Paradox Reflections

Paradox Reflection One:

Paradox: "Even in our so-called virtues we are intemperate: a teetotaler is not content not to drink-he must stop all the drinking in the world; a vegetarian among us would outlaw the eating of meat."

Reflection: 
     This paradox in "Paradox and Dream" by John Steinbeck states that we believe only what we think. Other people's ideas are wrong and we only listen to our opinions. Like how it states the vegetarian would outlaw meat, but a lot of other people like meat, just because they don't like it doesn't mean it should outlawed for everyone. This paradox basically shows selfishness and how us as Americans only think of ourselves.

     I relate to this paradox because I have heard, read, and seen it in the news. Like how Hitler killed all the Jewish people because he didn't believe they were actually people and their way of life was wrong. Also how ISIS is killing Christians and other innocent people that don't believe in ISIS's beliefs. Many people just believe in what they think, which is a horrible way to live.

Paradox Reflection Two:

Paradox: "We spend our time searching for security, and hate it when we get it."

Reflection: 
     This paradox in "Paradox and Dream" by John Steinbeck states that all our lives humans are looking for something great and then when they get it they absolutely hate it so much, which is very confusing but true. Like if you get a promotion at your firm you are satisfied you made it there, but then you have to work more hours and you are barely home with your family. This happens to many people who strive for what they want and are disappointed.

     I relate to this paradox because it is happening to my mom right now. She got this promotion from being a teacher to a literacy coach at her school. She has to stay later hours and do a lot of more work because from what I hear is her boss makes her do his work. She is glad she got this opportunity but also hates it because of the hours she had to work. I don't know why but she is now going to school to become a principle, which must be way more stressful.

FINAL REFLECTION BLOG

Prompt: via Mrs. Larson's Blog

     One very important thing I learned this year from Mrs. Larson is time management. You can't hold off all your work the last minute, I learned that the hard way. It just comes to show that it isn't responsible at all. Getting all your work done on a Thursday night kind of sucks. I like spreading out over the week like I have learned in this class, it just makes more sense that way. This is a skill needed throughout your life.

     Another very important thing I learned this year from Mrs. Larson is how to stay focused and on task. Honestly, I still do need a little more work on this, but I know for a fact I have improved since I was a the first day of 7th grade. If you aren't on task you are wasting time, or how Mrs. Larson likes to say it, "Come on people. You are wasting precious moments of your lives. Stay focused." :)

     A final important thing I learned this year from Mrs. Larson was how to make an objective summary. I thought at first an objective summary included quotes. I know now that that is what a regular summary needs. An objective summary is supposed to focus on the central idea of a text, but restate it in your own words, no textual evidence. Only the important details, not minor ones. I now know that, I am glad I do.

     Something we did this year that I will remember for the rest of my life is how to create a Works Cited list, and the citations in MLA format. It is a very important life skill people need to have in any job, and even when we are in high school and college. When we are writing essays we need to state our sources. Instead of just copy and pasting the link we need to give full credit to the people that helped us with our essay. I think creating a Works Cited list is very important to remember throughout your life as a student and as a worker.

     The nicest thing someone has done for me in this class was whenever there was a vocabulary test Siari would study with me. She didn't mind at all and I actually did better because she would give me tips or advice.

     Something I taught my teacher was that even the most obnoxious and talkative students (me) can make progress and actually do what is expected. I can stay on task, or at least try to when told to. I get all of my work done on time and most meets or exceeds standards.

    The area I feel I had made the biggest improvements on was as simple as comprehending what I was reading. I understood what I was reading and could answer questions and tell a summary. I wasn't there reading and having no idea what I was reading.

     Something I accomplished this year was reading more than 20 books. That was my goal, and I read 28 books in total this year. I think is is my best year and it doesn't even end until July. I hope that at the end I would have read 35 books, that's my goal. The most challenging part this year for me getting all my homework done and study for vocabulary. On regular weeks we have an AoW, Blog, any other extra homework assigned based on the lesson we are doing, and Vocabulary. I have so far turned in all my work on time and completed the homework needed.

     The best piece of writing I have done this year was my Argumentative Essay to the Governor. I put every reason and statement about why I am for Death with Dignity. I clearly backed it up with evidence and interpretation. Even had all my sources in my Works Cited list in MLA format. It was by far the best essay I wrote that year, and probably any other year considering that I have more knowledge now that I did when I was 8, 10, and 12 years old.

     Of the books I read this year my favorite was The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It really just showed problems that regular people face very clearly. I especially liked how the main character, Charlie, wrote to a person (he did not know personally) who listened to what he had to say. That was the format throughout the whole book, him writing a letter to someone he had no idea about. It really gave a different approach then if it was from different perspective. I just enjoyed it so much and recommend it also.

