Nicholas Murray

Mentor

Larissa Pahomov, English Teacher

My capstone is a collection of short stories about teenagers dealing with life.

For my capstone, I used inspiration from myself and others in order to create stories with one sole purpose. I wanted each one to show that no matter how hopeless someone's situation may seem, they should never lose hope in themselves or others. I took the most basic themes from the stories I had heard and my own, then applied them to my own stories.  I have learned that even though people’s stories are unique from one another, they tend to always have something in common. My goal for this is to create stories that would not only entertain the people that read them, but that also stayed with them, and I believe I did just that.

The link to my capstone is here.

Below is an excerpt from my first chapter of my collection of short stories. 

Today feels no different from any other day. Why would it? You have no reason to believe otherwise. You just think it is going to be another pointlessly dull day. Your alarm has just yanked you from a dreadful dream. Why was it dreadful? You can no longer recall, but you are sure you will have the same dream tonight, just to forget it the following morning. All you know is that you just want to go back into a deep slumber. Despite your desire to go back to sleep, with much effort, you pull yourself out of bed.

You look around your room in search for something different. Anything would suffice really. You just want something different to happen this morning. Maybe an owl carrying a letter addressed to you. You think about how epic that would be. To your disappointment, nothing happens.  It’s just another dull morning. You get out of your bed without making it neat and presentable. Why bother? You're just going to get back in it later. You then head downstairs  towards the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, you look at your wide variety of food to eat. You have four boxes of Pop Tarts, each flavor you are either sick of eating  or was never good in the first place. The same can be said about your choices in cereal and Hot Pockets.You stop trying to look. The previous day you went into your step-dad’s wallet and took twenty bucks. Not just because you could though. You're not a bad person. You just feel he does not deserve it. He has a job that pays well enough, but he leaves the cooking and most of the shopping to your mom. So why not? He can be useful for once. While in the kitchen, you decide to go to the stand on the way to school. You wasted so much energy coming downstairs for nothing. You walk upstairs sort of pissed and go into the bathroom.

After you wash up and put on clean clothes you are just about ready to leave.  You head for the fridge and make lunch. You then pick up the first alcoholic thing you find  and fix it with any normal non-alcoholic drink. You do this every so often to take the edge off of life. It is the only thing that helps lately. You then put the juice away with your lunch and gather all your things. You check for the usual things like your keys or phone. You feel for the money in your pocket, then head for your door. Before opening it, you say goodbye to whoever is in the house. You don’t hear anything, which either means they’re still sleeping, or just ignoring you, which you have somewhat gotten use to. You open the door and leave in  a rush, since you don’t want to miss the bus.

You have a long bus ride ahead of you, and you don’t know what to do with yourself. For a while you just sit there thinking about the things in your life. You try to think about the good things in life, but recently there has not been much good going on. You hate thinking about it so you just try going to sleep. Even though it is a dreadfully terrible idea to sleep on public transportation, you know how to position your belongings so they do not get taken. You fall asleep. At least that was the plan. You just cannot stop thinking about the troubles in your life. It irritates you to limits unknown. You take out your lunch box and drink some of the juice you put inside. For you, some is a big chug. What’s the harm? It helps you think. You then pull out one of your favorite books to lose yourself in.

You love this book to death. You wouldn’t care if everyone else hated it. You like just about any book. You do have standards after all. Reading is your passion and it is one of the few things that you enjoy anymore.For a moment you observe the condition of the book. You wish it looked as new as when  you first got it. Sadly,  it is worn out after so many uses. This makes you feel some sort of way but the condition is not as important as the content. You begin reading. You become lost in the story and you enjoy it. You love books because you can be someone different. You become someone who is needed by others. You love feeling this sense of purpose in life. You wish you were in that world. You wouldn’t even mind that you are stuck in the book with your future and past set in stone. If you were in the book, people would care about what happens to you. They want to know who you are, the things you accomplish and what you stand for.

You don’t want to leave. Despite that, you get that dreadful feeling you are only a few blocks from school. Reluctantly you close your book, put it away and pull the string for the bus to let you off at the next stop.

Below are my annotative bibliography

1) Asher, Jay. Th1rteen R3asons Why: A Novel. New York: Razorbill, 2010. Print.

    I chose this source because when I originally read it, I found it to be a powerful, meaningful, creative and thought provoking piece of literature. That is the type of writing I am aiming for in my short stories. I also chose this source because it is based around the issues that troubled a certain teen who is the driving force throughout the entirety of the book, despite the fact that she had died before the story even began.  I hope that by reading this book, my writings for my capstone will be improved, to the point where people would even compare it to this great piece of work.

2) "Anxiety Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention."WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

<http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders>.

