science textbook.

Free Reading

this week I read the required 150 minutes by reading Catching Fire the second book to the Hunger Games series. I read the whole book and though it improved the first book very well. I am very excited to see what happens to all the characters in the final book of the series. I like the series because its one in a few modern day books that have symbolism and a clever way to put what the characters do and the predicaments that they are put in. The book offers how a different types of government can cause different outcomes, with Katniss's government the outcome is one that is not a bright one for the ever controlling capitol.
The book ends with the reader wanting more from the characters and their situation will make their future look like.

Song Analysis

The song I chose to analysis is called "Small Bump" by Ed Sheeran the song is about a father getting his head rapped around having a baby, that was not planned. The baby is not due until four months later. In the song the father is thinking about how the baby will look like, how it will act, and how the guy will have to act like a father. You find that the baby was unplanned in the 1st verse 3rd line, "but for now your scan of my unmade plans..", this is basically saying that right now you can see his mistake on a scan instead of out in the world. There is one line that is repeated through the song a couple of times that says "If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you" how can the baby be inside the father?
Another line that I like in this song is in verse 2 line line 3 thats says "Finger nails the size of a half grain of rice.." the reason i really like this line is because it really shows the listen how small the baby is or will be. In the chorus it says "You can wrap you fingers round my thumb and hold me tight. And you'll be alright" it shows that if the father holds the baby tightly then the baby will be safe and alright. Verse 3 has a lot of rhyme and gives the song a sort of rhythm to it. Finally verse 4 only has 2 lines, but have a greater impact on the song that any other lines or verses in the song. The "father" is talking in past tense about the baby instead of the present, and replacing "you're brought to life" to "then torn from life". the mother had a miscarriage, but the father goes on to say "Maybe you were needed up there but we're still unaware as why." when the father refers to "up there" he is talking about heaven and how the baby was needed and only God knows why, however the parents still don't understand why the baby was needed and why it had to leave them so suddenly.

Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde

In Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde she writes how a fourteen year old thinks and the insecurities that they think about. In the girl that is the main person in the poem talks about her mom being behind closed doors, this could mean more than one idea. 1) That her mother doesn't really concern herself in her daughters life, 2)her mother is ill and can't provide fore her daughter the way she want to. After reading this poem through I couldn't understand why the author had named the poem Hanging Fire to better understand this I went on dictionary.com, and found that hanging fire means a firearm that has been pulled it's trigger, but is delayed in igniting. I couldn't understand why the author had related a fire arm to a teenager so I read through the poem again and found two possible reasons for this. The first possible answer would be that the girl is hesitant because of her mother, and the second is shes hinting on comiting suicide.
The patterns I found throughout this poem is the line at each of the stanzas saying "and momma's in the bedroom with the door closed" this could hint that the girls mother doesn't involve herself in the daughters life, and this affects how the girl feels about herself. The language is easily relatable because every teenager goes through these feelings, and large chinks of the stanzas are read in one sentence structure. In the second line of the first stanza personification is found by her "skin betrays" her or keeps breaking out in acne. the girl also come back to the thought of death many times in this poem, she is either planning on killing herself, becoming familiar with it, or is scared of becoming older or not getting to grow up. The girl is writing about everything that bothers her so someone would care since her mother doesn't seem to care and/ or is busy behind those closed doors. The poem also hints an important need of the parent figure providing for the child or teen with guidance or help whenever they are unsure thus the title Hanging Fire.

Free reading

For this week I have been reading the Hunger Games. I read all of the required reading time just by reading the Hunger Games. I have really enjoyed this book so far and can't wait to read the others. I am very surprised that the movie follows the book a lot. Some movies don't follow the book very well but some of the lines out of the books. I am almost at the end of the book and I don't want it to end because it is very good. The author writes very well and helps the reader imagine what it would really be like to be in the games. I also wonder how the author, Suzanne Collins, came up with the concept of the book.
I look forward to read the other books, and to see what happens after the 74th Hunger Games ends. Some parts of the book show how Katniss never gives up, even in the worst conditions. Sometimes I wonder what I would become if I was In Katniss's world, and it's very scary to think that you are just a pawn in someone elses game. Hopefully the books will end well.

Free Reading

For this week I mostly read out of textbooks to study, and the Hunger Games. I have read a total of 150 minutes as required. I gave in and started reading the Hunger Games. I say gave in because I said I would never read it, but after I saw the movie I thought it wouldn't be such a bad book to read. I also have been reading some articles of Child Labor to put in my research project that I will be presenting soon. I have been reading my science textbook so I could get ready to take my test. It was mostly about genetics and Punnett Squares. I feel I made a good grade because of all the reading.

I went to Barnes and Nobles this weekend also and finished reading a book in about and hour. It was a very different typpe of book it was more like a visual book, it was called Chopsticks. It was about this girl who was pianist legend that went missing, it also has some romance in there. But I liked how it had pictures that made the story actually come to life.

