Where I'm From

I am from the Big House,

the heavy traffic on Saturday mornings,

and the football fanatics screaming of the sidelines,

I am from the orchards,

going apple picking on warm summer evenings,

and baking apple pies to share with the neighborhood,

I am from those days,

where snow endlessly falls,

and shoveling the driveway is a great upper body workout,

I am from the turning of "heat" and "a/c" at the same same,

and experiencing frostbite and sunburn in the same week,

I am from the tall tales,

Paul Bunyan and Baby the Blue Ox,

with flapjacks smothered with sweet syrup,

I am from the forests of trees,

from the large lakes that surround us,

the petoskey stones and apple blossoms,

I am from those memories,

that will never fade away,

for they are my past,

and will always be my present.

Waterfall

The waves crash upon the rocks,

With deep rage one cannot stop,

It then subsides into a drift of water,

A never ending motion that continues to fall

Theme Connection

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/swimming/8361665.stm

This article is about Michael Phelps and how he is struggling with swimming these days. The title of this article is, "Records tumble all around hapless Phelps." To some extent, I think this relates to the theme of the Pearl. Of course, I believe that Phelps was never greedy, but he probably had high expectations and great anticipation for his upcoming matches. However, lack of proper practice explains his losses at these matches.

Pearl Reflection

I interpreted the moral of this story as being related to greed and how it can lead to undesirable actions. You can observe Kino’s steadily character changes once he discovers the pearl. He shows off qualities of greed. Furthermore, Kino’s greed leads him to hit his own wife and even cause his son’s death. Also, another theme related to this story is that fate can shape our lives. It was fate that Kino found the pearl, which drastically changed the outcome of his life. He lost his son and lost respect for who he was. Lastly, a very obvious, but very true and critical fact is that wealth does not bring happiness, as demonstrated in this story.

We can naturally relate Kino with every human being on this earth. It’s only natural for greed and ambition to build up once we discover something valuable. However, if we let our greed reach levels that may be dangerous, we will end up with the same fate as Kino. I think everyone has been through a situation/conflict similar to Kino’s. Although the consequences may not have been to the extent of the death of one, I’m sure that because of this “thing” or “someone,” our minds have turned greedy and self-indulgent. On the positive side, because of this, our minds can mature and realize the importance of generosity and the insignificance of wealth. One major idea that I believe Steinbeck wants to really emphasize is that wealth does not equal happiness. Kino has claimed that he has found the “pearl of the world,” but did that yield happiness to him or his family? In fact, what awaited him and his family was the exact opposite of happiness. Why? It was because of the false conception that the pearl would bring his family riches and joys of bliss and eternal happiness. Frankly speaking, Kino and his family had a reason to be content with their life initially. They did not lack anything except for money. They had food, water, and most importantly, each other. However, it was the two occurrences—Coyotito’s scorpion sting, and the finding of the pearl—that changed the course of their life.

Guess the Tone

She should've won, no doubt. He's been a musician himself for several years, he knew what he was talking about. The eloquence of her polished piece and the compelling ways her fingers flowed was exceptional...at least much better than that first-place trumpet player. He believed that he was much more knowledgeable about the rules and judgement of music than the three judges himself. Then why...why did she not win? It was only obvious that something was wrong with the ears of those clueless judges. It's much safer to say that he himself would've made a greater critic.

Guess the Mood

Chocolate cakes, apple pies, cinnamon buns, vanilla ice ream, white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate...I couldn't believe what was standing before me. I was surrounded by endless rows of countless desserts. I made my way past each row and grabbed a handful of desserts as much as I pleased. The moment that creamy, chocolaty pudding melted into my mouth, I was in heaven. That rich goodness that filled my mouth with sweet flavors was a feeling that I could not resist. One dessert after another, and I never got tired of it. Chocolate Souffle, hazel nut cookies, chocolate fondue, pumpkin pie, ice cream cakes, blueberry cheesecakes....