To write my book I do actually need information about what I am writing. In my story, many of my characters suffer from a form of anxiety. I was not sure what disorders were classified as anxiety, so I wanted to clarify that issue. I also wanted to know the major symptoms of anxiety in general and to have an experts view on how to improve one’s anxiety. I hope that this research will enhance my writings about what most people go through when they have a type of anxiety. Even with those characters that do not have anxiety, I can give them a slight element of it.

3) "Types of Depression: Major, Chronic, Manic, and More Types." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

<http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-types>.

To write my book I do actually need information about what I am writing. In my story, a few of my characters suffer from major or chronic depression. Even though I had a good idea of what depression was, this source laid it out for me step by step and made it easier for me to write about it. It was also interesting to know the signs that people need to look out for if someone is suffering from depression and how you can help those who suffer from it. This writing has improved my writing about this type of topic.

4) Ambardar, M.D. Sheenie. "10 Ways to Improve Depression and Anxiety without Meds."The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 29 May 2012. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheenie-ambardar-md/emotional-health_b_1542521.html>.

Scene I had already had a source that told me all I needed to know about depression and anxiety, it did not make sense to find anymore sources that were defining what they were, since half of this book will be my interpretation of what someone would go through in certain situation. For that reason I chose this source to show me more “natural” ways for those who suffer from anxiety or depression to help make their situations more bearable. I believe that medication is not the only way to solve problems. Even if my character do not use this method, I can still bring it up in my writings.

5) Stossel, Scott. "Surviving Anxiety." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 22 Dec. 2013. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.

<http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/01/surviving_anxiety/355741/>.

I have a lot of information on the topic of anxiety from experts which is enough for me to write good pieces of work, but I also needed to hear about anxiety from a “person.” Someone who lives with it everyday  and had the strength to write about it and post it online. That is why this is one of my sources. It is best to get your information straight from the source.

6) "Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Fact Sheet." : National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy/detail_reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy.htm>.

I sought out this source for the sake of one of my stories that did not necessarily focus on the psyche of the teenagers in the story. It mainly focused on the physical condition of the main characters and how they deal with the cards they are dealt. One of the characters are based off of one of my peers and to write a good story I need to research the injury that they had sustained. I found this source to be extremely helpful because my peer verified that what was on it was accurate. Hopefully I can use this source to its full potential.

7) Perks of Being a Wallflower. Dir. Stephen Chbosky. Perf. Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. Mr. Mudd, 2012. DVD.

Perks of Being a Wallflower is a perfect source for my book. It covered all the things that I plan on covering and more. It talked anxiety, depression, being singled out, bullying, relationships and other deep topics. There is also a book which would also be a good resource, but I wanted something more visual to look at for my storytelling. I wanted this because I wanted to be able to see these characters look as things fall apart around them, and when new doors open for them. If I could just see how these things happen, I could write about them more descriptively.

8) "Coronary Artery Disease-Surgery." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

<http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/coronary-artery-disease-surgery>.

I sought out this source for the sake of one of my stories that did not necessarily focus on the psyche of the teenagers in the story. It mainly focused on the physical condition of the main characters and how they deal with the cards they are dealt. One of my characters has a heart disease, and this specific one is one of the most deadly ones. I wanted to make sure I accurately portrayed how this person would act and what trials they would need to go through. Even if I do not use the actual surgery in my story, I can still have this as a refernce.

9) "Coronary Artery Bypass Graft ." Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. <http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Coronary-artery-bypass/Pages/Introduction.aspx>.

I sought out this source for the sake of one of my stories that did not necessarily focus on the psyche of the teenagers in the story. It mainly focused on the physical condition of the main characters and how they deal with the cards they are dealt. One of my characters has a heart disease, and this specific one is one of the most deadly ones. This source explained the treatment needed for this disease if it got more severe. Even if I don’t bring this disease up by name, I still have a reference to what it is like to live with it.

10) Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game. New York: Tor, 1991. Print.

I found this to be one of the most important books I read in preparation for my capstone This was the sort of reading I need to inspire my future writings. I found ender’s game to be very thought provoking and well written. Despite it being a different genre from what I plan on writing, it is that element that I want in my stories, thought provoking and well written. Hopefully I can use what I learned from this book to enhance my own stories. I also think it is good to read a genre different from what you are writing. It enhances how you envision a situation in your stories.

These three “selfies” do not represent every aspect of my life, I would would need many more to accomplish that feat, but they show three important parts of my life. The first picture represents my love of sleep. This does not mean I do it in access, in-fact, I do not get much at all, but it makes the sleep I do get all the more precious. The second shows my love for video games, the ultimate stress reliever. The third shows how much I enjoy hanging out with friends, which is something everyone should always do in access. 

