English/Literature
English/Literature Fall-Winter 2022
Although this part of my English/Literature journey was short, it introduced me to the possibilities of writing and creative expression.
Show Me A Sign
Show Me A Sign was a book I had read earlier in the year. I greatly enjoyed this read because it was perfectly balanced with action and plot. Another thing that made this book really special for me was that the author- Ann Claire LeZotte, is a deaf librarian and writer, so I think she made a very powerful statement by writing a book about a deaf girl. Originally, I was tasked with making a book poster, but as I began writing the script for it, I spiraled into my confusing, rhyming state of mind. The "book poster" turned out to be a two-page poem by the end of the day, which I mindlessly memorized by the end of the week. Nevertheless, I ended up creating a book poster in the end, but I included my rhyme.
Crete Creation Myth
As part of my PBL project for Greece, I wrote a myth on the creation of the island of Crete. I later made a video with images and narration telling the story. You can find this video in the PBL section.
Travel Ad Poster
This poster was a project summarizing my first lecture- a book called The Giver, by Lois Lowry. The poster was supposed to be written from the perspective of a businessman, advertising the community in The Giver. I found this book intriguing and very hard to put down, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested. However, I also found it interesting that this book has been banned in many schools due to some harsher topics covered in it. Personally, I think it is important for children to understand these topics and I think Lois Lowry did a very good job subtly incorporating them into her book.
English/Literature Arts - Spring 2023
I transitioned into a new part of my English/Literature education this year hoping to deepen my writing abilities. However, I soon realized I would be doing much more than that. My teacher introduced me to the world of English and Literature with core units, presenting the fundamentals of English and Literature, as well as the exciting and fun ways to play around with these forms of art. I often found myself engulfed in my assigned books, which included: brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling, The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, as well as an 'after-school read' called Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder. Apart from book-worming, I also found myself daydreaming about the various types of poetry I was learning about, or wide awake in bed, counting the syllables for a haiku I just conjured. To say the least, my English and Literature education, starting in Spring, was, to say the least, an educational journey through the world of books and writing.
Literature - Assigned Books
Brown Girl Dreaming Notes
BGD stands for brown girl dreaming - my first assigned book in English class, apart from 'The Giver' this year. It connected with my writing because it too, was written in verse. I read it in sections and have enjoyed reading every poem and turning each page. Above is an ongoing document with notes on every chapter.
Canyon's Edge Notes
Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling was my second book selection for this year's Literature curriculum. I enjoyed the tension and pressure of this book, as well as how it skillfully showed strong emotions and placed the reader in the character's shoes. Above are some notes I took after reading halfway through the book.
The Graveyard Book Notes
The Graveyard Book was my final assigned reading of choice this year. I enjoyed reading Neil Geiman's twist on The Jungle Book in a spooky graveyard setting. The contrasts between life and death as well as how the author shone many 'scary' and 'monstrous' stereotypes in a different light were the things that pulled me into this book the most. Above are my short notes on The Graveyard Book.
Ongoing Vocabulary Spreadsheet
Vocabulary was a very important part of my English and literature studies this year. Vocabulary is not only important for discovering new words and deepening your vocabulary, but also for knowing what to say in certain situations and how to sound more eloquent. Above is a Vocabulary spreadsheet I filled out throughout the year, but especially when coming across new words in my assigned books.
English - Writing
Ongoing Poetry Document
This document contains poetry - mainly from the past two weeks, but also a few pieces from earlier. It includes 5 Free Verse Poems ( those with no rules), and one rhyme. My teacher has really opened my eyes to poetry during the last two weeks, and what used to seem impossible, became second nature. I used to only write rhymes because they simply stuck in my head and were easy. But now, I realize that Free Verse Poetry is even easier! This document is one I will always remember and add to.
The Impact Of Change Essay
The Impact Of Change was my first essay this year and one of my first more formal essays. It was based on a quote from the book, Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson, which I had read earlier in the year. This essay originated from the quote '“I was lucky enough to be born during a time when the world was changing like crazy—and that I was part of that change.” My essay illustrates the connections and contrasts between my life and Jacqueline's.
Is It A Civilization?
Is It A Civilization? was an essay I wrote based on The Last Cuentista, arguing that the 'civilization' in the book could not be defined as a civilization for various reasons. I really enjoyed writing this short essay and learning about the elements of civilization.