Blogging. Is. Done.

Reflecting on this year's blog posts make me laugh! Although I absolutely hated blogging, and half the time I completely forgot about blogging, it's really easy for me to remember the exact way I felt while writing each post. One important thing I learned this year is that there's always going to be someone to impress when it comes to your writing style. Obviously, Mrs. Gilman would be the one to please in this situation. Throughout elementary school, the standard writing style followed the "first, next, in conclusion" format, something that I brought with me to my sixth grade year in Block. This boring, beginners format is acceptable in a environment like 6th grade, but as you get older, your writing style has to change. As middle school continued, I realized that I had to change my writing style to please the teacher of the class. When I was in Mr. Haefer's 7th grade block class, I learned that he liked a lot of voice in writing, and by throwing in a few "ummm"'s and "well, anyways"'s, I was quickly a favorite. For 8th grade, my bloc teacher was a bit more strict. My exaggerated voice was no longer acceptable, and her class was all about structure. Moving into freshman year, (and, reading some of my earlier blog posts) I thought that in order to be a "high-school writer" my7 writing had to be completely dry and life-less. Thus, resulting in a C on my To Kill A Mockingbird essay. At this point, I was devastated. I knew that writing things like "the advice that my my mother gave me that one afternoon" (From my November 6th blog) was not me. So, I tried the other style I knew how to use: JUST voice, and no structure. Of course, this immature writing style was unacceptable. But, by February, I'd finally nailed it. I figured out what Mrs Gilman likes to read, and ever since then I've been scoring very high A's on my essays. The only problem is, the school year's almost over, and I'll have to start the process all over again until I find a writing style that is both me and my future teacher finds impressive. I think that through this year I have really developed into a better writer, and although it's important to impress the person grading your work, it's also very important to be proud of your work, and to know that the writing that you're presenting as your own is really in fact your own, not something you're just writing to get the grade. Through my blogs, it's very easy for me to see the writing roller coaster that I have been traveling on this year. As for my quote, I thought that this one was suiting for my blog...

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!"
- Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Act 1

Summer Reading :D

Wow, it is definately weird thinking about summer! It seems like freshman year has just flown by. Oddly, it almost makes me sad. However, there are actually quite a few books that I'd like to read this summer. I usually read mostly in the summer, when I'm in school I actually dont read at all. That is, besides the books we love in class.

One book I'd like to read is called Now You See Her by Jacquelyn Mitchard. This is about a girl who has everything: popularity, looks, and an amazing family. But, she fakes her own abduction. This book is supposed to keeo the reader guessing until the very very end, and those kind of books are the kinds I enjoy reading, not predictable ones.

Another book I plan on reading this summer is A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer. This is a memoir to one of the cruelest child abuse stories in history. I've always liked problem books, and I think this definately seems like an "eye opener" story,which I also really like.

Although there are SO MANY books I'd like to read, I can't even begin to start naming them. Now i just have to find my Library Card :D

Romeo and Juliet

As soon as I read this weeks blog topic, I couldn't help but laugh! I immediately thought of one of my favorite somgs when I was little: "Hey Juliet" by LMNT! Oh, what memories!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVzXe6kr9rA

Honestly, now that i'm listening to it for the first time in years, I'm really starting to like it again.

The chorus is:

(Hey Juliet)
I think you're fine
You really blow my mind
Maybe someday, you and me can run away
I just want you to know
I wanna be your Romeo
Hey Juliet