Recipe

Jamaican Potato Salad 

Ingredients 

• 4 cups of diced potatoes 
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup of corn
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1/4 cup of corn
• 1/4 cup of peas
• 1/4 cup of carrots
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Directions

1. Wash, peel, dice and cook and the potatoes with eggs
2. When the potatoes are boiled, you need to drain it instantly.
3. place everything in a large bowl.
4. Add corn, peas and carrots. 
5. Stir the pot with the mayonnaise with salt and pepper.
6. Add chopped eggs and stir lightly once more

Analysis 

 Health- Now that I have went through what goes into making this dish, I do not think it is as healthy as I originally thought. After making the dish I realized that it was really high in calories due to the amount of mayonnaise needed to finish it. Also, the carrots and corn come from a can so they are most likely processed. The Corn was low in sodium, depending on what they define as high. I do not believe that the eggs and potatoes were processed, and eggs can be bad if too much is consumed, but the entire dish only required 2 eggs.

Environment- I think that the canned foods came the farthest away because I am sure that the farms that produced the eggs and potatoes are relatively closer that a factory to process the food.

Economic- In all making this dish, which was made to feed 8-10 people, cost my family 10 dollars.  At a fast food place it would cost around 20-30 dollars to feed the 6 people in my house. We would have saved a lot of money if we did this regularly. Since all of my ingredients can come from a farm, those in control of the farm industry would have made the money.

Social-  I would think that the foods that were not processed would only have to go to packaging then to the store to me. Mayonnaise would need to be the collaboration of other ingredients for it to even be mayonnaise. The canned foods would need to be preserved and canned. 

Producing eggs myself would quickly become too expensive. I would need to get chickens and keep them in proper living conditions. Even if I grew the vegetables. I would need to buy a place to put them and keep them healthy as well.

In life, there are many ups and downs, twists and turns and just unfathomable challenges . We all go through these, there is no “easy way out”, we just have to push through it all. But it should not be said that with overcoming these obstacles in life, there is nothing earned. For me, or to be more accurate, for all of the students who have worked hard this past year, what we gained was more valuable than we had ever thought. The work we put forth, the hours of sleep lost, every word we had to type, all seemed so miniscule compared to what we were working towards. We gained knowledge, the skeleton key of life. Knowledge is the most important factor opening doors for yourself. Any door. Now, let you show my knowledge.

I have gone through so many hardships throughout this year. It made me realize that for a victory that counts, you must first put forth more effort than you thought possible. Victory that people obtain by living easy or using pawns is a false victory. For example we once did a role play about the French Revolution. I played the role of a noble so everything was handed to me and life was easier. I felt victorious in life while others suffered. You can read more about my and others roles here. The people at the bottom were put through so much and given so little power. The fact that they decided to rebel was a victory itself. The fact that they were successful was even more glorious. Sure it was short lived, but it was a victory they deserved and they fought for it. They won the moment they started to fight for what was right. A victory isn’t something that has to last long, you know. It is something much deeper that we may never fully understand. Actually, maybe it would be good if it stayed like that.

A victory of the same magnitude can be won through methods other than violence. I am sure that you have heard the expression, “the pen is mightier than the sword”. In some cases, this is true. Even the smallest piece of writing can win battles, violent or not. During our class Mr. Block pushed us to not only think that writing conquers all, but he helped us mold a mindset so that we knew that literature was power, power that we all needed. Desperately.

To show us the power in literature, no, to show the power in our own words, Mr.Block had us write poems. I unexpectedly enjoyed this project. It was probably my favorite out of all the projects given to me. At first I thought that it would be a waste of time, but instead it let me express myself in ways I had longed for. The poems made me feel as though my words had life, had meaning. That was a feeling that was so surreal to me. Something that I had long awaited. It felt great. At that one moment I felt the freedom that we have been denied time and time again. And at that moment, I too, felt victorious.

Here is another piece of writing I did throughout most of the year that I am proud of.

Playwright project 

For this project we had pick places and events someone coming to Philadelphia could visit and we gave descriptions and directions. We also gave directions on how to do a certain thing in Philly.   We decided to choose small places so that our places would not be so broad.

I learned more about how to give directions

I feel as though the final product could have been done more beautifully.

If I was to do the project over again I would put in more detail and information.

“Why do I have to do this?” It was all I could think about while I continued my 7th grade project. It touched on all the things that I had always tried to avoid. I had to describe myself. When asked to describe myself as a simple beginning of the year question I have always kept my answers short, simple, uncreative and each time the answer was generally identical. It was the thing I hated most in the world. Why? Maybe I didn’t understand myself. But to be given a whole project on that subject alone, it felt like my stomach had just done a somersault. So I just sat there, thinking, who am I?

            So many years have past but this lingering question has still followed me. Even after finishing the project I was still uncertain of whom I was, and made it a basic project. My life has always been filled with so much uncertainness. As a result I have always been indecisive in all my decisions, even the simplest decisions.  Who do I want be? What will I become? I wonder why it was so hard for me. Was I afraid?

