End of Year Self Reflection

I came into this year capable of writing good paragraphs but lacked the confidence to be great. My junior year English course really gave me the tools and structure to write well; however, tough grading made me reluctant to want to write. This year, beginning with the basketball poems helped me gain an excitement for upcoming assignments because we were writing about topics that interested us. The excitement carried over to writing assignments, leading to less stress and high scores. Making bold claims and supporting them with analysis became second nature and were no longer seen as a chore. Next year in school we will all have to keep this mentality, even when the going gets tough. We all now have the skills necessary to excel in college because we had a fun and amazing year perfecting our writing skills. I feel completely ready for writing in college. I have created my own method of writing essays that helps me produce my best work; I will continue these methods in college. Senior year English is an incredible experience that has fully prepared me for college writing.

The Stranger Paragraph 2

In The Stranger, Camus utilizes vivid imagery to exaggerate the disconnection between Meursault's physical actions and wavering intentions. As the story reaches its climax, Camus steers away from his typical short sentence structure to build the intensity which gives the reader a strong sense of anticipation. "All I could feel were the cymbals of sunlight crashing on my forehead and, indistinctly, the dazzling spear flying up from the knife in front of me" ( Camus 59 ). Meursault's vivid physical descriptions parallel his disregard for his own mental and emotional actions. The "crashing" and "flying" subtly foreshadow the climax. Camus unique ability to create an intense atmosphere contrasts Meursault's relaxed, uncaring, nature. "My whole being tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver" ( Camus 59 ). Rather than initially feeling shock or remorse, Meursault only describes his actions. The seemingly out of body description of his actions conveys Meursault's true disconnection from his emotions. At an important point in the story, Camus appropriately utilizes long, vivid, sentences to hook the reader for part two of the novel.

The Stranger Paragraph 1

In Camus' The Stranger, fragmented sentence structure reflects Meursault's dull and self-centered personality. Amongst the tragic loss of his mother, Meursault merely comments on the devastating event rather than expressing the typical sadness brought on by the death of the one that brought him Iife. "Maman died today. It was hot" (Camus 3). Acknowledging the death of his mother then immediately changing the subject to his own discomfort powerfully portrays Meursault's selfishness. The physical heat causing Meursault to be uncomfortable contrasts his cold-hearted nature. When a few of Maman's close friends are brought in to mourn the death Meursault continuously analyzes them instead of embracing the love they all shared for his mother. "They got up. I was tired" (Camus 12). As the group may have been tired due to the long mourning of Maman, Meursault is only worried about being tired to his lack of sleep. Camus effectively sets Meursault's characteristic early in the novel by the short, yet revealing, sentence structure.

Qtr 3 Reflection

This quarter, even though my grades dropped, I think I accomplished the ability to accept success and failure. I think so many kids focus on the grades so much that when they do not do well. Acceptance when you do not do as well as you planned helps reduce stress. The writing I am most proud of is the SECOND Hoop Dreams essay because I felt a real connection to the message.

Hoop Dreams Essay Snippet

Immediately after asking my older brother, Blair, about the topic he responded, "Wow! Thats a tough question." He proceeded to explain that the answer now is different from what it may have been 2 years ago. "Now these superior young athletes, who have not had the opportunities as more affluent kids, are just saying they want to go to a Stanford or Cal because they have hundreds of cameras in front of their face. The student athletes' true intentions are going pro in their respective sport, not actually for the education. " Blair's statement unveils the possibility that the massive amount of pressure from the media has a major influence on the kids' decisions.

Hoop Dreams Questions

How do you feel about William's reasons for having his baby? Was Author betrayed by St. Joes? How did Arthur and William really get into St. Joes?

Hoop Dreams Question #2

1. Will Arthur's behavior in school have a negative effect on his achievements on the court? 2. Do William and Arthur care about the perseption white students have of them? 3. How does William and Arthur's different behavior play a role in their friendship? 4. Was going to St. Joes really the best decision for BOTH of the boys?