Learning goals for LA in 2011
What I hope to achieve this year in language arts is simple- to improve my sentence structure. I've always had a huge problem in the way I write sentences, way back from my primary school days. By reading more, I hope that I can get the structure right. This year, I would like to work hard on it because I want to make my english essays and compositions more smooth and clear in the way information is being conveyed. Also, by reading more and attending literature lessons in school, I should be able to improve my vocabulary. I believe that even if you have a brilliant plot but poor sentence structure, no-one is going to read whatever you write. Sec 2 is an important year for me and I want to make a change before it is too late. Other people have a huge headstart compared to me, and I got to race to catch up with them. I feel that achieving a favourable grade for language arts is not as important as improving your command of English. Studying hard does not guarrantee that you are good in English, but merely just the tip of an iceberg in what LITERATURE is all about. I want to believe and succeed in whatever I do, and I will take whatever it takes to do it.
Language Arts- Rewind
I feel that the most valuable thing I learned from language arts last year was to read and read and read. Mr Lundberg has always been encouraging the class to pick up the habit of reading so that we can do better in our tests. When I was in primary school, I refused to read books as I thought they were boring. My mother used to go to the national library and borrow books for me to read. I pratically gave up everytime i tried to look at pages filled with nothing but words. After a year of literature, I learned to appreciate the language the way it is. Poetry taught me that a few words put together can actually become a beautiful piece of writing. I quickly found an interest in the way authors write their books. I hope that by growing an interest in reading, I can improve my English in every way.
The past.
2. Have you ever been part of a group of people who were unkind to one or some individuals? What was the circumstance? How did you act? What did you feel?
I have never been under those circumstances before. However, this is how I would have thought if I were to answer the questions.
I was part of a clique back in the early days of my primary school life. Jenson, who was new in school and supposedly joined our group to gain popularity, was also tormented by my other friends. Jenson simply did not care. He kept on following us around and always tried to 'click' with us whenever we had a conversation. Everyone thought that he was irritating and thus no one was kind or showed pity towards him. A few weeks later, tormenting became bullying. My friends punched or kicked him hard whenever they had the chance to. I tried to intervene, but to no avail. I knew that sooner or later, the group would be in big trouble. And it did. Jenson's mother had called the school up to report on the brusies that Jenson had all over his body. My friends who had hurt him were immediately expelled upon the shocking news. I felt bad to have let my friends off easily. Losing my friends was bad, but losing my pride was worse. Time never turns back. If it could, then the world would have been perfect. This was definitely a huge learning point for me to grasp. I'll never forget this incident for life.
I have never been under those circumstances before. However, this is how I would have thought if I were to answer the questions.
I was part of a clique back in the early days of my primary school life. Jenson, who was new in school and supposedly joined our group to gain popularity, was also tormented by my other friends. Jenson simply did not care. He kept on following us around and always tried to 'click' with us whenever we had a conversation. Everyone thought that he was irritating and thus no one was kind or showed pity towards him. A few weeks later, tormenting became bullying. My friends punched or kicked him hard whenever they had the chance to. I tried to intervene, but to no avail. I knew that sooner or later, the group would be in big trouble. And it did. Jenson's mother had called the school up to report on the brusies that Jenson had all over his body. My friends who had hurt him were immediately expelled upon the shocking news. I felt bad to have let my friends off easily. Losing my friends was bad, but losing my pride was worse. Time never turns back. If it could, then the world would have been perfect. This was definitely a huge learning point for me to grasp. I'll never forget this incident for life.
Song Review
'Drifting' by Andy Mckee
I feel that this song had one of the greatest impact to me. You can easily relate this song with life. The part where he slaps his guitar to make percussive sounds shows that and life rough, while the melodic parts of the song are talking about hope. 'Drifting' is a great song to show how songs can express meaning without any lyrics. I believe that the song is called 'Drifting' as we often drift away from the past and find peace and a great future. It also inspired me to start learning guitar, and since then i've never turned back. I learnt that road of success is tough, and you need to find the ryhthm of your very own life.