            Was I fearful? The more I thought about it, the more it kind of made sense. When spending time with a group of my friends I am usually loud and extroverted. Playing video games on our laptops like Call of Duty 4, Spore and mine craft. We are hyper, running around messing with each other and joking around. Sometimes sit around talking and chill, awaiting the next class. In class it is always a different story. It is like a switch was flipped on me. Shy, hesitant; peers would hardly know I was there. I was always terrified to share my thoughts, so I nearly always kept my hands down. And when I actually did put my hand up every once in a blue moon, there was a huge round of applause from everyone in the class like it was the most amazing thing they have seen. Embarrassment was definitely a factor.

So was it my lack of detail in explaining myself. Like when I did the descriptive writing essay. As I was staring at that 6x4 photo in my brightly lit, slightly messy room, trying to figure it out, it seemed impossible. First of all, I have never been good at descriptive writing for the last 15 years of my life.  For my assignment I was told to write a thorough description of a piece of art important to you, so I chose a photo that I treasured. Even though I treasured it, I realized that I never really looked at it, I didn’t even remember the reason I treasured it. I looked at it sideways, backwards and even measured it, but still, nothing. So I finally looked at, looking for anything and everything. As I stared at the photo intensely, like it was the most interesting thing in the world, all I could see were the obvious points. In the photo were both my grand mother and my little brother Nathaniel when he was around 4 or 5 years old. So I looked at closer, staring at my brother’s old braided hair, looking at the old him, it was like staring into the past. He was older now, with shaved hair; I had forgotten what he used to look like. So I continued to stare at it, remembering lost memories, trying to recall anything and everything.

            But no matter how many questions these answered my main one was yet to be answered, who am I? So I just sat there and thought. I thought about everything that had happened to me up to now. I tried and tried and tried. I wanted to remember something to answer my question.

            I found it, the answer.  It was in piece of me writing that I had forgotten. Something I shared out despite the fear and embarrassment.

They say I’m not American

I say

I am Jamerican

They say that I’m no good

I say

I know how to rise above stereotypes and be good

So

Don’t judge me by the fact I came from the hood

They say my people are all a shame

I say

I am not the same

They say I’m not anything I’m hopeless

I say

Stop the dumbness

Instead

I’m gonna stay out the darkness

To rise to greatness

This poem reminds me of who I am, I am different, think different, and do things different. It might take me a while to completely understand myself, but that is ok. As I head out on my own path, I know it’ll all be fine. I am undefined and I am fine with that. I doubt anyone else understands himself or herself either, so why should I sweat it. Things would be boring if I knew everything about myself, life would be boring, and without the challenges I have, like being shy, I would have no motivation to improve upon myself. I’ll keep up becoming better, and then I’ll meet my goal of knowing who I am. I can’t wait till I get to meet myself. The same goes for all of you. Your true may not be as far as you think.

What grade would you assign yourself for each category?

TOTAL: 92

How did you apply the SLA core values to your project?

• Researched all my summers up to this point and spanish words I did not know
• I collaborated with my peers so that I could improve upon my project

•  I reflected on my past year of spanish so that I could complete my project

What did you learn about Spanish through completing this project?

• I learned that their were many uses of past tenses that I did not care about last year, and that past tense is important.

What did you change about your final project based on peer feedback?  What did you change based on Srta. G’s feedback?

• I changed the pronunciation of some of my words, and changed some of the music I put in my project.

If you had the opportunity to start your project all over again, how would you do it differently?

• I would add me pictures to my project so that I could give you a better view of my summer

Did you enjoy this project? Why or why not?

• Yes because it was a project based on me, which made it easier

Do you have any suggestions for me if I do this same project next year?

• No, this project was great 

It’s all good

He sits down

Hello my name is Ted Oils Spill

I am one of the executives at TransCanada working on the TransCanada XL pipeline

How can I be of service to you kind gentleman?

He has a smug smile on looking at the reporter

Let me guess, you’re here to find out all the juicy details of our beautiful project.

All we need is to approve to build it and construction will begin

This will be a magnificent pipeline. It will be about 1,700 miles long and stretch all the way from the tar sands in Canada to refineries in Port Arthur, Texas

 He sits back relaxed

It is estimated that 800,000 barrels of crude oil will be pumped through the pipeline per day. It would be great if it passed our expectations and reached passed the 1 million mark.

 I think the XL pipeline is a great idea!

 I know there are many people against it but its all fin. For starter, the amount of oil will be awesome. Also, with this new pipeline there will be thousands more jobs, which are really needed, in these harsh times where money is tight, people are losing their jobs, parents cannot afford a decent Christmas for their children, and people are losing their homes. Doesn’t this get you all excited? I know its all exciting so contain your exciting. Not to mention this pipeline be safer.

Well opposed to the previous pipelines, this one will be built in a different way with new technology

 He hears the reporters next question and looks nervous

And to touch on the fact that some other people think that our project is flawed. There are poorly mistaken … No other comments. 

Family Matters 

Hello my name is Deborah Harriott

 Thank you for taking time out of you very busy schedule to share my thoughts with everyone about the idiotic plan to build that stupid TransCanada XL pipeline that is in consideration of being built. It’s stupid.