Hunger Games the movie

This weekend I went and saw the movie the Hunger Games. It was very interesting concept, and with many interesting looks and names. I really enjoyed watching this movie because it was basically for everyone boys, girls, etc. But it was violent so small children might not want to go see it. It was very suspenseful and left the viewer on the edge of their seats. I know you should read the books before you go see the movie, but this time I didn't. I saw the movie, and now I am reading the book. I haven't gotten very far because I have been working on the English projects.
It's hard to imagine a world were 24 or 23 however many number of children get killed for the enjoyment of people. I also don't understand the concept of what makes the adults of that world just give up their children to fight to the death. If I had been chosen to be in the hunger games I would probably be one of the first 10 dead for 2 reasons, 1. I couldn't kill a person, and 2. I would panic and become crazy paranoid I wouldn't really know what to do. But all in all it was a great movie, with great costumes, and great actors/actresses. 

free reading

I finally finished the book Deadly Little Voices and it was very good. like always to the end of the book the mystery is solved and it happens to be very exciting and has a lot of action. Camelia finally found the bad guy through much trouble for herself. with all the voices in her head she had to be put inn the hospital and was going to be given a phys test, but she gets out whenever her aunt draws a picture for the last remaining clue. I would feel very helpless if I startled hearing voice and thinking I was crazy, but Camelia goes against what other people think and stick with her instincts.
There is one last book after this, that has yet to come out, and I am very excited. I like how the book has mystery and a lot of drama. The only thing I didn't really like about this book was how the characters keep making the same mistakes, like they are going in circles back together all the time. I would think that you would learn your lesson after multiple times.

Track

Track this year has been kind of difficult for me because I have seemed to find a rough patch in high jumping. However I am very glad to see other people have come out to try track and liked it. The last few meets I haven't done very well although I do enjoy watching other people competing in the same event as I am because I like to see how they jump and the difference between all the others. Next week for practice though I think i might do more of pole vaulting because in the beginning of the season i did more of that than high jumping, and I hope to get better with more practices.
I like more of the jumping events because you don't tire yourself out like in running. I love seeing how high you can go if you just push yourself to.I hope that I get out of this rough patch in high jumping because i love the sport very much, and look forward to improvimg!!

Free reading

for this week i have read 150 minutes of Heaven is for Real. I picked up this book whenever I was bored at my grandmas house, and I read the summary on the back and it sounded interesting. The book is about how a little boy died for 3 or 2 minutes and visited Heaven. A year after his surgery where he "died" he told his father and mother  about his experience in Heaven and meeting Jesus and his deceased family relatives. While looking at some old pictures the little boy pointed out his great grandfather in a picture (that he never met alive) and said that papa and that he had really big wings in Heaven.
This is meant to be a true story and it's interesting to see what people might experience when they die. I really hope this is what heaven is like what the little boy described it to be. The little boy in the end says that he can't wait to go back to heaven, and said that it was such a lovely place.

Moments Not Things

While on a website, that I can't remember, I came across a saying or quote that said "Create moments, not things". I think this is something to stand by at times, whether debating on buying something or going someplace with your friends or family. I understand that if you want something that is necessary then get it. However if you want something new but you have something that already serves v.s a beach trip with your friends, I would most likely pick the beach trip. I find that if you get things instead of enjoying moments with your friends or family you miss out, and that those material things break while those memories are kept.

Polyvore

While being bored at home, and on the internet, I found this website called Polyvore. It's more common in England, I suppose, but it is very entertaining when you are bored and looking for something to do. Polyvore.com is a fashion website were you can choose shirts, outerwear, pants, short, dresses, etc. to make your very own outfit or outfits. I have, from this weekend, made a couple and liked the website very much. You can also go and look at what other people have made if you want to. It's not all focused on outfits and all that it also has interior designs and what not to make a living room and all.
I like making my own outfits because I like to see how it all comes together, and they have a very big selection so they have everything for ones styles choice. It is a great thing to waste time if you don't have much to do!!

Outside Reading: Nervous Conditions

This week I have read much of the book Nervous Conditions. I read 150 minutes of the book, but now that we are going through the chapters of the book I understand the concept of it much more than before. I hope that the book ends well because I had a rough patch of how to find what I liked about it. I am still a little fuzzy about what the theme of the book is, but I have some what of an idea of it. I just have to read chapter 10 before I really try to make a conclusion to the theme in mind.
In the next chapter I hope to find that Tambu has settled down at her new school, and see how she makes of it. I really like going through the book during class because I am able to find things that I dont usually see while reading the book. I like to see what other peoples take on the book is like, other than things I just see. Also I have found some words that I was not familiar with so I will use them with the 20 words due at the end of the quarter. And finally I have enjoyed reading this book and seeing how different cultures can be from our own, and how some perople want to escape from theres and into ours.

