Comments for this week

Alyssa's blog Day in the life published on Dec. 8 commented on Dec. 9
Azzie's blog Prompts published on Dec. 8 commented on Dec. 9

Writing Center Experience/ Reading Log

           This semester, I visited the writing center! I really enjoyed my visit and am considering applying to work in the writing center sometime over the next few years while I attend Episcopal. At the writing center, Kiddie assisted me in improving my literary analysis. She gave me specific ideas of how to improve my writing. Also, when she was helping me she was very nice about how she presented the material I needed to improve or correct.

            Kiddie taught and reminded me of a few important things about writing. First, she taught me that when writing a paper, I should not change the point of view in which I am writing in. In my literary analysis, I had written in multiple different points of views but was able to correct that. Also, Kiddie reminded me not to change tenses when writing. Lastly, Kiddie stressed the importance of avoiding filler words! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit at the writing center. 

Reading Log

12/3- 40 minutes reading LOTF

12/4- 30 minutes working on LOTF assignment

12/5- 50 minutes working on LOTF assignment

What would happen in a world where it was the child's choice to go to school? Would you go to school?

           In a world where going to school was optional, many children would probably choose not to attend school. Personally, I feel that this would cause many problems for our society, especially in America. If people would choose not to go to school, then there would be a decrease in the number of people that would be educated. With less educated people available, fewer jobs would be able to be performed. This would probably have a dramatic, negative effect on the economy.

            If the option was presented to me, I would choose to attend school. Receiving an education is very important, especially when applying for a job. Also, being educated would be even more significant in a time when fewer people received an education. Also, even if I want not to attend school, my parents would still make me go. My parents have always emphasized the importance of learning and going to school.

Reading/ Work Times

The time I spent this week in English was reading and working on LOTF.

11/18- 30 minutes

11/19- 45 minutes

11/20- 15 minutes

11/21- 55 minutes

11/25- 40 minutes

11/27- 10 minutes

Prompt/ Reading and Commenting Log

What is the most important message you have learned through reading a novel?

            Last year at St. Jude, one of my teachers required the class to read, “Frankenstein.” Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes to read fiction novels.

            This novel has a theme with a significant meaning that really stood out to me; the theme the author portrayed was to not take my loved ones for granted. Throughout the story, Frankenstein is portrayed as a solitude, lonely creature. Frankenstein just wanted to be accepted by his creator, and since that wasn’t possible, he desired his creator to make him a friend. Reading the book really made me almost experience the loneliness this creature felt, and it made me realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by such loving people.

Reading Log

11/11- 10 minutes

11/12- 15 minutes
11/13- 30 minutes

11/17- 65 minutes

Commenting Log

I commented on Jamiee’s blog titled Do It Yourself on 11/17 posted on 11/15.

I commented on Connor’s blog titled Free Post on 11/17 posted on 11/11.

Free Post!!!

Artifact Posting

            In WHAP, we are assigned to post an artifact online that relates to our Unit. The assignment is due on Monday, and it was assigned about two weeks ago. For the assignment, each student is suppose an image of the artifact he/she chooses, along with applying the questions who, what, when, where, and why to the artifact. It is also important to explain why the artifact is significant to our Unit and the world.

            For my artifact, I chose the chryselephantine statue of Athena, which was created by Phidias in Greece and finished around 438 B.C.E. This statue praises and honors Athena. I found it interesting that this statue was made of gold and ivory, and that is was around forty feet tall. The time and money that someone must have put into this statue to dedicate to religion is impressive. 

Deserted Island Experience/ Reading and Commenting Log

     One day this week in English, we pretended to be stuck on a deserted island, and our assignment was to formulate a plan of what to do in order to survive. This assignment was unique, and I think that the class did a good job with it. First, Trevor was nominated leader. Then, different people were assigned different jobs such as the creation of fire and the gathering of food. It was interesting how even though Trevor was leader, Meredyth and Eli also played important roles in this activity.
    If our class was actually deserted on an island, I think we would be ok if everyone. We had good leadership; Eli, Meredyth, and Trevor. Also, it would be crucial to our survival for the different groups to do their jobs. Teamwork would be very important, and we would have more time available if everyone did their job. Lastly, problems would occur if individuals started rebelling. As a whole I think our class would be ok, but if people tried to survive on their own I do not think we would make it.

Reading Log
11/5- 40 minutes
11/7- 40 minutes
11/8- 25 minutes
11/9- 25 minutes

Commenting Log
I commented on Jamiee's blog posted on November 1 titled Reading Review on 11/9.
I commented on Azzie's blog posted on November 9 titled Free Post on 11/9.

Free Post

      Basketball season has recently started! Earlier this week we gave Coach our size for the shooting shoots so he can order them. Also, the team basketball shoes should be coming in soon. They are yellow, and I cannot wait to wear them. The people who are on the team are really nice, and that has made practice really enjoyable.

