My Writing Center Experience

I went to the writing center for help on my literary analysis. My writing fellow was Gabrielle. We went over my paper to see what I needed to develop and focus on. I decided that I needed better support for my thesis. So I explained my short story Gabrielle and gave my ideas on support out loud to Gabrielle. She took notes on what I was saying. I began to write after she went to help another student.

After looking at her notes, I had a topic sentence for each paragraph. The help from the writing center made it easier for me to see what I needed to write about, without correcting my paper. I learned that possibly taking to someone to get my thoughts on paper is easier than letting my head wander. The writing center made it easier for me to get my paper done for efficiently, and I realized what I needed to write to make a strong paper.


The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
pgs 32-75
1 1/2 hours

Reading Times 12/2

"Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets" - Evan Roskos
pgs. 125 - 200 completed
5 hours

The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
pgs 1-32
1 1/2 hours

Break.

I know all of us are thinking it, thanksgiving break is right around the corner. Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorite holidays, and not just because of the large portions of food. I enjoy the laid back environment and the precursor to the Christmas season (which I love even more).

Thanksgiving epitomizes fall and family, which are some of my favorite things. Family, fun, food, fall, and a full stomach makes thanksgiving pretty wizard. It's essentially a decent excuse to stuff my face in public. Being able to take a recess from school isn't too shabby either. Honestly I'll probably spend my break on Netflix and Hulu catching up on pointless TV dramas, and drinking tea. I've even prayed in chapel that the teacher's didn't assign work, but we know that's inevitable.

Hope everyone has a great upcoming week to the holiday! (▰˘◡˘▰) 




"Dr. Birds Advice for Sad Poets"- Evan Roskos
pgs. 85-125 1 hour and 30 minutes

What is a book that has made you think or changed your mind?

Alex's character in the book 'Ostrich', by Matt Greene, changed my mind on what it means to be in a bad situation and making the best of it. Alex is a young 13 year old brain cancer patient. Instead of focusing on his impeding death, he savors every moment he has left.

Alex doesn't let the way people treat him differently because of his cancer affect him. He does allows all the little things to over shadow the larger more impending things. Alex creates a world much larger and more wonderful that was is actually there in front of him. He doesn't let anger diminish his happiness. Alex showed me that it is possible to make the best of any situation.

the beginning of the soccer season

It has started, that is soccer (as you can see from my title). I don't really know how I feel about soccer starting officially, I'm really anxious about the season. Tonight I had a dinner with the team, and we began to seriously discuss the effort the team will put in the season. I still don't know everyone on the team, considering some people are still participating in different sports.

Personally I don't really know what soccer has in store. I am going to still try and maintain other commitments that I have along with soccer, although it will be hard. I think I'm finally ready for a challenge, and am going to put my best foot forward this season.

"Dr. Birds Advice for Sad Poets"- Evan Roskos
pgs. 1-85 1 hour and 45 minutes

Island Simulation

I found the island simulation very entertaining. It was nice getting out of a class routine. I feel like a majority of the class didn't take it seriously, and I can say at some points I didn't either. On a more serious note the simulation does put you in the hypothetical situation that the characters we're reading about are actually in.

I think I if I was actually on an island with all my classmates and with twenty third (Is it third?) graders, I'd probably freak out. Or I'd pretend I was on an episode of Man vs. Wild or Naked Castaway, just for the fun of it. I hope that the characters in the book give me some solid ideas on how to survive on a tropical island.

Progress with Literary Analysis

So far my ideas for the literary analysis are slowly forming in my head.  I know what literary elements I to want to focus on in my story The Looking Glass (by Anton Chekov). Spending time in class going over my thesis with my classmates helped a lot. I found it useful utilizing my classmates' knowledge in order to improve my outline, and in the long term, my paper. When I talked to Dr. D about my paper she helped to assimilate the theme my story is trying to display.

I'm still struggling with being comfortable with my thesis statement, I like it, but it still requires some tweaking. I plan on finishing my outline with some difficulty considering my thesis is still somewhat in the works. There are a lot of ideas in my head that I need to reel in so I can finally put everything that belongs in my paper there.

Reading Log 11/4

Ostrich - Matt Greene
3 hours
pgs. 177- 322

Peermark
1 1/2 hours

Stories for the Literary Analysis

All of the stories I have read have been very vague and hard to understand. I have been experimenting with a thesis for all three stories and I'm kind of stumped. Since the stories I've read have been very vague it is hard to get a clear idea about what is occurring. One of my stories doesn't have a strong conflict either. 