 Puts on a stern look

I have my family to worry about, my three lovable children, Samantha, Nate, and Max, and my husband. This idiotic XL pipeline will go near my home and near our fresh water where me, my family and everyone else in my neighborhood depends on for their fresh water.

 Looks sad

I find this decision to be shows that the people working at TransCanada to be lacking compassion for the people that will be affected if things ever go wrong. The act as if things show good results, their desired results, that horrible repercussions will not arise later in life. It may not happen the day the XL pipeline is finished construction, maybe not the next week, month, or even that year, but good things must always come to an end. That pipeline will have a major problem one day. And do know who will suffer, probably not them, but most surely we will pay, for their mistake. I am scared for my family. What if it all goes wrong, what if we have nothing do drink. What if we cant even get clean drinking water? I built my entire life here. Too loose it all, would just be… … painful. I can’t afford to loose everything I fought so hard to keep.

 Looks pained, angry, and sad look all at the same time.

I do not know the actual details of what new tech they have for this new project, but I hear that it has shown that it is not totally reliable, and they cant even admit it.

 As for the issue with it creating jobs, I am I a very well paid doctor, as for my husband, he he’s teacher. We are doing well for ourselves without the pipeline. How does this pipeline help us.   

My name is Rick. I walk into the crowded room, sit on the couch and stare at the man with the tape recorder in his home, which is wearing an expensive looking suit and glasses. I think for a moment, then speak 

 Hey man, I am really glad that you came to interview me and like, get my point of view on things that be going on round here you know what I’m saying

 I pause, then adjust myself in my seat

 I think that, this trans Canada plan to make an oil pipeline is one crappy made plan. I mean like, me personally, it just don’t feel right. It seems like stuff like this has happened before. Like oil spills. I’ve heard on places like the news that like, these oil spills be getting in our water and that just ain’t cool. The fish be dying and the eco… echo… the umm environment has been suffering for stuff like that.

 It’s terrible, it aint even worth it, building such a long pipe that’s like a yard wide. It just don’t sit right with me. What if that thing like, breaks, or something like that. What happens to me? What happens to the small people? Are we all meant to be bugs under the rich mans new shiny boots? ‘Dats messed up bro.

I get a serious look on my face

 Do I even matter in dis equation? I ain’t good enough or something. Ain’t those executive type people stop to think, how does this crappy oil help me. I don’t even own a car, why do I need oil. I have to walk to where I need to get. We need to get a plan that helps us with our economy.

I give the man a sad look. My daughter walks in and sits next too me looks confused. I Sigh, then start again. I put my hand on her head.

 Even though I say that, I am a single father after all, without any job. The floorboards are messed up, the walls are stripping, and the door creaks. This is not the life I want. I need a job.  How am I gonna support my daughter. This oil thingy is gonna make jobs. It might kill the environment one day, but without a job I won’t live till that day. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should put my pride and anger away, and get a job there, for my sweet little Melissa.

• My element for this project was Bromine 35.
• It is used in industrial applications and it is also a strong oxidizing agent
• It can be used to purify water.
  
• First i had to make several draft drawings after doing research, then sketch it on special paper, the draw it backwards on the template, after that I scraped out the positive space so I could paint the template and make the stamp.
• I think it was fun, especially because we got to make several different stamps.
•  I would make the stamps clearer to understand
  

This was my first English Benchmark, which was to analyze 10 quotes out of Macbeth and make a thesis on Macbeth or Lady Macbeth. I chose Lady Macbeth and got 85 as my grade. 

Lady Macbeth Examination

By Nicholas Murray

Thesis: Lady Macbeth is a strong willed and wicked woman in the beginning of the play, but in the end she was not strong enough and too fragile to live with what she has done or keep her title as queen.

In act I scene 5, page 16 Lady Macbeth has received a letter From Macbeth, containing the prophecy of being Thane of Cawdor then King. He tells her that he has already been named Thane of Cawdor, which fills Lady Macbeth with joy. She (alone) then says, “That which cries ‘Thus thou must do’ if thou have it;/ And that which rather thou dost fear to do/ Than wishest should be undone”(lines 23-25).  Basically, what Lady Macbeth is saying that there is only one-way Macbeth will be king and she does not think Macbeth is up to it. Since This is the first time seeing Lady  Macbeth, a bad first impression is mad. She is pondering what must be done for Macbeth to be king, which includes sinful things. This first impression shows us that  Lady Macbeth has an evil mind.

            In act I scene 5, page 17 Lady Macbeth confirms what she is going to do. She has now become aware that king Duncan is coming to their home with Macbeth so she thinks more about what must be done. She says, “Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,/ And fill me from the crown to the toe topful/ of dearest cruelty” (Lines 39-42). Lady Macbeth is asking the spirits to make her bold like a man. By “unsex me she” means she wants to be cruel like a man not kind like a woman. She knows that for Macbeth to be king Duncan must die. She does not think Macbeth is cruel enough to kill him so she wants to be the cruel one and pull the strings. This gives the reader a clearer picture of what kind of person Lady Macbeth is. It shows that she might not be as bold now, but she wants to be bolder. That fact that she wants the strength to kill somebody shows that she is already cold hearted.