Happy Song Lyrics

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Don't Worry, Be Happy
From the Movie "Cocktails"
Performed by Bobby McFerrin

Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy......

Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
Lood at me I am happy
Don't worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number
When you worry call me
I make you happy
Don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got not girl to make you smile
But don't worry be happy
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy (now).....

There is this little song I wrote
I hope you learn it note for note
Like good little children
Don't worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
But when you worry
You make it double
Don't worry, be happy......
Don't worry don't do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don't bring everybody down like this
Don't worry, it will soon past
Whatever it is
Don't worry, be happy

*The composer thinks that happiness should always comes first no matter what bad things might happen. Even if life is frustrating or brings trouble, you should not worry, but be happy because when you worry, if creates twice the trouble.

$259,000,000...wHoA...

1) If I were to win an unbelievable amount of 259 billion dollar, I would be in a loss of words. It's possible I might even faint from the shock. That much money is something that I cannot imagine.

2) My first thoughts would be "OMG, NO WAY. NO WAY. NO WAY." I would be insanely shocked. My mind wouldn't be able to circulate properly.

3) First off, I would donate probably half the money to various humane societies around the world. Then I would give some to my family members, and keep the rest for savings. I don't want to end up like those other lottery winners that announce bankruptcy a year later. I would spend my money wisely and actually try to spend as least possible.

Clue #5

Clue #5

1) What is the theme of “About Effie?”

“About Effie” was one of the most bizarre stories I have ever read in my life. I’m not even sure if there was a definite plot. Because of this, it was challenging to identify the theme of the story. This is a complete guess, but from what I read, I think the theme is never give up. Effie always waited, and even though hope seemed very narrow, she still waited for “him.” Then one night, I believe that she does find that one person, although the author doesn’t clearly say.

2) Find a verse from the Bible that relates to the theme of “About Effie” and include it in your written responses.

Job 11:18 - You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

I chose this verse because it resembles Effie and how she never gives up hope. When she does meet “him,” she rests in safety.

1) Who is Effie waiting for?

Effie is waiting for the mysterious “him.” He is vaguely described and not very often mentioned. The only definite facts we know about him is that he comes when there is thunder, lightening, and music. This person that Effie is waiting for finally does come one night.

2) The story contains a lot of Christ imagery. Write down three separate sentences from the story that might symbolize Jesus and explain why Timothy Findley might have written these into his story.

1- "She just called him "him," and sometimes it was even "they," as if there were a thousand of them or something." How Effie refers that person to “him” reminds me of how we refer to Jesus as Word or Holy one.

2- "Will he take you away?" "Of course he will. That's why he's coming. That's why I'm waiting." This reminds of when Jesus takes us to heaven as we are waiting to be taken away by him.

3- Then she looked at me and all of a sudden I felt it. This is similar to how when Christians feel like they’ve met God and have been in his presence, they “felt” it. That feeling is indescribable because it is far too great to describe in words.

3) Can non-Christian authors reveal truth about God’s world?

I believe that anyone can reveal truth about God’s world. It doesn’t necessarily have to be shown through religious texts. It can be shown through metaphoric language. Regardless of religion, God’s world is always something worth writing about.

Clue #4

1) Who is a “character” in your life you admire? Why do you admire this person?

Although we’re not part of the closest granddaughter-grandfather relationship, I know my grandfather enough that I admire him. Out of curiosity, I asked my parents about whom my grandfather was. Not just the details on the surface, but his life story. Where did he live? What significant events did he go through when he was young? My grandfather actually spent his younger years in Japan. In Japan, he alone raised his younger siblings. He had to work and miss school, in order to support the rest of his family. He had earned enough money to send his younger brothers to college, but not himself. Now that’s pretty impressive. My grandfather could’ve gone to college himself, but he was willing to sacrifice his own education for his brothers. Fortunately, my grandfather’s story doesn’t just die there. He goes back to Korea and gets married. Without any college degree, he managed to get a job and eventually started his own business and even owns some buildings in Seoul! Of course, my grandfather’s retired now, but he still owns the buildings (some he sold). My grandfather is a really hard-working, caring and loving person. He is always an inspiration to me whenever I’m feeling down and I’ll always be proud to call him my grandfather!