One story I read called The Looking Glass by Anton Chekov could be interpreted many different ways which allows me to create an argument from my thesis. The story leaves enough space for interpretation, and leaves you with a lot of questions. The story isn't too easy to work with but gives enough information about character, setting, and mood to create a solid thesis.  

Reading Log 10/28

Ostrich - Matt Greene
2 hours
pg. 100-177

Reading Log 10/14

Matt Greene  - Ostrich 
pages 1 - 100
2 hours

reading for 10/7

30 minutes working on short story
1 hour and 30 minutes listening to Bossypants - Tina Fey

Published Comments on My Blog

9/26/13:

Chanler T.
Omar
Katie C.

9/24/13:

Chanler T.

9/23/13

Omar

9/22/13

Bennett B.

9/18/13

Chanler T.

9/9/13

Annie K.

9/5/13

Katherine Ann

9/3/13

Omar

8/30/13

Kate L.

Minnie's Story

[side note: my story is going to be written as Minnie's journal entry's except for the conclusion and resolution]

Trends in our Short Stories

One trend that seemed to go across the spectrum was that everyone's main character is our age, or a bit older. I too, am writing about someone by age. I think it makes sense that everyone is writing about people are age considering it's all we really know. I think it'll be interesting to see what everyone decides to do with their teenage main characters.

I'm having fun developing my character, setting, and other properties of my story. I feel like I'm making good progress towards a strong short story. I haven't really gotten to the chance to really talk to any of my classmates about their stories. From what I've heard the stories of my classmates vary, especially in mood. Some of them seem dramatic and others seems realistic and sad. I'm so excited to eventually get to read everyone's stories.

BossyPants - Tina Fey - 2 hours

Dreams. ☁

It's raining. I can hear it smacking the roof and the wind swiping it off. Rain, wind, wind, rain, rain, rain, thunder, and then a flash of light, and the pattern continues for an hour. I stare at the ceiling blueish grey shadows move and sway, like the trees and the street light are dancing. I try not to think about tomorrow.

Everyone is staring at me, whispering,  coking eyebrows, as if they know what happened. I look down checking that I'm wearing all necessary items of clothing, I am. I check my hair, I feel like I'm holding a cotton ball, I look down, it's a clump of my hair. I can feel tears building up. I am exposed. I start to shake, I look at my hand again, a shiver climbs from my leg to my neck. I'm wearing a hospital gown, just like I did when I broke my arm. When I could hear them talking about the abnormality of the incident. I feel asleep on my arm and woke up to a limp, rubbery piece of human. I know what happens next.

Looking For Another Good Book

I just finished reading Looking for Alaska. I was so pleased by this book. I think the special thing that sets this book apart from other young adult novels is the obvious statement and question that were emphasized through out the story. Both of the quotes that the book were set off of were people's last words (see other blog post for short summary of book).

"I go to seek a great perhaps"(François Rabelais), and "How will I ever get out of the labyrinth?" (Simón Bolívar), are both things that I also pondered while reading this book. Miles, the main character, also struggles, as I did, to find the meaning in these quotes. By the end of the book Mile does in fact find his meaning in François Rabelais's and Simón Bolívar's last words. I can not say I quite understand what they mean for me, yet. Although I didn't anticipated the outcome of  Mile's view, I understand what '...the great perhaps' and '....the labyrinth' mean to him.




Looking for Alaska - John Green
Listened for 2 hours and 15 minutes

Ideas for the E-book

I'm really excited to make an e-book and it sounds like it a great opportunity express my creativeness. I really think it would be cool to do the book all monochrome. I think the cover page or front of the book should be a picture, collection of pictures, or doodles, that represent all the literary narratives. If we do choose to black and white doodles they should be simple, cohesive, and whimsical. The picture should be high quality, nothing blurry. I think that black and white looks more professional and legitimate.

Everyone should be able to chose their own fonts, but I think the class should decide on 3-4 fonts that appeal to everyone. Layout should be simple and clean. This would make the separate papers look cohesive yet have individuality. I also think that the last page should have quotes pertain the story or writing each chosen by a different classmate.

