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Poetry Out Loud: My Poem

     The poem that I have chosen to be my Poetry Out Loud poem is called: "A Blessing" by James Wright. The first time I had read it, it sounded beautiful. I flowed very well and it made me think about what kind of a character the author is trying to portray and what deeper meaning he was trying to reach with this piece. It reminded me of the time when we went on a road trip and stopped near the edge of a cliff that was partly fenced off. It was very quiet and the scenery was mesmerizing. It gave me the sudden feeling of joy, but I had wished that there was no fencing because I felt that it was blocking what could have been an even more fantastic view. I feel like the author of this poem is enjoying the time he is having with these two indian ponies, and from his last line: "break into blossom", it shows that he is feeling so happy and exhilerated that he just might break into a beautiful object.
     I have been practicing for this recitation, and came to the conclusion that no one can recite this poem the way that the author imagined it to be recited, but I can try my hardest. After watching others perform their poems on the video clips that were provided, I feel that they all said their poems in different tones that they thought fit the poem. For my poem, I am going to try to remain calm and say it in almost a somber tone of voice, up until what I think is the climax of the poem. Then I will try to alter my tone so that it contains more enthusiasm.
     Imagery is a huge part of the poem I plan to recite. This has really helped me to memorize it because I picture a mini story in my head and then when I recite the poem it is similar to me telling a the story of a man and his friend stopping along the freeway and keeping these two lonely ponies company. Then in a sudden burst of joy or realization, he thinks that he is so incredibly happy that he will burst into blossom.

Urgent! EC Blog

     After completing the five part paragraph on To Kill a Mockingbird, I realized that I needed to work on choosing the right concrete diction to support in the commentary. I kept this in mind while writing this five part paragraph on "Shoulders" by Naomi Shahib Nye and chose my concrete diction very carefully. I read the peice through multiple times, understood what I was to support and kept my opinions open. I finally came to the conclution of which concrete details to use and was satisfied. They supported my main point, and I had many different options on what to support. This led my commentary to be fairly succesful as well. Therefore reading my own critique on the first paragraph really helped me to develop my second one.

Poetry Out Loud Website Activity

Part 1: Website Cruising

1. A Blessing, by James Wright
2. Under the Vulture Tree, by David Bottoms
3. When You Are Old, by William Butler Yeats
4. Fairy-Tale Logic, by A.E. Stalling and Boy and Egg by Naomi Shihab Nye

Part 2: What do you think?

• Of the poems above, one of my favorites is "A Blessing" by James Wright because it is made up of mostly imagery that gets the reader and the listener to imagine the scene of the poem.
• "Under the Vulture Tree" by William Butler Yeats is not quite my style of poetry, it has a very serious tone to it and because it was written in the 1940's, it is a little bit outdated.
• If I had to choose one of the poems above, I would choose "A Blessing" by James Wright.
• I don't have a real connection to this poem, but I do feel like when I'm reading it, it feels as if I'm walking in a dream with a farm, animals, and a soft breeze on my face.

Part 3: Scoring Criteria

• I think that "Dramatic Appropriateness" would most likely be the easiest for me to gain points on because I understand that acting out the poem would not be the best way to present the poem, but instead adding subtle hand gestures that fit with the poem's content would be a better approach.
• "Voice and Articulation" would probably be the part where I would score less points because I tend to speed up (therefore does not keep an appropriate pace) what I am saying if I get nervous. I also don't always realize how loud or soft I am speaking in front of a group because I am so concentrated on not forgetting the content.

Part 4: Videos

1. The first video that I watched was "Bilingual/Bilingue" by Riana P. Esphallat. I thought that she recited the poem very well, she put emphasis on the right places and it went very smoothly. The accuracy was also something that was very well portrayed because there were some words in a different language that she said with the country's accent.
2. Another video that I enjoyed watching was "The Man-Moth" by Kareem Sayegh. From the way that he was reciting it I could tell that it was very well practiced. There were noticeable climax's that he portrayed by the tone and emphasis he was putting at certain parts of the poem. The movements he made with his hands went with the poem's content and the whole thing flowed. Even though there was a tiny mistake in one of his words, he bounced back and did not seemed fazed about it.

Part 5: Summary
     Poetry Out Loud seems like a good experience for everyone to come out of their shell when it comes to speaking in front of a crowd. I also think it would be fun to listen to how different people took different approaches to memorizing and presenting the poems. The competition seems a bit nerve racking and competitive from my point of view right now, but I will try my best and hopefully do well, though I do not expect to win. I am planning to memorize "A Blessing" by James Wright because it was very well written in a unique writing style that I like. The website was very informative, I enjoyed having the sample speaker poets that gave me a general idea of the expectations. I feel more excited about this project after doing this blog post because it gave me an idea of how the competition is going to be.