1) What specific clues can setting reveal about the theme of a short story?

The setting of the story can reveal the theme of a story. Let’s say for instance a story takes place in Africa. We could conclude (if relevant) that the theme of the story is poverty. This isn’t always the case, for the setting can be pretty vague, but in some stories, the theme could be somewhere hidden in the setting.

2) How does an author drop clues about characters and how their actions lead you to the theme of a story?

The author can describe the struggles the character is going through (conflicts) and how they are dealing with it to show clues about the theme of a story. The character’s background, internal struggle, past conflicts and description can all be hints to the theme. If you can carefully identify the details of the character’s and their actions, you can pick up clues about the theme.

3) What is the strongest setting you have ever encountered in your own life. Describe this place and ponder if God revealed anything about Himself or his truth in this place.

A couple summers ago, I visited Korea and for the first time in my life, I went the country, rugged, poor side of Seoul. I have never seen a place so dirty and poor before. It almost felt as if I were in Africa. The children wore dirty, ripped clothes and the “houses” were like unstable shacks that looked as if it were to fall any second. I was a complete shock and felt this wave of guilt pass by me. The impact it left of me was huge. Even hours after leaving that place, I couldn’t seem to get my mind off of it. As cheesy as this may sound, I sincerely felt blessed and thankful.

Reader Response

1. Sometimes the way how the girl gets in trouble by her mom really reminds me of how my mother and I fight.

2. When the girl goes up to play piano at the talent show, I totally understand how she feels. I would also be extremely nervous.

3. When the girl's mom makes her do practice tests, that reminds me of how when I was young, my mom made me do math practice tests online and it totally sucked.

4. The girl does not enjoy playing piano, and I felt the exact same way when I used to play it.

5. When her mother told her that there are two kinds of children, the obedient ones and rude ones, it automatically made me think of the Confucius philosophy. My parents are against that philosophy, but it made me think of the older generations in my family who followed those teachings

6. While the girl was watching T.V. and her mother ordered her to turn it off, it instantly made me think of the times when my parents told me to shut off the T.V. and go up to my room when I got in trouble.

From the girl's personal perspective, the story would be told as how she is treated unfairly. Her mother expects her to be something that she's not and pushes her to do things that she is not comfortable doing with. Her mother makes her play piano, go to the talent show, and be a person that she just can't simply become. The girl constantly retorts that she's not a genius and cannot do those things.

Clue #3

1) What is a literary theme? Provide an explanation and then 3-one statement examples of a literary theme that reveals truth about the universal human experience.

The theme is the main idea or message in literature. The message can be about life, society or human nature. Themes are more implied than stated straight-out in a story.

1) Step into someone's shoes to get ride of ignorance

2) Things aren't always what they seem

3) We cannot defeat evil until we acknowledge our own dark side

* I got these from various webistes

2) What is the theme of your life, as you see it right now?

As of right now, I would consider the theme of my life to be "expect the unexpected." It has only been about a month since I've moved to Korea, and things have been really hectic. I had no idea that I was going to enroll to a dormitory school until a couple days before school started. Things have just been really out of hand and so sudden that I'm still not fully adjusted and comfortable with where I am right now. Life is full of surprises, but the important part of that is that you are able to take them in and not let that ruin your life. I'm not going to let my move to Korea or a dormitory ruin my relationships with the great friends I had back at home or the relationship with my family of being apart. Things are going well though, and I'm blessed to even have this opportunity to be attending a school like TCIS. Although there have been days where fate decided to take a little twist and let things get complex, I'm enjoying it as it is. If you think about it, that's what life is all about, right? We go through many unexpected and overwhelming events, but they have their importance in this world.

