The Mew's View on First Semester
January 4, 2018
Dear Reader,
It has been almost five months since this journey began in August. With time, Mrs. Walls has fed much knowledge and wisdom into me which provided the skills necessary to accomplish the tough tasks of high school English. Included in these skills were reading, writing, thinking in different ways, and speaking.
When we first met, my reading skills were okay, but not up to par. Throughout these past few months, I have been shaped into an excellent analytical reader due to the fantastic literary works provided for me. To be honest, I am not much of a fan when it comes to reading, however, if a good mystery unfolds within a story, I’m hooked! But with that said, when I would read in the past, it would only be for enjoyment purposes. During my time so far with Mrs. Walls, my view on books has changed for the better. She has opened my eyes up to the vast world of interesting works ranging from tiny novellas, such as Ethan Frome, to great novels, such as Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. In the upcoming second semester, I will be striving to continue development of my reading and thinking skills in order to become the best I can be.
I would have considered myself a pretty good writer until our journey together began in August. Before then, I had always received mostly good feedback for my writing, which made my perception on essays pretty easy to do. After all, how can a Laws of Life essayist be bad at writing? At the start of the journey, Mrs. Walls has displayed many aspects of writing that I had not even considered before. Little did I know that this was only the beginning; I continued to learn and use these new literary techniques to develop my best writings yet. When I look back at what I used to produce, I become disappointed at how high my writing ego was. I never realized how much room for improvement I had. I still have a long way to go until I master the skills of writing, and I look forward to making major progress towards that goal this coming semester.
Public speaking has never been my forte. Just the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach. A few months ago, Mrs. Walls required the entire class to create a poetry presentation and present it in front of the class. When this was assigned, my heart sank at the thought of speaking in front of all of those people. Looking back, there were fewer people present that day because of Thanksgiving break, so I should have been less nervous. When the moment finally came, I felt very unprepared, when in reality I had done all that I needed to do. During my recitation, I forgot one line of the poem. I tried to play it off like a dramatic pause, but the moment seemed to stretch on far too long before Mrs. Walls came to the rescue. After I finished, relief showered over me and I was finally able to relax. When I had finally expelled the stress from my body, I realized that the only one probably listening to my presentation was Mrs. Walls; everyone else would have been too worried about their turn, so why did I worry so much? Although I am still not fond of public speaking, doing the poetry recitation helped ease some of my nerves.
Throughout this past semester, I have been able to accomplish many things. Among these include my favorites: TheMewView wikispace and earning the “WOW!” award for one of my journals. I had no idea how much TheMewView would have grown these last few months. While yes, I do have lots of unnecessary content, it has helped develop TheMewView into its iconic self.
My main goal for this semester was to survive Gifted World Literature. I would say that I not only just survived, but I also thrived and conquered many tasks I did not originally think I could do. For this upcoming semester, I need more practice with literary works and writing. All in all, I would not be where I am today without the help of Mrs. Walls. She has helped me tremendously to grow into the English student I am today. I cannot wait to continue improving my English skills over this upcoming semester. I am also excited to see what she has in store for us next!
Sincerely,
The Mew
A Teen or Toddler?
Whether there is a cranky teenager or a whiny toddler in the room, some might ask: “How can one tell the difference between them?” In terms of toddlers, they have no independence; they must remain in the care of their parents constantly. In contrast, teenagers have more freedom and do not rely on their parents as much. While both can be moody, they display their emotions in different ways. Furthermore, teenagers and toddlers have similar aspects such as exhibiting rebellious behavior, but displaying it in their own way. These two groups have many differences, but also share several commonalities.
To begin, toddlers have little to no independence or freedom. Every day, their parents must feed, entertain, and change dirty diapers for them. They also rely on their parents to take them everywhere. During the toddler years, the child has no choice on what they get to do because their parents are constantly dragging them along to run errands. Teenagers, on the other hand, are less dependent on their parents and can get around and do stuff for themselves. Teenagers also have more freedom than toddlers because of their maturity level. As age progresses, so does maturity. In toddlers, the maturity level is often low. Due to this, they are limited on what they can do. Once a teenager has reached a level of maturity that their parents will accept, they can stay out late with friends and even drive golf carts by themselves. At this point in their life, teenagers do not have to rely solely on their parents, while toddlers do.
While both toddlers and teenagers can be moody, they display their emotions in different ways. Everybody gets moody, but it is most noticeable in toddlers and teenagers. Taking a pacifier from a toddler is like taking a cell phone away from a teenager. They will both become angry and begin to express that anger towards others. In a toddler, this anger is almost always displayed by crying, whining, and throwing stuff. It can be difficult for a parent to calm them down, but a common strategy is to use a distraction to help the toddler refocus. In a teenager, however, once their phone is gone, they will yell, storm off, and slam their bedroom door. After that, they might even give the parent the “silent treatment.” While toddlers and teenagers handle their emotions differently, they are both difficult to manage.