In act II scene 2, page 27, Lady Macbeth waits alone for Macbeth. Macbeth is out executing king Duncan to become king after Lady Macbeth’s pleas. She quotes,  “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;/ What hath quenched them hath given me fire. (An owl/ shrieks) Hark! Peace” (Lines 1-3). Lady  is talking about the plan in this scene. The plan was to get the guards drunk, take their daggers when they pass out, then frame them for the murder of Duncan. She thinks that because she went through with the plan, she has become even bolder. The truth is that she is kind of scared. She must be if she was scared by an owl’s shriek. This shows her inner turmoil. She may put on a brave façade, but like anyone in this situation, she was kind of scared

In act II scene 3, page 35, the king is found dead in his room. When everyone realizes the king is dead they all panic, even Lady Macbeth.  In her apparent “shock” Lady Macbeth says, “Help me hence, ho!” (Line 116). This simple line was enough for the lords to drop the talk of the king’s death, while throwing off any suspicion. Even though Lady Macbeth is kind of scared, she is able to put on a good act. Lady Macbeth must still be a strong willed person. In spite of her guilt she is un-phased. 

In act III scene 2, Page 46, line 13, Lady Macbeth speaks as the new queen. The children of king Duncan have fled leaving no one to be king except for Macbeth. Macbeth enters and seems worried. She quotes, “What’s done is done” to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth sounds content as the new queen with all her goals accomplished. But she may just still be shaken by what she has done to the king. She must not want Macbeth to worry about anything so they can act like nothing happened and try to live as happy as they can. She has no intension of what she has done to found out so she just wants to keep everything as it is.

In act III scene 5, Page 56, line 142, Lady Macbeth is worried about Macbeth. After Macbeth kills Banquo, because it was prophesized that he will have more sons and they will be king, and leaves Lady Macbeth out the plan, and there is a party hosted by Macbeth, Banquo’s ghost appears but only Macbeth sees it. Lady Macbeth takes Macbeth aside and tells him, “You lack the season of all natures, sleep”. She is worried about her husband. She does not want things like this happening in her new life. At this point she is worried.

In act V scene 1, Page 84, line 35 Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk. In her sleep she says, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”. She must be talking about the blood she has on her hands after all those crimes. That much blood would drive someone mad. Her will is probably breaking.

In act V scene 1, Page 85, lines 70-71, the doctor hears all the deeds Lady Macbeth confesses in her sleep. Context: Lady Macbeth confessed all that has happened in her sleep. He says, “Unnatural deeds/ Do breed unnatural troubles”. He realizes that Lady Macbeth has done horrible things. These horrible things drove Lady Macbeth mad. Lady Macbeth is now a fragile woman.

In act V scene 3, Page 89, lines 39-41 the doctor tells Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s condition and why she is sleepwalking. He says “Not so sick, my lord,/ as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies/ that keep her from her rest”. She is not sick but a mental trouble is making her sleepwalk. This proves that she is losing her will. She is currently unfit for the crown.

In act V scene 5, Page 92, line 16, a woman’s shriek is heard. Afterwards Seyton appears with bad news. He says, “The queen, my lord, is dead”. Lady Macbeth died and lost the crown because of the things she did to get the crown. This only happened because she had a change of heart. She lost her will became fragile and died.

Conclusion: Lady Macbeth was a very unstable woman in this play. From start to finish she went through many changes in her personality. First she had started out as an evil manipulative woman to become queen. After the plan to kill Duncan was formed she became nervous. After she became queen she had nothing to worry about. That is until Macbeth went mad with power. She couldn’t handle it all and went mad herself. Because of all the guilt she had she became weaker. Because of her weakness she died and lost the title of queen. Because she became weak her dreams were not fulfilled

This was my 3^rd Benchmark, a comparison between a character from The Odyssey and any other character. I chose Odysseus and Everett from O’ Brother Where Art Thou’ and got a 96.

English Q3 Benchmark

By: Nicholas Murray

Orange Stream

Odysseus vs. Everett  

Journeys can be long and difficult under certain circumstances and can sometimes seem impossible. But if you have the right team to back you up things might became much easier. Odysseus and Everett both faced odds and at some points, things seemed impossible to do. Odysseus and Everett had very different help throughout there long journey. Even though Everett’s life and Odysseus’s life are similar, Odysseus had more help in the end and overall had an easier journey.

