Q4 W5 Comments

Sophia- https://sophia-english1.blogspot.com/2017/04/hits-and-misses.html?showComment=1493226787868#c966963675840229727

Mary Francis- https://maryfrancissblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/anticipating-our-next-book.html?showComment=1493227114187#c1968811015609630304

Anticipating our next book

1. Ambition is a positive, desirable trait in a person- agree
2. If you are in a position of power, you are happy- disagree
3. Everyone is capable of lying, betrayal, and violence, which are basic parts of human nature- strongly agree
4. Who we are--our essential character and temperament--is fixed and unchangeable- strongly disagree
5. Women are more compassionate and less violent than men- disagree
6. Sometimes you have to do things other people consider wrong to get ahead- agree
7. Some things are destined or fated to happen- strongly agree
8. If something is destined to happen, it will happen without your interference- agree

#3 and 5 stood out to me a lot because I had to think for awhile before answering. For  #3, I though it was interesting because we studied human nature with Lord of the Flies. I do believe that everyone is capable of lying, betrayal, and violence, which are parts of human nature, but that does not mean that they have the right to do it. I believe that everyone is born good and if they grow up to be evil, then they are tempted by evil. This example especially fits for today because today is Good Friday and my example is from Peter in the Bible. He denied Jesus three times saying that he had no association with Jesus on the day he died. Peter fits in with the definition of human nature, but he is not bad.

For #5, I was stuck on it for awhile. When I see people getting arrested on the news, it's almost all males. I can see why people think that women are more compassionate and less violent then men, but that is sexist. When we hear about rape, we always think that is a male that did it, but women can get accused of rape too. This led me to strongly disagree with this point because men can be more compassionate and less violent than women. These 8 points were very interesting and it helped me see my view on things.

Hits and Misses

This past 9th grade year, I have grown a lot with my writing. My writing used to be very basic and had no depth in it. Now, I feel that I have a lot of detail. One thing that I struggled with for a writing assignment was my literary analysis. Not only was it my first time writing this style of a paper, but I was just lost with where to start. Once I found an interesting topic to argue, it got a little better. One thing that I liked that Dr. D gave us was a roadmap that showed me what to do with our writing. She gave us lots of details from what is a literary analysis, to how to properly write in MLA format and how to embed quotes. After I finished this paper, I remember feeling so accomplished because this paper was very difficult for me.

I feel like one of my strong papers was my research paper. It makes such a difference when you research a topic that you like. I really enjoyed researching my topic about Islamic Spain and that helped motivate my writing. I feel like if you enjoy a topic, then it is easier to write. I was ready to move on from Lord of the Flies, so I wanted to get my literary analysis out of the way. That could be one reason for why it was difficult for me. I feel like I have grown so much this year, and I am curious for the portfolio assignment because I feel like I will like it.

Q4 W4 Comments

Gautam- https://gautamenglish1.blogspot.com/2017/04/new-york-times-prompt.html?showComment=1491936428871#c8368272077377635257

Sophia- https://sophia-english1.blogspot.com/2017/04/purple-hibiscus_10.html?showComment=1491936602588

New York Times Prompt

I am answering #121- How do you find peace in your mind? 

I find peace in my mind through multiple different ways. I will probably sound like a  stereotypical person if I say that I like to be in a peaceful environment, but it is true. I do not like being in places where it is loud and chaotic. I like to be somewhere where it is quiet, and mainly when I have my candle in my room lit. 

The main way that I find peace in my mind is by listening to calm/soothing music before I go to bed. I find that I have been doing this for awhile now, and it helps me because it clears my mind before I go to sleep. I know that this works for me because when I am stressed or have a big test the next day and I do not listen to calming music, I usually have a bad headache the next day. I think that it is important to find the thing that establishes peace in your mind, because this will be your go-to solution when you are stressed. 

Purple Hibiscus

I started into reading Purple Hibiscus being very confused. I was worried that I would be confused because in the first chapter, the reader is immersed in the Nigerian culture. However, this has been one of my favorite challenging books to read, and I am not just saying that because I am writing a blog about this. Not only has this book helped me with my vocabulary, it helped me be a better well-rounded student by learning about the Nigerian culture. 

For me to fully understand each chapter, I annotate throughly. I actually had a problem with annotations because it took me so long to read chapters because I took so much time in annotations. After I solved this annotation issue, I found myself reading each chapter quicker and still understanding. Even though I have some annotations just about the plot, I have mainly narrowed my annotations down to culture, social-class, and a point that I will argue in my character study, which is, Papa being displayed as a god-like figure in multiple scenarios. This has helped me to not only understand the book itself, but to also understand the Nigerian culture when this book was set. 