Finally, teenagers and toddlers both exhibit rebellious behavior. When telling a toddler not to do something, they will always try to test authority. For example, when a parent is cooking dinner, they might tell their toddler not to touch the stove because it is hot. Even though this is said, the toddler will test the parent and touch the hot stove anyway. Because the toddler did not listen to their parent, they burn their hand. Only then, when pain is introduced, will they listen to the parent’s orders. When a teenager is told they cannot do something, they usually will do it out of spite for their parents. An example of this is if a parent tells a teenager that he/she cannot drive the golf cart, but the teenager drives anyway. Instead of learning from their mistakes, they continue to rebel and get into worse trouble.
In conclusion, toddlers and teenagers have many differences, but also share several commonalities. While a toddler may have less freedom, they learn quickly and become obedient. On the other hand, teenagers have more freedom, but are more rebellious and cause much more trouble. Whether there is a cranky teenager or a whiny toddler in the room, there are always ways to tell them apart. Toddlers and teenagers are similar in many ways, but also have distinct differences such as their actions, emotions, and how they handle day-to-day situations.
Reflecting Across Past Works
Reflection
Rereading this journal, I do believe I presented a fantastic essay. While it may not be necessary, I feel as though the introduction paragraph needs tweaking, but my future writings will present similar quality to this one. One flaw of receiving this award for the essay raised my confidence level for future essay submissions, which lowered my quality of work. I will begin improving the quality of my work in the upcoming semester.
Where I Stand
Reflection
Rereading this journal, I do believe I presented a fantastic essay. While it may not be necessary, I feel as though the introduction paragraph needs tweaking, but my future writings will present similar quality to this one. One flaw of receiving this award for the essay raised my confidence level for future essay submissions, which lowered my quality of work. I will begin improving the quality of my work in the upcoming semester.
I am a miracle child who lives every day to its fullest potential. Every day presents new obstacles, but I am an accomplisher who will never give up. Not only am I reliable, but I am also a great friend to others around me. If anyone ever needs help, I always try to be there for them any way I can be. Being an active member of marching band, I am one of sixteen saxophone players. Members of my family would describe me as a stubborn person since I cannot easily be swayed in an argument, however, they all are extremely caring.
I like to play the saxophone and am a member of The Spirit of McIntosh Marching Band. When I am not playing my saxophone, I like hanging out with my friends. I like driving the golf cart everywhere in Peachtree City, especially to school. It is very convenient not to have to depend on someone else to take you home every day. I like to watch television and to go on walks around the golf cart paths. I like listening to all sorts of music, but not “heavy metal.” I like to gotoRacetrac togeticeesI am tired of hearing about high school drama. Everyone knows most of it is made up anyway. Even if it is not made up, whoever is telling the story is twisting it so that it sounds better coming from them than anyone else. It might as well be fake. Plus, who cares if Sally went to Sprouts to get some coconut water? It is just a drink, not a story. I am also tired of waking up early
I believe that anything is possible. I have a condition called arthrogryposis, which stiffens my joints. This causes me to find different ways to do things. An example of this is walking. I was never supposed to walk or run, but after many months of physical therapy, I was able to. Not only was this a miracle from God, but it also proves that nothing is impossible. Audrey Hepburn once said,“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible!’” With this kind of mindset, I believe that you can conquer any obstacle that life throws at you. Whether it is figuring out how to fly or walk, it is all possible.
My favorite flavor is “Piña Colada.” I also like to go to Lake Peachtree with my friends and chat.forzeroperiod. I know I had the choice not to take zero period, but it was necessary for my schedule to work.
I do not care for seafood. The smell makes me gag and the sight of it disgusts me. Even if I plug my nose, I still cannot swallow it. I do not care for school even though people always say that school is something to be thankful for. School is important, yes, but it doesn't appeal to me. I like meeting people at school and becoming friends with them. I am even a relatively good student overall. I do not care for “heavy metal.”. It is always too loud and in your face and you can barely understand what the singers are singing about. I am very thankful I did not grow up in a time when “heavy metal” was popular. I do not care for political boundaries. I think that people should vote based on the facts, not which party they reside with.
I am in favor of schools cooking real food for lunch instead of store-bought, frozen chicken nuggets. People keep wanting to improve the healthiness of school lunch, but having all of this frozen junk is not helping at all. Schools need to use the cafeterias that they were provided to cook food, not heat it up in an oversized microwave. I am in favor of taking school field trips to the beach. Every student and teacher needs time to relax by the ocean and enjoy the Sun. These field trips would take a lot of stress off of teachers and students which, in turn, would help students do better in school. I am also strongly in favor of the Lord. He has done so much for me and I love Him with my all. Without Him, I would not be where I am today. This is where I stand.
The Maker: Thematic Analysis
In the video “The Maker,” Zealous Creative explains how the bunnies were made. In this video, the male bunny must figure out how to make the female bunny before the hourglass runs out. Throughout “The Maker,” the male bunny tries many times to bring the female to life, but nothing seemed to work. After many attempts, music was the only thing that could bring her to life. Zealous Creative uses music to symbolizes a life-giving trait. Not only is the music what brings her to life, it also is a part of her very existence. Music tends to bring joy to its listeners, just as in “The Maker.” Music is constantly seen throughout the video in different forms representing the essence of life.
