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Independent Reading
Intro: This is my first Independent Reading Project.
Laura De Jesus
January 18, 2011
Title – Go Ask Alice
Go Ask Alice is a New York Times 3 Million Best Seller. This story is FULL of drama and suspense! Every word in this book has a reason of being placed on the page. Alice is a desperate girl on the chase of drugs. Alice was a young girl who did not belong in any group, she was just there. Her father got a job promotion and she moved to a smaller town but still suffered through the same problems. Until she meet this girl at a boutique named Chris. Little did she know what she was about get herself into, Chris was a year older then Alice. They more they began to hang out the closer they became; Alice got hired at the same place as Chris. It seemed to be a great idea at the time, but when they began to hang out outside of the work place that’s everything started to change. One night Alice joined Chris in an all girls night, this was the day Alice changed forever. She tried drug for the first time. She started off with acid; she was high to the max by the first shot! This became a daily routine for the two of them; they took it up to shooting, then pot. She was at the point where she couldn’t go a day without getting high. Alice began to experiment sex with drugs, she lost it to a random guy at a party. After returning to her grandmothers house she back to her normal self again, but once Chris appeared again she was worse then ever! They saved all their earnings from working long hours to run away and get high 24/7. Chris had a friend in California so they decided to move there for a bit and look for work. A few weeks pass by and they begin to realize the jobs they found weren’t cutting their needs to get high. Starving and quitting their jobs, Chris found a job with a young lady not that much older then her. She was ALSO addicted to drugs. Due to this fact it made it difficult for them to work together. Alice was also hired, the three went to parties everyday after work to get high with the “rich folks”. Almost year goes by they think its time to go home for Christmas. After two days they finally made it home in time for Christmas, they were sober about six months. Thinking that they would never return to drugs again, that was not the case at all. Chris began to a date a college boy, and set up Alice with his friend. The facts that Alice was fifteen and Chris was sixteen made their relationships illegal, so they kept the drugs and sex a secret. This was going on for almost a year. Come to find out their “boyfriends” were each other’s boyfriends! After Alice seen this she went running away again. At this point she was seventeen nothing was stopping her. She would give blowjobs; have sex with females and males just to get a fix. She joined all different groups of addicts till she meet a young girl only fourteen on the run just like her. Alice had one more chance for help, she accepted it. It didn’t work for that long, she overdosed and dies.
Favorite Actor: Alice
Why? Because she was real and always something new.
I would recommend this book to anyone, it is an amazing book. The suspense makes you want to never stop reading. I think it should be a required book for all the ninth graders in public schools. The book teaches us to never escape from the hard times in life but accept them as they are and move on with life. I can relate to the characters in the story in a certain way. I think the book teaches youths and adults that peer pressure can harm you for the rest of your life.
Journals
Journal Entries
Why Do We Write?
Why do we write? Well me personally I write because it is my way to get away. I write because people can’t judge me because they can’t see me. Also, I write because I can express myself in different ways, I am a very shy person I don’t say what I feel aloud, so I write them on paper and feel like a weight has been lifted of my shoulder. Why do we write? People write to tell us their stories and experiences without words.
If You Really Knew Me…
If you really knew me you would know that I am afraid of heights. If you really knew me you would know that I have a trust problem and am very afraid to express myself. If you really knew me you would know I feel like I have no one to go to. If you really me you would know that I have many issues, and am afraid to get judged. If you really knew me you would know that I cry a lot over things that maybe I shouldn’t care about. If you really knew me you would know that I blame myself for my brother’s death. If you really knew me I feel like I make people get out of my life, for the wrong reasons. If you really knew me you would know that I feel unloved and unappreciated in my own house. If you really knew you would know that it’s taking a lot in me to write this about myself.
How Important Is It To Fit In?
Does it matter to fit in? I don’t think that it matters that much, I mean it depends on who you are and how easy you give into peer pressure. Personally I see no reason to fit in with the rest of the world. We are all different for reasons, if we were meant to be the same look alike, dress alike, and act alike we would have been born that way. The style and world changes everyday so often, it would be like changing who you are whenever someone comes out with a new sneaker or new perfume. It is pointless, just be yourself 101% of the time, and your better off.
Has Anyone Ever Exceeded Your Expectations?
No not that I can remember. Only reason is because I don’t expect much from anyone anymore, whatever they do or give me is what it is. Life has taught me a lot and that is one of the main ones, don’t expect much, you’ll usually get the unexpected. “Expect the Unexpected.”
Reflection
Me, well as a ninth grade I feel as though I changed a lot throughout the year. My previous work is a sow case of how much progress I went through. When I first entered Mrs. Dunn’s class I couldn’t tell the difference between compound and complex sentences, now it comes naturally. My form of writing has changed a lot, due to the help from the teachers and students in Mrs. Dunn’s English 1 Class.
My main strengths in English are that I can speak my mind through my writing and not be afraid to express myself. Also, my vocabulary it has become much better and to the standards of a ninth grader. My weaknesses are that I have trouble making sense when I write paragraphs and stories. It’s hard for me to remember what I typed and how I typed it. But it’s getting better it should be better as we speak. I would love to get better at my parts of speech.