3) In your opinion, what is the theme of God's plan for this world?

I think that the theme of God's plan for this world is "make the best out of what you have." God created the earth, and as humans, it's our responsibility to make the best out of what God has given us. We live in this world, and it's our task to live responsibly and use all the resources he has given us to live life to its fullest. We shouldn't pollute the air or trash the streets. That is not why God has created the earth. He created it so that men could dwell on his land.

1) How can you figure out a theme in a short story? Describe the process.

There are some strategies in figuring out the theme of a story. You can consider the title. Sometimes the title of a story can reveal understanding of the theme. Then think about the main characters and what conflicts they go through. Find the climax and try to figure out what the author's message is. Lastly, look at the resolution of the story. It may contain some sort of universal truth. From the information you have gathered, try to come up with a truth statement. You should be able to identify the theme for the story.

2) What is the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" and how does this theme relate to your own life?

I think the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" is obsession with past sorrows/grievances. Doug is hung up with his past about his childhood friend, Ralph. Ralph has betrayed him, abandoned him, and has certainly not treated Doug as a friend. This left a huge scar on Doug, who never seemed to forget about it. Even after forty years, Doug cannot seem to leave behind the past. In fact, he decides to get revenge on his friend. That revenge was to kill Ralph for what he's done to Doug. A normal human probably would've forgotten about the past by then, but obviously Doug had some sort of obsession about it that left him hanging onto the past. I'm not sure if the theme is correct, but this is how I interpreted it as.

3) How is a moral of a story different from a theme?

A theme is broader than moral. A moral is lesson from an event or story. A theme is a broad idea or message that may be about life, society, or humanity. A moral is usually revealed in a story, while a theme is something the reader has to think about and find out. A moral is typically only one statement. On the other hand, the theme depends on the reader. It can be interpreted in many different ways, especially if it's not stated so straight-out.

4) Read John 3:16. Is this a theme statement for God's story? How does this relate to the truth you might find in literature?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

Yes, I would consider this a theme statement for God's story. We mostly remember God for sacrificing his own son for the sins of mankind. John 3:16 mentions that God loved the world so much that he was willing to kill his one and only son, Jesus. In literature, there are similar themes, such as sacrifice or giving something/someone up for someone else's sake. The whole idea of "giving up" is mentioned in almost all stories. It's ironic because that is what revolves around God. He gave up his son for our sake, while characters in stories do the same. For example, in Marigolds, Lizabeth gave up innocence, but gained maturity. That idea of "giving" something up always occurs in our lives.

Clue #6

1. Define a metaphor and a simile.

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which you are comparing things without using "like" or "as." A simile is a comparison using "like" or "as."

1. Why do authors use figurative language?

Figurative language is used by authors to convey a more creative and clear message. Creative writers use metaphors, similes, etc. to bring out emotions and understandings that can't be understood by just the words alone. By comparing two objects, it helps the readers to understand and grasp the imagery since the connections of the two materials can display a better understanding. Also, figurative language is interesting. It's profound, new and fresh. Without it, your writing would seem too much like a dictionary. Figurative language adds color to your writing and makes it far more interesting.

2. List 3 metaphors that you think are really beautiful or interesting.

"Climbing down the heart, listen to your deep soul call, give wings to your dreams."

"Beauty is truth's smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror."

"Clouds came floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

3. Find a metaphor for Jesus in the Bible and list the Bible verse.

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." -John 7:37.

4. What does this metaphor reveal about God's world and your understanding of it??

It reveals that Jesus was a caring man who would feed any one who were suffering from hunger or thirst. He cared about his people and was even willing to sacrifice his own self for human kind's own sins.

Clue #1

1) What is beauty?

According to the dictionary, beauty is “the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).” So, in other words, beauty can be a quality, a design or pattern, or something different.