I really recommend listening to it! hahahaha

ExTrA cReDiT

I hope I don't get marked down for being too informal in this blog, but I'm going to make it as personal as possible. Wow, its really weird to think that we have been blogging for 7 months! This year in English has definitely been a lot different than any English class I've had before... A lot more freedom, if you will. In middle school we pretty much wrote essays, read together as a class, then shoved everything that we had learned into the back of our minds. Speaking plural probably isn't fair to some people, but basically that was MY middle school experience. But, in English class this year there has definitely been a lot less "hand-holding" (a phrase that's loved by pretty much every teacher I've had before...). Working in groups is something that i have really enjoyed, like the Earnest Essay. Ive also learned that there are a lot of books out there that are actually pretty decent, for example, I really liked Animal Farm, The Bean Trees, A Separate Peace, The Importance of Being Earnest, and (although i hate to admit it) there were some parts of Great Expectations that were really touching. This year has also been a lot of fun! Even though we do our share of work, I also like having a sort of party at the end of each novel. It feels like a sort of reward for getting through the book! I also think our class is really great, everyone is just so nice! So, as a whole, and as we are finishing up our last few weeks in English (craziness!), I'd have to say that English as a whole this year has been pretty great :)

Another Question

The question that I had in these chapters was near the beginning of the reading - Chapter 37. On page 292, Mr Wemmick is advising Pip about what to do with all of the debt that he and Herbert have. The part I dont get about this is when Wemmick all of a sudden brings up a metaphor. "I should like just to run over with you on my fingers, if you please, the names of the various bridges up as high as Chealsia Ranch. There are as many as six, you see, to choose from." I was very confused when I read this, and after Pip says to Wemmick himself that he donesnt understand his words, Wemmick replies: "Choose your bridge, Mr Pip. And take a walk upon your bridge, and pitch your money into the Thames over the centre arch of your bridge, and you may know the end of it. Serve a friend with it, and ou may know the end of it, too - but it's a less plesant and profitable end." Obviously, I can see that Mr Wemmick's advise is wise, but I dont fully understand what he's saying..the whole bridge metaphor is little bit weird.

Great Expectations Question

In chapter 29, when Pip returns to Miss Havisham's house to visit Estella, I had a few questions concaerning Miss Havisham. Throughout the entire book up to this point, I always thought that Miss Havisham was out break Pip's heart through Estella. That is, until I read this passage: "Hear me, Pip! I adopted her to be loved. I bred her and educated her to be loved. I developed her into what she is, that she might be loved. Love her!" (240) After reading this passage, I was a little suspicious. Is Miss Havisham setting Pip up for even more heartbreak, or is she finally excepting him and approving him for Estella? Ive always thought of Miss Havisham as a crazy old women who only cares about making others as miserable as she is, never as the women who wants to see a happy ending for the couple she and her finace never were. Whats up with Miss Havisham?

Great Expectations

I chose this image to represent the this weeks reading in Great Expectations because Pip is always dreaming of bigger things. In this picture, the sad caterpillar is dreaming about becoming a butterfly. This relates to Pip because he is tired of the life as who he is, and wants to flourish into something better and more glamorous.

Great Expectations

The very last line in Chapter 9 of Great Expectations really shows Pip's understanding and sophistication as he enters a new stage in his life. During this passage, Pip realizes the hard-working poor life he has been living and raisied in is entirely different from the life with Estella and Miss Havisham that he has newly grown accostumed to. The moral of the sentance that I got through Pip's words was that every little part of your life effects who you become in the long run. Through his encounters and time spent with Miss Havisham and Estella, his life was effected like it never had been before. Because of this piece of his life, the person he is and wants to be will change.
When I try to think of a time that I've been going through the same thing as Pip, my mind draws a blank. One thing I can think of, though, is how different (in a bad way) I would be if I wasn't a member of my church. I definately wouldn't be as nice of a person if I didnt have the guidence that I have today. By doing a small thing like attending church, my entire life will be different in the long run. Like Pip, by trying new things, you can expand your boundaries and become the person that you really want to be, not following others (Joe) in an 'ordinary' and 'common' lifestyle.

Group Essay

Hey Anna and Alex,

My piece of the group essay is pretty much done, Ive just got some pieces that I need to work on.
My opening sentence is: "Cecily Cardew and Algernon Moncrieff's childish love is by far the most immature relationship in Oscar Wildes' play." I suppose this sentence works because our thesis is all about the exagerated styles of Oscar Wildes' character's relationships.