My experiences on working on this portfolio were hard, and fun at the same time. Finding all my work and editing it was the hardest part because I don’t like to look back and edit. Also, the uploading it, it took a while but I got it to work on the second try. I had a decent time going back through all my work; it reminded me of all the work I did in the beginning and how much I changed.
My favorite piece in my portfolio is my Me Magazine, because that was my first project that I actually cared about and took time to do. It brought back memories of the eighth grade. And how much fun I had.
My Portfolio
Macbeth character analysis
Aidan
Rios
November
2, 2010
Macbeth…
Thesis:
Macbeth starts out as a loyal and trustful friend/ warrior. But, through out
the story he slowly begins to become evil and almost everyone grows in to fear
and hate’s him.
Macbeth
and Banquet just finish a battle and just wetness a brief moment from the
witches. The witches began talking to them saying that one day Macbeth shall
become king and there must be something done first in order for Macbeth to
become king. With that being said, the witches begin talking about what just
have happen. Then, Macbeth says, “let us speak our free hearts each to other” –act
1 scene 4 line 144 page 13- I think this is said because they don’t want to
keep any secrets from each other since they are friends they should both be
aware of what’s going on and should know anything that happens. So I think
that’s why they say “let us speak our free hearts to each other,” stating not
to keep anything from each other.
Next is
that they came back from the news that the winches gave them and Macbeth began
talking to lady Macbeth and at the same time, king Duncan paid a visit and they
began talking. Then, king Duncan shows how grateful he is to Macbeth for
winning the battle that they had, but Macbeth wants nothing in return. His
loyalty and service is enough for him. The quote “the service and the loyalty I owe in doing it pays itself your
highness’ part is to receive our duties” Act 1 scene 4 lines 22 through 24 page
14- is then said. Why is that Macbeth is a great man and is just focusing on
the fighting and wants nothing to be given to him for his work. He just wants
the king’s loyalty and trust and that’s why I think that Macbeth says this
quote…
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The king
and Macbeth talked for a while but then lady Macbeth grabbed his hand and they
had a little conversation about the situation and then Macbeth talked to king
Duncan about how his wife needed some time alone. He says “the hearing of my
wife with your approach; so humbly take my leave” Act 1 scene 4 lines 47
through 48 page 15- I think that Macbeth respectfully told king Duncan that
they needed to be alone so he told him the quote.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
It is
nighttime close to midnight and everyone is asleep in the house of Macbeth. He
begins talking to him self-saying that he just want this to be over with and
done. He is planning to kill king Duncan but is a bit scared to do so cause
there are so many things that can happen once this is done. He says “If it were
done when ‘tis done, then ‘there well it were done quickly” Act 1 scene 7 line
1 page 20- I think why Macbeth wants this to just be done with is because he
can’t take the pressure of the deed anymore. He wants to just get it over with
so lady Macbeth can stop nagging him to do something. Plus. He probably wants
to be king and forget about this once it’s done.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
They are
all at a party celebrating Macbeth becoming king but Macbeth is not acting him.
He is acting a bit crazy and regretful about what he has done.
Then lady Macbeth has a private
conversation with him to try and finger out what’s wrong with him. Then, Lady
Macbeth then says was the hope drunk when you dressed yourself?” Act 1 scene 7
lines 35 thought 36 page 22- Lady Macbeth is a bit surprise that Macbeth is
acting in such a manner. She though that he would be happy and have forgetting
about what he did. So she is insulting him cause she cannot believe how he is
acting.
Macbeth
is awake and thinking about what he is about to do. He sees a floating dagger
and begins to talk to himself and tryst to grab a hold of it but cannot grab
the dagger. So he begins talking out loud about the crim. The quote is “Is this
a dagger, which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch
I think that he is being paranoid about
the crime and just want it to be done and forgotten about but just cannot stop
thinking of it so he begins to think about it a lot and see things.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Macbeth
comes running to lady Macbeth covered in blood and daggers in hand. Lady
Macbeth gets scared as Macbeth
q is
scared and covered in blood. As
they talk about the deed, lady Macbeth takes the daggers and takes them back to
the scene to frame the gourds. The line is “I have done the deed. Didst you not
hear the noise” (act 2 scene 2 line 14 page 27) I think why this is that
Macbeth wanted lady Macbeth to know so she could stop nagging him about killing
ducan. So, I think that that’s why Macbeth told his wife about what he has
done.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Macbeth is
now king but has become a bit of a jerk. He has so much power but he just wants
more and more and more. So, a servant comes to him to tell him that he saw
trees moving to the castle. But Macbeth thinks his lying and threatens him but
still investigates. The quote that the servant says is “stones have been known
to move and speak” ( act 3 scene 4 line 126 page 55) I think that since Macbeth
is powerful he doesn’t really think nothings a threat to him so he just thinks
its nothing. When the old Macbeth would have checked it out with extreme
caution. Unlike the king Macbeth. Witch he really doesn’t care that much.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Macbeth
and his men are at war with enemy thanes, Malcolm and Mac duff. As Macbeth
kills a solder he begins to talk to him self, as he is a bit angry and upset.