The Vow; reveiw

This Mardi Gras I went and saw the most wanted to see movie The  Vow. I loved this movie partly because it was more of a realistic movie than most romantic movies, and because of the popular actors playing a part in this fantastic movie. The main point in the story line was that in every life something changes you even if it is such a tiny thing, it changes your thoughts and things that you are interested in. It's a strange to think that one day something might effect me to change in a way that will make me much different than I was before.
The ending I thought was good even though it was not what you expect in a movie, but it did end with a happy thought that past come back whether you like it or not, or whether you want it to or not. I would go see it again if I was asked, and I recommend it to girls because it is a chick flick in my eyes, and probably to many others as well.

Reading Response: Nervous Conditions

This week for free reading i have read the required 150 minutes by reading our class reading book Nervous Conditions. So far I Have read through chapter 7, but chapter 6 got really eventful when I thought it really would be a slow chapter. I really didn't expected for Babamukuru to beat Nyasha like that, but I also couldn't imagine Nyasha punching her father like she did. After the fight whenever Tambu started talking about victimization I thought she made a really great observation through that one fight.
So far that is the only part in the story that I really found eventful and or interesting. I really hope to find out more about Babamukuru's character and how he interacts with Nyasha after that brawl they had. If I was Tambu whenever that was going on I would be quite scared and go run in another room trying to get away from all that madness. To see that Tambu stayed there and heard or saw all that makes her very brave something that I just could not do. I hope something else like this happens or picks up like this part of the book did in the up coming chapters.

weheartit.com

I found this new website weheartit.com through tumblr, and it is a really fun and creative website. It has the same principles as Pinterest, but it's much more like a creative website. Everytime I go on the website i look through all the pictures and I want to draw, paint, take pictures, or do my hair a different way. It really gets me into a creative mood whenever I feel bored or have nothing to do.
I recommend this website to all the girls because it's not really a guy website. There are many things that everyone will like, and many things to inspire. You just have to make an account and look through pictures and click on the heart pick a category, then repeat. At the end if you want to go through your pictures you can go to the button that says my heart. It is very similar to Pinterest, and everyone on there should log on to weheartit.com and join the creativeness.

Outside Reading: Deadly Little Voices

Still reading the book Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Stolarz, and the book is really good so far. The author leaves you wanting to read more with each end of a chapter. So far the main character Camilla's aunt is staying at her house, and strange things are happening. However her aunt that might have the answers to Camilla's problems is not coming out of her room nor talking to Camilla. Trying to seek answers Camilla relies on her friends on support instead of going into her pottery.
I have read the require 150 minutes and about 72 pages. Hopefully at the end of the story Camilla will find her answers she needs, and I have found that it is not the last book there is one more coming out and that one will be the last one. I also hope to find other books like thins because they are filled with mystery and fiction it's a fun type of book that leaves you with wanting more.

Something Different

It's strange how something different in a room can change much of the atmostsphere. A picture taken down from a wall changes the wall into a plain color and less decorative spot in the room. Or suppose a you add something to the room it gives a feel to the space, such as a urban, beach y, or country feel to a room. The texture of the new piece could pick up other things into the room as well. I've always been fond of new things, but I hold on to the old because of the memory the object holds. However people have to let go of things to make room for the new.
But then the new starts to become the old, it's an endless cycle. Sometimes it's hard to understand why people get attached to something or get tired of the constance of it, and  give it away or want it to stay there forever. The something different could be a big difference or something so small.

Outside Reading: Deadly Little Voices

This week I have been reading this new book that is from a serious I have been reading. The newest book is called Deadly Little Voices. This book is a fiction mystery book that is quite the page turner. I read the required  150 minutes, and 89 pages. Sometimes it could be scary at some points that was strange, but it is a very interesting book. The main character has a physic ability that is now causing her some problems with her life a friendships.
I do look forward to reading the rest of the book to see what will happen to the characters. I think this might be the last book in the series, but I hope it's not because I really enjoy reading these books. I also hope the main character figures out her strange physic abilities, and she will control them better than now.   

Happiness

"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself"-Ralph Waldo Emerson. I really like this quote because I think it's saying that when you try to make someone happy you become happy too. Ralph Waldo Emerson's comparison to happiness is perfume, and as most people know perfume can go everywhere if one is not careful with spraying it. Happiness can spread like perfume without you even trying. Many of Ralph Waldo's quotes are about happiness and fun things. This is one of the many reasons why I like his quotes.
Many of his comparisons are meant to brighten your day, or for you to think poistivley. Many of his quotes are meant to make us think of what we are meant to do, or things we thought we could never do but can.

