2nd Quarter Reflections

Prompts: 

- In what area do you think you made your biggest improvements in English Language Arts?

- What has been the most challenging part of 2nd Quarter for you and what did/can you do to help overcome this?

- What is something you have accomplished since the new year that you are proud of?

            An area that I think I have made my biggest improvement in English Languge Arts is annotating. Usually when I annotated I would write down whatever came up in my mind. Now I put more thought into it and really think about the topic the piece of writing is informing me about. When reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I annotated so much. Usually I don't annotate in books at all, or when I do it would be a a thought on every couple of pages. Taking out all of the notes I wrote from the book made me realize that I put a lot of effort to understand the book. In articles I use to just highlight things that seemed important and wrote small explanations on why I thought that was important. Now I really think about the important details and write a lot more thought into it. I think most of that reason why I used to not be good with annotating is, because I was just being lazy, and wanted to get it done without much quality.

            The most challenging part of the 2nd Quarter for me was to do all of my assignments and turn them in on time. Eighth grade has been very challenging for me these past two quarters, because of the homework. In seventh grade I would get very little to no homework in most of my classes. This school year I now get loads of homework for each class. It has been a little stressful for me, but then again I have been lazy with my work lately. I've noticed that my work changes from when I take my time to do my work to when I do all of my work at the last minute. Lately I have been putting off my work simply because I don't want to do this. I know I have to break out of this habit, because I am just putting more stress on myself. I want to just finish the homework as soon as it's given instead of waiting for the last day I can work on it. It's like I know that I should do the homework when I have time to do it, but instead I just put it to the side, and think that I have more time to do it. That just makes it worse for me, and I know that, but I still seem to put it off. In the third quarter I will focus of homework before I focus on other things that are not important. 

            Something that I have accomplished since the new year that I am proud of is getting good grades on my vocabulary tests, and other units in this class. Ever since the new grading system I have been nervous to see if my grades would be lower than usual. Since the new year I have busy with after school activities and every week I kept thinking that I wouldn't do good on my tests and in school work, because I didn't have enough time to study. I ended up doing really well on those tests. I think after more and more tests they will become easier, because I will know more strategies to study better, and when the right time to study is. This quarter has been so challenging for me to get good grades and finish all of my assignments, but I managed to do it all, and that's what I'm most proud of. 

Blog Jan. 19, 2016

 

Prompt: What do you think is the most important difference between the written and filmed version? Provide evidence with specific details.

How would you prove that one version of To Kill A Mockingbird is more affective in delivering its message that the other?

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

            There were many differences between the book and the film To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, but I think the most important difference between the written and filmed version of To Kill a Mockingbird is that there were not as many interactions with Boo in the movie than there was in the book. Another difference was how Boo's character didn't develop in the movie as much as the book did. In my opinion I think the book had more significance and importance towards Boo much more than the movie. What I saw in the movie seemed like Boo didn't have much of an impact of the children than the book did. The film displayed him more as a minor character, while in the book he was very important. In the film it didn't show much of the different periods of times when Boo made an impact on the kids, and in the book he wasn't just a kind stranger, like they showed him in the film. The book stated, "'When I went back for my breeches...they were folded across the fence...like they were expecting me.'" This shows that Boo did this to help Jem get out of the trouble he got into. In the book Scout seemed very determined to meet Boo throughout the entire book, while in the movie very few scenes showed how Scout was curious to meet and see Boo Radley for the first time. When the children attempted  to give Boo a note, the book states, "Jem was merely going to put the note on the end of a fishing pole and stick it through the shutters." This shows how the children really wanted to have an interaction with Boo. The film kind of missed the determination the kids had to get the chance to see and meet Boo in person. 