He has so many things going thought his mind and that’s when he just says the
quote “my soul is too much charged with blood and thane already” (act 5 scene 8
lines 5 thought 6 page 95) I think that Macbeth is only focus on the battle and
not the death of his wife or the danger that his men/people are in. he is
filled with so much angry that he just wants to kill…
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Macbeth
just finishes killing a soldier and talks to himself. Then all of a sudden, Mac
duff shows up behind him and tells him to turn and fight. After they fight they
begin to talk about Malcolm becoming king. Macbeth then says the quote “I will
not yield, to kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet.” (Act 5 scene 8
lines 27 through 29 page 96)I think that Macbeth rather dies then witness the
crowning of Malcolm. He knows that he is going to die and Malcolm is going to
be king no matter what happens. So, Macbeth just wants to fight until he can no
longer fight. But he will not be alive to see Malcolm become king.
Memoir Vignette
The
best day of my life.
Ring ring…… ring ring…. Ring ring…
“Who is this? “
“Get up, its time…”
-Sigh- I remember this as if it happen
yesterday… It was December 22, 2009 12:32 pm eastern standard time in the
afternoon. I was sleeping in my twin size bed under my dark green sheets and
lying on my soft and cozy dark green matching pillow. My brother was sleeping
on the floor like a passed out drunk, the room was dark and cold. The phone
kept ringing and ringing. My brother and me got really annoyed. I threw my
pillow at the phone and it fell, sadly it didn’t shut up. So I get up in anger
and picked up the phone like how a Rican
is when he’s hungry and there is no food to feed himself (trust me, that get us
really angry): humor. I picked up the phone and yelled, “Who in the world
is this!!! It’s 12:33 in the afternoon yet you call what can possibly be so
important that you must call! Who got shot? Who’s bleeding gallons and gallons
of blood? What the hell! Are you this damn mentally challenge!” I breathe and
waited for the caller to respond and…. All of a sudden you hear death it self,
an angry Puerto Rican lady on the phone talking louder than the Phillies game was when they won the world series: simile and cursing more than a sailor metaphor in Spanish. “Look, calm down
alright it’s your mother, shut up and get dress. I’ll be there in 20 minutes so
hurry up or you’ll starve” So, I sigh and hung up. Next thing you know, the phone rings again to her screaming,
“why didn’t you say good-bye!” I said good-bye and hung up like a gentlemen
from the 1970’s. –Humor and simile-
I went to wake up my brother lazy self
and he hits me. I called him some bad things and leave. So, I brush my teeth
and got dressed and fix my amazing and sexy hair. I took like 40 hours fixing
my hair making it exactly how I wanted it. Shining it and making it as awesome
as hair can be. I walked down stairs and sat on the sofa and realized “oh god wait, if mom ever caught me sitting
on her sixty thousand dollar sofa she would run me over with the car in
repeated attempts” humor- I sat
on the floor and waited like a good boy. I looked at the clock and it read
“1:20pm standard eastern time” I turn on the 52 inc Sony high definition black
TV and watched a beautiful and touching Spanish soap opera. Next thing you know
“1:45pm standard eastern time” note 20 minutes had gone by. I got up and walked
over to the kitchen and there was nothing there just like my stomach. I walked
back in anger and waited. Next thing you know, it’s “2:10pm standard eastern
time” I got my dark gray t-mobile gravity t touch screen phone and unlocked it
opening up the contact list looking for my mother’s number and dialed the
number in anger. I waited and waited for her to pick up and she doesn’t. I sigh
and walk outside to get the mail. But I forgot that the door was locked. So I
got the mail and try to open the door. Sadly, it’s locked. I knock and I knock
and I knock so my brother would hear me but he’s still asleep. So I walked
around the back and see if the doors open and nope, it’s locked. I get so angry and threw the mail. I
realize that those are the bills and if my mom found out that they were on the
floor getting wet and dirty she would kill me… so I quickly picked them up and
clean them up and hold them with care and waited hoping my mom gets me. I tried
to open the window and success! It opens.
I get in like a thief getting inside that store down the street at night
simile. And there, my brother is
there with a deadly broom and his face filled with anger for waking him up. My
heart freezes, hoping he doesn’t hit me with it. He hits me with it.. I tell
him “dude, its me calm down calm down” he says “that’s for waking me up
stupid!” he leaves and I sit on the floor. I tell myself “what a jerk” then.
I hear the car’s beep and I slowly walk
out in pain. I open the door of the blue Honda civic mugen si is waiting
outside. I open the door and get in to a screaming woman. “What toke you so
long I waited like a minute for you to get in boy, damn!” I sigh and respond to
“sorry mom” we drove off and she turns
up the music like a million volume bars: hyperbolae up almost blowing my
eardrums. Next thing you know. Were at the store that only gods go to “BEST
BUY!!!” I get all happy like a kid is when he or she is eating a jumbo ice
cream cone. I jump up and down on my seat as I say “mom mom mom mom what cha
going to get me huh mom huh” she hits me in the back of the head and tells me
to get out… I’m still happy and run inside and look around. She tells me to
look around. I look around and like 20 mins later my mom comes and says the
water that brought tears to my eyes. “Aidan, get a ps3 box and a cheap game and
at that moment. My heart stops and I fell to the floor on my knees. She tells
me to get up and stop embarrassing her so I ran to the game section and there. There lies the system of the gods. The
sexiest console ever to touch by man. I spend like 60 hours trying to pick out
the perfect and best looking box. Hyperbolae
I picked up the Sony entertainment play station 3 box and music of the gods
begins to play in my head, as I see nothing but happiness and joy. I carry the
60-pound box and once again I spend like
40 hours trying to pick out a game hyperbolae. I then picked out the best
game ever to be created, yes, im talking about METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE
PATRIOTS TACTICAL ESPIONOGE ACTION FOR PS3 ONLY BLUE RAY HIGH DEFINATION GAME
PLAY tears of joy fall down my cheek and I happily and carefully pick up the
game as if it was a trillion dollars. I walk up to my mom almost crying and she
pays for the things at the check out counter.
