"Where I'm From" Poem

Bronx Perspectives Take One - 2/15/16

       Bronx Masquerade is a book about teenagers in high school who express their true feelings and experiences through poetry at their open mike fridays, during class.  Each and every student has a back story to them that they keep to themselves.  They all seem seem to have issues, yet they don't like openly discussing about them and tend to drop hints of these issues in their poetry.  Tyrone, which is the main character, always reflects on the person and their poems after they perform. 

       Each student in the book all have an issue.  Some of these issues being bigger than others.  However, they all have things in common, they just don't know it yet.  For example, Raul Ramirez and Diondra Jordan.  Raul is more of a outspoken confident person, which is the opposite of Diondra.  Despite their difference in personality, they both have art in common.  Raul paints, and Diondra draws.  Nevertheless, Raul likes to show his work and isn't afraid of it being judged, and Diondra keeps her drawing secretive because she is afraid of getting judged.  So in a way, they are both different but they both have a talent in art.

       Two other characters that are different is Lupe and Gloria.  What makes them different is their perspectives.  Gloria is a single teen mom, she has many struggles being a mother and student and it's hard for her to balance being both.  She, in a way, regrets her actions.  She wishes she can do things over again because after she had her kid life has been rough for her.  Lupe on the other hand, really wants a child.  She believes that having a baby young will make her happy, and it won't be a hassle to care for him/her alone.  They both believe differently on having children at a very young age, which makes them different.

       Overall, all of the characters in Bronx Masquerade are different in their own unique ways.  Some of them being more different than others, and some of them being more similar than they think.

Poetry Response

Poem: Still I Rise 

By: Maya Angelou 

“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise."

~~~~~~~~~

  The poem I chose is, Still I Rise, by Maya Angelou. This poem is about a person who gets bullied. The people (bullies) who try to bring her down expect her to be sad and ashamed, when in reality she doesn't let them bring her down. Even after she gets bullied, she still manages to hold her head up high and never gives in to the taunting. She doesn't let them get to her head, and believes that bullies will not succeed because she will always rise.
   
I think the author wrote this story to encourage people who are teased or harassed to not let the bullies dampen your mood or have you endure pain. I am convinced that her message is to not let the bullies succeed into bringing you down, or feeling less of yourself. They may insult you, but at the end of the day it's you who keeps yourself together and doesn't let people ruin you.

This poem's connection reminds me of Text to Self. This poem reminds me of Text to Self because it encourages the reader to not let bullies get their way, and to make yourself stronger. The message is the main key to the whole poem, and it's there to inspire people to believe in themselves. It is text to self because the poem has encouraged me to not care what people think of, and has reminded me of when I used to get insulted, but didn't let the bullies get their way.

I created a picture with multiple silhouettes to show what I visualized while reading this poem. In my picture (below), there are two bullies. These bullies are teasing the girl, and are expecting their words to hurt her and make her sad. Instead of feeling down, the girl raises her head up and thinks of herself as someone better. In the poem, it states "I rise." multiple times. To display this I made the girl look like she was on the clouds because she was feels very highly of herself, and she 'rose' up and will continue to 'rise' up from the bullying.

I commented on:
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2nd Quarter Reflections

Prompts:

1.  How have your research skills improved?
2. Of the books you have read this quarter, which was your favorite?  Why? 
3. What is something you have accomplished since the new year that you are proud of?

~~~~

 1. 

        My research skills have improved greatly because this quarter, our class has focused on research a lot.  We did an Edgar Allan Poe web quest, a Charles Dickens web quest, and we had to do a lot of research when creating our argumentative essay. 

        We learned how to find reliable sources, which definitely helped because some websites in the internet don't exactly tell the truth.  I also learned how to cite other websites or works, which is going to help when we write argumentative essays that involve research. 

        Overall, my research skills have improved since the beginning of the second quarter.   I learned how to find information correctly, and efficiently with both simple and complex articles.  I also learned how to put my research together, which helps when writing. 