I feel that this song had one of the greatest impact to me. You can easily relate this song with life. The part where he slaps his guitar to make percussive sounds shows that and life rough, while the melodic parts of the song are talking about hope. 'Drifting' is a great song to show how songs can express meaning without any lyrics. I believe that the song is called 'Drifting' as we often drift away from the past and find peace and a great future. It also inspired me to start learning guitar, and since then i've never turned back. I learnt that road of success is tough, and you need to find the ryhthm of your very own life.
Big Fish
Answers for the 'Big Fish' Worksheet
1) To me, the phrase means that sometimes you need to look at the big picture of things to truly understand them. As the big fish stands out from the small pond, it is also important to take notice of the water, as without it the big fish would die.
Actual Meaning: People who are important but only within their limited circle of influence.
2) It is to show that a wedding ring is a precious thing and has the power to bring two people together. Edward Bloom used his wedding ring as a bait to catch Big Fish, and therefore assumed that it could do wonders.
3) William enjoyed the tale as a boy but when he got older, he got sick and tired of it and even said that by telling the story it embarrasses not only him but also his father.
4) Edward Bloom was successful in marriage, and thus wanted to teach other people so that they can learn from him about marriage.
5)When William was young, he had a close relationship with his father. As they grew older, their relationship strained and William did not want to talk to his father face to face for years.
6)Legends or myths. Not everything is true, so you tend to not take the stories realistically, but instead just grasp the learning points from them.
7) Yes it does. Fiction Writers have an incentive to sensationalize and perhaps exaggerate stories so that they become more interesting for readers to read. Tall tales are often less valid and might cause some confusment. Therefore it makes readers hard to believe them compared to straight reportage of facts.
1) To me, the phrase means that sometimes you need to look at the big picture of things to truly understand them. As the big fish stands out from the small pond, it is also important to take notice of the water, as without it the big fish would die.
Actual Meaning: People who are important but only within their limited circle of influence.
2) It is to show that a wedding ring is a precious thing and has the power to bring two people together. Edward Bloom used his wedding ring as a bait to catch Big Fish, and therefore assumed that it could do wonders.
3) William enjoyed the tale as a boy but when he got older, he got sick and tired of it and even said that by telling the story it embarrasses not only him but also his father.
4) Edward Bloom was successful in marriage, and thus wanted to teach other people so that they can learn from him about marriage.
5)When William was young, he had a close relationship with his father. As they grew older, their relationship strained and William did not want to talk to his father face to face for years.
6)Legends or myths. Not everything is true, so you tend to not take the stories realistically, but instead just grasp the learning points from them.
7) Yes it does. Fiction Writers have an incentive to sensationalize and perhaps exaggerate stories so that they become more interesting for readers to read. Tall tales are often less valid and might cause some confusment. Therefore it makes readers hard to believe them compared to straight reportage of facts.
Shel Silverstein’s Poems
The Little Boy and the Old Man
1. The underlying message that is being conveyed through this poem is that children always think that they are treated unfairly but in fact adults always understand how they feel.
2. He uses rhymes and assonance to make the poem an easy one to read, so that the message behind the poem can be brought out easily.
2. Messy Room
1.The poem is humorous because the persona is talking about a messy room, and yet it turned out to be that the room is actually his.
2. I feel that the person in the poem was LAZY by not tidying his room, and still dared to put other people into his shoes.
Clooney the Clown
1.Clooney was not funny when he was trying to be one, but made everyone laugh when he talked about him feel sad.
2.Shel Silverstein wanted to let the readers know that the road of success isn't smooth, and you have to get back up once you fall.
3.He has used repetition and alliteration to make the poem seem funny and also show pity to Clooney.
1. The underlying message that is being conveyed through this poem is that children always think that they are treated unfairly but in fact adults always understand how they feel.
2. He uses rhymes and assonance to make the poem an easy one to read, so that the message behind the poem can be brought out easily.
2. Messy Room
1.The poem is humorous because the persona is talking about a messy room, and yet it turned out to be that the room is actually his.
2. I feel that the person in the poem was LAZY by not tidying his room, and still dared to put other people into his shoes.