Bossypants

Bossypants - Tiny Fey
Chapter 59
4 hours 15 minutes (of listening)


I started reading Tina Fey's Bossypants because over the summer I found a love for celebrity comedian literature. I'm a huge fan of Tina Fey's work which includes Mean Girls, I can assure you every American teenage girl has seen that movie, at least three times. I love being able to relate to someone's real life story. My favorite part of the book so far is when Tina explains the difficulty of being a brunette in the late 70s and early 80s. I also can identify with Tina's binge eating and other people's lack of appreciation for her sarcasm and weirdness. She also has witty commentary on her co-workers and writing a show.

  It's also interesting seeing what it's like for someone right out of college, which has given some persecutive. I've gotten a few looks when the book almost made me spit out my water at a luncheon. I wasn't supposed to be reading anyway, oops. All of these delicious ingredients wrapped in a whole lot of funny make for a great book.

Dialogue

"Umm... what day is it?" I said groggily from my bed.

"Monday,” said my mom, from my doorway.

"You must me kidding," I sighed. I wasn't the least bit excited about going to school.

"You have you get up or you'll be late for the bus."

"I know, I know." The light shining from my bathroom hurt my eyes. 

"Hurry up."

"Give me a least five minutes c'mon!" I was in no condition to go to school considering I had stayed up all night studying until I took a snooze on top of my work. I waddled down the steps to get breakfast.

"So... what time did you go to bed last night?" she questioned me.

"I'm not quite sure to be honest." I muttered. I was aware the my sleep-wake cycle was a bit off, but I didn't want another lecture from my mom.

"Look you need more sleep-" I cut her off.

"Mom you don't understand I was studying for a test-" now it was her turn to cut me off.

"You can start studying earlier in the evening and still go to bed at a decent hour, you need to plan more, be more organized," she rambled the same lecture she always does. I was disinterested as usual.

   

I sat there waiting for her to finish lecturing me so I continue with my morning and make it to the bus on time.

Looking For Alaska - John Green

I started reading Looking for Alaska because a friend of mine insisted that I read it last year. It had also read another of John Green's books before and enjoyed it. So instead of going the traditional route and buy the book, I purchased the audiobook. When I started the book I was initially confused what connotations the title had with the storyline.

 Miles hasn't done a lot of "living" when he arrives at Culver Creek boarding school, he has no real friends, reads biographies, and learns people's lasts words.  There Miles meets 'The Colonel", his new roommate, who dubs him Pudge. Miles then meets The Colonel's friend Alaska Young, who Miles is immediately attracted to. Alaska is crazy yet bubbly. He also meets Takumi their other friend. The kids explain the social situation to Miles, calling the wealthy kids 'Weekday Warriors'. On Pudge's first night, a group of 'Weekday Warriors' wake him up bring him out to the lake, there they duct tape every limb together and throw him in. Luckly Miles makes it out alive, but drenched in water and embarrassment. As we continue throughout the book we learn why the other classmates do this to Miles and Alaska's evolvement. The kids pull pranks, get drunk, and learn more about each other, but no story is good without a plot twist.



2/9-2/6 Looking For Alaska - John Green - 3 hours of listening

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

I loved this book. The voice was definitely unusual and intriguing. I enjoyed seeing the main character, Frankie, develop. I realized a lot of things from Frankie's story, one being not allowing other people to define what you do or what you are. It posed a many larger questions considering that especially in high school people tend to be labeled according to who they hang out with, and other people's opinions hold a higher grade than many other things. Teenagers also tend to do what their friends do without much thought. I began to realize what Frankie realized, I don't need other people to tell me what to do, wear, or act [unless you are my parents :)]. I also don't need to prove myself to anyone, why would I need to that anyway. Why does everyone try so hard to be inculded? Why do we need other's attention to feel worthy? Who or What decides the rules and expectations of society? What is needed to make a point?


All I can say is that Frankie made a point. The point came across to me was "What is important to make one feel satisfied?", I have no clue. I know it's not trying to fit in or to do what other people do. Satisfaction doesn't come from proving a point to others, but from proving something to yourself.


The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks; E. Lockhart pages; 1-342; 5 hours

Looking for Alaska; John Green; 3 hours; audio book

The Spectacular Now; Movie Review

WARNING THIS ISN'T  IS A MOVIE REVIEW

A meaningful love story. I loved Miles Teller's character Sutter Kealey and his peculiar outlook on life. Sutter never thought of the future until it caught up with him. Sutter allowed himself, like many other teenagers, to block out feelings coming in and leaving. Appearing to be fine on the outside but doubting the appeal of adulthood and growing up. Aimee Finicky, played by Shailene Woodley, appears in Sutter's life, and pushes him towards a reality that he doesn't want to face. During this time they slowly fall for each other. 