Global Issues

My global issues paper is about exceptions on child labor laws, or more simply child labor. What I've been doing for this past week on this paper has been to mold out a thesis, create a outline of the 4 to 6 paged paper, and starting out on my rough draft due next Monday. So far my rough draft has 3 pages I'm still working on the goal for 5 pages. What I hope to get out of this paper is to learn more about from where child labor came, and the ideas against and for it.
I hope that I will do well on this paper, and learn from past mistakes I've made on others. Child labor is a very extensive subject because there are many ideas and beliefs on it. I hope that I can get as many of these ideas and beliefs to support my ideas on my paper.

Year of the Dragon

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Reading Response

I finished reading the Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater this week. I loved the book very much. I read the required 150 minutes, and I read a total of 79 pages. The ending was a classic Maggie Stiefvater ending, always leaving the reader wanting more. Hopefully there will be a squeal to this very magical book. The race was the most tedious part of the book because it was a race that ending very surprisingly. It ended very happily, but that is all I'm going to say so I wont spoil the book.
I already have my next book I want to read in mind. Its called Deadly Little Voices, it is the third book in a series that I have been reading. This book also falls into the non fiction section, I don't know why, but I am drawn to those types of books. Hopefully this book will be a good one like all the others especially if it's going to be the last one in the series. 

One Thing

One day  I was scrolling through Pinterest, and found this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt "Do one thing everyday that scares you". I was drawn to this quote because what Eleanor Roosevelt is basically saying is go out of your comfort zone, and live life not thinking what you could have done, but what you did do. When I grow up I want to know that I opened every door that was given to me. Sometimes I just feels that I scoot around the things that are out of my comfort zone, but then I don't realize the fun things that I have missed out on.
 This is one quote that I will hold onto because who knows what will happen whenever you say yes, and you are positive. And doing that one thing could make you a more positive, and happy person. So do that one thing that scares you, and see what the outcome will be.

Outside Reading: The Scorpio Races

   Throughout this week I have been reading a book called The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I have read almost all of Maggie Stiefvater's books  because I love her writing, however this book seemed boring and strange. I read the first two chapters, and I was hooked. I read the required 150 minutes and a total of 298 pages. It had a great story line to it, and was quite the page turner. However with all Maggie Stiefvater books she leaves you wanting more at the end of the books, even when it's the last in the series. This was the only thing I did not care for, the ending, and I really hope she makes a squeal to this book.
   The book is set in a small England Island called Thisby. Ever October there are these horses that come out of the sea that are very dangerous. The men of Thisby go out and catch a few to race in the Scorpio Races on November 1st. There are two main characters in the book, Puck and Sean. Sean is a four time winner of the Scorpio races, and Puck has never really been involved in the races until now. Puck's older brother, Gabe, has announced that he is leaving the island. The only solution Puck can think of is to join the races, so she tells her brothers that she will be one of the racers. But with Puck's mother and father killed by one of the water horses she refuses to race on one, so she races on her horse Dove. Sean's father was also killed by a water horse, and his mother gone to the main land, he lives with a big time ranch owner. Throughout this book the author hints the idea that women can't do everything men can, but Puck in the end shows them all wrong.

Something Found on the New Year

  With the new year here resolutions are trying to be fulfilled. New Years Eve is usually spent having a good time, and then 12 o'clock comes around. This is when resolutions are born, and  the thought of a new year with countless ideas of a new you or how to make the year better than the last is inches from your grasp. So as not to forget the brilliant ideas of making the year better you write them down. But where do those resolutions go after 2 months, the garbage, a drawer, or underneath pictures on the bulletin board.And if you straight up loose it have you ever thought if someone has found it, and making those resolutions their own. This has happened to me, but this year I was the one who found someones resolutions.

   New Years day I spent it with my Grandma, mom, and sisters walking around down town, just to burn some time. We were just enjoying the the cool breeze, the sun, and the urban scenery. We were walking back from the levee about to get in the car whenever my mom pointed out that she found something. I looked behind me and saw she had a piece of paper in her hand. The paper itself was nothing special just pink and looked like it had been ripped out of a notebook in a rush. I took the piece of paper from her, and saw that it was written on. The heading was "Resolutions for 2012" in a mechanical handwriting. There was 5 resolutions the first one said "Take more photos", this was one of my resolutions that I had thought about and I would probably try to do this through the rest of the year. The second one said that the person wanted to keep in touch with old friends. The third said "Listen to more music" , I loved music to and also wanted to listen to different kinds so I put that down on my mental resolution list. the fourth proclaimed that this person wanted to run more often . Finally the fifth resolution said "Smile more and Laugh Often", I liked this one and thought I could do this because it was easier and it would make my life more optimistic.

  I still have the resolution list, I thought I would try to fulfill this list of another persons goals. It's a good list and, seems easy to do everything that was written down on there. I just hope that person remembers their goals and just doesn't drop them like everyone else.