Even though it’s heavy, I carry them by
myself to the Honda civic si mugen and hop in. My mom looks happy and so am I.
I tell her “thanks mom I love you” she tells me “stop kissing up Aidan” and I
smile and look away. Just as I though it couldn’t get any better. We get to
burger king and I can get what ever I want. I kiss my mothers cheek and she
smacks me. I get a large number 6 with a large DR. Pepper and large fries. As I
get the food I reach for a fir and my mom says “boy, touch the fir and I’ll
kill you (she hates people eating in her car) So I wait almost close to a heart
attack. We get home and I run faster than the flash to my room. I open up the
box of the ps3 and I get happy in so many ways. I hook up the system and I have
tears of joy and my heart races of how sexy the game is. I pop in mgs4 and I
get ready to have my heart and head exploded by the beauty. I wait and wait and
bam!!!!!!! There was the legendary hero solid snake smoking a cigarette
all-awesome and what not. I wait for the game to load and I play the first
mission. The controller is just so sexy and smooth and black and soft and the
game is perfect and the sounds, graphics everything is godly amazing. I wasn’t
that happen since the time I got my ps2. So, as I play the game im just so
happy and I say to my self “is this what heaven feels like?” I continue to play for the rest of the
day and at exactly 4am I got knocked out holding my ps3 controller in my hands.
So I think that that’s about it about me and the day that I got my ps3 and mgs4
copy. So as you can obviously see
you should know that my realization is that you can never know how a day will
turn out to be. So thank you for your time and thank you for reading. ^,..,^
The creator of this amazing story is
Aidan Rios. From red stream on January 10, 2011 11:20pm
Quarter 1 Benchmark macbeth character analysis
Introduction: this is my macbeth character analysis and all this how I talk about how Macbeth started off being a good guy then turning into a bad guy. Also I had to use quotes in the book to show it.
Zakee Jones Macbeth
Theses: Macbeth start off being a noble warrior to a blood lust killer who will do anything to say in power.
Quote
1 in Line 1 Act 1.7
Macbeth was like hero to his people and got promoted. But his wife thought he should get more
So Macbeth is talking to himself in his soliloquy he is alone in a room conversing about if he
kill Duncan. He think over and over to him arguing in his head and with this thoughts about
what would be good about killing Duncan and what will be the terrible if he did it. When
Macbeth says line 1 act 1.7 if were done “tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly
what he means is if I got to kill Duncan to become king I got to do it quick or people might
get suspicious of me. At this point Macbeth is going through a catcher evaluation change
and is now starting to have mix feeling. He thinking will kill Duncan to get more power then his proposition.
In Act 1.7,line 12 Macbeth is still in his soliloquy talking whets right
and whets wrong. Hess not really sure yet but whatever design he make is going to have an
effect on him, Macbeth say evenhanded justice commends th’ ingredient of our poisoned
chalice to our own lips. What this means is Macbeth is saying that even if I kill him and
become king the guilt in the end of it all will come back to him. Or he will kill and get caught
he might get killed himself and it will be for nothing.
Quote 3 in act 1.7 line 6 .so Macbeth is thinking im not going to kill Duncan because I have
everying I need a porosation, which means we will be making more money. But lady
Macbeth starts to get upset because if they become come king they will have even more
power. She start to question his man hood and Macbeth say I dare do all that amy become a
man who dare to more is none. And what this means is im all ready a man if any one goose
that far they are not a man
Quote 4 act 2.1 line 45 so in this seen Macbeth is ready you kill Duncan he is trying to get
his focus has handed made up his mined but suddenly he see a dagger in front of him. He
douse in know if he is going crazy or not but this what Macbeth say mine eyes are made
fools o’ the’ other senses or else worth all the sleep what douse this mean? Is his eyes
playing trick no the other senses I think I must rest.
Quote 5: act v.5 line 9 in this part Macbeth have just about killed everyone that became a
threat to his power. His entire servant is scared of him so he hears that the forest is coming
to his Castile and he is ready to fight. At the end he knows his power is coming to the end.
He says I have almost forgot the taste of fear. Which means I Alost forgot what fear feels
like. Will he do that much to stay in power?
Quote 6 act v.5 line 17
Macbeth so he gets new that his wife is dead they don’t say how but I guess that’s up to you.
So he says she should have died hereafter: there would have been a time for such a word. So
what he saying is he not pushing it a side but he cant let this news get him down his about to
go into war their would have been a better time to tell him this. He can’t let this be
conscience while he in war or it could mess up his focus.