Aimee accompanies him to meet his dead beat father, and gets in a car accident. During this time Sutter begins  to understand that there's more to life than partying and drinking. Not even receiving his high school  diploma. He sits at home and reevaluates his life. He decides to savor every moment. He realizes that he has let people down and disappointed them, and that life isn't all about the now, no matter how spectacular it is. 

☆☆☆☆☆

 five stars

my b-day weekend

My birthday was during the middle of the first week of school. I was happy to see my friends remembered, because usually they don't know until I tell them. I didn't plan on doing anything in the middle of the week considering most of my close friends are anxious and school obsessed, like me.  So instead of doing something risqué like going a movie on a school night, I opted for going to lunch with a few of them. We also went to Urban (yes I call it Urban because Urban Outfitters is too mainstream) there I picked up one of those cool film camera's that had things like "PARTY PARTY PARTY!!!" and "IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" already printed on blank film. Then we proceed to take way too many selfies because we're teenagers. At lunch we complained about first world problems like, what to wear to homecoming, and what upperclassmen were cute. I had a great time especially since I received candy, nutella, a Starbucks card, and a Hello Kitty ballon.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: Thanks to all the people who made this birthday day great. (▰˘◡˘▰)

It's a Terrible Book!

It's Superman! was a huge disappointment. I expected something written more like the Superman movies and less like a badly written  mix of random newspaper articles. The whole book is confusing and has mini stories which made my head feel like mush. I couldn't understand the relationship between anything because I don't know anything about Superman. Unfortunately for me I can't stop reading a book no matter how awful it might be. I really want to stop reading this book and begin to read other books that I've purchased but I just can't. I just can't find a plot, and the book is really uninteresting. Not to mention that it's HUGE. I'm not really picky when it comes to books that I read but this book is absolute rubbish.

Book	Author	Time Read	Date Read
It’s Superman	Tom De Haven	1 hour 50 mintues	August 16-18
It's Superman	Tom De Haven	2 hours	August 20
It's Superman	Tom De Haven	1 hour 20 minutes	August 21
It's Superman	Tom De Haven	2 1/2 hours	week of 8-19/8-24

Free Post: Love-hate Relationship with Social Media

I often catch myself on instagram, and not even remember taking out my phone. My body's automatic response to boredom is to pick up my phone. I can't even count the number of times I went to bed at twelve PM because the I spent two hours 'starting my homework' by that I mean checking every social media site that I have accounts on three times. Luckily with the new cell phone policy I've been too busy running to my locker and then running to my class, to even check the time. I love being able to keep up with my classmates and my peers and even be a little nosey sometimes. It's also a huge connivence when I don't have family and friends nearby, but people on social media can be evil. People act different and say things anonymously they'd be to scared to say to your face much less gossip about it with someone else. Not only that social media is a huge distraction from everything. I can spend an hour or two on my laptop or phone and not even realize it until its dark outside. People indirectly insult other people or vaguely say that their upset about 'blah blah' to seek attention. It allows people to say things about other people that they would never say in person. I feel like social media is made to have a positive affect on people lives, but sometimes it does just to opposite.

Summer Reading Response Blog

Cameron and the Girls, written by Edward Averett, changed my perspective on living life to its' fullest, or YOLO. Cameron's character faces many problems that differ from mine but I can still relate to his daily battles. Cameron keeps to himself at school and is a compulsive liar, he doesn't trust anyone other than his sister Beth. Like many other teenagers, myself included, I think I know what's best for me. Cameron allows himself off his medication, for schizophreniform, to explore what he is really like. Soon we meet a new Cameron who is willing to take risks without thinking about them, and do things he would've never done before hand. He's on cloud nine, sometimes I push my limits when I'm aware of them. I'm 'pushing the envelope' as my mom would say. He allows himself to get lost in his imangination until it runs over into his real life.  Cameron realizes during his stay at the mental hospital life isn't all about him, that when you do risky, perilous, things you can affect the people you love. When I'm rude or mean to my family, when I have a bad day,  my mom gives a look of disapproval. I realize life isn't all about me. Cameron soon learns this lesson in a bigger way when he decides to stay on his medication, for his family's sake. You don't only just live for yourself you live for the people you love and the people who love you. I affect all the people around me and leave impressions on other's lives just as Cameron does.