2) Find 2 Bible versus about God’s view of beauty and add them to the written responses for the questions on the left?

Proverbs 31:30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1. In your own words, please summarize what Reader Response analysis is, and what steps are involved.

Reader Response focuses on the reader’s experiences and the relationship with an author or a work of literature. Rather than interacting with the text, reader response challenges students to interact with the text and record memories, emotions, experiences, and new ideas. The focus is on the personal connection between a readers’ experience and the text. The steps involved in Reader Response is first, you have to read the text. While you are reading, you make connections with the story consciously or unconsciously. You can write down the connections, or keep them mentally alive in your mind while reading the story. Making connections is a great way to analyze the text and relate to the character.

2. How can Reader Response open our eyes to more truth as we read?

By standard reading, you’re usually asked the theme of the book. In reader response, you think more about what you learned about yourself or the world that you didn’t realize before reading the book. You open your eyes to more truth when using reader response.

3. Why is it important for you to interact/connect with literature?

Interacting and connecting with literature is important because when you make connections to the text, it expands the way you think. You don’t just look down one road. It opens gateways to other roads as well. For example, rather than asking, “what is the book about?” questions like “what did the book make you think about?” really makes you have to interact and connect with the story. The questions are more meaningful because it’s not just simply about the story, but it involves you, the reader. Effective readers create meaning by comparing the literature to their own thoughts and experiences.

4. Reflect on a book or story you have read recently and what new truth about the world you learned from that narrative.

I have recently read a book called The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. The novel is told from the perspective of a boy that belongs to a lower-class group of Oklahoma youths. It tells about their struggles living as lower-class people and the hard challenges they have to face. After finishing this book, it really left an impact on me. It made me realize that although I may be living in places where poverty doesn’t exist, there are places in this world where people struggle to live. They live in neighborhoods where the crime rates are high, and they have to deal with the constant bullying of the upper class. And although it may be hard to believe, there are people who lead lives like that even today. I always think, it’s the 21^st century, everyone goes to school, everyone has cell phones, but reality shows that it’s not true. To me, it’s hard to believe.

Personal Ads

1. My hair is as black as the midnight sky.

2. I am comical like the Robin Williams.

3. I am as cute as a button

4. My skin is as beautiful as Megan Fox.

5. I the sweetest girl anyone could ever meet.

6. My smile brightens up every room.

7. My sense of style is the most original and famous in all the world.

8. Kim Bum is madly in love with me, because of my awesome personality.

9. When I flash my smile, all the guys faint.

10. The world lines up to hear me sing.

11. When you look into my eyes, you seen the depths of my gracious soul.

Utterly Perfect Murder

I think the "Utterly Perfect Murder" will be something associated with a murder case about getting revenge on someone. There were several times when I wanted to get revenge on someone, especially my older sister. When I was young, my sister and I would always find ways to get back at each other whenever we fought. One time while our family was visiting another friend's house, I told the family's son who my sister had a crush on. I know, it sounds like a shallow and extremely mean thing to do, but I was only five at that time, so I still had that childish, immature side of me. At that time, I thought I had a valid reason to do so because that same morning, my sister had told my parents that I had dropped the cake we bought, when really BOTH of use were holding the cake box. I didn't get in much trouble, but a gentle scorn from my parents was enough to convince me to get revenge upon my sister. So that's what I did. I told the family's son who my sister liked and the outcome of it? It was terrible. I got into huge trouble by my parents who yelled at me and told me that what I did was a childish and mean thing to do. Honestly, I didn't think it was that big of a deal because he didn't even know who the crush was, but now that I think of it, it was a pretty pathetic thing to do.

