Short Story Reflection

Hills like White Elephants By: Ernest Hemingway; 12 min.
The Endless Street Car into the night, and the Tinfoil nose By: Jean Shepard; 23 min.
The Return By: Ngugi Wa Thiong'o; 17 min.
Carrie By: Stephen King; 48 min., 36 pages
                                          1 hour 32 min., 69 pages
    
     Last week I read Hills like White Elephants, The Endless Street Car into the night, and the Tinfoil Nose, and The Return. All of these short stories had very different topics. Although, they all had to do with relationships among a man and a women. Reading these stories nothing really stood out to me or intrested me in making a thesis. The short stories were boring and bland.
     To make my thesis I am planning on reading some more short stories until I find something that really pops out to me in the text which will make a good thesis. I want to write about something that I have an intrest in so I can write a well written long essay.

Reading Times

Carrie by: Stephen King- 1 hour 30 min; 62 pages
                                          24 min.; 17 pages
                                          48 min.; 33 pages
                                          total= 162 min.; 112 pages

"Waltz of the Fat Man"

     In the short story "Waltz of the Fat Man" by Alberto Alvaro Rios, the main literary element portrayed is setting. In the psychological aspect of setting the whole story has a sad mood to it. As in the text, "though he tried not to be, in the people's minds he was simply and irritation...he was always alone, always at the same place outside of town, by the river reeds.", you feel the desperation and sadness of the the man.
     As you read the story you feel sorry for the fat man. The short story is depressing because no one likes him because he is fat even though he tries so hard for someone to notice him as a sweet guy. He is very uncomfortable in his own skin which makes him awkward and unsocial.



Reading Times:
Monday- Dry September; 28 min.
Tuesday- And of Clay We Are Created; 23 min.
Wednesday- Harrison Bergeron; 11 min.
Thursday- Waltz of the Fat Man; 18 min.
Friday- Pretty Little Secrets; 31 min.; 22 pages
Sunday- Pretty Little Secrets; 1 hour 15 min.; 57 pages

1st Quarter Evaluation

     This past quarter went by very quickly. Overall I think I was well prepared and focused in English  class for first quarter. One day I did forget my free read book, but besides that I brought my binder, books, and all materials necessary for English class everyday. I was focused in class almost all of the time and waited for your dismissal before I started to pack my things. Throughout  our lectures and discussions I was well prepared by taking notes and listening cooperatively. My computer use was appropriate and need for success in class activities. In group work I need a little help by staying on task and topic. Sometimes I got distracted and talked about other things than English when we had group work. Although I need work in a few areas I think the first quarter was excellent.
     During the second quarter I am going to try and improve a lot of things to make English class better and easier to learn. First off I want to stay more focused on what your teaching rather than my peers around me. I want to make better grades on my blog posts and my wordly wise vocabulary quizzes. Most of all I want to engage in the class discussion and make a better use of group work. I believe second quarter will be awesome!

Reading Times

Monday- To Da-duh; 35 min.
Tuesday- A&P; 15 min.
Wednesday- A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings; 18 min.
Thursday- Pretty Little Secrets; 42 min. 34 pages
Saturday- Pretty Little Secrets; 1 hour, 46 pages

I am writer who...

     I am a writer who takes the easy way out. In my writing throughout my school years I have been a horrible writer. I never really think about things and take them to the next level in writing. I usually have boring ideas and nothing to write about. I usually just write what I'm thinking and it doesn't come out to be good. Expressing my feelings on paper rarely ever happens.
     Being a boring writer is boring. I never am truely confident in any of my writing, however I don't know how to fix this. I don't enjoy writing because I think I am not good at it. I hope in the near future or this year I can get out of this habit and learn how to be a better writer and then I will like it a lot better.

Reading Response Pretty Little Secrets

Thursday: "To Build A Fire", By: Jack London; 30 minutes, 18 pages
Saturday: Pretty Little Secrets, By: Sara Shepard; 1 hour and 16 minutes, 44 pages
Sunday: Pretty Little Secrets, By: Sara Shepard; 2 hours, 72 pages

     In Pretty Little Secrets the setting takes place in more of a rewind to the characters previous years and what happened during this time. It actually takes place in between two other books of this series. The plot is basically the four girls, Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily, as they are tourchered by A and what they did on that winte break which is now uncovered. The protagnist are probably the four girls and the antagonist is A, the mysterious person who is blackmailing them.
     I think what A does to the girls is wrong. Even though they made a huge mistake a couple years back doesn't mean they should suffer they way A makes them suffer. People change and they should not be held against for something they did when they were younger. I hope to keep reading this novel to find out more about the secrets and mystery of A.