            In the book while Ms. Maudie's house was on fire and it was cold, Boo put a blanket over Scout's shoulders. When Scout noticed the blanket put around her shoulders and was curious to find out how it ended up on her, Atticus told Scout, "‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.’” This showed that Boo was not the mean, scissor stabbing person people said he was. The little events like this in the book start to develop the reader's vision on what they think about Boo Radley. The film made it seem as if he was really just a friendly person who was being very shy. In the film it did not show this part at all. I think this would have been good to put in the movie, to show how Boo maybe wanted to have friends and how he interacted with the kids more. In the book there were several times when different gifts were left in the knothole for the kids by Boo. The gifts were an important part of the book, because it slowly showed what kind of a person Boo really was, and how the children's view on Boo changed throughout the book. The book stated, "We were walking past our tree. In its knot-hole... we found a whole package of chewing gum...yielded a tarnished medal...a pocket watch that wouldn't work, on a chain with an aluminum knife...'' This shows how Boo was leaving many gifts in the tree rather than just one or two things. The movie briefly mentioned the gifts in the tree and the significance of them. These things have shown the readers that Boo was very misunderstood for who he really was, and it was very touching to see his real character as a friendly, brave, shy, and caring person. 

 

            The book version of To Kill A Mockingbird was a more affective way in delivering its message than the film was. The book had greater detail into the town, the Finch Family, and Boo Radley than the film did. The film seemed to be mainly focused on the Tom Robinson Trial. The book was able to explain all of Scout's thoughts, and actions. It was hard to understand what Scout was thinking and it  missed out on some of her actions in the film. When Aunt Alexandra came to stay at their home, the book states, "'We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence.'" Scout was very angry about this. In the movie they didn't show Alexandra. This was important in the book, because it made it more clear to us that Scout didn't like girly things and liked to be how she was already. In the book as we read along, we can see how our feelings have changed about Boo Radley. In the beginning of the book the characters and the readers saw Boo as a mean, scary person. We made assumptions that he was a bad person by what people have said about him, these were all rumors and later in the book the readers find the rumors to not be true. The message the versions were trying to convey was to get to know someone before judging them. When Cal brought the kids to her church, Lulu stated, "'You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here-they got their church, we got our'n.'" This scene was also not added to the film. This would have shown the racism in the town, and how all people were affected by it. In my opinion this film didn't do a good job in getting the message across, especially since the message mostly pertained to Boo Radley, and he was seen more as a minor character.

Dec. 14, 2015

Prompt: Do any of the characters change as you've read? Explain why or why not. 

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

            One character that I have seen really change throughout the book is Scout. In the beginning of the book Scout hears things about Boo Radley. Scout is very scared of Boo. She thinks that he is a harmful person, and tries to avoid the Radley House. There were so many rumors about Boo that made all the children fearful of him. Scout, Jem, and Dill all participate mocking Boo, and even end up making a game out of him. Everytime she would get near his house, she would sprint past it. Later on in the book, Scout's fear of Boo begins to fade. She starts to mature and realize that all of those rumors were made up. When Boo puts the blanket over Scout when it was cold she realizes that he is harmless. Near the end of the book all of Scout's fantasies of meeting Boo have come true. After meeting Boo and walking him home, Scout now knows that he is normal person, and has nothing to fear about him. She has gone to being afraid of Boo to becoming friends with him.

            Another character that that changed a lot is Jem. Jem has gotten so mature over the years in the book. In the beginning of the book Jem would always play with Scout and Dill. They all would make up new games and have their adventures together. As the story goes on Jem seems to be more independent. He does not want to be involved with Dill and Scout's games. You can tell that Jem and Scout's relationship faded a little in the middle of the novel. Jem would be very serious at times, and acts like Atticus a lot at times. At the end of the book you can see how Jem truly does love Scout by protecting her when they were attacked by Bob Ewell. He held her hand through the way, and saves Scout by not leaving her behind. This shows that he has changed a lot, because in the beginning of the book he thought it was brave enough to touch the Radley house, but years later he is brave enough to protect Scout from getting hurt, and killed.

            Although there is only one specific part in the book where you can see Boo change it means a lot to the characters and readers. Boo has spent most of his life indoors without having any contact face to face with people as an adult until the end of the book. He has been isolating himself so much that the town has made terrible rumors about him. He seems to be too shy to come outside, so he just leaves gifts for the children, showing us that he is friendly. At the end of the book when he kills Bob and takes the kids home it is shocking to all of us that he had the courage to come outside. He could have just stayed inside and minded his own business, but instead he was brave enough to go outside, and even kill a man to protect the children. To me that is a very big change that a character has gone through. 