Warm-up Blog

A couple years ago, I read this biography that was recommended by my violin teacher. It told the story about a young Korean violin prodigy. He was talented, but he did not like the violin. He had no interest in practicing, but he could never say the words "I want to quit." Noticing his discontent with violin, one day at his lesson, his teacher, Dorothy DeLay, asked him if he were to quit violin, what would he do instead. He answered that he wanted to draw. With that, he quit violin, but as the months passed by, he started to notice the emptiness in his life without music. I can relate to this because I also play the violin, so I can understand the feeling of why he would want to quit. There have been several times in my life where I also wanted to quit, but then I knew that if I were to, then I would feel this huge empty hole in my life. I think connections are important because it helps the reader understand what the character is dealing with.

P.S. He continued violin lessons and became really famous.

The key components of this introduction are:

-In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God

-All things were made through him and without him, nothing would have been made

-In him was life and that life was the light of men

-The light shines in the darkness; but the darkness has not understood it

-The world did not recognize him

Here, the characters that will also appear later in the story are introduced. The setting is also described and we are given background information. This passage would be the exposition of the story.

1) When we read something, we don't really keep in mind about the structure of the story. We simply just read the text, but we don't understand the importance of the underlying elements of a story. The beginning is the exposition, then rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. The purpose of the exposition is to inform the readers about the plot, characters, setting and theme of the story. The rising action is what leads up to the climax. It builds suspense all the way up to the climactic finish. The highest point of tension is the climax. Following that is the falling action, where the after effects of the climax usually occur. Lastly, the resolution is the end of the story. At this point, the conflicts are resolved and ends with a conclusion.

2) The structure of a story is like the foundation of a building. It the foundation is weak, then the building will collapse and will only leave behind a huge mess to clean up after. If you build a strong foundation, you will have no worries of it collapsing. This goes the same for stories. If the structure of your story is weak and does not have strong components, your story will be surely shoved aside and ignored. Nonetheless, if your story is structured well and has strong elements, then it will stand out among others. The overall structure should have a smooth arc of rising action, climax and resolution. The plot should grab the reader’s interest and be strong enough the carry throughout the whole story. The readers should be able to easily identify the exposition, falling action, climate, etc. and the theme of the story.

3) "Marigolds" is an example of a "strong building." I noticed that it had smooth transitions from the exposition, to rising action, the climax, falling action and settled down well at the resolution. The plot was interesting and focused. Everything in the story was connected and led to the climax without any distractions. The characters were balanced and went along smoothly against the moving plot. The pace of the story was never too slow or fast. It did not drag or skip over parts. I was slightly confused at the beginning of who the narrator was, but I quickly caught on. The dialogue was clear and I could differentiate between who was speaking without being told.

4) I interpreted the theme as growing up follows a loss of innocence. It is shown in this story that compassion can only be understood when innocence is lost. In the beginning, the author explains that Lizabeth lives in a neighborhood full of poverty. Lizabeth is at an age where she is ready to give up her childish acts and become a young woman. However, in this time period (Great Depression), she is confused and cannot fully understand what is happening to her. At the climax of the story, she rips up Miss Lottie's marigolds, which marks her loss of innocence. She feels great compassion for Miss Lottie after realizing what she has done, as shown in the falling action. Although she shows her sincere remorse, Miss Lottie never plants marigolds again. Here, the theme is evident. It is at this moment that Lizabeth sees with the eyes of adulthood, compassion, and she knows that her childhood innocence is gone.

Personal Connections

1) In the first paragraph, Lizabeth only remembers the dirt roads and grassless yards when she thinks of that time and that place. When I think of my old home, I remember the beautiful flowers in our yard and the grayish-white bricked house.

2) In the second paragraph, Lizabeth always comes across this strange nostalgia when she thinks of that memory. For me, when I think of my old home I always (for some strange reason) remember our neighbor’s two black dogs. I hated them, so maybe that’s why I always think of them.

3) In the fourth paragraph, Lizabeth describes the poor conditions she lives in. Having no radios, few newspapers and no magazines and being called “culturally deprived.” These living conditions remind me of when I visited the “poor” side of Korea and the homes had no running water, barely any electricity and no technology of any kind except old half-broken T.V’s.