Quote 7 In the end of act 3 scene 1, Macbeth is talk to his little people that kills people for Macbeth. Macbeth at this point is forcing the murderers to find and kill banquo a soon as possible before he gets in Macbeth way. According to act 3 scene 1 lines 140-143 Macbeth states “I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within. It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it finds heaven, must find it out tonight” to the murderers. This quote means that Macbeth does not know if banquo will be going to heaven or not but he does not care he just wants Banquo dead. As you can see now Macbeth has hit his Blood thirsty mean killer part of him. Now all he want to do is kill and kill to do anything to keep the crown ad to keep his secret of the death of King Duncan.
Quote 8 Analyze Act 2 scenes 2, after the death of king Duncan Macbeth and lady Macbeth is talking to each other . Macbeth is saying that he will not sleep any more. the quote in act 2 scene 2 lines 40-43 “Sleep that knits up the revealed sleave of care, the death of each days life, sore labors bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, chief nourishes is life’s feast”. This is a quote saying what he did when he was sleeping but from the context he will not sleep anymore and no more of this will ever happen. But Lady Macbeth is making him go to sleep. As you can see Macbeth is going a little big insane after killing King Duncan.
Quote 9 In Act 2 scene 2, lady Macbeth and Macbeth is still talking to each other after king Duncan’s death. Macbeth is saying that he will never sleep again and he had just got done killing Duncan. After seeing himself kill king Duncan he is feeling guilty and Lady Macbeth is forcing him to not.
Quote 10 In act 3 scene 1, Macbeth is getting better after the death of Macbeth but he has sent people out to kill Banqou know. Macbeth, lady Macbeth and the warriors will now meet to have diner with each other. Macbeth states in act 3 scene 1 lines 63-64 “Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding”. By this quote Macbeth means that Banquo will die and his son of his will be king. Macbeth is trying to keep the crown and is willing to kill any one that steps in front of his way. He does not care who it is because Macbeth will kill who ever it is. now Macbeth is showing his colors that he is becoming turning to be a blood thirsty killer.
The Odyssey compare & contrast
3-11-11
In this paper,
I’ll be comparing the loyalty level between Odysseus from the Odyssey and
King Leonidas from the movie 300. The reason why I picked these
two charters is because they take the same journey and somewhat similar paths.
So, in the following paragraphs I’ll be explaining and talking about their
similarities and the different levels (ideas) of loyalty.
Odysseus from
the odyssey seems like a very greedy for glory warrior and loves to be
in the limelight a lot and for his name to be heard by all and many. For an
example, in book 9 of the book he is on this ship with his crew and they
stopped at a island. They go into a cave in where they meet a Cyclopes. They
have a fierce battle but in time, Odysseus and his men blinds the giant and
manage to leave the island on their ship. But, loud mouth Odysseus screams and
yells at the giant getting his attention. The giant then throws a huge rock at
them just barley missing them. A quite from the story to support this is "Odysseus shouts taunts at Polyphemus who hurls a hilltop
in his direction. The Greeks race away and urge Odysseus not to incite the
giant, but Odysseus doesn't listen and tells the Cyclops his name." - book 9 - So, as you can see he loves for people to
hear his name and know what he has done. So, that was one reason of the lack of
loyalty he has because he didn't listen to his men and continue to start
trouble.
Another
reason is When Odysseus sleeps with both Calypso and Circe even though he has a
wife. That is a real lack of loyalty because he is a married man but he goes
around sleeping with other women and never telling Penelope that he did. I
don’t know about you but to me that sounds like a jerk to me is he is going to
lie to his wife and sleep with random women. A quite from the story is "Odysseus soon becomes Circe’s lover, and he and his men live with
her in luxury for a year. When his men finally persuade him to continue the journey" -book 10-. So, as you can clearly see, if it weren’t for Odysseus men
telling him to leave he would have stayed for a longer period of time with
Circe. So, this man just completely lacks loyalty.
Moving
on to King Leonidas from the amazing movie 300. This man has a lot of
pride and loyalty, but he makes a few mistakes on his journey and his a bit of
glory greedy as Odysseus is. For an example, When the king and his Spartan army
is fighting the beast with sword hands, He has a hard time fighting it, But
then kills it and rips off his head showing it to every one so people can know
he killed it. Witch is a lot like what Odysseus did with the Cyclops.
Another
greedy moment is when he meets up with his long time friend and his army. They
both talk about each other army but then Leonidas yells and rubs in his face
that he has 300 of the strongest, loyalty and respect men sprat has to give.
Then the conversation drops and he smiles staying proud that he won that orally
fight.
A
reason of un loyalty is in the beginning of the movie when tree witches
confront him and try to seduce him witch for a minute worked but he then
becomes stronger and fights them off leaving angrily.
So,
basically both men went through the same journey and somewhat same encounters
and both faced the same problem. Only difference is that King Leonidas made
more reasonable choices as for Odysseus just wanted the choice that would make
him famous and heard by many.
Me Mag!
During this project, i made a thing called
"me mag". Basically what i did here was that i made a little homemade
magazine about me. I took three main things that make me well me. The images of my mag are below.