       While Odysseus was gone for 20 years and Everett was only gone for one year but did not have as much determination as Odysseus. For him to have still been searching for his home to his family, even with the possibility of not being wanted or not being recognized. For example, Odysseus didn’t want any thing to stop him or slow him down while heading home. So that the sirens would not make him stray from his path, he told them to restrain him. “First, she warns, we must steer clear of the sirens, their enchanting song, their meadow starred with flowers. I alone was to hear their voices, so she said, but you must bind me with tight chafing ropes so I cannot move a muscle, bound to the spot, erect at the mast-block, lashed by ropes to the mast. And if I plead, commanding you to set me free, then lash me faster, rope, pressing rope.” (The Odyssey Book 12, Page 276, Lines 172-179). In this quote Odysseus tells his men to tie him up so that the he will not be tempted by the sirens, taken off his path and be killed.  When Everett met those beautiful women he was easily seduced and forgot all about his mission, which gave them the chance to drug him. Because of this mistake he lost one of his friend.

       Gods helped out Odysseus while Everett had little help and was being chased. Odysseus had Athena to watch his back throughout his whole journey, which proved helpful to him. “Father, son of Cronus, our high and mighty king, surely he goes down to the death he earned in full! Let them all die so, all who do such things. But my heart breaks for Odysseus…” (The Odyssey Book 1, Page 79, Lines 54-57). She also helped out when the battle with the suitors came, “At his command, concentrating their shots, all six hurled as one but Athena sent the whole salvo wide of the mark (The Odyssey Book 22, Page 447, lines 267-269) … Again the suitors hurled their whetted shafts but Athena sent the better part of the salvo wide (The Odyssey Book 22, Page 447, Lines 285-286).” In both quotes Athena was showing sympathy for Odysseus and because of this she helped him. Everett had no one important looking after him until the very end of his journey, which wasn’t very helpful to him during his actual journey. After he prayed for help for him and his. His prayers caused the higher power to send a flood to stop him from being hung. Unlike Odysseus he does not believe in this higher power and it may never help him again.

Odysseus was missed by his family and was helped by his son to kill the suitors; Everett’s family turned his back on him, which left him with even less help. Odysseus’ son was by his side when he prepared for battle, “He paused with a warning nod, and at that sign Prince Telemachus, son of the king Odysseus, girding his sharp sword on, clamping hand to spear, took his stand by a chair that flanked his father--- his bronze spearpoint glinting now like fire…” (The Odyssey Book 21, Page 438, lines 480-484). Everett had no family member that would lift a finger to help him. His wife kept saying he didn’t know him and that a train hit him. His daughters had also turned their backs on him because of his wife. In the end his wife was still cruel to him. Unlike Odysseus, after Everett, wife finally addressed him as her husband, she still makes his life difficult, and she also makes it seem as though his journey is still going on.

Both Odysseus and Everett had a difficult journey, but in the end Odysseus had better luck than Everett due to the support of his family and his determination of getting home after so long. It is true that Odysseus had it tough in the beginning and lost all his friends. But, near the end of his journey he had so many powerful people helping him he could not fail. Everett had to brave it out with only two friends for nearly all his journey. Odysseus had an easier time when it came to finding his home after being gone for twenty years.

Journals

How important is it to fit in? -

It is not even important to try and fit in with everyone. If you can’t fit in, then you were not meant to be there. It’s kind of like a puzzle, if the piece doesn’t fit, don’t force it in, it’ll just break or mess everything else up down the road. Basically, it’s not worth killing yourself over fitting in, soon all the pieces will fall into place.

What makes a good story? What kinds of stories do you like?

For me, a good story is one that leaves you unfulfilled and hungry for more at the end. I have never liked stories that have a completely happy ending with nearly all the problems resolved. BORING. I like conflicts and I love it when the ending is sad with so many questions unanswered. For me, it makes the story be interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book. A book should not give the reader everything they want, and it should make them wait.

Response to reading/hearing/saying the “n” word...

In these days, the N word is not a big thing, plus it is in a book that is centered on the time of slavery. There is no reason anyone should have gotten mad because of that word just because of its context. In addition, so many people have used the N word and being called the N word is a good thing. Just because someone who is not black says it doesn’t make it racist. It is just hypocritical to be offended especially if you are one of those people.   

What is a “hero”? How would you define it?

A hero isn’t afraid to give his life; a hero will save you just in time. This can be interpreted in several ways. A hero isn’t afraid to give his life, for example. Their “life” might not be as extreme; it could be their social life, their possessions or their freedom. So a hero is not afraid to give up something dear to them in order to protect someone. A hero will save you just in time; can also go another way. It can mean that the hero will race to help you out no matter what. It can also mean that they wont let stop something before it gets out of hand, like a rumor. The hero will also take the blame for an ill deed, in order to not get anyone else involved. That is what I think a hero is.

This is my second book report of the year. We must do one every semester and I chose to do mine on the Maximum Ride series for the second and last one.

Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel

Nicholas Murray

Orange

The book I chose to read was Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel. This book is the 7^th book out of the best selling series Maximum Ride. The books in order are “The Angel Experiment”, “School’s out – Forever”, “Saving the World and other Extreme Sports”, “The Final Warning”, “Max: A Maximum Ride Novel”, “Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel” and the latest one “Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel”. The author of my book is James Paterson, who is also the author of Daniel X books.

Leading up to this book Max (the main character) has been set out on a mission to save the world. Max is a girl who has wings and has developed amazing abilities. Along with her flock with Iggy, Gazzy, Angel, Nudge and their new member Dylan they are determined to save us all. Along the way they have conflicts with other people like there enemies and revivals, with society for being different, and with themselves. In this book Fang, Max’s ex-boyfriend and the person who left the flock starts a new flock. His flock included Maya (Max’s clone), Ratchet (super senses), Holden (regeneration), Kate (super strong) and Star (super speed). Jeb, Dr. Hans, Max’s mom and her stepsister Ella all disappear one after another. First Dr. Hans disappears when they all go to meet the Gen 77 kids but the plane is ripped apart by wires with him being last seen in there, Jeb and her mom left while Angel, Dylan and Max go to meet some of the Gen 77 kids who could care less about humans. Ella disappeared after she was un-brainwashed after the Doomsday group (DG) made her a “zombie”. After this Max’s flock and Fang’s flock decide to join forces to stop the DG. If they don’t the DG will kill all the humans.

They soon all head to Paris (after a few disagreements) in order to infiltrate a DG rally. After they are invited Angel and Gazzy go under cover to get to the source. While the rest of her flock blend in, she sends max a thought (one of her many powers) saying there is trouble and max comes to find enough bombs and gas to kill all the Gen 77 kids and poison thousand of people. Gazzy (the 9 year old bomb expert) and Angel stay to disarm them while the others fight and try evacuate the Gen 77 kids. In the end the some of the bombs go off and everyone but Angel seems to escape. The 2 flocks split again, Max’s heart broken. Angel wakes up blind folded and strapped to a table unable to move or read anyone’s mind, alone. A strange person tell her everything will be ok,  “You’re very special. We’re going to take good care of you.” She cries.

My favorite character in this book is Angel. She has many skills like being able to fight like Chuck Norris, mind reading, being able to control people and her intelligence. And on top of that the fact that she is only 7, which is impressive. Also, in this book she was not as evil as before with always back stabbing her flock. She has always been border lined between good and evil but shaped up in this book. And I like how that no matter how tough she is, she is still human enough to cry.  

I could really relate to angel, but mainly in this book. In this book Angel was trying her best to redeem herself from all the treachery in the best so she stepped her game up. She gave it her all and even risked her own life, and in the end, Max forgave her. I’ve the same way too. Done something horrible and lost someone’s trust and have to try my best to get it back. The theme of this book is that no matter have different you are (like the flock) you are still human. Their actions are the same as any other person.

·      May be triggered by a horrible event: Death of a loved one, break-up, failure at something like school. (This may make the person suffering from this cause suicide because they want to forget all of the pain or to want to be with the one they lost)

·      In teens, it is difficult to tell if they suffer from depression because they symptoms are close to the way normal teens are.(since no one can help them and they may suffering from the loneliness)

·      Signs of depression: doing worst in school, not doing well with friends and family, substance abuse, oversleeping, change in eating habits, breaking laws and obsession with death. (These are things to look out for so that you can help out the people who need it)

• Tiene   sugar, eggs, Evaporated Milk, chocolate extract y ginger extract (optional)
  
• Viene con Fresa y moras
  
• Es bueno para: Todos
  
• Predicción/Opinión: Me gustaría.
  

The point of this project is to connect to the things around us. Each of us has chosen a subject in the world to study and understand. I have chosen the subject of teen suicide and depression. This is an interesting topic to because I have always wanted to know if both of them have a relationship.

So far I haven’t found that much yet. I learned that 30% of the teens that commit suicide are because of depression. That is more than any of the other reasons of teen suicide. I also learned that 1 in 8 teens suffer from depression with women twice as likely. I wonder what is the number one cause of depression in teens, which could also be said to be the leading cause of suicide. My next step is to go on and figure out the number one cause of depression. (http://www.teen-depression.info/overview/teen-suicide-rate/)

1. A negative drawing is a drawing were every thing but the actual image is blacked out.
2. In my cut out I cut out the shaded part of the picture and pasted it on a full paper, then used the rest of the picture, flipped it, and glued that to the other side of the full paper. In the drawing, I shaded in everything and erased out the shapes afterward.
3. They will be able to know what the outline of a drawing will look like.
4. It will enhance the drawing because you will have the boundaries of a drawing.
   

Mi nombre es Nicholas. Tengo 14 años. Me encanta leer. Cuando tengo tiempo libre leo. Casa nunca veo la tele porqúe leo. Casi todos los dias leo un libro. Despues de las clases leo.

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