2. 

  

        Out of all the books I have read this quarter, The 5th Wave, is my favorite.  It specifically interested me because I love books that are post apocalyptic and are all about survival.  The book's genre is Science Fiction, which happens to be my favorite type of genre.

        The book also adds love interests, which ties everything together.  I really like it because it was very suspenseful and I just couldn't stop reading it.  It is a fast paced novel, and I happened to finish it in less than 3 days.  

        Overall, it is a very well written book, and the conflict is well thought out.  The characters are lovable, without them the book wouldn't be as good.  I fell in love with the plot and the characters, and was just engrossed in the book.  The ending was especially great, which is why it happens to be my favorite book of the quarter.

3. 

        Something I have accomplished since the New Year began that I am proud of is that I finished my argumentative essay.  I am especially proud because I worked hard on it, and I know that I put all my effort into it.  I was very happy at the end result, and knew that all my time and endeavor was well payed off.

        I had spent a lot of time on my essay, researching, citing, and writing.  It wasn't as easy as it seemed because a lot of websites weren't reliable, and finding one that was reliable was very complex.  Citing evidence also took time because you had to make sure everything was precise, and nothing could be wrong.

        When writing my essay, it was also difficult to stay away from informal language such as contractions and abbreviations.  Making sure everything was worded correctly was also problematic. 

        Amongst everything, I managed to put everything together correctly.  It formed a complete argumentative essay, and I was proud to know that I was finished.  It took a lot of time, and the end result was worth it.

        

   

Blog for 1-20-16

Book: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey

Genre: Science Fiction

Page #: 1 - 457 (Finished)


~~~~

Written Transcript:

    In my book talk for today, I will be talking about The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.  The 5th Wave falls into the genre, Science Fiction.  The story takes place in the United States, mostly in the woods, refugee camps, and a military camp.

     The main character in the book is Cassie Sullivan.  She is a 16 year old girl, who has freckles and strawberry blonde curls.  Cassie is suspicious, courageous, and tends to make jokes that are sarcastic to herself.  She loves to read, and writes what is going on in her life inside her diary so someone in the future can possibly read it or so the aliens know what she thinks of them.

     The conflict in the story all begins when the 'mothership' (an alien spaceship) suddenly makes an appearance in Earth.  This signaled them (the humans) that they were being attacked by aliens.  These aliens attacked in waves.  In the first wave, all electricity stopped working.  In the second, world disasters occurred, such as earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis, etc.  In the third wave, the humans were attacked with outbreaks of diseases and viruses.  In the fourth wave, some of the remaining humans were killed by 'silencers' (aliens).  Somehow, Cassie and her brother, Sammy,  managed to survive all of that together.  Until one day, Cassie's brother is taken.  The problem Cassie has to overcome is saving her brother.

     The mood of the story is mysterious, suspenseful, and sometimes depressing.  Three themes that best fit with The 5th Wave, are survival, perseverance, and manipulation.

     I like this book because it is very well written, and fast paced.  It defiantly leaves you wanting to read more.  The most memorable part was when the soldiers took Sammy away from Cassie and her father because that introduced the problem, and guided the book onwards.

     I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Science Fiction, or who like books about survival and aliens.  Someone who like fast-reads and like to be kept on their toes every time they're reading might love this story.  I would recommend it to these type of people because the book is very fast-paced, suspenseful, and it deals a lot with alien invaders, and survival.

     The viewer should go out and get this book because it is very nicely written, and will keep you wanting to read more.  It opens up your mind, and let's you put yourself in Cassie's scenarios and other characters' scenarios as well.  Overall, it is a great book that everyone should defiantly read!

I commented on:

Anthony G's Blog
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Blog for 12-14-15

Prompt: Pretend you are the best friend of one of the characters.  Write them a letter.

Book: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Author: John Boyne

Page #: 1-85

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Disclaimer:  Bruno is a boy and in the story has no interest in girls, and only has friends that are boys.  Therefore, I changed my name to Evan.  Both Bruno and "Evan" are 10 years old so their writing isn't as formal as an adult's would be.  However, they do know some formal language.
~~~~