The transition ties the opening sentence to my first CD. My transition says something like "The foolish romance between the two lovers evolves around an assumption concerning Algernon's identity." My concrete detail introduces the concept of the Ernest misunderstanding. My commentaries explain the whole thing; the diary, the letters, Algernons bunburying, etc.

My next transition introduces the ideas of Algernons and Cecily's love. My CD in this part is how basically Cecily wants to be loved, and Algernon wants to love someone, making them an odd but compatible pair. My CMs in this part of the paragraph include two quotes (one describing each persons views on love).

The third part of the paragraph is the part that I have DEFINATELY had the most trouble with... I'm really not sure what to do still. If you guys have any ideas it would be great. Right now I'm deciding between bringing in the whole concept of how their relationship is exagerated and unlogical compared to the "normal" relatinships of the Victorian Era, and talking about another trait that makes them childish (like Anna suggested the other day). For example, the impatience of Cecily and how she could hardly wait for someone for 5 minutes, let alone until she was 35.

The conclusion sentance is pretty important and also a bit challenging because I have to introduce our conclusion, which we really haven't even started working on yet. And, also because I'm not sure how I'm going to end my paragraph yet. I'll be be sure to make it ties into both the thesis and the concluding part of my paragraph.

Thanks so much for your help, guys :). Have a great Mid-Winter Break!

The Importance of Being Earnest/Victorian Era Research

Doing research on the Victorian Era before beginning the play The Importance of Being Earnest truly gave me a much higher knowledge of the characters and their lifestyles. Social standings were extremenly importnat back in the 1800s. Higher class aristocrats like Algernon Moncrieff had the ability to be completely in command because they have money and good family backgrounds. If a person didn't have an refined family background, it would change the way they were viewed. Jack Worthing is an absolutly perfect example of this situatin. Jack is a higher class man; lots of money, sensible friends, and a beautiful mansion in the country. When he and his lover, Gwendolen, announce to Lady Bracknell that they are engaged to be married, she finds out the truth about Jack's true place on the social ladder. On page 27 Lady Bracknell voices her true opinion: "You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter - a girl brought up with the utmost care - to marry into a cloak room, and form an alliance with a parcel? Good Morning, Mr Worthing!"

Lady Bracknell, like most Victorians, had very high expectations. Marrige back then was a buisness - a way to get more money and pass off their daughters to someone else. Love was hardly ever the case of marrige, making Jack and Gwendolen's relationship odd. Algernon has the same views as Lady Bracknell when it comes to relationships. When Jack pays a suprise visit to Algernons manor, Jack says hes in town for pleasure. On page 9, when Algernon learns he plans on proposing to Gwendolen, he comments on the matter: "I thought you had some up for pleasure? ... I call that buisness." Jack, being a hopeless romantic, snaps back: "How utterly unromantic you are!" Romance was definately not related at all to marrige - which was perfectly normal. Women back then dreamed of marrying a rich, sophisticated man in with a high social class, which would help them advance on their own social lives. Jack's ward, Cecily Cardew, fulfills this dream when she meets Algernon Moncrieff. Cecily is a country girl - living a normally boring life. Watering flowers, writing in her diary, and her forced learning of German grammer is her lifestyle. Every. Day. When she meets Algernon, although there is conflict about his name, she immediately loves him. She creates the happily ever after that every Victorian gil dreamed of; marrying a rich and attractive aristocrat. By doing research on the Victorian Era before beginning The Importance of Being Earnest, I was able to gain a more thourouh knowledge of love, marrige, and the social class conflicts that separate the two.

Resolution

As the end of 2009 drew nearer, I began considering various things to change in the new year. The opportunity to make a New Years Resolution only comes around once a year, and I'm determined to stick to my plan throughout the entire year, something that I have never quite acomplished in the past. After much thought, I've decided that my resolution for 2010 is use my money more wisely. I am a huge spender, and if i see something I like, I just have to have it. If I don't buy it, it's all I can think about for the next couple of days. By using my money more wisely and saving, I will have a more stable future.