Myth project (Q4 english BM)
Quarter 2 bechmark Memoir vignette
Introduction: this is my Memoir vignette. so this was my q3 benchmark it was about my old days in school how I act and other stuff .it took my a long time to write but I got it done .I its two story in one
Best Memories
Chapter 1 first day
Tick tock tick tock (onomatopoeia). As I stared at the time I couldn’t take another minute of hearing this teacher talk even though I could not tell time. It was September 14, 2004, my first day of Fifth grade in Wilson Elementary School. Since we moved to this new school I didn’t know anyone. When I entered my first day of school all eyes were on me. They stared at me as if I was a wild animal going crazy (simile). “Class, this is Zakee,” she said. “He is new to this neighborhood, be sure to show him around” (dialogue). As the teacher pointed to my seat, I knew to sit next to the kid in the blue hoodie. I felt a strange but odd feeling that all eyes were on me. But I had dared not to look. It was that same feeling of the time when I was playing outside and noticed a shadow standing behind me. It had four legs and drool coming out of its mouth. It was a dog. Luckily Ms .Pam had him on a leash or he would have torn me to bits. I finally decided to look up, after all I couldn’t look down for the rest of the year. So I slowly looked up and saw these lustrous (vocabulary) brown eyes looking at me in the face. My lips were frozen. I was unable to talk.
“Hi”, she said with a bright energetic voice. “Hello?” she said as snapped me from my daze of confusion.
I replied with a low tone “hi”.
“What did you say?
Hi!” I said even louder.
Without realizing it everyone was looking at me. The teacher asked, “Zakee is there something wrong?”
“No” I said, sitting down. That same bright smile was still looking at me then.
“My name is Monica, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Class is over”, the teacher announced (dialogue).
I thought, what all ready? It was lunchtime, one of the best periods of the day. No thinking
about fractions or when did Americans get their independence from the British. None of that, just my turkey sandwich and me, a Hi-C drink and sweet and delicious Krumpets cake (Magic 3). As I was about to take a tremendous bite of my sandwich I was tapped on my shoulder.
“May I sit next to you?” It was Monica .
“Sure”, I said as I wondered of all people why me? Well at that point it didn’t matter she asked to sit next to me and that was that.
“What kind of lunch did you bring?”
“A turkey sandwich, a Hi-C juice and Krumpet. What about you?”
“A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a bag of chips. It’s my favorite meal.”
After that we started eating in an awkward moment of silents more kids came to the table and began eating. They started talking about baseball cards and Pokémon cards. I wasn’t interested in their conversation. I was more of a gamer. I used to collect them, though, back in second grade. That is until I kept leaving them in my pocket and they kept getting washed. So that’s when my mom decided no more Pokémon cards for me.
The bell rung and it was time to move on to our last class of the day, Science. I was waiting for this moment for a while because Science was my favorite class and at my old school the teacher made it fun for us. As we walked in the class it seemed that the kids had a seating chart . So I walked up to the teacher and asked, “Where do I sit?” “Anywhere you want” he said with a sleazy voice. So I sat in the back of the room where I couldn’t have any problems with this dude. Judging by his voice this guy and me were not going to get along. For about 40 minutes of the class all this guy did was talk and talk and even more talking(repetition for effect). I whispered to the kid next to me, “What’s his name again?” “Mr. Green”, he replied. Finally, class was over. I packed all the books as fast as I could and darted for the door. I went to my locker, packed my books and went home (magic 3). The first thing my mom asked me was “How was school to day?” All I said was “It was a waste of time”( Dialogue).
Chapter 2 : late
It was that Monday moreing that no one liked .”Zakee” my mom Yelled “get up or you are late for school” I turn to look at the clock 7:37 oh no imp goanna be late. I quickly jump out of bed Threw on any thing that match and brush my teeth wish and my ran out the door . I saw the school bus down the street near were my bus top is. I darted down the street fast as I could but it was no use. I guess im walking half way across the city to get to my Damnations. Well it felt like half way but it was only like7-8 blocks. As I walk to school It felt like adventure in like in the TV shows were bad thing keep happen and Preventing my form getting form school. I was so exscinded but then realizes I could Be kidnap or killed or even worst raped! Trying so hard not to think about only Made me think about it more. Walking downs the 24th street and it started to rain.. Oh great no umbrella to hold over my head. Walking in rain I noticed this black
Car has been be hind me for some time now I turn right it turn right I went left it when left. I hade only 1 thought im my head scream like a little girl and run but at that time I was to much to manly to do that. So I ran and ran and ran not caring were I was going. Turing back to see if the black car was still pressuring me it was Gone. It turn out that the car was not after me it was jus caqance that it turn the same time I did ….. Man I felt like an idiot running down the street. Finally I could see My school. Rushing in wet like a mop I got my late slip and headed for class .ernering my class my teachers say ahhh zakee your just in time for our pop quiz. Pop quiz .
ughhhhh I hate Mondays!
Independent reading review
Aidan Rios
May 25, 2011
Red stream
My independent reading project was on the best
book in the whole world "the dark knight" written by Dennis O’Neil. This book was
obviously about batman (Bruce Wayne); the main story behind this book is about
rich and wealthy gentlemen called Bruce Wayne. He is the owner of his own
company called Wayne industries and is a billionaire. His company “Wayne
industries” makes all short of high tech advance technology to help people or
just for protection. Not only is he the president of his company but also a
crime fighting, secretly vigilante called Batman. He has no super powers but
since he has so much money he buys all of the tools that he needs in order to
protect the weak. Nobody really
knows that the man behind the mask is Bruce Wayne except for his most trusted
butler "Alfred". Alfred took him under his wing when Bruce was only
but eight years old when both his parents dyed. So, they both have a strong
trust between each other.
