Final Reflection

Prompts:

1- What are the three most important things you learned this year?

There were many important things that  learned this year, but at the top of the list were learning how to spot and correct fragments (from doing our To Kill a Mockingbird paper) I learned the true importance of being prepared for class, because if you aren't, you will fall behind.  The third most important thing that I learned was that I learned how to revise my papers well.  This was important because you might look back and say "That does not make any sense" and want to fix it.

2- What is something we did this year that you think you will remember for the rest of your life?

Something I will always remember will be the TKAM unit because this took up a large portion of the year.  This is something I will remember because it is something that ew all worked really hard on, so there is no way I won't forget it.

3- What was the nicest thing someone in our class did for you this year?

The nicest thing that someone did for me was probably when we were reading our speeches, and nobody was critical of my writing, which is something I don't like but what is going to help me be a better writer.

4- What is something you taught your teacher or classmates this year?

Something I might have taught someone was my sometimes weird way of looking at things.  When we have discussion I would sometimes say something a bit weird but I looked at it a new way.

5- In what area do you feel you made your biggest improvements? What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of? I think I made my biggest improvement in my writing because I no longer use fragments, or have too many grammatical errors in my writing.  Something I am proud of doing is just me passing Mrs. Larson's class.  It was a very hard two years but it was fun because we mixed work with fun. 

6- What was the most challenging part of this year for you?  The most challenging part of the year was probably the constant making sure the grades were up and re-doing what was no good.

7- What was the best piece of writing that you did this year? Why do you think it is your best?

The best piece of writing I did was probably the Blackfish paper because I received the highest score on a paper that I have done this year.

8- Of the books you read this year, which was your favorite? Why?

I think Night would be my favorite because I always had an interest in learning about the Holocaust.

9- What advice would you give students who will be in this class next year?

The advice I would give new student would be to work your hardest because this class will prepare you for High School and it will help you in life.

Morrie's Aphorisim

 Explain the aphorism in detail. what was Morrie's main message?

2-     Relate the aphorism to a movie, song, historical event, current event, personal experience, etc. and explain in detail how the example you have chosen relates to the aphorism.

3-     Evaluate the aphorism by explaining why you agree/disagree with it. Give specific reasons for your position and specific evidence from the text to support your position.

4-     Take a picture of your aphorism to use as your graphic.

“Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do.”(p.18) 

Morrie's main message in this aphorism is that  you should be ok with what you can and cannot do.  You should always make sure to do what you can, but don't worry if you can't do something.  You may not always like what you can and cannot do, but you need to be ok with it.  For example.  During my past swimming season, I swam 50 freestyle in 24 seconds.  I really wanted to swim it in 23.  I tried and failed.  Of course, I was upset at first, but then I got over it because I knew I would have other chances and that I did my nest.  That was all I could do at the time.  

I agree with this aphorism because you should not be disappointed in yourself if you did all you can, and you did not want the result, you shouldn't beat yourself up over that.  Since you did all you could, it doesn't make any sense that you would be upset with yourself, because you couldn't do anything more.  Just look at Morrie.  He lost the ability to do a lot of things with ALS, but he was not mad.  Morrie would have his times of mourning, but then he would keep living his life.

Morrie blog 4/30

Prompt: Which 'Tuesday' Has Inspired You?

I think the Tuesday that inspired me the most would have to be the second Tuesday, when Morrie talks about how we should learn to hold on, but not to tight.  That we should let go, but not completely.  This was most inspiring to me because, I have this problem.  I either let go and try to completely un-associate myself with the entity, or I hold on too tight and freak out when I lose the object.  I think this has taught me to find a balance in between the two.  Of course, the only way to know is to experience it again.

Before this taught me to not let go, I would totally un-associate myself with the object that I haven't seen in awhile.  I would probably find it, then not care and put it back where I found it.  I think now, if I had that same situation, I would probably take the thing I found and put it somewhere I would remember, and use whatever I found again.  I think, then, I would be able to appreciate the object more, because I would know that it would be of some use to me.

I also said that I might hold onto something too tightly.  Say, for instance, my playstation broke.  I would probably go curl up somewhere, and look half dead.  I would come to school, half dead, and this would continue on for a long while.  I think after reading what Morrie has to say about not holding on too tightly, I would probably be really sad for awhile, then I would get over it in a few days.  