Thanksgiving Break Extra Credit

     Annotating seemed pointless. Just a few sticky notes with literary vocabulary. How was this going to help me? At first it seemed like a drag. I didn't feel the need to have to stop reading to write something down. Then it started to be something that I did without thinking. I would automatically have a pad of yellow sticky notes and a sharpened pencil sitting next to me while I read. Tone, diction, characterization, setting, word choice, and imagery would pop into my head and I would jot it down. After analysing an entire book, it gave me the well needed practice about how to recognise different types of tools that authors use in their writing to make it more appealing to the reader. In turn, this has allowed me to think about how I could apply different literary devices to my own writing to improve it. What seemed like a pointless, boring assignment at first, has actually helped me the most.

Something Interesting

     The question had come up during discussion of The Lobster. I was sitting outside of the circle listening to what others had to say when it came up. It was, "Why did the author use Lobsters as the main animal and not some other animal?" My first thought was that it was probably some random animal that the author liked. Then I remembered that nothing in literature is random. That everything was picked for a reason. Therefore, this author had picked the lobster as his character for a reason.
     As we got deeper into the discussion, some people suggested that lobsters reminded the author of humans. This made sense, at the end of the poem the author compares the world boiling from the original boiling pot of water for the lobster. The author had also compared the physical characteristics of the lobster to human characteristics such as a bruise. The lobster is also most of the time portrayed as a very violent creature with their claws and such, but with them "pegged shut" all they are able to do is "waver their claws slowly and vaguely". They have dreams to go back home, but those are also taken away when they are "dropped" into a pot of boiling water. Humans can also be vulnerable when we have our main line of defence, and our dreams taken away, just as the lobster does. But there is still part of the question that is left unanswered, and it may be that only the author can answer it completely.

5 Part Paragraphs

     During the readings for the 5 part paragraphs, there was a huge distinction between the paragraphs that were organized, unique, clear, and had everything that the format had required, verses the paragraphs that lacked those things. Without even one of the items from the checklist, the reader would tell that it did not flow as well as it could have. For example, if a paragraph did not contain a transition from one concrete detail to another, that specific part would sound choppy and unfinished. Embedding concrete details (or in this case, quotes) was very important to whether it came off sounding clear or not. If there was no introduction to the quote, the reader (or listener) would not know when the quote had started, it would sound sloppy and not "tucked in"
     Personally, I believe that I need to work on choosing my concrete details so that they fit into the point that I am attempting to make. If the concrete details are not fitting for the topic, the main point would not necessarily come off as clear to the reader. To help with choosing the concrete details, I would have to look through the novel or topic we are working with having a more open mindset.

Formal vs. Informal Diction

     This Wednesday morning was very pleasant if I do say so myself. The television had broadcasted adequate weather and my intuition was feeling high. Up to the point that I recalled that the day was Wednesday. Wednesday was the day in which metal appliances would be positioned on my teeth. It is not unheard of that peers would often fuss about the discomfort that these appliances would cause. This fact that made my day decline drastically. I was to be acquiring braces. These metal pieces would result in two entire years of agony and distress, but I would have to learn to compromise.
    Stepping into the building in which I would receive such torture, I instantly began to posses a feeling of dread. I ran my tougue over my horribly angled teeth and thought to myself that this might very possibly be the last time I will ever be complete this action with such an ease. The process would be quick, around a hour or so, and before I thought possible, I ran by tougue over my teeth again. This time, they were bound by many metal pieces held by wire. The pain was not at all as expected. It was much more desiarable. These metal appliances were to be cemented onto my teeth for a few years, and that is that.

Writing About Writing

     I like writing. Just not with barriers. Writing with barriers frustrates me because of how limited your ideas have to be. I enjoy it when I have something to start off of, like a spark of inspiration, not a specific format you have to follow. Having barriers with writing is like having to fence in a bull. You try and try, but the bull just keeps trying to ram into the fencing to get out.
     With that said, the best piece (or pieces) of writing I think I have ever done is in my journal. I keep a journal every summer. It's not just a place where I practice writing, but a place where I can vent about an event in my life without stop. And no one there to grade my writing with a big fat letter. My journal is my journal and no one else's. I write about the things that I'm interested in, not what other people are interested in.
     I am proud of all the journals that I have kept because they reflect my true self. And over the journals, I see just how much I have grown as a person and as a writer. My first journal was in the 1st grade. It was written in a princess pink notebook with diary written on the cover and a tiny lock on the side. I wrote in it with sloppy red crayon and a dull pencil. My first page had an introduction about myself and the reason why I was writing in the journal. The reason was that it was an assignment from girl scouts that had attempted to teach us how to vent our feelings on the page and not by our attitudes. After a few years and more then a few journals, I found that it does help me vent. In a way it feels like a friend always standing by you... in the form of a notebook.