Blog Dec. 3, 2015

Prompt: Think about Dill and Francis. Note ways they are alike and ways they are different. From there, decide what relationship each has with Scout and what effect they have on her. 

To Kill A Mockingbird by Herper Lee

            I think the main similarity between Dill and Francis is that they always seem to find trouble. In chapter nine, page 111 (soft cover), Francis lies to his grandma saying Scout kept him in the kitchen and wouldn't let him out, so he wouldn't get in trouble for playing in the kitchen. Scout then gets in trouble while Francis got away with it for a little bit. A little later he keeps on picking on Scout and gets hit by her. He knew what he was saying and doing was wrong, but he still did it anyway and got what he deserved. In chapter 4, page 51, Dill decides it would be fun to act out the Radley family. The kids decided to keep the game a secret, because Dill and the kids knew it wasn't right to do something like that, but they did it anyway. Later on Atticus found out about their game and they got in trouble. Both Dill and Francis do things that are bad, and end up getting in trouble for it.

            There are many differences, but one that I noticed first is that Francis often repeats everything he hears from people while Dill always manages to make up stories with his wild imagination. In chapter 8, page 109 and 110, Francis says twice"...Grandma says...", showing he gets most of his words and stories from Grandma. It also shows that he is a follower and doesn't make up new ideas by himself, and just copies people. In chapter 1, page 9 and 10, you can see that Dill entertained Jem and Scout by acting out characters, and he made up new games to play. This shows that he makes up his own ideas instead of getting them from someone else. It also shows that he is creative and is able to make up things to do to entertain Scout and Jem. 

            The relation between Scout and Dill, and Scout and Francis are very different. In the book we know that Dill loves Scout and Francis hates Scout. In chapter 14, page 191, Dill says to scout that he wanted to have a baby with her, showing that he really likes her. In chapter 6, page 74, Dill remembers that he is engaged to Scout and kisses her. Dill really loves Scout while Francis hates her. In chapter 8, page 110, Fracis says mean things about Atticus, and Scout gets very angry. Atfer he gets her in trouble he smirks at her, showing he was glad she got in trouble. The relation is very different and Scout is effected by it in different ways. 

            Dill loves Scout, and so Scout loves him back, and Francis loathes Scout, so Scout does the same thing in return. Throughout the book you can see how Scout acts to people according to the way they treat her. Dill is a great friend to Scout and she really enjoys having him around. While Francis is like an enemy to Scout, because he always got her in trouble, so she always tries to ignore him. You can tell by their actions that Scout reacts to them in different ways. If someone is mean like Francis she will not like them and be mean to them, back. If someone if friendly and nice like Dill she will like them and be friendly back. Dill and Francis have a big effect on Scout, because it shows her that there are both mean and friendly people in the world, and she has to learn how to deal with them. 

Blog Nov. 24, 2015

In the photo it is mainly focused on a grocery store. You can see the prices for food that is being sold, and a man in the doorway of the store. You can see that there is only one person in the picture. You can tell by this that it is probably a small town with little people in it like in Maycomb. Also you can see that the prices for the food is a lot less then what we pay now. In the book Miss Caroline offers Walter a quarter to get lunch in the city. This shows that things back then were a lot less money, and in the picture it shows the food for a very low price compared to today. The picture can be in the same time period that To Kill A Mockingbird was in, because the prices for things were similar. 

In the picture you can see a man by the store door. You can see that his sleeves are rolled up and he looks a little tired from the way he is standing. In the book it states, "Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it." This means that not much really happens in Maycomb, and as you can see the man looks tired, and almost a little bored. You can also tell that the time periods are similar, because in the book it takes place in the 1930's and the man's clothes look like what people wore in that time. In the book it states, "...it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day..." Showing is was very hot in the summer. The man's sleeves are rolled up, and you can infer that it was a hot day. 