According to “The Maker,” music is a life-giving trait. After multiple failed attempts to bring the female bunny to life, the male succeeds by playing a certain song. So often in life, music metaphorically brings the life back into people. Throughout life, music is very impressionable. It can be used mold emotions, keep focus, and bring out the creativity in an individual. In the video, the music brought joy to the male and life to the female. Just as music brings life, it also brings death. At the end of the video, the music stops playing and the male bunny disappears into nothingness. The end of the song marked the end of the male bunny’s life. In life, the end of a song marks the end of an event. While Zealous Creative uses music to represent a life-giving trait, it also uses it to represent the death of the male bunny.
In continuation, “The Maker” displays music on the bunnies themselves. On their forehead, the bunnies each have the mark of a violin. From a violin, music is made. By having the mark of a violin on their heads, it symbolizes the importance of music in the bunnies’ lives. As discussed earlier, music brings life. Because the bunnies create music, they, therefore, create life. Furthermore, music surrounds the bunnies in their workshop. Each scene from “The Maker” has multiple forms of music. During the creation scenes, music is always playing in the background. It is also displayed in their written language. The symbols used in their alphabet are a derivative of a musical symbol. This language is presented in the book, on the shelves, and on the sheet music. Zealous Creative expresses the fact that music is the very essence of life by adding music of different forms into almost every scene of the video.
In conclusion, music represents the essence of life. In “The Maker,” music brings joy and life to the two bunnies. This is evident when the male bunny tried to show her a movie, read to her, and teach her the language of music. It was not until she heard the music that she came alive. It is also a part of their bodies and represented all around them in different forms. Without music, the bunnies would not be able to create or live; the cycle of creation would not continue. Music keeps life in balance and when the song ends, so will the bunnies.
Reflection
While I felt that this was a great essay once I turned this in, rereading it reveals to me sections that are too wordy. I seem to be trying too hard to get a "WOW" award. I need to focus more on the topic at hand and not just "fluff." This essay gave me many thoughts on what I could have written about, and this caused my ideas to jumble together. I did like the idea of a thematic analysis of a video.
Poetic Analysis: One's Self I Sing
Reflection
Rereading this journal, I do believe I presented a fantastic essay. While it may not be necessary, I feel as though the introduction paragraph needs tweaking, but my future writings will present similar quality to this one. One flaw of receiving this award for the essay raised my confidence level for future essay submissions, which lowered my quality of work. I will begin improving the quality of my work in the upcoming semester.
In “One’s-Self I Sing,” Walt Whitman uses anaphora, persona, and diction to develop the concept that believing that oneself is nothing but a minority is not how life should be lived. Whitman uses his poem to indicate the life of one such person and then adds how he thinks the person should be. People may think that they are nothing special, but Walt Whitman believes differently.
At the beginning of his poem, Whitman writes “One’s-Self I sing, a simple separate person, / Yet utter the word Democratic, the word En-Masse” (1-2). Being a democratic person means to be relating to a crowd. By associating oneself as a crowd, they do not individualize their existence, which leads to the thought that they are not important. In similar, “En-Masse” means as a whole. By uses two words that are similar in meaning, Whitman makes known that this idea of being in a bigger whole is important. Whitman uses anaphora in the second line to express the idea of a person that claims to be an individual, yet all that they want to do is to not be noticed. When one is just a part of a crowd, they see themselves as indifferent and analogous to others. Furthermore, Whitman writes about external views: “Not physiognomy alone nor brain alone is worthy [...]” (4). Physiognomy is the act of discovering something from an outside perspective. While Mr. Whitman makes the argument that people should not view themselves as a part of a crowd, he also argues that it takes a balance of both looking from the outside in and considering things from within. Whitman believes that one cannot succeed by solely standing out from the crowd; one must also consider themselves as an individual from the inside. When balanced correctly, these concepts develop into Whitman’s ideal person: “The Female equally with the Male I sing. / Of life immense in passion, pulse, and power, / Cheerful, for freest action form'd under the laws divine” (6-8). The ideal person is one with equal status of others around them, while also being a person full of extreme “passion, pulse, and power.” Power leads to great influence over others, which in turn could allow them to see themselves just as the original person did. Passion drives people everyday in life. When passion is in abundance, things thought to be impossible now have the driving force to be true. Once all things are applied, the “laws divine” seem to fall into place to favor one’s self. With god-like characteristics, Whitman strongly believes that this person is the ideal.
Walt Whitman uses the power of diction, persona, and anaphora to develop an image of the ideal person according to him. In everyday life, people see themselves as no different than others with no special aspects. Walt encourages these people to stand out and make change occur in their lives. With well-balanced actions, the same person that feels autonomous can become the role model for others to follow.
Ethan Frome:
The Wixipage
Due to the amount of information on the "Ethan Frome" Wixipage, please click the button to view.
Reflection
This was one of my final works of the semester. I am proud of this wikipage due to the amount of visually attracting elements that appear as well as the content displayed. One of my favorite parts that I will continue to use on future wixipages was the different page backgrounds. I feel as though I incorporated acceptable content and materials that allowed this page to be its best.