A response to my partner's blog

1. The strengths of my partner's essay are definitely the suspense of the final race, the devastation his injuries caused him (his expression of this), and his use of a timeline for the story's events.
2. Improvements that my partner could make are the grammar structure of some sentences, and the use of description of the environment.
3. I enjoyed the personification of his times, for he was racing against them when he had no other rivals.
4. The part which stood out as the catchiest was his race where he got in 3rd against Jack and Albert. I felt that it was the most intense part which kept me reading to see what would happen.

A personal review of my narrative

1)      My story involves the reader in the story by my attempt to describe my surroundings as I perceived them, trying to put them into my position and the chaos that surrounded me.

2)      In my story, I describe everything as I perceived them, emphasizing the chaos surrounding me. Although, there are parts where I am telling, but could be showing

3)      My story has the things which I saw and heard, but not much of the other senses.

4)      There is no real conflict with my story, other than maybe my initial perceptions and inhibitions affecting my initial viewpoint, which is discussed relatively little.

5)      The story is told from my point of view the whole time.

6)      The importance of the event is discussed in the final paragraph.

7)      My story does in fact state a flat “moral” of the story, which is reinforced by the events in the story itself.

A response to Helen Keller's Narrative

1. What did you think of this narrative?
     I thought that her narrative was rather interesting.
2. What was most interesting or engaging about it?
     The thing that was most interesting and engaging about her narrative was that it showed the spirit of discovery, and how revalations like those can affect an individual.
3. What surprised you?
     I was surprised by Helen Keller's superb ability to sense her surroundings, despite the lack of sight and hearing.
4. Did this change your outlook on Helen Keller at all? Why or why not?
     I now believe Helen Keller to be a much more literate and educated person than I previously thought.
5. Copy and paste three examples of vivid detail and imagery that helped enhance the story
    -In the still, dark world in which I lived there was no strong sentiment or tenderness.
    -Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten--a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me.
    -The afternoon sun penetrated the mass of honeysuckle that covered the porch, and fell on my upturned face.
6. How can a narrative be more engaging than something like a biography? Why is it important to get someone's personal perspective?
     I do believe that a narrative can be more engaging than something like a biography, due to the personal input and thought that is put into the writing. It is important to get someone's personal perspective because it adds feeling to the story that can be perceived by the reader, further putting them into the moment, and almost giving them the same sense of the surroundings that the writer experienced.
7. Make a bulleted lists of some things you could write a narrative about
    -The day at the Real World Design Challenge when I designed my own wing mathematically
    -When I got my wisdom teeth removed
    -My first day in high school
    -Discovering the world that is Latin Convention

Where I'm From

I am from the front yard,

With the dirt under the tree

Where grass never seems to grow

I am from going to friends houses

where the doors were never closed

And I was always welcome to play

I am from algebra and geometry

From using ASA and SSA

And memorizing all the As

Just to prove two triangles the same

From calculators and data tables

From late day math classes,

Wishing that the day would just be over

I am from imaginary worlds

Of dragons and vampires

Whole worlds in my yard

With endless possibilities for fun

For adventure in the land

For wars between individuals

For imagination run rampant

I am from recess

And running to the field screaming

Thrilled to play soccer

From running around constantly

And sighing when the whistles blew

Signaling the end of fun.

I am from a world

Not the one around us,

But one invented

Survey

1. I generally do not enjoy english classes, for I do not personally like to write. Classes such as great books are far more enjoyable to me than writing classes in general.
2. The writings that I enjoy to write are: non-fiction, short stories, letters, directions, science fiction, and other things.
3. I personally I enjoy to read: non-fiction, science fiction, short stories, newspapers, magazines, interviews, and other things.
4. An assignment that I have done in the past that I despise is all of speech class. I do not enjoy public speaking at all. Another is a 10 page research paper on the arctic that I was required to type last year, for it was far too tedious, and took quite a while.
5. D) I personally enjoy reading, and if I had more free time, I would read more.
6. I do not enjoy classroom discussions, for it requires the input of thought from the group, which is generally not possible due to some individuals in the group having no input. I do enjoy discussions when all individuals have an input into the group.
7. When in a classroom discussion, I do a combination of silently listen and contribute when it is required of me.
8. Outside of the school day, I have In The Know, Latin Club (sort of), volleyball, and AP Chemistry homework.
9. Over the weekend, I had a discussion with the marines, who are still trying to convince me to join them. I am adamently against it, but they keep coming back. It started when they mailed me something saying I would get free dogtags if I filled out a card and mailed it back, and lets just say I wanted some free stuff.
10. I generally have little to no input into a classroom discussion unless provoked to provide input.
11. I have no questions right now about the class.