Q4 W3 Comments

Anna- https://annakweb.blogspot.com/2017/03/political-article.html?showComment=1490726789931#c3933633164697837172

Griff- https://griffsenglishblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/political-article-post.html?showComment=1490727065827#c7580165178249861785

Political article response

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/10/23/survey-students-tired-stressed-bored/74412782/

I read an article about high school kids at school. I found it interesting when I read about a survey in the article that asked high school kids how they feel during the day, and almost all of them respond with, “tired, stressed, or bored.” These feelings can affect your decisions and attention span. I thought that it was also interesting how when a researcher did a toll around the US and asked how you feel at school, the answer options were happy and not happy. 22,000 teenagers responded with not happy. 

I think that it is important to live a healthy life and to not be stressed. I always come across stressed people during the day, and every time if my friends look sad and I ask them what’s wrong, it’s almost always that they’re tired or stressed. One of the many things that I like about Episcopal is that there are many fun clubs that you participate in that takes your mind off of schoolwork for 25 minutes. I like this for me because I find that I am getting stressed more often, and clubs are my way during the day to just forget about work that needs to be done. I chose this article because I have recently found myself not always being the happiest person at school, and I used to always be happy in middle school. I wanted to find out more about this and it lead me to the conclusion that it is simply just the workload. 

Q4 W2 Comments

Laura- https://stephcurryftw.blogspot.com/2017/03/free-post_17.html?showComment=1490121771971#c5293230721027426012

Griff- https://griffsenglishblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/free-post-weddings-and-funerals.html?showComment=1490122054178#c4346304721270694064

Free post

It’s always been easy for me to say things that I will do to change my studying, but when it comes to actually doing it, it is so much harder. I’ve been noticing this lately because I have been doing this a lot lately when it comes to studying. I say that I am going to read my notes every night for 10 minutes so I’ll be prepared when it comes to the actual studying part, and then I don’t. I say that I am not going to do all my homework on Sunday’s, and then I do. 

I feel like one possible reason why I am doing this is from habit. Since I have been good at procrastinating, it has became a habit to procrastinate. I need to break this habit because I keep saying I will do things and then never do it. Right now it is a Sunday afternoon, and I am doing homework. This could have been avoided if I prioritized. I think that things will get better, but it will be small, baby steps until I break my habit. 

Learning reflection

This year I have learned that I am a very visual learner. I have always been neat with organization, but I haven’t noticed until now. I color coordinate almost everything when it comes to studying, and when it’s exam time, there are highlighters everywhere. It’s just something that sticks with me: when I see something in a certain color, I immediately associate with that colors meaning. 

I have learned that when I take messy notes or am cramming and I can’t organize my notes to my likings, I don’t do as well on tests/quizzes. I have especially noticed this in the 3rd quarter. 3rd quarter was the hardest quarter for me so far, and that was partially from not being organized. This quarter, I know myself much better than I did in the first quarter, and I am going to organize my notes to my likings before the test. This means, I need to think ahead and not study for a test 2 nights or a night before because I need time to color coordinate. This would be my ideal situation, but this won’t happen every time because I am human, and I procrastinate. I hope 4th quarter will be a smooth ride and that there will be no bumps along the road!

Q4 W1 comments

Anna- https://annakweb.blogspot.com/2017/03/song.html?showComment=1489510438000#c1002100919839415448

Sarah- https://sarahcenglish1.blogspot.com/2017/03/analyze-song.html?showComment=1489511138432#c8607886391602044248

Q3 W7 Comments

Sarah- https://sarahcenglish1.blogspot.com/2017/03/free-post-poem.html?showComment=1488849997783#c1835301826720118403

Ryan F- https://shamadaclan.blogspot.com/2017/03/my-video-games.html?showComment=1488850381553#c8422101408389434359

Analyze a song

The song I looked at was Roar, by Katy Perry. 

This song portrays a person who let people push her around and was not allowed to have an opinion. She finally built up the courage to rebel, or “Roar.” This song uses multiple smilies. In the fourth stanza on the first line, it says, “Now I'm floating like a butterfly.” This would be a simile and could be interpreted that she is not drowning and will not fail because butterflies do not drown and are delicate. I found it interesting that in this stanza, Katy Perry used a simile in almost every line. 

