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.

Commented on: Evie, James, and Justin

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"

Of Mice and Men 3-27-15

Writing Prompts:

1) Brainstorm the different types of conflicts, create a chart that addresses the conflict, and the effect that the conflict has had on the plot so far.

2) From your brainstorming session, choose at least two conflicts to explore more in depth. Be sure to include textual evidence and support and also identify the effect that the conflict has had on the plot so far.

Pages Read: 37 - 66

          When Candy had to choose whether or not to let Carlson kill his dog, it was a Man vs Self situation. So far in the plot Candy has been devastated by this. I know this becuase the book says, "Candy lat still, staring at the ceiling." pg 49. I think this shows that Candy didn't want to talk to anyone and just wanted to be in his own little world. Also, when page 53 when it says, "He didn't look at old Candy, who still faced the wall." I think this means that Candy didn't want to look at Carlson, who had killed his dog, or at the gun, becuase it was used to shoot his dog. So far in the plot you see that this decision was one Candy was not proud of.

          When Curley starts to beat up Lennie, it was a Man vs Man situation. Curley comes into the bunkhouse looking for his wife and sees Lennie smiling, so he starts to beats him up. So far in the plot it has made Lennie afraid of the ranch, and makes him want to leave it more then he already does. I think this will cause some more trouble later becuase Curley will want revenge on Lennie for crushing his hand during the fight. On page 65 it says, "'I won't tell,' said Curley. He avoided looking at Lennie." In this situation it seems like Curley is scared of Lennie, but I still feel he will find some other way to win. Whether he will try and get him kicked out, try and beat him up again, or try and make him leave, I think some way Curley will try and get Lennie for what he did.

          When Curley accuses Slim of being with his wife, it was a Man vs Man situation. Slim calls Curley's wife things like "...good lookin'..." but it doesn't mean he is with Curley's wife. Curley and the other men in the bunkhouse go out with Curley becuase they think Slim and Curley are going to have some kind of fight. When the men return to the bunkhouse, Slim is really mad at Curley for accusing him, and Curley is trying to apologize. So far in the plot it has made thing weird and tense between Slim and Curley. I think we will see this have some negative effects later on in the book.

Commented on: Mia Devin Diana

Of Mice and Men Blog 4-20-15

Writing Prompts:
1) Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and the bunkhouse. Be sure to include characteristics of different character that were formally or informally introduced to is in this chapter. Support your choice with textual evidence.

2) Why doesn't Curley's wife have a name? What message, if anything, is John Steinbeck trying to send by not giving her a name? Support your choice with textual evidence and interpretation.

Pages Read: 0 - 37


          The bunkhouse was "...a long, rectangular building..." with "...small, square windows, and...a solid door with a wooden latch." The bunkhouse was filled with bunks and shelves where the occupants could put their personal belongings. This shows that it was not very fancy looking and had just enough space and objects for what was needed.

The atmosphere of the bunkhouse seems to be a mix between friendly and mean or tense. There are friendly people, such as Slim and Candy, make the atmosphere a friendly and kind environment. Rude or mean people, such as Curley and The Boss, make the atmosphere of the bunkhouse a little negative. The ranch might be a little different considering it includes other workers, such as Lennie and George. The atmosphere might be sad or depressing because of the hard work and labor the people must do. The atmosphere could also be a kind of happy environment because the people might have that kind of attitude and vibe. The atmosphere could also be a mixture between both of those things. There will probably be some kind people, and some people that cause negative feelings.

          It seems like the people at the ranch are a mixture of kind an not kind people. Slim, for example, was very kind to Lennie and George. When Slim speaks, he talks in a friendly tone and speaks with kindness. Carlson also seems to be friendly toward the George and Lennie. People, such as Curley, seems to dislike the new workers. By the way Curley fixes his body when around the two, shows his feeling towards George and Lennie. On page 25 it states, "He glanced coldly at George and then Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists, he stiffened and went into a slight crouch." This shows that Curley has some negative feelings about George and Lennie.

          The Boss seemed like a guy that was strict, but understanding. It didn't question George to much when things got suspicious. Candy described him as a "...pretty nice fella...gets pretty mad sometimes, but he's pretty nice." This shows that the boss is a kind person, at least in Candy's opinion.

          Candy is an "old swamper" and tries to gain trust and respect from George and Lennie. Candy gives them information on the ranch and the people there. He is very kind and helpful towards George and Lennie. Candy also has a very old dog that Carlson wants to replace with one of Slim's new pups.

          I think Curley's wife doesn't have a name because in this time women were not treated equal to men. Curley's wife not having a name shows that she belongs to Curley. I think John Steinbeck is trying to send a message that says: women didn't or shouldn't have the same equal rights as men. Instead of giving her a name, Curley's wife is always referred to as "she","her", "girl", or " woman.

Commented on: Siari, Jared (the text is black so you will have to highlight to see it), Justin

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 3-13-15

Writing Prompt: If the author were here, what would you ask him/her?

          I haven't really gotten far in the book but I already have questions I want to ask the author. The author of this book is Mark Haddon. A question I would ask Mark Haddon is: Does this story connect with you in some way? I would ask this because the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is about a boy with mental illness, and I was wondering if the author connected with this in any way. For example, does the author have a mental illness? Does the author have a friend with a mental illness? Does Mark Haddon have a family with a mental illness? Things that have to do with the connection the author has to mental illness in general.

          Another question I would ask Mark Haddon is: How did you get the idea for this story? This question would probably connected with the connection Mark Haddon has with this book. I want to know if Mark has any real strong reasons for this book. For example, Is this based on something you've witnessed? Does this have something to do with you? Things that would help me find out how this book came to be.

          A different question I would ask Mark Haddon would be: Was it hard to write this book? This might also go in with the connection with this book. If Mark had a connection with the book then maybe this book wasn't so hard to write. If the author did not have a connection with this book, and it was all made up from the mind, then it might've been difficult to think of and create.

Commented on: Bianey, Emily, and Saul