The book takes place in a made up city called
“Gotham City”. It is just like a New York much would argue that there is no difference
at all. But, the main place that this book takes place in is in Gotham city and
Hong Kong for only one chapter. But, that’s all I can really say about the
setting other then that the year in the book is around 2008-2011 they never
really give the time era but based on the environments and the story I would
say it’s modern time.
Now, as for the main characters you can really
name them off the bat because it’s a fast pace moving book but the main people
that you encounter when reading are Bruce Wayne (Batman), Alfred, Rachael,
Joker and commissioner Gordon. There are many other people that you come
encounter with but they either never get mention again or get killed. But, the
people that I named before are the people you read about over and over and over
again.
While reading the book, you well encounter that
his parents got killed when he was just a kid (8 years old) and was raised by
his butler. His parents got killed by a robber who wanted to steal from them
but Is father tried to talk to the robber and thin unfortunate got shot and
killed along with his wife. And Bruce’s mother. So, once his parents got
killed, he swore that he would protect the people of Gotham so nobody else
would have to go threw what he did when he was a kid. But the thing is he's
different from other superheroes. He has no super powers so it makes it a
little harder for him to get to wear he needs to get to in time and fight
criminals. He builds a tank looking vehicle called the bat mobile and he bought
parts to make very high tech and advance weapons to help him. As he fights
crime and protects he grows enemies. The main enemy in the movie is a
terrifying face panted clown called "the joker". The joker takes
things beyond what the average criminal would. He kills people and makes it a
game. He destroys a whole hospital and laughs as he does. Also, when most
enemies would cry and beg for forgiveness, when the joker is in danger, he
laughs in the face of danger.
Thought out the whole book, I read that Batman
is always getting out of harm just to get back into it. In one chapter, it
states that he just finish saving this girl called Rachel Dawes and it was a
close call because he had to jump off a building and catches her just in the nick
of time. As soon as they were safe, without wasting time the joker threatens
batman by telling him that he has two ships filled with people giving him a
life and death choice. One ship is filled with inmates and criminals while the
other one is filled with safe and normal people. So, he had to safe one but the
other one would blow up. You would think that this is hard but as batman and
the well earned title "The greases detective in the world" he manage
to safe both ships. So, even though he has no super powers he is still an
amazing and great super hero/detective.
My favorite character in the whole story was a
hard choice between batman and joker I couldn't choose. Why is because wall
batman is a brave and heroic superhero that puts everything beside himself
first and stops at nothing to protect the weak. He also is just a great person
to look up to. Now, I also liked the kookier because well even though he's a
criminal he also made me laugh a lot throughout out the book like he made
everything seem like one big joke and for that I just liked him.
Now, I could relate to this because well I
don't fight crime and I don't do crime so I cant really say much on something I
never tried. Although I would love to try this but it just seems extremely too
dangerous to attempt to do so I’ll just keep it in my head for now.
As you must know there was also a movie version
of this book just like many. The movie was outstanding but I liked the book
better because the book gets more in detailed then the movie. For an example,
the book has a stronger background story behind the joker that they don’t say
in the movie. Like, they explain what happen to his parents and how he became
so evil and careless about people and just like the movie it explains the scars
he have. But, regardless when I was reading the book I found it to be a little
bit more boring but it was more fun to read cause I learned a lot more stuff
about both batman and the joker.
So, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 because it was such a great and
fun book to read but the movie just got my attention more. So, I would strongly
recommend reading this book and watching the movie as well. Both would be a bit
differently but it will basically have the same idea of a man called Bruce
Wayne aka Batman and about his arch villain the Joker.
Below is a picture of the book cover you can
fine this book just about anywhere like Wal-mart, Target, barns and noble ect.
My top four journal entries from the year
The short reflection
Me Magazine
Me Magazine
Journal 14 (Q4 English BM)
This was a journal response to the question "How do you feel about seeing the word nigger in a book/ anywhere?" we were reading "Kindred" and the word popped up a few times. I suppose a few people were offended but I wasn't and I'm African American.
Victoria Yarbrough
March 17, 2011
English Journal 14
As long as the word nigger is being used in an educational sense, I’m fine with it. Because if anything, the word nigger doesn’t apply to me. SO when I saw it last night, it was just another word. I’m past the whole racism thing and I refuse to get upset over the ignorance of others.
Victoria Yarbrough
March 17, 2011
English Journal 14
As long as the word nigger is being used in an educational sense, I’m fine with it. Because if anything, the word nigger doesn’t apply to me. SO when I saw it last night, it was just another word. If my skin color doesn’t define who I am, then some word definitely won’t. And further more I don’t think it is ok when people change the ending er and put an a. It means the same thing. Anyways, I refuse to get upset about something that doesn’t apply to me. I’m a human not a nigger.