Blog Nov. 16, 2015

Prompt: Analyze the theme throughout your book. 

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor 

            One of the themes is the the book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is family. The Logan family loves eachother and would do anything to protect one another. In the book the Logan's show that they deeply care about their family. When Papa got hurt Mama helped him, because she knew he was badly hurt. The kids were very scared for Papa. They were also very angry and wanted to know who hurt him. Also when Cassie was pushed on the street by Lillian Jean's father her family had different ways of seeing how to solve the situation. Mama wanted to just leave it alone, because she thought it might become a worse situation, and might hurt the family. Uncle Hammer was very upset and wanted to do something to the father, because he felt it was wrong to do that and wanted to protect his family. Cassie's best friends are her siblings. She rarely does anything without them and doesn't seem to have any relationship with the kids at her school. Showing that her family are like her friends. 

            Another theme in the book is race. The story takes place before the Civil Rights Movement, so race is a major concern in the book. Th book shows that back then race did matter a lot when it came to certain things. In different parts of the book it shows how the black people were treated very poorly compared to the white people. In one part of book the black school received books, inside of the book it showed the race of the student and the quality the book was given to them. For their books it said "Very Poor" and for the white students. Lot of them said "New", "Excellent", and "Good". This showed that because of their race they got poor books while the white children got good books. People treated other people so differently, because of their races. 

            Another theme in the book is justice and injustice. Throughout the book there are many examples of people being treated fairly and unfairly. The Logan family have to face the many kinds unfairness caused by the racist oppression of the time period. In the book at one point the kids go to a store where they receive racist remarks toward them. Another time at a store Cassie and her brother went to the cashier to make their order when they were interrupted. A white man comes and the cashier goes to him before finishing their order. Then a white girl comes and the cashier once again goes to her before finishing their order. When Cassie makes it clear to him that that was not fair since they were there first he replys with, "Whose little nigger is this?" For a much more serious matter a man was burned to death for speaking to a white women. The Logan family has to grow up learning how to deal with these injustices. The book shows how white people are treated with respect while most of the time the black people were treated disrespectfully. 

Blog Oct. 26, 2015

Prompt: Reflect on first quarter 

            The first quarter went by very quickly. I remember the first day of eighth grade like it was yesterday. I think I have learned and improved a lot this quarter. Coming back from a long summer break can be hard, but I managed to keep everything I learned last year, and bring it to this year. I think the first quarter was a little tough in the beginning, but then as the quarter went on I began to gain back my focus, and started to learn more and more each day. 

            Strategies that have helped me during this first quarter is using my time wisely, and writing down everything I needed done. Last year I struggled to get my work done, because I would always finish it on the last day. This year I did not want to do the same thing again, so I worked a little on different things each day of the week. This has really made a change in my schedule, because instead of staying up late trying to complete my work I have extra time to do other things. Another strategy that has helped me is writing down my homework as a checklist. Having a checklist makes me want to complete everything on it. It also helps me remember what I have to get done. Sometimes I would finish something that I spent a lot of time on, then realizing that I still had to do more things. Writing down things has improved my time management as well, because then I would know how much time I should work on certain things. 

            Reading more has always been something I have wanted to do each year. This quarter I didn't read as much as I would have wanted to do. I still read a good amount of books this quarter, but I would have wanted to read more. Last year I know I read less books in the first quarter than what I have read this year so for, so that is good that I'm reading more. To read more I will have to find the extra time to read, and look for more books I am interested in reading. I think finding more books I am interested in reading will help me read more, because then I will look forward to reading them, and then I will. For the second quarter I would like to read more than I did this quarter. 

            Something's that I have improved from last year is revising my work, and my researching skills. Last year I would only look for spelling errors and other small things. This year I go from sentence to sentence to look for things that don't make sense, or things at can can be improved. I also constantly look for words that can be replaced, so it doesn't sound too boring. This quarter I can tell that my word choice has made a difference in my writing. I think that my researching skills have improved as well. Last year most of the time I would rely on only one website for information. This quarter I have learned to look at multiple websites to see if all the information is right.