4) Miss Lottie planting marigolds reminds me of my neighbor who lived across the street. Everyday, I would see the middle-aged woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat planting flowers and watering them. She seemed to have great interest in her flowers and care for them greatly.

5) When Lizabeth pretends to act tough and show false courage when Joey asked her, “You scared, Lizabeth?” it reminded me of how I used to pretend to be all strong and stuff in front of my friends so I wouldn’t appear weak to them.

6) The children’s fear of Miss Lottie reminds me of the fear I used to have towards my great-grandmother. As weird as it sounds, my great-grandmother had this dull, slightly frightening countenance. I feel really bad now that I think of it, but I was very young at that time.

7) After destroying Miss Lottie’s flowers, Lizabeth’s feeling of shame reminds me of all like times I felt ashamed whenever I did something shameful.

8) When Lizabeth is bored in the summer, it reminds me a lot of how I get really bored in the summer because I repeat doing the same stuff over and over everyday.

9) At the end of the story when Lizabeth destroyed Miss Lottie’s marigolds out of her anger, it reminded me of how every time I’m angry, I always have something to rip up to calm my anger.

10) The overall setting of the story reminds me a lot of Detroit. The people live in poor conditions and there always seems to have this depressing atmosphere that lurks around.

Story

This summer is one that I'll never forget. One that will stay vivid in my memories and become a story to share with other people. For the first time in my life, I moved to South Korea. Being here several times before to visit, I wasn't completely clueless of the lifestyle here, but I never expected to be living in this land. It was a huge culture shock for me that I couldn't adapt to easily. The diverse culture, people, and location was just too different from America. I was used to big land, clean air, peaceful nights and limited traffic, whereas here, there was small and cramped land, polluted air, heavy traffic and the constant sounds of cars honking at night. While I did experience much of what was expected, awaiting me at Korea was also the very unexpected as well.

As I boarded the plane that was to take me seven-thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean to the southern tip of Korea, I felt a sense of mixed emotions. I was mainly curious. After all, I was living halfway around the globe from where I grew up. But aside from being just curious, I was fearful and anxious. Having being born and educated in the states my whole life, I had little knowledge of the Korean culture. What worried me the most was the language. Being a fluent English-speaker, my Korean was no way near the same level. I could understand and speak some of the language, but it was never to the level of a native speaker. I was fearful of appearing unconvincing to other people's eyes and having to put up with stares of shameful looks upon their faces.

The plane ride was a dreadful 14 hours. We took a shuttle bus which drove us to our new home: LG Metro City. This would be my new address I would use whenever I would have to fill out applications, mail letters, or invite friends over to. It would become a place where I would spend lonely nights doing my homework or studying for the SAT's.

That soon changed, however. This whole time, I was always thinking that I would attend Busan Foreign School. But hearing upon the poor academic level and college acceptance this, I knew I just could not trust this school to prepare me for college. Hearing that the international school in Daejon was a much better place, my family and I took a trip to the school. Getting a positive first impression of the school, I decided to enroll. However, if I wanted to enroll at this school, that meant that I had to stay in the dormitory.

The idea of staying at a dormitory for an entire school year didn't sound convincing one bit to me. Living together with my family for the past thirteen years, I couldn't just live separately from them so suddenly. A day before entering the dormitory, I cried my heart out. All the tears I've been hiding inside me this whole time finally poured out. I refused to leave. The thoughts of living alone and not being able to see my family for several weeks haunted me. After all, I was only thirteen. I was too young to live my own life. It was too late to turn back now, but I wished that I had never enrolled to this school. Education's important, but what can beat family?