Journal 13 (Q4 English BM)
This was a Journal response to the question "How does your environment shape the kind of person you become?". At first I didn't know how to answer the question but then I simply thought about a few of my own experiences as well as what I read form inside "Kindred".
Victoria Yarbrough
March 14, 2011
English
Journal 13
Your environment shapes the type of person you become by it being something to observe. For example if you grow up in a successful family with nothing but doctors, chances are that one-day you’ll become a doctor too. However, your environment may make a person want to be different than everybody else. Like if you grow up with an abusive dad, seeing that may make you be the complete opposite of him. In my opinion, it depends on the type of person you are and how you perceive things.
Victoria Yarbrough
March 14, 2011
English
Journal 13
Your environment shapes the type of person you become by it being what you’re around which rubs off on you after a while. In my life I know for sure that my mother has influenced the road I want to take in life as well as the decisions I make everyday. However, it may be different for another person, For example, if you grow up with an abusive dad, seeing that may make you be the complete opposite of him. It depends on how impressionable you are and how you perceive things. I think that no matter what your environment is or looks like, that you should still be you and do the things you want to do.
Journal 7 (Q4 English BM)
This Journal was a response to a question "Did you know someone who was popular but mean spirited?". So I decided to write about a clique of girls form my old school who were pretty faced but had ugly hearts.
Victoria Yarbrough
December 17, 2010
English
Journal 7
At my old school, there was a clique called the “school barbies”. It was a group of pretty popular girls. They would walk up and down the halls shouting “School Barbies!”. Every girl-well almost every girl- wanted to be apart of their group. Although they were pretty and grabbed the boys’ attention, they were cold hearted and not intelligent school wise. They used to curse teachers out, get into fights, and pick with the special ED children. I always questioned why a lot of girls wanted to be like them. Every time I saw them I made a little mental note to never stoop that low. If I’ve got to be a complete bitch just to get some attention, then I’d rather be invisible. Because I know that I’m beautiful without having to be in a group.
Victoria Yarbrough
May 19, 2011
English Journal 7
When I was in middle school, there was this clique of girls called the “School Barbies!”. Man were they loud. They were group of semi pretty, popular, ugly girls. When I say ugly I mean internally. They used to curse teachers out, get into fights, and pick with the special ED children. I always questioned why a lot of girls wanted to be like them. And yet they held the attention of so many people. Since when was it okay to be mean? Beauty is only skin deep. Every time I saw them I made a little mental note to never stoop that low. If I’ve got to be a complete bitch just to get some attention, then I’d rather be invisible.
Journal 3 (revised Q4 BM)
This journal was a response to the question "Is fitting in important to you? Have you ever done something to fit in?". My answer has changed from then to know. (Just a little bit).
Victoria Yarbrough
December 1, 2010
English
Journal 3
Fitting in is NOT important to me. If someone doesn’t like me, I just drop him or her. It’s that simple. However, of course I’ve done things with groups of people that was wrong. The reason I did it however wasn’t for acceptance but for the rush of doing something that you wouldn’t normally do. It was exhilarating! The way I see it, I feel that there are too many people in the world for you not to find someone like you who likes you for you. So basically, my life is hard enough without people and their petty opinions. SCREW their opinions because I am who I am and there are billions of other people that probably will see the beauty in me.
Victoria Yarbrough
May 18, 2011
English
Journal 3
Fitting in used to be important to me, however, it just isn’t anymore. I used to think that it was good when everyone liked you and that you were only a good person when you got along with everyone. I look back at my younger days and have a laugh along side my experiences. I’ve come to learn that fitting in is only an insecurity you have with your self. In my opinion, if you feel that you need to stoop to someone else’s standards then you are insecure about who you are. The saying “one in a million” really hits a hard point of mine. Why? Because if you are one in a million then statistically there are 4,369 other people just like you. So why fit in? Of course I’ve done things that were wrong just to get someone to like me. Heck, I’ll admit that I may have done it recently. But when it is something considered to be wrong, the reason I did it wasn’t for acceptance, but for the rush of doing something that you wouldn’t normally do. It was exhilarating! My life is hard enough without people and their petty opinions. I am who I am and I do fit in, I fit into my own group and in the end how you feel about yourself is all that really matters.
Burned
Globalization in Philadelphia.
What i found most challenging about this project was figuring out an idea for a picture. the first thing I did in order to get ideas for taking pictures was asking questions and looking at every detail of everything that I walked by. I also googled ideas as well. My favorite image would be the event that took place for the "Education" section because it was my capstone and it incorporated well within this project. The use of globalization in Philadelphia is very prevalent. I think it is more evident in the U.S because we started off as a country of different people from everywhere. We are a melting pot.
Life and Death
Short Reflection on the year
It was a great year working with Mrs. Dunn, she taught me very well. I feel as the year progressed I have become a stronger writer in the way that I can now write longer passages without complaining or telling myself I can’t do this. In my writing I think you will find my views on certain things and also my writing shows I’m not just your average 9th grade student I’m something more
What do you consider to be your strengths in English? What are your weaknesses? What would you still want to work on?
My strengths I would say that I have many stories and ideas prepared before I write which I think help me go along as I write
What is the piece you are most proud of, and why?
My quarter 3 benchmark, because It shows the writer that I’ve become throughout the year.