ATLWCNS Final blog post

Over all I really enjoyed this book even though it was depressing, even more depressing than Persepolis. I think some of the visuals were well described even though it wasn't a graphic novel which was easier for me to understand. I'm very interested in the sea of flames and the mysteries behind it, even though its secrets won't be solved it's still very interesting in a story like this. Great book!

This week, on Thursday, we learned about theme and motif. Make an argument for what you think the major theme of this book is and support your argument by finding motifs that contribute to this theme

I think the theme of this story is to be greatful for your family and all they do for you and I believe the sea of flames represents this claim. Because Marie-Laure near the end of the book starts to have a voice of her father almost as if he came to visit her, keep in mind this is a bit of my theory, but I think that maybe Marie-Laure is overly depressed and or scared and is having a breakdown that her mind is playing tricks on her. But the whole story is based on fear of what will happen on Marie-Laure's side and she has always looked to her father for comfort and guidance and if he wasn't there she would use the model that her father made of the city to show her the path. But I also think that Marie-Laure maybe thinking too much on how her father died but we cannot confirm this.

Discuss the structure of the novel so far. Why has the author made the chapters and chronology in the way that he has?

I find it interesting how the author separates the chapters like he does in the book. I personally find it more easier to read than reading a regular book. But I can't tell if these events that the author discribes are happening in the same time to both characters, I guess I'll have to read harder. But so far a very interesting book.

Historically Speaking

This article was very interesting. In the article it talked about how the Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative and the Center for Public History at the University of Houston opened a panel for the regions hurricane history and relief for the victims of hurricane Katrina. In my opinion I think it's very generous for our great city to think for those who've lost so much. 

Oct 26

I thought the interview went well with mike, I thought he was a very interesting artist. He definitely has an interesting story about how he became an artist, I like how he was told by his teachers that he couldn't be an artist but now is a very well known artist in Houston. And I like how he promotes Houston as an artist friendly town, and that kinda gives me hope on maybe a future career.

I thought Persepolis was a very good book. The thing that interested me the most was learning about the history of the Iranian Revolution, it really opened my eyes on that topic because I had never heard of those events. I also found marijan to be a very interesting character, I find her interesting because of how rebellious she is, it's very tough being a woman in a Muslim country but nonetheless she does very well for herself.

9/28/15

Personality: a very caring loving girl.
She is the main character in the book, and from the very beginning she is very defiant and rebellious in a country almost controlled by religion. Her purpose in the book is to defy anyone or anything thing that try's to change or criticize her.

3. Why did Marjane's parents decide to send her to Europe. Do you think this was the right decision? Why or why not?

I think it was the right decision for them to send Marjane to Europe because they don't want her to experience any more violence and death by living in Iran during these hard times. Plus all the times that the family nearly got bombed. They want their child to grow in a better environment and that's why they sent her to Europe for a better life. If I lived in a country where war and bombings were happening daily I would give anything to get my children out of the states.

2/16/15

Contrast Jay Gatsby's story about himself on p. 65 and Jordan Baker's story about Daisy and Gatsby on pp. 74-77.  What is different about these stories, and why do you think that they are different?


Gatsby has been through a lot in his life, and he has gotten to be known for his life and how he became wealthy and famous. There have been many stories and rumors about his life so it's really hard to tell, except when Nick caraway finds out from Gatsby and tells his story in order. So therefore Jordan Baker's story is basically what she heard from other people.

4/27/15

A Raisin in the Sun has more stage directions than a typical play (these are in italics). How do these directions add to your understanding of the play. Give specific examples from the text.

These stage directions make it more easier to extrapolate and visualize what's going on. I don't know if it's just me that notices this but the stage directions help me to picture what their actual house looks like, when it describes how mama's plant doesn't have enough light because there is only one window and the dim house.

ELA FINAL BLOG POST OF THE YEAR!!!

1. What was the most fun/engaging activity that you did in ELA this year? Why was it fun/engaging?
The most engaging activity we did this year was probably the migrant workers project, because both IHSS and ELA combined into one class for a while to make this project happen.

2. What was the most boring activity that you did this year? Why was it boring?
I honestly found none of these assignments boring, sure some were challenging but definitely not boring.

3. What was your favorite book this year? Why?
My favorite book by far this year is The Great Gatsby, because it fit perfectly with the migrant workers project, and it had an audiobook on YouTube!

4. What was your least favorite book this year? Why?
The Odyssey, because it was hard to read/understand.
 
5. What should I definitely keep the same for next year's ELA curriculum? Why?
I think you should keep up the play book readings, I think it's a lot easier for others and I to understand by reading together.

6. What should I definitely change for next year's ELA curriculum? Why?
There's not much that needs to be changed.

7. Is there anything else that you would like to tell me about your experience in ELA? If so - please put it here.
No comment.

We have finished A Raisin in the Sun. For this blog post, you can address anything about the book that interests you, whether we have discussed in class or not.

Mon, May 04, 2015

A Raisin In The Sun was very interesting and very different from the other books we have read. It's different because we all read it as a class instead of all of us reading it individually, and it being written in stage directions, which made it easer for me to read because we were all apart of the reading.

Meh

In Act II, Scene 2, Mama puts Walter in charge of all of the money. Why do you think that she does that?

I think she does that because the obvious its her son and she trusts her more than anyone in the whole world, and to follow up on that he did promise on his life to her that he would keep it safe.

Question 1 raisin in the sun

(Put yourself into the shoes of the Younger family. What do you think it would be like to live in a tiny, three-room apartment with three generations of your family, without the choice or resources to move elsewhere?)

I think it would be hard to live the life that the characters in the book do because all of the unlimited wants that both children and adults. Too many of these wants could result in extream stress, and with the discrimination laws around the United states made it even harder and more stressful.

The Great Gatsby in my opinion is a great book. It's a great book because not only does the author write and discribe things in the story so well but also makes the characters in the story relatable mainly Gatsby. Because it's said that Gatsby is a metaphor for America and daisy being a metaphor for the unattainable American Dream. That's what amazes me about this book.

Gatsby

One of the assignments similar to the great gatsby was the Kashmir gardens assignment. Because in the book it mentions that gatsby was a fisherman before he was rich and powerful, he worked so hard but made so little in the process. Another similar assignment would be the film we watched about migrant workers. Even though gatsby wasn't a migrant he still made as little as the workers.

Symbols

The symbol in chapters 2 and 7 of the great Gatsby I have found is that tj ekelburge represents the "big brother" of the story. Because when myrtle's husband finds the pearl necklace on her, he says "you may fool me, but you don't fool God! God sees everything!" When he says that I assume he's referring to tj ekelburge's presents. by that I mean the poster that was described in chapter 2. And when myrtle was hit by the vehicle, the poster of tj ekelburge was across from where myrtle was hit.

Nick carraway

I honestly don't know if nicks principles are actually true about himself. I've noticed almost every interaction with a character like Gatsby he seems to change the principle to somthing different from the orignal. He seems almost narcissistic at times when other times he admits he's a selfish man.

American dream

My definition of the American dream is get rich or die with nothing. What I mean is people these days are either born wealthy with parents who are successful in their lives while others are born with parents that don't make that much money in turn which ever side you're born on could determine the outcome on you're life.