2nd Quarter Refliections

      I cannot believe that we are already halfway through the year. It is just now starting to sink in that next year I am going to be in HIGH SCHOOL.

In what area do you think you made your biggest improvements in English Language Arts? 

      I think that the biggest improvement that I have made in ELA this year is with my annotating. This year, we read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and we had to annotate A LOT. Last year, when we read Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, I think I did okay with annotating. Almost all of the annotations were questions. But this year, I really think I did a better job and I am really proud of myself for that.  

What is something you have accomplished since the new year that you are proud of?

      Something that I accomplished this year that I am proud of is finishing the 20 Book Challenge. The goal for everyone in the class was 20 books, but people could set higher goals if they wanted to. My goal was 40 books, like last year. I really think that I can finish it this year.

Where are you in your 40 Book Challenge? 

      So far for the 40 book challenge, I have read 23 books. I have read Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen, Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan, Paper Towns by John Green, Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K Rowling. The Hostile Hospital, The Carnivorous Carnival, The Slippery Slope, The Grim Grotto, The Penultimate Peril, and The End by Lemony Snicket. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, A Tree Grows in  Brooklyn by Betty Smith, Wonder by R. J. Palacio, Of Beetles And Angels by Mawi Asgedom, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Alchemyst by Michael Scott, and Notes From A Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick. I am halfway through the challenge which is perfect because we are halfway through the year! I am also doing Battle of the Books this year, which I think is going to help with this challenge. 

What has been the most challenging part of 2nd Quarter for you and what did/can you do to help overcome this?

      This Quarter, I have really struggled with the vocab tests. This year, I think that I have a lot more things that I have to do, whether it's clubs or homework or whatever I have to do, I forget to study for the vocab tests, and so I don't do as well as I did last year. I think that something that I can do to help is to set an alarm on Thursday nights to remember. I spend so much time on my phone that if I have to remember to do something, I either set an alarm or a calendar reminder. If I remember to study for the tests, I know that I will do better.

To Kill A Mockingbird Comparative Analysis

1.  What do you think is the most important difference between the written and filmed version? Provide evidence with specific details.

      There were many differences between the movie and the book. One of those differences is that they completely cut out an important character that was in the second part of the book. In the second part of the book, Scout and Jem's Aunt Alexandra comes and stays with them to "teach Scout how to become a woman". We learn a lot about the town and the time period through her. As she says on page 127, "'We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It wont be many years before you become interested in clothes and boys--'" She ends up being a fairly important character in the second half of the book, but she is never mentioned in the movie. 

      Another big difference is with Mrs. Dubose. In the book, Jem learns a big life lesson because of her. In the book, she is described as a horrible, mean, nasty woman who insults Atticus and the children. When she dies, Atticus tells Jem her life story and how she was the bravest woman he ever knew. But, in the movie, she was only mentioned once: in the very beginning of the movie, she yells at Scout about being an ugly girl. They never mention her death, and Jem doesn't learn the lesson about courage.

3. What is the purpose in having different versions of a story? Think about how different versions contribute to the overall understanding and interpretation of that piece of work. Use specific concepts to support your opinion.

      There are many reasons for having different versions of a story. One reason could be different perspectives. For example, in the book, everything was from Scout's perspective, which meant that we could really see everything that as going on. But, in the movie, we got to see parts of the story that we couldn't see from the book, like Atticus going to visit Helen Robinson. Another reason for having different versions of a story is to understand it better. Sometimes during the book, I got a little confused as to what was happening, like when Mr. Ewell attacked the kids, but in the movie, I was able to understand it a little better.