Analyzing a Poem

    The poem that i analyzed was "My Papa's Waltz" by: Theodore Roethke. This poem did not use many techniques, but the ones that he did choose he used them multiple times. The first technique he used was, the use of assonances. An assonance is the repetition of the vowel sounds. One time that he used this was whenever he said...


"With a palm caked hard by dirt"


The use of assonance is to make you realize that the author wants you to see that this line has significance towards the poem. 


   The second technique that i noticed that the author used was enjambments. An enjambement is whenever a line breaks in the middle of a phrase. An example of an enjambment that was used in the poem was...


"My mother's countenance
Could not unfrown itself."


   This shows significance toward the story to make you pause and rethink the sentence that you just read. These main techniques used throughout the poem make me come to the conclusion that when she waltz with her father it was always short and sweet, and it never lasted for more than a couple moments. 

Outside Reading

     This week i finally completed the final book in the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay. I was a little disappointed in how the book was written. It was definitely a good book. Comparing to the first two books, i consider it the worst out of the series. The ending was the part that was the most disappointing. I will not give away the ending but i have to say that it seemed like she was rushed to finish the book, and ended it very quickly. I wish she could have elaborated on how everyone's lives turned out. I am glad i read the book too,i would not take any of it back because it helped me get an overall understanding of how the Hunger Games where, and the feelings that everyone felt.  
   Also this week i just started reading The Summer I Turned Pretty. So far the i have not read very much. I have heard many great things, and a ton of people have recommended reading it. I am very excited to get into the book, and see what all the hype is about. First thing is the book is a little complicated, and it is hard to understand who everyone is and what it happening. One thing that i have noticed is the author jumps back and forth in her timeline. That is the main reason i am so confused. I bet it will become easier to read once i have really gotten into the book. 


Reading Log:
Monday--The Fish--30 minutes
Friday--Mockingjay--120 minutes
Saturday--The Summer I Turned Pretty--30 minutes

Free Write:Fourth Quater

   Fourth quater is finally here. I cannot believe how fast our first year of high school has gone. I am still learning how high school works. It is amazing how different middle school and high school are. I have not decided if middle school prepared me for what was to come in high school. Most of the time you could get an A on a test that you only studied for 30 minutes. If you did that now you might make a C if your lucky. I just wished that they would have gone a little harder on us in 8th grade.
  One thing that i got mixed up on is in middle school whenever third quarter ended everything seemed to be getting easier, and more relaxed. In high school that is not the story. I feel like since third quarter has ended all of the teachers have just pushed us farther. In a weird kind of a way i enjoy it because it means you really have to concentrate on what you are doing and you cannot distract yourself. I just hope i will not slack off of all the work that is to come. 

Mockingjay3

       Throughout this week and this weekend i have continued reading Mockingjay by: Suzanne Collins. As always her writing is amazing, and it still amazes me. This weekend i did some research on how Suzanne Collins got her idea to write the hunger games series. The answer that i found was she was looking through the TV and was watching what was happening in Iraq, and then she was watching a reality show. The reason i was researching this information is my friends and I all went to watch the Hunger Games, and i recommend everyone to go and see the movies.
     Well, back to Mockingjay, i have to admit this has been my least favorite out of all the books. I guess that reason is there is not much action as the other two books have held. The book is still wonderful and all, but all the characters seem to all be losing their minds, and they seem distant. I mean distant as in everyone not being as defined as they used to be. I do not have much more to read, but i cannot wait to finish this series. 


Reading Log:
Wednesday March 21--10 minutes
Friday March 23-- 10 minutes
Saturday March 24--80 minutes
Sunday March 25--60 minutes

Free Write: Taylor Carmouche's Golden Birthday

      On Friday, everyone from ninth grade, and included a couple of people from different schools, gathered at the country club to surprise Taylor for her golden birthday. Throughout this week everyone was trying to keep the secret, but that was the hardest part. One example that i remember was Monty was talking to her and he goes "I am going to have so much dancing on friday." It was hysterical because we all looked at him and was like shhhh! But Taylor did not pick up on the hint! Thank goodness. 
    The party started at 8:30, because that was whenever Taylor was going to arrive. So all of the guests had to arrive at 8:00. Whenever she came around the corner we all jumped up and said SURPRISE! I really think she was surprised, even after all the hints that were dropped. Then, the music started up and we danced the night away, well only until 10:30. We all had so much fun!