“Now I'm floating like a butterfly

Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes

I went from zero, to my own hero”

I also found an Alliteration when it says in the third stanza on the third line, “Louder, louder, louder than a lion.” The girl portrayed in this song is finally gaining a voice, and is using it loudly. I find it interesting how many poetic terms this song has. It helped me deepen my understanding of the song. The techniques helped contribute my overall interpretation of the song because when breaking it down line by line, I could understand more clearly that the girl had little to no voice, and is now a “Champion.” This is inspiring because it shows to never let people run over you and to have your voice and use it strongly. 

Link: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/katyperry/roar.html

Free Post

Lately, I have been noticing what I have been eating junk food more often. I used to care less and eat burgers and fries all the time. I believe it was last Saturday when I thought to myself, “Wow, I had a lot of fries this week.” It was at that moment when I decided that I need to have more balanced meals. I am definitely not on some sort of diet, but I am just being more conscientious at my meals. 

I started with baby steps and I gave up fries for Lent. I’m already struggling! I did not notice how often I have fries until I gave them up. I feel like after Lent, not having fries will not be as difficult for me. This is an eye-awakening experience for for me, and I also feel like it is a milestone that I am growing up. So far, I already feel better when I have a side of watermelon instead of fries. 

Q3 W6 Comments

Sophia- https://sophia-english1.blogspot.com/2017/02/friends-poem.html?showComment=1487705696393#c7631750635395842510

John H- https://johnhenglish1block3.blogspot.com/2017/02/poem.html?showComment=1487705930311#c4506412620809130555

Poem using 3 poetry terms

I wake up on the smooth, fertile grass

Birds are chirping because of the beautiful spring 

Suddenly, I see rain clouds clustering and gathering around

It hasn’t rained in decades so I knew it wouldn’t rain

I was wrong

The rain had a spooky wind 

with deathly sounds in the distant

I was drenched and felt like a mop

I ran as fast as I could to find shelter

But I was in a vast valley that had no end 

I used an Euphony, hyperbole, and a cacophony

Vocabulary story

I have been trying so hard to get into South Park school. This school required the best of the best, but I was somewhat affiliated with the school because my dad taught there. It was time to take the test to get in and I knew I was doomed because after looking at the 1st question, I thought to myself, “how am I supposed to figure this out?” My self confidence immediately lowered but after telling myself, “I can do this, I got this” for about 5 minutes I felt much better and continued with the test. 

About 1 hour after the test, the school administration started calling names for those who passed. Since my last name is Johnson, I had awhile to go until I can possibly hear my name. When they started to get to the I’s, my anticipation was so high and I was sweating too much. Here we go. “Jackson, James, Justin.” My heart skipped a beat and my rancor grew strong for those people. 

I wanted to cry. I walked out of the room as quickly as possible when I heard an adult say, “Could Emily Johnson please come see me?” Oh great. What did I do. It turns out that I actually got a 100% and they wanted to congratulate me. It is crazy how in 5 minutes, I had a range of tears of sadness to tears of joy. It is amazing how if you just tell yourself, “You can do it,” during a test you will do so much better. I will do this again in the future. 

Q3 W4 comments

Syndney: https://sydneysenglishonework.blogspot.com/2017/02/atdpti-response-2.html?showComment=1486577632650#c7562297310805590139

Madisyn Paige: https://english1mpblog.blogspot.com/2017/02/research-process-ups-and-downs.html?showComment=1486605188729#c338596811189292852

Research Process

This research paper has been a challenge for me, and I feel like it is never ending. When I was done with my rough draft, I have to revise and edit my essay for my final draft. I also have a project due in History for this, and I feel like this research process is never ending. 

Although, I have learned an abundant of useful information while researching and writing my paper. I learned to embed my quotes because before this, my quotes were choppy when I embedded them. Also, I learned to think of my thesis a lot when researching. There is so much information given to me through databases, but I don’t need all of that information. Lastly, I hope to get better in connecting my paragraphs together. This is my top struggle when I write, and I am trying to get better at it. 

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian response 2

In Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I’ve noticed that Junior has gained respect after punching Gordy. I would think that if Junior punches a big guy, then the guy would seek revenge, but in Junior’s situation, he gained respect. I like the idea of this. 

I also thought that it was interesting that when Junior told Penelope that he was poor, Penelope started crying. I thought that she was going to be mad at Junior for acting like he is not poor, but instead she made sure that he had a ride home. I like how the author is almost tricking with the readers mind in some situations because when we expect one result, it turns out to be a different one. 