Clooney the Clown
1.Clooney was not funny when he was trying to be one, but made everyone laugh when he talked about him feel sad.
2.Shel Silverstein wanted to let the readers know that the road of success isn't smooth, and you have to get back up once you fall.
3.He has used repetition and alliteration to make the poem seem funny and also show pity to Clooney.
Book Review: The End Of The World As We Know It (Favourite Book)
'The End Of The World As We Know It' by Lesley Choyce
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2142021.The_End_of_the_World_As_We_Know_It
Stuck in a private school for kids who have repeatedly flunked out elsewhere, Carson knows he's got nowhere lower to sink to. "Flunk Out Academy" is the last resort for Carson and his classmates, in a small town where its deeply troubled students are decidedly unwelcome. Then Carson meets someone who is even less optimistic than he. Christine struggles to get by, living in a trailer by herself, abandoned by her mother and father, so desperate that she has become almost immune to the pain and loneliness. Confronted by her deep sadness, Carson starts to care for her and she for him. Once focused on someone other than himself, he begins to notice the world around him and realize that there is beauty as well as hopelessness, love as well as hate.
This book is one book that I really love. It talks about how Carson changes for the better -from being a misanthrope to a thoughtful and caring person. Most of it talks about how Carson deals with his normal life by hating everything. He neglents what he has in life despite having a loving family. After meeting Christine, he learns that there are people out there who are emotionally hurt and are worst off than him. Eventually, Christine moves in with Carson and they struggle for the better to live in an imperfect world.
'I find that I open my mouth and i say her name out loud. Christine. And once I've said her name out loud I want to go with her. But instead, I breathe in the cold, clear night air. I take it deep into my lungs and I remind myself that there are good things in this world you can hold onto, important things that stay inside you and never go away. Even though the world has moved on and everything has changed forever.' The ending finally shows that Carson understand what life is about, and feels that his change in character was the biggest present that Christine gave to him. I feel that this book relates to me well, in a sense that when I was 10, I struggled with life, giving up all the time. This book has taught me to find that sparkle in life and excel in everything you do. I recommend this book to those who are still lost without hope and are trying to find out what the true meaning of life is.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2142021.The_End_of_the_World_As_We_Know_It
Stuck in a private school for kids who have repeatedly flunked out elsewhere, Carson knows he's got nowhere lower to sink to. "Flunk Out Academy" is the last resort for Carson and his classmates, in a small town where its deeply troubled students are decidedly unwelcome. Then Carson meets someone who is even less optimistic than he. Christine struggles to get by, living in a trailer by herself, abandoned by her mother and father, so desperate that she has become almost immune to the pain and loneliness. Confronted by her deep sadness, Carson starts to care for her and she for him. Once focused on someone other than himself, he begins to notice the world around him and realize that there is beauty as well as hopelessness, love as well as hate.
This book is one book that I really love. It talks about how Carson changes for the better -from being a misanthrope to a thoughtful and caring person. Most of it talks about how Carson deals with his normal life by hating everything. He neglents what he has in life despite having a loving family. After meeting Christine, he learns that there are people out there who are emotionally hurt and are worst off than him. Eventually, Christine moves in with Carson and they struggle for the better to live in an imperfect world.
'I find that I open my mouth and i say her name out loud. Christine. And once I've said her name out loud I want to go with her. But instead, I breathe in the cold, clear night air. I take it deep into my lungs and I remind myself that there are good things in this world you can hold onto, important things that stay inside you and never go away. Even though the world has moved on and everything has changed forever.' The ending finally shows that Carson understand what life is about, and feels that his change in character was the biggest present that Christine gave to him. I feel that this book relates to me well, in a sense that when I was 10, I struggled with life, giving up all the time. This book has taught me to find that sparkle in life and excel in everything you do. I recommend this book to those who are still lost without hope and are trying to find out what the true meaning of life is.