Holocaust AOW Impressions

That week that we had the Holocaust blogs was a week of gaining new knowledge.  One thing that I remember from my article is that there was a man that was being charged for being a SS member.  He was being charged for 300,00 murders in Auschwitz.  My article taught me that people are still trying to find and punish the remaining SS members, who are at the end of their lives due to their old age.  That week also taught me that people are (naturally) still extremely sensitive to anything related to the Holocaust.  I remember Steven's article was about a model train set, and it was modeling Auschwitz.  In his article, it talked about how some people were highly offended and upset that someone decided to make a place of death and suffering, into a toy.  That week taught me that people are still feeling that the world may not be ready to take that situation as lightly as the toymakers did.

Theif Lord 4/21

Prompt:  If you could ask the author three questions, what would they be?

Well, I think that my first question would be:  Why did you make the character "Hornet"  have some of the characteristics as a hornet? (Hair made to look like a sharp point, and responds sharply)  When I first started reading the books, I wondered this.  What made the author make this character?  There could have been thousands of other characters that the author could have created.  What made her make such an unusual character?

The second question I would ask her would have to be:  Why did you make the aunt so unusual?  I am being broad for a reason.  When she is first introduced, one of the first things that is said about her is her appearance.  She has a long neck, and a pale complexion, and she is a little bony.  The next thing that is said about her is that he is a bit stuck up, and snooty.  It's just that to me, her character seems a little out of place.  Maybe she is a literary foil to a character that we have not met yet.


My last question I would ask the author would have to be:  Why did you make the main characters siblings?  Why did you make them two brothers?  I am just curious.  Maybe later in the book the importance of the two brothers who are two twins will come out.  Maybe they have a special magical bond.  However, I may just be overthinking it.  I tend to do that a lot.

Life Is Beautiful

Prompt: Based on the Holocaust literature and poetry we have read, what connections can be made between Life is Beautiful and our reading?  What events, scenes, or situations are similar or different? What is similar or different about the mood or tone of the pieces?

There are many connections that can be made between my butterfly poem, and the book Night.  In connection to my poem, the children actually do play with each other.  We saw that in the film, the children who were permitted to live got to play with the other children who were permitted to live.  Not only that, they were provided with adequate food.  In connection with Night, the children who were too young, or adults who were too old, were almost immediately sent to the gas chambers.  Also, if anyone did anything at all wrong, they were either shot, or brutally beaten.

There are a bit of similarities and difference between the readings and the film.  One similarity to the poem was that the children who are still alive all play with each other.  Once they go through the selections of course.  Another one is when Dora wants to get on the train, but does not get selected because she is not Jewish.  The same things goes in my poem because the boys father is not with them because he probably is not Jewish.  A difference is that in the book Night the children are able to play and eat ok food.  In Night, when Wiesel says that he is 16 during the selection, they send him to work almost straight away.

What is similar about the movie to the poem or Night?  Well there are not many when it comes to Night.  While this movie is happy and humorous, Night is sad, and rather depressing.  Guido is happy with his son, and wants to protect him by any means necessary.  Elie's father would do the same thing, but he would not go out of his way like Guido did.  Partially because Elie is old enough to know what is going on.   There are a few similarities between my butterfly poem and this movie.  The children are allowed to play with each other, and they do have gatherings with everyone.  Just like in the poem.

3rd Quarter Reflection

I think I had a pretty good third quarter.  I was able to get all my school work done and done right,  I was able to get some of my work ahead of time, and it felt like I just had more time to relax because I was on top of things.

What is something you accomplished in the new year that you are proud of?- Well, one thing that I am very proud of myself for doing is being less of a procrastinator when it comes to doing homework.  Before third quarter, I would normally save all my work until the day before it was actually due.  Now, I normally do my work two to three days in advance (Other than this blog).

Where are you in your 40 book challenge?- I have been reading a lot this year, and I have actually gone over my 40 books.  I believe I am somewhere around 45 books.  Of course, I will not stop reading because I have met my goal,  I will continue to read because I would like to make it to 50 by the end of the year.

In what area do you think you made your biggest improvement in the english language?- I think a pretty big improvement that I have made is using proper grammar.  Before third quarter, I would find my self saying things like "Stan and me are going to..."  or "Me and Stan are going to...".  Now I am find myself saying "Stan and I are going to go to the..."  which makes me sound more educated and well versed.