In addition to my spending self control, I'm also going to open up a bank account. Having wads of money stashed in my room isn't safe (especially around my family members) and isn't gaining any interest either. I have also printed out a plan using percentages. 20% of my income is for spending, 15% is going towards my car fund, 30% is for college, and 35% is saved for the future. By following this plan, I will be able to know where my money is going, and be able to work harder knowing it's going towards important things. Now, my babysitting money will be put to good use, instead of just sitting around. If I am able to stick to this plan, I know that my money will start adding up quickly, and I will have a more sure outlook in the future.

Animal Farm - Poem

There once was a farm like no other.
"Animal Farm" was the name.
This farm was run just by animals,
Though it functioned just the same.

On this farm, all were equal.
The pigs, the hens, the cows...
And everyone worked in harmony
Through songs, commandments, and vows.

But soon the work grew harder
And food was running low.
The animals knew that they needed a leader -
Or they didn't have long to go.

Since pigs are the smartest of animals,
A hog named Snowball stepped up.
His bright ideas gave the animals hope,
From Mare to Donkey to Pup.

Another hog named Napoleon
Hated Snowball for all he was worth.
Their ideas completely differed,
And Naploeon wanted him gone more than anything on earth.

But Napoleon kept quiet,
For he was forming an evil plan.
He wanted to get rid of Snowball,
And take over the power of man.

His plan was put into action
And worked better than he had expected.
He sent his fierce dogs on Snowball,
And he was chased off the land; rejected.

The power was finally his!
And he used it very incorrectly.
The animals were now his control.
And the leadership was his directly.

So Napoleon got what he wanted,
To the expense of others he ran.
A failing farm,
Where there was much alarm,
His power was like unto man....

Both of my parents have given me plenty of advice over the years, but one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten was from my mom. I was in about second or third grade and my group of friends was having some troubles. Everyone was spreading rumors about everyone and it felt like whenever I got home from school, I was always close to tears. Finally, I couldnt take it anymore, so I decided to talk to my Mom about it. She listened while I vented everything that had been happening over the course of the week, and when I was finished, she told me this: "If you're nice to everyone, you are never going to give anyone a reason not to like you." Soon after the talk with my mom, the fight among my friends ended.

I think the advice that my my mother gave me that one afternoon was some of the best advice she has ever given. I still use that advice to this day, and I think it's a really important lesson that everyone should follow. With all of the gossip and judging going on today, its really important to realize that you would definately not feel good if you knew people were talking about you. That's why I try to be nice to everyone and focus on a person through a positive perspective, not a negative one. Everyone seems to judge people as soon as they meet them, and I'm glad that my mom taught me at a young age that that isnt ok.

My Best Friend

My Best Friend... I really don't like the sound of that. By choosing one friends as the "best" it automatically excludes every other friend. Instead of writing about a best friend, I'm going to write about one of my best friends. My BFF Naomi has many talents, including playing the violin. She's always been an orchestra geek :). She also does rowing, and although I've never actually seen her do it, I'm guessing she's pretty good. One thing Naomi and I do together in the summer is take sailing classes at the OYC, which is a lot of fun. We also enjoy playing The Legends of Zelda: The Wind Waker and feeling like total nerds, embarrassing ourselves in public, riding scooters around town, watching Phineas and Ferb, and laughing at inside jokes!

Naomi and I have been friends since the 1st grade, when we were both new at our elementary school and didn't have any other friends. We became best friends from the start, always having play dates and playing together at recess. Naomi has always been there; through the the Pokemon stage, the Kim Possible stage, the Dog-loving stage, the art-freak stage, and many more. No matter where our interests drifted, we always drifted there together.

My Earliest Memory

My earliest memory is very clear to me. At the time my family was living in our house in Shelton, Washington, before we moved here to Olympia. I must have been around two-years-old because I was still sleeping in a crib. When I was little, I never wanted to go to sleep without holding onto my mom or dad's hand and rubbing their fingers. It sounds weird now, but it was a huge comfort to me. In fact, my sleeping habits got so bad that my parents would keep a pillow under my bed. Every night one of my parents would lay on the floor with their pillow and stick one of their hands through the bars of my crib until I fell asleep.