MockingJay 2

         Throughout this week i have restarted reading the Mockingjay by: Suzanne Collins. So far the book is spectacular. I can barley put it down. Every page you turn there is a new and more exciting thing that is happening. This is how the first two books were also. I am still amazed at how her words can make you believe that it is truly happening. Also, how you can imagine what is happening in your head, and it seems so real. 
        In the Mockingjay you can tell that everyone is not all there as they used to be. It is kind of interesting to see all of them slowing lose their minds in a way. As always Suzanne Collins writing is flawless. She inspires me to be a better writer each and every time i pick her book. 


Outside Reading:
Wednesday Mar.14--10 minutes 
Friday Mar. 16--10 minutes
Saturday Mar.17--100 minutes
Sunday Mar.18--50 minutes

Free Write: My Birthday

     On Tuesday i will turn 15! I am so excited, i just cannot believe that i am already 15. As everyone has experience time really does fly. On friday my mom, sister, and I all went to New Orleans to go shopping for new clothes this spring. I got four new outfits, and i absolutely adore all of them. We all had a blast, and i wish i could relive that day again! For my birthday i asked for running apparel, a cross necklace, and spring clothes. As you have read i have already gotten new clothes, so cross your fingers that i will get the cross necklace!
    On Tuesday morning i will be able to open one present, and it is normally the most memorable one. The sad part is my dad will not be at home to have my birthday dinner. The good thing is we will all be able to eat my birthday cake on Wednesday, and we will watch our family shows together. Every Wednesday we watch Modern Family, and The Middle. Both shows are really funny. I cannot wait til my birthday is here, and turning 15 also means that i will be able to get my permit! 
    

Mockingjay 1

      I just starting reading the Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I have no had much time to read the book as much as i have wanted. Suzanne Collins books i have to admit are stellar. The sentence structure, and how each paragraph flows into each other is amazing. I have always wonder how does an author gets inspiration to write books, and what makes them think of these ideas? It is amazing how she can produce these images into your mind, whenever you can not see a physical picture. 
    In the first chapters you learn that Katniss is a little unstable. I mean wouldn't you be a little unstable after going through two hunger games and still surviving them? Everyone begins to think it was a bad idea getting her out of the arena instead of Peeta. Even though Katniss does not know it herself, i knew she loved Peeta because she cannot do anything without thinking of him, and wondering if he is still alive or if he has died by the hands of President Snow.  


Outside Reading:
Sunday Mar.11: 150 minutes 

Free Write:Track

   Outdoor Track has officially started! Our first meet was yesterday, I have to admit the weather conditions was terrible. The wind was blowing, it was raining, and it was a damp cold. The events that i ran was the half mile, and the mile. I was not very proud with my results because i decreased my times. I ran my mile in the time of 6:41, and i ran my half mile at 3:10. My half mile time really depressed me because i could run that at my practices.
   What i enjoyed the most was that i got to spend all day with my friends. Even though the weather was terrible we made the best of it. And many of my teammates ran/jump amazing times and heights. I was proud of the result the Episcopal team. 

Nervous Conditions

    This week i have finished the novel, Nervous Conditions. Chapter ten was very interesting because Tambu kept repeating that she did not feel guilty for not writing Nyasha back, or missing any of her family members. Throughout the story you have come to see that Tambu's first priority is school. She has grown to not miss her family and she never wants to go home to the homestead. This transformation is just like Nhamo's. One of or discussions during class was about Nyasha's eating disorder. This is a main point in the story not just because she has an eating disorder, but that in her culture not many people have eating disorders, the reason is because the Englishness and her culture are now clashing. Also, another main point is that she uses a toothbrush to throw up her last meal, and that has a big significance because most people in her culture do not have toothbrushes. Throughout chapter 10 Nyahsa's condition worsens and Maiguru and Babamkuru both become concerned with her eating habits, and Nyasha becomes "skeleton" according to Tambu.
   This book was very interesting indeed. The reason is because i was shown a a new culture through what someone experience thought out her life. I really enjoyed reading this book, and i am glad i was given the the chance to read it.  


I read a 150 minutes of Nervous Conditions:
Sunday Feb. 26
Tuesday Feb. 28
Wednesday Feb.29
Sunday Mar. 4