First Quarter Reflections

     When the school year first began nothing has changed much. We are all back to the same routine. The only difference would be that we are getting through work that is more advanced. For example we did a whole unit on character development based on short stories. Last year, in the first quarter we just did an introduction of what was expected in this class. This year, since we know the expectations, we are just continuing our learning but on a more advanced level because we are no longer in seventh grade. Our work so far this year does not seem like an introduction of the class and I like that. Therefore the work was a bit more challenging for me. Though, I do see improvement in my reading skills when it comes to reading a book. After learning more about character development I was able to analyze how the main character in my book would reshape his/her persona.

     In this quarter we were able to get into more discussions about the news all around the world. One of those discussions would be about Ebola and how it is wildly spreading all over the world. My class and I were able to discuss about the topic and hear one another's opinion about how we should be handling this situation. I have also noticed that we all worked a lot with partners for most assignments. It was not partners of our choice it had to be our shoulder partner, so that helped me learn how to cooperate with others. There were times where my shoulder partner and I did not really agree with each other but we were able to solve it. It also helped me see another's view and get more ideas. Which this helped expand my mind. Overall, this first quarter flew by but I was able to learn a lot. 

Then and Now - Reflective Writing

     When I look back at my very first post I do not see much improvement. Though, I do remember in my first post I did not exactly know what I was doing. I was just trying to make it the best I can. Basically, I would struggle a bit more because I was unsure of my writing skills. Now, I know how to make even more thorough thoughts that will easily be followed by the readers. My vocabulary and word choices do not show any difference. I do seem to have a topic sentence in my first blog post. Which is something that I probably already knew. I also have noticed that I had much more enthusiasm in my first blog. Maybe that is because I of the topic I was writing about which is my favorite book(s). For example I would use an exclamation mark to show I am excited. Sometimes I would exaggerate a topic to add some humor or sarcasm. I do not know exactly what changed me but I know that my posts now are considered to me as... boring.

     In my most recent post I have better organization. Before, I would force in a topic that I knew I would need to include. Now, I would break them down and separate them into sections just how I did in my last posts, or I would figure out a way to ease in the topic. I also get more in depth on a certain topic which I am trying to explain. After analyzing my first blog post and my most recent one I do not see much difference. Therefore, I hope to make a difference this year. Maybe I will try to add more enthusiasm towards my feelings about a book.

The House Girl Analyzation - 9/29/14

          "Josephine stepped through the back door into the kitchen and placed the basket,                    half full with berries on the table. She felt Mister's slap still in the bones of her face, echoing down her spine, but she saw no mark when she checked in the glass above the washstand. She fixed herself with a stare: her eyes shifting color, a shadow of blue here green there, heal and brown and gray, the colors fractured together and split. 'Tonight,' she whispered. The pushing downward , the roof lifting toward the open sky."

     
Analyzation - Mood

     The mood the author, Tara Conklin, sets in me is pity, hope, and curiosity. This book is about slavery and a slave named Josephine, who tries to escape and plotting a dangerous quest to leave her  "home" and run away. I feel bad for her because she has always been treated unfairly by her masters. After all she has been through, her masters still intend to treat her roughly. All of this is making me feel bad for her and have pity. I feel hope because Josephine is trying to escape to have a better life. I hope she does escape. Josephine has to get information about other slaves who have tried to run but didn't succeed. She wants to know where they were aiming on going. Josephine has to do all of this secretly so she won't get caught. All the sneaking around she is doing is keeping me in the edge of my seat. All I can do is hope she succeeds and read on. Finally, curiosity is getting the best of me. It has been mentioned very rarely in the story but I was able to capture it. There is foreshadowing going on in this story. Though, I am not sure if there is actually until I finish the book. A foreshadow is when Josephine sees Mister going around the house to in a very direct speed with horrifying look. Then she sees a man's and a woman's silhouette by the window curtains talking and making hand gestures rapidly. Basically all this mystery is making me curious. Josephine thinks it is just an argument they are having over something but I think there is more than that. Why are they arguing?

Analyzation - Description

     Tara Conklin seems to always go in depth with descriptive writing using very few words. Just by the few word choices she uses describes so much. For example when the narrator says, "She felt Mister's slap still in the bones of her face, echoing down her spine.." It tells where she feels the slap specifically instead of just stating, "She felt Mister's slap on her face." I like that Tara added the word "bones" to be more specific. Second, there is an action in the end of this quote, "She fixed herself with a stare: her eyes shifting color, a shadow of blue here green there, heal and brown and gray, the colors fractured together and split." What stood out to me the most was the end, "..the colors fractured together and split." I feel like this created more of dramatic mood. Emphasizing that she is determines to be stronger. Tara is trying to show emotion in the character,  which in my opinion does a marvelous job at that!