2nd Quarter Reflection Blog

Prompts:

-In what area do you think you made your biggest improvements in English Language Arts?

-What is something you have accomplished since the new year that you are proud of?

-What has been the most challenging part of 2nd Quarter for you and what did/can you do to help overcome this?

-What have you learned about the world? 

In English Language Arts I felt I made my biggest improvement in TIQA format. I learned that the introduction to your quote should give some background knowledge prefacing the quote. I also learned how your quote should not be longer than your analysis. If your quote is longer than your analysis than your analysis is most likely missing something. My biggest improvement was in TIQA format because I was able to expand on my knowledge about the "T," the "I," the "Q," and the "A."

Something that I have accomplished in the new year is time management. I say this because I used to do my homework when I came back from practice (9pm) but know I am trying to finish it before I go to practice (7pm). This has really helped me perform better in school and get more work done. This also let me do better while doing my homework because it is easier to do homework while your awake and have it fresh in your mind, than when you are tired and sleepy. Overall, this was a big accomplishment for me because I was able to do better academically.

The most challenging part of second quarter had been keeping up with the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. This was really challenging because reading two chapters a night was hard. Soon I started to enjoy the book and I was wanting to read ahead and have the next day be easier than the last. I was able to get through the book with ease after the first part. The main reason I started getting into the book was due to the group discussions we had as a class and with our partner.

During the second quarter I learned about an attack that happened in Paris. On 11/13/15 ISIS attacked Paris, France. It was casual Friday night for the civilians of Paris until ISIS appeared and was killing random civilians. One hundred and thirty-two people were found dead and over three hundred and fifty were injured. Due to this attack the Unites States are being more mindful of the refugees they let into America. Another outcome is that the United States was able to protect other places from these kind of attacks due to a message ISIS gave. 

TKAM Comparative Analysis Blog 1/19/16

Book: To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Pages: 0 - 232 (End)

Prompts:

1.  What do you think is the most important difference between the written and filmed version? Provide evidence with specific details.

2. How would you prove or disprove that one version of To Kill A Mockingbird is more affective in delivering its message than the other? Be sure to provide specific pieces of evidence to support your opinion.

The most important difference between the written and filmed version is Boo Radley plot (Part 1 of the book) is taken out. When Atticus sees a blanket on Scout he said to thank Boo Radley he also says, "You were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket around you." This quote shows how Boo Radley put a blanket on Scout without Scout realizing because he cared about Scout. This example is a major difference between the filmed version and in the book because it shows how Boo Radley isn't exactly how he was poorly described in the beginning, instead we see he is kind. This is different than in the film because when we see Boo Radley in the film we still assume he is a horrible person but with this quote from the book we can clearly see he is not.

The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, was better at delivering its messages than its film. A message the book delivers better than the film is coming of age. Scout says (in Part 2 of the book), "He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody." This quote shows how Jem was changing as he grew older. This message is not shown very well in the movie because we can't see Jem age because the film makers cut out a big part of the Boo Radley Plot and only show what happened in less than a year.

Another message the book delivers better than the film is courage. In the book after Mrs. Dubose dies Atticus explains to Jem and Scout, "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew." In this quote Atticus is telling the children what courage really means and that Mrs. Dubose died by age at the end, instead of morphine. This message is not in the film because there is only one interaction with Mrs. Dubose. This message was better delivered in the book because it isn't delivered at all in the film.