Letter:

1234 Oakley Avenue

 Berlin, Germany  98765
December 14th, 2015

Dear Bruno, 

     Berlin has been very boring without you here.  There is not much to do on our street anymore, it's just been quiet.  Lately, your house has been looking really empty, maybe it's because I'm used to it being full with life.  Anyway, how's Gretel?  Your sister was always weird, especially when she was with her friends!  One time they kept trying to force me to play dolls with them while you were in the bathroom.  Luckily you came out before they had they chance to even give me one!  Anyways, this letter isn't supposed to be about me, it's supposed to be about you.  

     I have had a few questions on my mind to ask you lately.  What's it like in your new house?  Is it bigger than your old house?  Do you have any new friends?  I hope you didn't replace either me, Daniel, Martin, or Karl! We're best friends and you can't replace us, we're simply irreplaceable.  Anyway, if you do have new friends, what are they like?  Surely they can't be as good as us but they must be nice.  I wonder what their names are.  Are you planning on coming back?  I'm starting to miss you at school.   However, there's a new student and his name is Adam.  He's really pleasant, yet not as much as you are.

     That has been the only exciting thing that happened since you left.  I'm telling you Bruno, you have have to come back!  It must be pretty nice over there if you haven't come back to your old house yet.  I hope you don't forget us.  So, how's school over there?  It must be completely different!  I wish you could've stayed.

     Sadly, I have to put this letter to an end because I have to go.  Mother says that we have to go to a friend's house for Schwarzwalder.  I hope you have time to write me back.  Wiedersehen!

                                                                                                          Sincerely, 

                                                                                                                            Evan








     

Blog for 11-30-15 : Non-Fiction Book

Book: Endangered Forest Animals

Author: Dave Taylor

Page #: 1-30 (Finished)

Summary:

Many forest animals have become endangered.  Two main reasons why they have become near to extinction is because of being hunted and deforestation.  The destruction of their habitat has occurred to make room for farms, cities, etc.  The animals have also been hunted abundantly and their population has been nearly wiped out because of their unique coats, threats, etc.  In order to preserve them there have been new laws preventing them from being hunted and national parks have taken in these animals to protect them.  All these endangered forest animals are different but still share the same problem, they're all close to extinction.

Interesting Passage:

There were many interesting passages in the whole entire story about certain animals, forests, and much more.  It was kind of hard to pick one, however I found a passage relating to the Asian elephant that caught my attention and stuck to my brain.  The passage reads, "The people who use elephants for labor do not want their elephants to have babies because that means the mother elephant cannot work for several years while she is looking after her youngster.  Instead of allowing the animals to have babies, the elephant owners catch new wild elephants to replace the aging ones.  This means that the wild herds keep getting smaller." (Page 22)  I found this passage interesting because it is shocking that people are using animals to their own benefit and aren't allowing them to repopulate.  Not letting them repopulate and capturing new elephants decrease the population, yet they are still forcing them into hard work.  I feel as if they should't be put to labor, be able to have babies, and maintain the population.

What I Learned:

I have learned many facts about the endangered forest animals.  Not only that but I learned how to identify specific forests, and how to save the animals living in them.  I learned that in our area we mostly have deciduous trees.  Their leaves turn different colors in fall and fall off when winter comes around.  I also learned about such animals like the lowland gorillas.  The gorillas' habitat are being destroyed and they're being hunted by poachers who have interest in taking their heads as trophies.  Lastly, I learned how to save the many forest animals who are endanger.  People, such as yourself and some friends, can buy an acre (43,560 sq. ft) of a forest and that piece of land cannot be cut down, unless authorized by the owners.  This will make sure the animals have a reliable home, safe from destruction.  Overall I learned a lot from this book because it supplied information about certain types of forests, animals, and solutions to help the animals. 

I commented on:

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