      We will have our first scrimmage on Monday. It will be against Woodlawn. I am so nervous yet excited at the same time! What if I forget the plays we have been practicing or make a bad pass? Anyway, I cannot wait to play this season with a fun team. Go Knights

     

Reading Log

10/29- 20 minutes
10/31- 10 minutes
1/1- 50 minutes
1/2- 50 minutes

Reading Response

     The first story I read independently was "The Minister's Black Veil: A Parable." The literary element of character and setting stood out to me the most. I noticed that the author used direct characterization when describing the characters. Mr. Hooper, the protagonist of the story, is a dynamic character. He is in a state of change throughout the story. He is directly described as a gentlemanly bachelor about the age of thirty. He changes from a warm, "sunshine" of a man to a depressed, lonely man. Also the setting was important in this story. The physical setting is Milford village and the story starts on a Sabbath day. The temporal setting is over the course of a few days. In social setting it is important to notice the affect of his veil and the way people treat Mr. Hooper before vs after he wears the veil. The physical setting is sad, gloomy, and lonely.
     I annotated "Araby" for point of view. The story is told in first person. We might question the narrator's reliability because he is so deeply engrossed by the girl. He is positively biased in his opinion of her; he only speaks of good things about her. Also notice that the girl's name is never given. The narrator's purpose is to tell of an event in his life where he was so absorbed in a girl that he didn't realize exactly what he was doing. He was just trying to please her. The narrator isn't talking to anyone in particular. I also annotated for setting. Physical- North Richmond Street, cold, near stables, and the bazaar in Araby. Temporal- over a few weeks. Social- the relationship between the narrator and the girl is important, also it is important to notice the way the bazaar is described and how the uncle didn't want the narrator to go. Psychological- the mood changes from old and musty to adoring and in love and again to angry and disgust.
    "The Sniper" was annotated for point of view and setting. Physical setting was a long June night on O'Connell Street. The temporal setting was one night during the Civil War. In describing social setting it's important to notice the fight between Republicans and Free Staters. Also it is crucial to notice that the Civil War turned families against one another. The mood of this story changes multiple times throughout this story. It starts as being quiet, thoughtful, and cautious. It changes when the character takes a risk; it becomes anxious and nervous. When the character kills the other sniper the mood becomes joyous and curious and quiet again. The story is set in third person omniscient. The narrator is reliable and not biased. The narrator's purpose is to show that wars are dangerous and can turn families against one another.



Reading Log!
10/17- 40 minutes
10/22- 30 minutes
10/24- 10 minutes
10/25- 10 minutes
10/27- 30 minutes

I commented on 10/26  on Jamiee's blog about her reading response posted on 10/26.
I commented on 10/26 on Azzie's blog called reading log #9 posted on 10/ 21.

Free Post

      This weekend, the Episcopal Cross Country team went to a meet in Lafayette. Most of the team rode on the bus, and because of the distance between Episcopal and Lafayette, we left school at 6:30 A.M.! The bus ride went by quickly though; I slept the whole way there. Once we arrived at the school where the race was taking place, we all huddled off the bus wearing sweat pants and sweatshirts. The weather was so cold! Once we started warming up though, we all agreed that the weather felt great because it was neither hot nor humid.
      The race overal was a success. It was a great experience, and most people were pleased with their time. This meet also provided us with a time to bond with each other. I loved spending time with the team, and I was so glad that we went to Lafayette this weekend.

Comment Log

Jamiee- Reading Post 10/12 commented on this post on 10/16
Alyssa- Reading and Working Times 10/12 commented on this post on 10/16

Reading Log

10/8- 10 minutes
10/9- 20 minutes
10/12- 25 minutes
10/13- 65 minutes

Personal Questions:
1. Why do I read what I read?
2. How can I push myself as a reader?
3. What would it be like to fly?

Reading Log

9/30- 45 minutes
10/1- 50 minutes
10/2- 10 minutes
10/3 - 20 minutes

Plot of My Short Story

Exposition- Introduce Rebecca and her new boyfriend Timothy

·      They have been dating for a month

·      Describe how each character looks and how crazy they both are of each other

Rising Action- Rebecca is cooking dinner for Timothy. He is going to come over to her house and eat with her.

·      She goes to grocery store.

·      Rebecca is extremely nervous.

·      She is distracted and buys wrong ingredients.

·      She burns the dinner and it is ruined!

Climax- Timothy arrives at her house and smells the burning food.

·      Rebecca is extremely embarrassed.

·      She is on the verge of having a breakdown.

·      Timothy smiles and sweetly offers to order pizza.

Falling Action- They order pizza and make milkshakes and watch a movie.

·      They share many laughs about the disastrous meal.

Resolution- Timothy goes home after a great night.