Book review: Fake ID
'Fake ID' by Walter Sorells
Sixteen-year-old Chastity and her mother have been on the run since Chass was a baby, with new identities in every town. She doesn't know why they are running, who her father is, or even her real name. On the night of Chass's sixteenth birthday, her mother disappears. Police find her abandoned car, blood matching her DNA, and a purse containing six ID cards. Chass doesn't believe her mother is dead, only that she had to run again. If Chastity doesn't find her mother in six days, she'll be put into foster care. She races against time to uncover the truth of her mystery, and then discovers that there are more than meets the eye.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book as it was filled with suspense. After every chapter, there was a cliff hanger. Once I started, I couldn't stop. It is fast paced with strong connections to teen issues and a good mystery going on. I loved the way everything fit into place as the ending turned out to be a good one. I feel this this book is more of an investigation rather than an action packed one. It may seem creepy, but it is a definite worth to read.
Sixteen-year-old Chastity and her mother have been on the run since Chass was a baby, with new identities in every town. She doesn't know why they are running, who her father is, or even her real name. On the night of Chass's sixteenth birthday, her mother disappears. Police find her abandoned car, blood matching her DNA, and a purse containing six ID cards. Chass doesn't believe her mother is dead, only that she had to run again. If Chastity doesn't find her mother in six days, she'll be put into foster care. She races against time to uncover the truth of her mystery, and then discovers that there are more than meets the eye.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book as it was filled with suspense. After every chapter, there was a cliff hanger. Once I started, I couldn't stop. It is fast paced with strong connections to teen issues and a good mystery going on. I loved the way everything fit into place as the ending turned out to be a good one. I feel this this book is more of an investigation rather than an action packed one. It may seem creepy, but it is a definite worth to read.
Book Review: Right Behind You
Hey! I've been reading about some nice books for the holidays and I shall do book reviews for my top 3 favourite books out of the whole lot. Look out for the next two posts too!
'Right Behind you' by Gail Giles
When Kip McFarland was nine years old, he set his seven-year-old neighbor on fire because he was jealous of the baseball glove the boy received for his birthday. The boy dies and Kip was committed to a juvenile facility, where he spends the next four years in rehabilitation. At the age of 13 to 14, Kip is released and moves with his family to a new town, with a new name, to begin a new life.
I feel that this book was a good one due to the way Gail Giles expressed the feelings and emotions going through Kip's life. She allowed Kip to openly explore his feelings, emotions and reactions, she doesn't let him feel sorry for himself or blame others for his predicament. Kip struggles in his teenage life, in search of forgiveness. Giles told the story of Kip in a way that fits into our daily lives. After rehabilitation, he goes to a normal high school,joins the swimming team and has a girlfriend. Kip then moves to Texas and has an ease in life by homeschooling after his friends realised he was a murderer. I highly recommend this book, as it is an easy book to read and keeps you at the edge of your emotions.
'Right Behind you' by Gail Giles
When Kip McFarland was nine years old, he set his seven-year-old neighbor on fire because he was jealous of the baseball glove the boy received for his birthday. The boy dies and Kip was committed to a juvenile facility, where he spends the next four years in rehabilitation. At the age of 13 to 14, Kip is released and moves with his family to a new town, with a new name, to begin a new life.
I feel that this book was a good one due to the way Gail Giles expressed the feelings and emotions going through Kip's life. She allowed Kip to openly explore his feelings, emotions and reactions, she doesn't let him feel sorry for himself or blame others for his predicament. Kip struggles in his teenage life, in search of forgiveness. Giles told the story of Kip in a way that fits into our daily lives. After rehabilitation, he goes to a normal high school,joins the swimming team and has a girlfriend. Kip then moves to Texas and has an ease in life by homeschooling after his friends realised he was a murderer. I highly recommend this book, as it is an easy book to read and keeps you at the edge of your emotions.
A Tough Year Ahead
Hello! After a year filled with regret, I hope to make 2011 a better one for me. I realised that I had to work harder and improve in my English. Last year, i got B3 for literature. This year, i want to hit at least an A2. I've been reading books lately, so hopefully it would help me in my studies! I'm looking forward to a brand new year ahead, with hope and belief that I want to do well. I'll have to stay strong and keep my spirits high (:
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