I can remember my very first memory like it was yesterday. I am laying in my crib. The crib was white and had small blue and pink teddy bears on the sheets. I sat up and looked through the bars of the crib and saw my mom on the ground sleeping. This is the earliest memory of mine, and it is very special to me because it shows how much my parents love me, even if that means staying up late holding my hand and sleeping on the ground. I'm glad that I have this as my earliest memory because at least my parents will know that all that time staying up with me has been remembered and appreciated.

The Bean Trees: Motif

Throughout The Bean Trees, by Brabara Kingsolver, motif is overwhelmingly used. The entire book focuses on one main symbol: Motherhood. The entire book is based on difficult family situations and the strives that these women have to make while trying to protect their children. Without this strong motif, the book would have no purpose. Even though it was just only a story, the characters and their feelings towards each other amazed me.

Although not one character had an easy life, they all found ways to love their lives and be grateful for what they had. One of the characters, a women named Esperanza, had her baby taken by a neighboring country during war. Through these tough times, although she was scarred forever, she still found ways to love life and be thankful for what she had. Another women named Taylor was unexpectenly given a Indian child while on the Cherrokee Indian Reservation. Her astonishment was something completely expected. To my suprise, Taylor cared for the baby like she was her own, and even though having the baby changed her life forever, she remained positive and happy. One other women who had mothering troubles was LouAnn. Her husband left her right after she had her baby, and although she was always hurt by this, she ended up becoming a wonderful mother and became happier than she had ever been.

I believe that the stongest element in the story is definately motif. Although there is some imagery, motif is used much more often. I love the motif in this story because I love books that have to do with motherhood and children. This book was definately a fun read and was very easy to get attached to the characters and their lives. I was upset when I finished this wonderful book!

Outside Reading Assignment

For my outside reading assignment, I chose the book The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver. I began enjoying this book from the very first page. Kingsolver's humerous tone and use of diction adds a fun southern twist on the story of a girl who aquires an unexpected three-year-old and the adventures that they have. In the part that I'm at right now in the book, the point of view is switching back-and-forth by chapters between Taylor, the main charater, and a completely irrevelent charater named Lou Ann. Because the point of view is switching like this, I predict that Lou Ann and Taylor will meet up sometime soon. Other than this confusion, the book has been very enjoyable so far.

The literary element that believe suits the book best at this point in the story is, obvioulsy, Point Of View. With the characters changing chapter by chapter, point of view is a huge key concept in the book.

I think that it is very clever of the author to use point of view this way. By introducing a new character early in the book, when the two characters meet the reader will feel like they are already acuanted with the character and the story will continue on without delay.

To be honest, I am really not far enough in the book to be able to identify its tone, but from what I can tell so far the tone is very humorous, but has real thought and meaning behind the words written. I think it takes great skill as an author to be able to write humor and meaning all in the same book. To someone that wasn't looking for poetic meaning, you could read throught the entire book and not recognize any of the greater message hidden between the lines.

Writing About Reading

Reading has always been something that I've enjoyed. My key reading environment is not quiet. I always have to have some noise when I'm reading. I listen to music, go into a noisy room, or turn on the TV when I read. Even though I am picky with my surroundings, I am not picky at all when it comes to books.

I read all kinds of books! I honestly can't say that I have a favorite genre. I believe that the books are great because of the authors, not because they are a certain genre. I will read a science fiction book that I absolutely love, then I will read a book of the same genre and not like it at all because of the diction of author's tone. I also try not to read the same genre of book twice in a row. If I do, I find myself comparing the two, and I don't really like doing that. I end up choosing a favorite, and I find myself not liking the other.

I'm thankful that my parents got my excited about books early. If they didnt, I probably wouldn't be as interested reading as I am now.