Buhh-byee Blogger!

Over the whole coarse of this year, we have been blogging on here reflecting on different things we have learned in class. It was never something I really enjoyed doing only because it was something you had to remember once you got home, and are thinking your done with school for the day. And since we have a week to finish it, everybody puts it off, and ends up forgetting to do it by the due date. But now looking back on all of my writing from this year, it had really finished off everything I learned in class, with a nice reflection, helping me take it all in right. Going over everything has helped me realize how I naturally write, and its progress. I have always been interested in blogging in general, but I never realized that blogging could be used in such different ways.

This blog has taught me a lot of how the blogger community works. I even created my own personal blog on Tumblr, which I update a lot with pictures, videos, music and more. Reading over my older blogs has brought back some good memories with the class, and you as well. Some about miserable books, and some about your best friends. In the end it gave me a good smile. The freedom of having to write however you wanted and just spill all your thoughts was good for all of the projects we did. One of my favorite blog posts was the one where we had to write about something someone has said to you. Or something of that nature. My dad actually read that blog, and loved it so much he printed it out. "Open me up and you'll see i'm a gallery of broken hearts."- Ingrid Michaelson- BE OK. This quote relates to my blog because, just from looking at me you wouldn't know much. But if you look closer, there is a lot more to me. And from expressing myself on this blog, it has helped bring that out of me.

People who complain about blogging, and having to go out of their way to write a quick little two paragraphs don't phase me. It isn't like they aren't on the computer all the time anyways! With Facebook, Myspace, Formspring, and Youtube all out there, i'm sure they spend hours on those site probably doing nothing anyways. But showing your personality through your creative writing actually can be fun if you take the time to do it.

But in the end, the blogs have helped me. They have helped me develop deeper thoughts on certain concepts. Like for example, writing about essays was a good way to make the whole essay thing 'click' in my head. All the 'chunks', and 'commentary' we had to learn about are now just about implanted in my head. But overall, it is amazing how technology has changed that ways teachers teach. It's not just text books, paper, and a pencil anymore, it's blogs, videos and music videos, etc... It is amazing to me, and i cannot wait to see what more is to come. But having our english class be one of the only ones who ever get to do it, i'm glad you had us do it. This blog has been fun, and it sad to say goodbye! But.. BYEEEEE:)

Challenges and Conquests

I have most definitely learned about writing quality essays this year! In middle school, we didn't really write full, insightful essays using the Gilman method. But it is a lot easier using the graphic organizers. Writing the introduction, and how important the thesis is really taught me what different it can do to your entire essay. Then the three "two chuck" body paragraphs and the conclusion is all new. The conclusion is a lot more complex now than before. By rewording the thesis, and introducing new ideas, along with showing what your overall knowledge lead you to learn and all... Its all so detailed and simple once you do it. The literary elements help you think more about the meanings, and writing questions help you get deeper into the meanings easier.

Reading the rubric made me realize some of my common mistakes in my essay. I used the word "like" about two, when it should have been "such as". I did this lots in middle school, and it was never brought up to my attention until now. And I also repeated the word metaphor quite a few times through out the whole essay. It helped me find words that I could look up to find bigger, more complex words to replace them with to help my essay sound more bold. Also embedding quote was brought up and talked about a lot during class. Before, i never really got into detail and learning the right format for quotes, but now learning it, it is a breeze and easy for me to get down, pretty much its a habit now!

My first book of choice would be, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. This is a good summer love novel, and I love a good love story. It is about a rich girl who falls in love with a boy who is a part of a gang. They first meet by being assigned chemistry partners and learn more about each other and eventually fall in love. Sounds like a good summer read to me!

My next book would be Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot. This is also another high school romance book. It is set in a modern time with modern qualities to the book, which is my type of novel. It would be maybe something I could relate to, having it be about high school students. And it sounds like an entertaining book to read my the pool, in the sun, with a big cup of iced tea. :)

This new movie is insipred by this play quite a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz43rtBUVA0

Skit

1.The first part of the book I would like to see preformed is when Pip meets Mrs. Havisham. Pip walks into the room full of clock with her sitting there alone in her old wedding dress. It would be good to see because its a little comical, and Mrs. Havisham seems overly dramatic.

2.The second part I would like to see is when Mrs. Havishams hair catches on fire and Pip tried to save her. This would be funny to see in class, watching someone freak out while on fire.

3. And the last one is dinner at Jaggers house with All of Pips friends, (Drummie, Herbert, Startop, etc...) This would be good to see because each acter would have to act out their version of big characters. Also it can include a lot of people in one skit.

“Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come.”(223) Joe says this to Pip after their uncomfortable meeting in London at the end of Chapter 27. I don't quite understand what this was meant to mean. Also, mentioning blacksmith's, whitesmith's, goldsmith's, and coppersmith's didn't quite make sence to me. I was wondering if it was saying how he didn't mean for their meeting in London to be akward, and then add a goodbye. So my question is, what does Joe mean by say this to Pip?

Great Expectations: The First Stage

When Pip says, "the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns and flowers, that would never have bound you" (70), he is talking about a certain day in his life that changed who he was as a human. This day was when Pip first went to Mrs. Havisham's. Pip never really went out from the house until he met Mrs. Havisham and Estella. Pip never really met with the upper class, and it was a first for him. This day was when Pips "chain" that bound him because in that day he realized he wanted to become a gentlemen rather than just a blacksmith.

I would have to say, the one day that changed me was when I was really little. I cant quite remember what age i was, but probably aboub 3-ish. The day was when I first got to sew with my grandma. She let me sit of her lap, and taught me all the basics to sewing. From then on, I always wanted to go to my grand,as house just to sew with her 24/7. Now that I am older, and i'm high school, I am taking textile design for one of my electives. Now, I am a very artistic person, ho is really into fashion and design. And i believe i owe that to my grandma, teaching me everything I know now.