"Paradox and Dream" Reflection

"Paradox and Dream" Reflection

Paradox: "Americans overindulge their children and do not like them; the children in turn are overly dependent and full of hate for their parents."

          This means that parents will do whatever they can to make their children happy, even though the parents dislike them, and the children will continue to be rude and mean to the parents. Also, that parents might do to much for their children, which makes the children hate the parents.

          I can relate to this because I have seen a case like this many times. I have seen some of my friends constantly be rude to their parents when their parents have tried really hard to make them happy. I have also experienced this, becuase I am this way too.

Paradox: "Our lives as we live them would not function without electricity, but it is a rare man or woman who, when the power goes off, know how to look for a burned-out fuse and replace it."

          This means that, even though we spend most of our time around and using electricity, we don't know how to fix it when it gets broken. If our phone stops working, we won't know what to do to. In turn, we go to the phone store. What we do is we look on Google looking for the answers, but if our device isn't working, then we can't look on Google, and we won't know what to do.

          I can relate to this because I have been around when a person freaks our when their phone stops working and they don't know what to do. I think that it is true that ..."it is a rare man or woman who, when the power goes off, know how to look for a burned-out fuse and replace it."  I have never seen a person try and fix their problem when a power outage occurs. They just assume it will turn back on itself, and so they wait in the dark. I've always wondered how we can be so involved in technology, and not know how to use it.

Symbolism - What Represents Me (5-15-15)

          I think a pineapple represents me. The reason I feel a pineapple represents me is becuase it is different on the inside then it is on the inside, like I am. A pineapple is hard and has spike like things on the outside. On the inside it it soft and juicy. People might think of a pineapple as a hard weird food that wont taste good. Then they see the inside and they think differently becuase it is soft and has a more friendly look to it.

          I think this represents me becuase I am quiet and shy on the outside, and that's what people think of me. On the inside I am fun, crazy, and the exact opposite of shy. People might think of me as a quiet, shy girl, but when they get to know me, I turn into someone completely different. Like a pineapple seems to turn into something completely different.

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Final Reflection

          One of the three most important things I have learned this year is: How to write a proper paragraph. Before Mrs. Larson's class I did not know about topic sentences and all that, and now that I do, I can write a proper paragraph. I am glad for that.

          Another important thing I learned was all of the new words and vocabulary that are now in my personal dictionary. The words like melancholy, dismal, and mediocre, are now words that I can use in my everyday life to make my sentences more sophisticated.

          A third important thing I learned this year in Mrs. Larson's class was how to write an argumentative essay. Before I don't even think I knew what that was, but know I can write one and persuade my reader in any direction I want them to go. Outside of school that might not be an important skill I will need, but I am glad I learned it just in case a moment like that comes up.

          Something we did last year that I think I will remember for the rest of my life is, how to write a paragraph correctly. Whenever I write a paragraph, whether or not it is in English class, I always remember to include a topic sentence and supporting details. I know that I will always remember these skills and will use them for all of my life.

          The nicest thing someone in our class did for me this year would probably be someone putting down my chair. It might not be a big thing but, you get what you get. Or the nicest thing would be all the parties we had and the people bring the treats. Even though the treats were for everyone, I count them as someone doing a nice thing for me. Either that or Mrs. Larson actually letting us have those parties and bring those treats, considering how much she doesn't like crumbs in her room.

          Something I taught my classmates this year is that...hmm...maybe that I'm shy? I don't know. I don't think I taught my teacher or classmates anything this year. If I did then I didn't realize that I had.

          My writing skills is the area that I have improved on a a lot this year. I thought I had already learned a lot of writing and that I was already a pretty good writer, but I learned some more skills. What my writing skills have helped me on is my blogs, article of the weeks (AOW), and the poems we wrote. I think that all the poems I wrote is something that I have accomplished that I am most proud of.

          The most challenging part of this year was the vocabulary we had to study every week. The AOW's were pretty hard at times as well. The vocabulary was a challenging part because we had to study a lot of words (a lot in my opinion) in a week and we had to memorize the definition, part of speech, AND spelling. The AOW's were challenging at times becuase we had to really think on some questions and sometime it was a lot of challenging work. In my opinion anyway.

          I think the best piece of writing I did this year was my Rose Poem (link included). I thought this was my best becuase I really thought about it and tried hard on it. I will always remember and be proud of this piece. I am also proud of the alternative ending I wrote for "The Lady or the Tiger" (link included). I think this is a great piece becuase I used great detail, and tried hard to create an interesting alternative ending. It is hard to choose form both of those but I think my Rose Poem wins that contest.