Q3 W3 comments

Hudson- https://huds0ngenglish.blogspot.com/2017/01/free-post-sunday.html?showComment=1485972509887#c7365316359930104917

Anna- https://annakweb.blogspot.com/2017/01/absolutely-true-diary-of-part-time.html?showComment=1485972692100#c5204670629371695066

New Habits

Since the second semester has already started, I have made new some adjustments to doing better in harder classes. I haven’t accomplished all of these new habits, but I hope that they will find its way in my daily routine. 

First, when I study I need to put my phone in a separate room. I used to have my phone in my room but just next to me, but that does not work. I am still tempted to just check instagram “1 time,” and then I end up somehow on a puppy insatgram page. I think that if my phone is in the other room, then I will not be as tempted to check my phone. Lastly, I need to find a way to not become stressed so easily. I often find myself stressed on the small things, when I don’t need to be stressed. I think I am going to start journaling. Hopefully, these 2 things will stick with me throughout the quarter. 

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior (the narrator) shows his audience what it is like to be an Indian. This first person narrative book emphasizes on how little Indians feel sometimes. He is stuck in a reservation where there is no hope left. However, Junior is the last person with hope. He quickly makes the decision to change schools and hopes to get a better education. 

What really caught my eye was when Junior said at one point, “I almost felt like a human.” This made me so disappointed that people treated Indians like non-human beings. Junior tells the audience how poor they are treated, but he tries to brush it aside. I like how he is trying to stay positive, but I think that at one point in the book he will break down from all the negativity around him. 

Q3 W2 Comments

Mary Francis- https://maryfrancissblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/dance-and-king-louis-xiv.html?showComment=1485264950957#c4764099014230637938

Sydney- https://sydneysenglishonework.blogspot.com/2017/01/research-topic.html?showComment=1485265327693#c8192702566499045454

About my research topic

I am still working on the right research question for my topic, but so far I have, “What are the characteristics of medieval Spain, and how does it change through the Reconquest.” I don’t know why this is so difficult for me so far, but I hope that once I have the right research question everything will be a smooth ride from there.

I am writing about Islamic Spain and the Reconquista of Spain. Catholicism Spain was conquered by Muslims in 700, and was not re-conquered until 1492. When the Christians conquered Spain, it was known as the Reconquista of Spain. I will connect this to Christopher Columbus because after Spain was re-conquered by Christians, Christopher Columbus was sent to the New World. 

Reflection from last semester

Something that really stood out to me last semester is that you don’t have to be good at everything. Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses and I learned to accept that. In middle school, my strength was algebra. Now that I am in high school, I am not a geometry person. My strengths shifted because classes got harder this year. 

I am still learning what I am good at, and my weaknesses might be my strengths next year. This taught me to study more in what I am not good at. I will be more prepared for tests and quizzes. Also, I will look at my notes almost every night for some classes. One time in biology I looked at my notes every night for just 15 minutes a week before my test, and my grade improved greatly. I will do this for my other classes too for now on. 

Q3 W1 comments

Sarah C- https://sarahcenglish1.blogspot.com/2017/01/mlk.html?showComment=1484704056580#c8695870938762459483

Lathan- https://jamaicanenglish1.blogspot.com/2017/01/research-update.html?showComment=1484704182595#c4560814337372871318

MLK Day

I always remind myself that MLK day needs to be a day on, rather than a day off like what Fr. Skully says. I used to see this weekend as a three day weekend, but now I see it as a regular 2-day weekend and 1 day of service. 

Martin Luther King Jr. did so much in uniting our community, that it is rude to not do anything on his day of honor. My mom has always told me to go help out the community, and this weekend I did. 

On Saturday I went and helped plant 200 trees. It felt really good to help the community and know that the trail will now have more trees. I’m glad that I was given this opportunity to do service. I hope that other people used this weekend as opportunities to help out the community too because there were a lot of options for service learning this weekend. 

Research Update

The process in doing my annotated bibliographies for research has a roller coaster. Some sources have been fairly easy to read, and others have been really difficult. I couldn’t just do the annotated bibliographies on the easy sources because the hard sources have useful information too. Also, thinking of ways to start my evaluation has also been difficult for me. At first it was easy, but I kept on repeating my first sentence on each evaluation, so changing it up has been hard.

However, Dr. D gave us some examples for starting evaluations and summaries, and it has helped a lot. I used majority of the examples given, and it helped make my writing stronger. Also, reading the difficult sources has helped to be a better reader. The strong vocabulary will help me when writing and reading. I find Islamic Spain an interesting topic, and I am eager to find out more about it.