     Advice I would give to students who will be in this class next year is two things: 1. Time management is very important if you don't want to fail this class. Like I said in the first paragraph you would have to do all your work on Thursday night and trust me it really sucks. 2. Think outside the box. You were put in this class for a reason, don't be basic and just think of meeting the standards. Go over what you are expected to do, and be successful.

Symbolism Blog

A blank canvas

     Something that symbolizes me is a blank canvas.  It shows a new beginning, a fresh start someone needs. An opportunity to start over. Not literal, like if you mess up drawing a stick figure on that canvas you just go to the next one. It shows creativity and basically anything that can lead to an idea. It is a fresh slate, something is waiting to happen. That one blank canvas could be the thing you needed, a new place to just start all over. I need to start over a lot, because who's perfect? Not me for sure. But like Lennie, he and George need to start over a lot too, with the incident in Weed. It just shows a place to start whatever you want, and it's up to you how you want it to turn out. My art teacher sees a blank canvas like this, "A blank canvas is just a white polar bear in a horrible and snowy blizzard."

I commented on Jared's, Lillian's, James', Rebecca's, Devin's, and Sebastian's Blog

OMAM: Book vs Movie

     I think Of Mice and Men was a great book. It showed many things like loneliness and the hardships for different people back then. What had the most profound impact was how the book and movie both showed different types of loneliness. In Crooks, Candy, Curley's Wife, and Lennie. It helped me understand the message of the book more. I would recommend this book to anyone honestly. It seems like it could fit a variety of many younger and older people. It just is a great piece of writing.

     In the film, the director shows us “the incident in Weed” differently from how we find out in the book. In the book they mention it many times, but the reader doesn't know what "the incident in Weed" is until when George finally tells Slim. In the movie they actually show what happened in Weed as the first scene. That is the reason they went to the ranch. They did it that way because in the book it left you wanting more but in the movie it built up the suspense, its good both ways. This changes the story because then it won't let the reader/viewer left hanging.

     The book begins with the “stage” set by the pond. In the film, we see George on a train first. The director shows George on the train first because that is also how the movie ends. I also think it shows how it was "back in the day" than present day. It shows the time they are in, because now a days people don't ride on those type of trains without seats. It is showing that George's life is very hard, he has no place he actually can call home and is running everywhere. He tries to find one place and he is still looking for it.

     I think the director’s choice of Sharilynn Fenn to play Curley’s wife could have been better. She does not look how I imagined her. I thought she would be blonde with a very bright face. I would have chosen Scarlett Johnson, because that is how I pictured  Curley's Wife in the book.

AOW Impression Blog

     My impression on the gallery walk was it was a great idea! We could learn a lot about the world in just about 30 seconds from each AOW someone has done. I learned about how google is creating a new wifi. They are working with Sprint and T-Mobile. It also is cheaper, if you only use 2 of the gigabytes then you will be charged with only 2, even if your plan stated you had 3 gigabytes. This could totally affect a lot of people, we can save way more money and actually use that for something else. They are also creating hotspots which is great for people who travel a lot, or who want to travel a lot.

     I also heard about the Nepal Earthquake and how it affected many people, close to 8 million people affected. At least 7,500 died and more than 8,000 injured. It was the worst earthquake in over 80 years and there wasn't even enough hospitals for everyone that was hurt. Then the Earthquake caused many avalanches on Mt. Everest, 19 people died from the avalanches. I thought this was very sad and crazy to happen. It stinks because you can't really do anything to stop an earthquake, it's a natural cause that is very hard to predict if coming.

     Including me, I heard a lot about the Baltimore Riots. It happened because of Freddie Grays' death. Many cars and small businesses set on fire and burned. Rioters threw bricks and anything they could get their hands on and threw it at the police. School was cancelled in the area because of the fear of children's lives at stake. The worst part is this hurt and affected many innocent people that just happened to live in Baltimore and had nothing to do with Grays' death. It's pretty embarrassing that this happened and devastating.

I commented on Jeremiah's, Sebastian's,  Sam's blog.

Dream Poem

Dreams

You look into the future,
what do you see?
You see a dream
that you hope you will achieve.

School, sports, job.
It can be anything at all.
If you set your mind to it
you won't quit.

Without dreams,
whats the point?

You are the average
brick on the wall,
you are no different
than the others.

Dreams are the things
that separates us
from each other.

He dreams to be
in the pros.
He dreams to go
to college.

She dreams to
be a doctor.
She dreams to
have a family.

Without dreams,
whats the point?

I commented on Sonny's, Giovanna's,