          Of the books I read this year, I think that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was my favorite book. I also liked the book Skinny. It is defiantly a hard decision. I just cant decide which one I liked better. They were both so great!

          I would give advice to the students of next years class by saying try hard, do your best, listen, and always do your work. I would tell them to really focus on doing your work, listening, and trying hard. Oh wait, that's all of them. Anyway, that is really the most important things you will need. There will be a lot of work. You just have to fight through it and try your best. Trust me, it will all be worth it in the end. If I can get through it, then so can you!

OMAM Blog - Analyze Ending - 3-11-15

Writing prompts:
1. Analyze the ending of the book versus the ending of the movie (Section 3)

2. What are your general thoughts, feelings, reactions of Of Mice and Men? What had the most profound impact on you or your understanding of the novella? Who would you recommend this book to and why? (Section 4)

         The flashback at the end of the movie shows George and Lennie walking away towards the sunset. This flashback leaves the audience with a sad feeling at the end of the movie. The reason it is a sad feeling is becuase it is the last time you see George and Lennie together, after Lennie gets shot. Also, the flashback is accompanied by sad, slow music, which adds to the feeling.

          At the end of the book the reader is sad, but the feeling is kind of taken away by the lines that came at the very end of the book. In the book, the reader feels less sorrowful then at the end of the movie.

          I think the director chose a different ending then what's in the book becuase you get stronger feeling with the way the movie ended, then how the book ended. In the movie it ends in a happy memory, and in the book it ends with all the men of the ranch gathered around Lennie at the brush. I think the director wanted the audience of the movie to have a stronger feeling and you get to see more of the sadness that Gorge felt, and it makes you feel extreme sadness as well. I feel that if the movie ended the way the book did, it wouldn't be as good. It is nice to change some things os it is  not exactly what the book is. Also, having an alternate ending might make a person want to read the book and see what that is like, and see how it is the same or different and how it makes them feel.

          The line of dialogue that ends the book is, "'Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them to guys?'" This line of dialogue tells the reader that the speaker does not know what has happened and that he does not know the importance of the situation. This line leaves the reader with a feeling of confusion and wonder. It leaves them with confusion because Carlson (the one saying the line) obviously doesn't know the seriousness of what has just happened. It leaves the reader with wonder becuase they don't know why he is saying that like he doesn't know whats going on, so the reader wants to know more about the situation, and how the people feel.

          I personally really enjoyed the book. I am not the type of person who reads a book more than once, so I would read this book again. If I was that type of person, then I would definitely read this book again. I can say that this is once of my favorite books and I would defiantly recommend other people to read it. I don't have a specific person or group of people that I would recommend this book to, but even if I did, I just think everyone should read this book and be familiar with George, Lennie, and the rest of the guys. The part where Curley's wife is being absolutely terrible to Crooks, is what had the most profound impact on me. There is no specific part that had a big impact on my understanding of the novella. It was all of it, really.

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AOW Impressions 5-5-15

          From the Article of the Week (AOW) gallery walk I have learned many things. From earthquakes in Nepal to Free water in California.  I have learned many different things about many different topics from many different parts of the world. I've gained more information on NASA, Mercury, Malala, The Baltimore Riot, and fluoride.

          Usually, the things I learn from an AOW gallery walk include negative information. This AOW gallery walk included a pretty good mix of negative and positive topics. For example, I learned that the recommended amount of fluoride is going to be changed becuase this was a safer decision. This topics is not completely positive, but it certainty isn't negative.

          Also, the information I learned about Malala was a positive topic. I learned that some of Malala's attackers were found. This is not a negative, but a positive topic. There were other non-negative topics, but I thought this was the main one.

          I think the information that would most effect me would be the fluoride topic. I learned that the amount of fluoride that was used is dangerous to people and can effect us in a negative way. Learning that the amount was going to be change to a safer number, is reassuring and effects me in a positive way.

          Overall, the different topics, articles, and information I learned was very interesting and informative. I learned about the things that do effect me, ad the things that don't effect me as much. I learned about the positive and negative things that are going on in this world. I also gathered lots of information on lots of different things that I can help other people understand.

Dream Poem 5-1-15

Writing Prompt: Write a short poem expressing what happens when you have a dream and it doesn't come true

I had a dream

I a really, really awesome dream.

I was going to big,

"gonna be a movie star" I said.

I was wrong.

My dream got crushed.

Crushed like an ant,

crushed like a bee.

Melancholy.

That's all I felt.

I was mad too,

yes.

But sorrow was my main feeling.

I thought, and thought, and thought

"I'll find a new dream" I said.

"There are too many movie stars these days anyway"