The next morning we drove to Daejon. Normally I hated long car rides, but this time I hoped that it would never end. Each minute we were closer, I felt the tears building up inside me again. I managed to swallow them back and crack a weak smile. After finish registering and listening to the orientation, we unpacked my belongings in the dorm. I took a glimpse at the ticking clock and constantly reminded myself, only fifteen more minutes, only fifteen. Ten minutes had past and the unpacking was just about done. There was a silent pause among us, but a knock on the door had broken it. As I slowly opened the door, a woman I have never seen before smiled brightly. She introduced herself as Mrs. Midkiff, one of the dorm parents. After having a short greeting with the rest of my family, she notified us that I had to leave in 5 minutes for the student orientation. It was time.

I exchanged my final goodbyes and hugged each of my family members tightly. As I was in their arms, the tears started streaming slowly down my cheek. I wiped them with the sleeve of my already damp sweater and waved goodbye. The muscles of my fingers felt weak as I slowly waved my hand left and right. I took a step out of the room and smiled, saying goodbye for the last time.

The student orientation brightened up my mood a little bit. The games and humor lightened up the tense mood of mine and allowed me to laugh. I talked with many new people and even made new friends on the first day. I decided that dorm life wouldn’t be as terrible as I thought it would be. I would have many friends to replace the loneliness of being away from my family and even though I may be apart from them, I knew that they would always be with me in my heart.

Exposition: The first 4 paragraphs.

Rising Action: 5-6 paragraph

Climax: 7 paragraph

Falling Action: 8 paragraph

Resolution: 8 paragraph

The conflict in my story is that I had to enter the dormitory. I wasn't prepared, and I wasn't

ready, but for the sake of my education, I came to the conclusion that that would be best.

Classwork

2) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Chamber-Secrets-Book/dp/0439554896/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250346216&sr=8-1)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Prisoner-Azkaban-Book/dp/0439136369/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250346274&sr=1-1)

The Outsiders (http://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-S-E-Hinton/dp/014038572X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250346512&sr=1-1)

Journey to the Center of the Earth (http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Center-Earth-Enriched-Classic/dp/1416561463/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250346566&sr=1-1)

Thomas Jefferson (http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Jefferson-R-B-Bernstein/dp/0195181301/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250346752&sr=1-1)

3) My favorite genre is realistic fiction and fantasy. Opposite genres, but both very interesting and enjoyable to read. I like realistic fiction because I can relate to the book and make connections. I read fantasy for my enjoyment and pleasure. Some of my favorite authors include L.M Montgomery, Tamora Pierce, J.K Rowling and Judy Blume (when I was young).

4) When I read, I always like it to be quiet. I don't listen to music because it distracts me and I can't fully concentrate on what's going on in the story. I'm not much of a reader, but once I start a book that catches my attention, I get totally absorbed into it and I can't stop reading.

5) I'm not against books being made into movies. Actually, when a popular book is made into a movie, I look forward to watching it. I always know that the movies will never be better than books, but I still find myself anticipate the upcoming movie. The reader can't help but be curious about the movie. You can now visualize the characters or the story and see it in motion.

Open-Minded















Risk-takers















Caring















Thinkers

















Knowledgeable















Communicators

First Stab at Essential Questions "QW"

1) What are my current reading skills?
I wouldn't call myself an avid reader. In fact, I don't read that much. I like reading, but I just can't seem to find time to do it. Because I don't read many books, my current reading skill is probably about average. My goal this year is to read many books so that I can increase my reading skill.

2) How can I improve and grow as a reader?
The best way to become an improved reader is probably to read many books. Reading many books will allow you to become familiar with the context and also increase your vocabulary. Increased vocabulary and familiarity with different contexts is definitely an improvement.

3) What purpose can literature serve in my life?
If literature were to have not exist, humans would not be as learned and mature. Being able to read, to express and communicate is a basic skill humans need. Literature gives us the gift to read, learn and understand.

4) What resources can I find in the library that will help me in this course and other courses?
Since English is a very broad topic, I can find a wide variety of books. Grammar books, writing skill books, vocabulary books and anything that pertains to the English language will help me in this course.