Outside Reading

     When we were told to select a outside reading book, The Bean Trees by Barbra Kingsolver definitely stood out to me. I had wanted to read this book ever since middle school but had never gotten the chance. Now that we have to read it for an assignment, it seemed like a even more appealing idea. When I finally got myself settled and had the book at hand I read the first chapter and had already put down seven sticky notes with literary annotations on them. I guess this had to do with the fact that the novel is so full of literary strategies that make it the wonderful book it is. Not only this, but The Bean Trees also has an extremely page-turning plot outline, that makes you want to keep on reading.
     The Bean Trees compared to other, more modern realistic fiction books that I have read seems much deeper in its development of theme and other literary devices. Specifically comparing this novel with To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, both have many meaningful themes and have all used literary devices that are helpful to the development of the novel. Also, both novels have the tight ideas of family and friends. In The Bean Trees the idea is more focused on friends, and in To Kill a Mockingbird the ideas are more focused on family.
     I haven't gotten loads of time to think about what I plan to do for the creative project, but from what I see so far in the plot, the theme is finding home and a place that you feel comfortable in. During the course of the plot so far, the main character has gone from one home to another trying to find a place where she feels comfortable to settle down. An idea for my project could be to draw a road map to home. While doing this, I would highlight the main theme (the literary element that will be included in my project) and develop a storyline with a map of Taylor's life. Of course this is just a temporary idea, as I read on, I might come up with a sudden burst of light and have a brilliant idea.

Extending the Theme

   The author of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, tries to tie elements that might happen in the reader's life into the plot so they can connect their own life with that of the story. In my case, this story reminded me about the summer days in elementary school when I didn't have a worry in the world except what I wanted to play the next day. In this novel Scout, Jem, and Dill had a similar situation in the summers when they played together and imagined stories of their neighborhood gossip.
   To Kill a Mockingbird was a very inspiring novel that I will remember forever because it had its own special meaning to me. For example, it taught me many life lessons that had already heard of but never really thought about. This story made me think about the lessons such as how not to judge a person by first impression and  that racism is a horrible idea.
   Overall this novel has given me a different perspective in life and also has reminded me of the days of childhood. These are the two components that a fantastic book is required to have and To Kill a Mockingbird is a perfect example of it.

My Boo Radley

     Everyone has had or will have a Boo Radley sometime in their life. Whether it is a meaningful person or a object such as a blanket that they have had all their life. This object or person would help them through tough times or many happy times.
     My Boo Radley has been in my life from ever since I picked up Goodnight Moon to five minutes ago when I finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and in the forever in the future. I have many Boo Radley's and they are all sitting on the shelves in libraries and on my desk. My Boo Radley's are books. They measure how much I have grown. Not only through many phases and tough times, but also educationally.
I remember in Kindergarten when I thought the Magic Treehouse Series were the longest books EVER and I would hold it with pride so everyone would know that I read big kid books. Or maybe in fifth grade when I would try to read books super fast and take the AR tests and ace them every time. Whenever I would get frustrated with something that was going on in my life, I would sit in my "reading corner" and open a book so that I could delve into someone else's troubles for hours at a time. I always look forward to Saturday mornings being propped up by a million pillows and holding a book in hand. Those were the moments that I cherished and will cherish forever.
     I was never scared of books, I always loved them, unlike Scout's experience with Boo, when she was terrified of him until she saw the true side of him. I always knew that books were a wonderful creation that enabled people to be inspired and believe in impossible things. And to me, it brought me through my childhood and will continue to help me through life. Reading is incredibly meaningful and important to my life. And that is my Boo Radley.

Introduction to My English Blog

     English is one of my favorite subjects and probably always will be. It involves reading, sharing ideas, grammar, writing, and loving your language.
I see myself as an English student that enjoys being immersed into the world of reading. I believe that behind every cover has an amazing story just waiting to be discovered and all you have to do is open that book and be taken away. More challenging is the art of putting your thoughts onto paper. This takes the skill of organizing and planning, something that I struggle with.
     Another thing that has to do with putting thoughts onto paper is doing it correctly. Grammar. We've been taught it since we knew how to talk, but we are still ever learning this trait. That is the reason that we need to learn three years of English in high school.
     Excelling in English will help us communicate what we feel into words and read to learn. The meaning of English class is to help us to these things, and later, these things will help us. For example, at a job interview, if one candidate knows how to tell the interviewer about his experience and one does not, chances are the candidate that knows how to communicate this will get the job.
     I believe that English is important to our everyday lives and we should all respect it and know how to use it, and the purpose of English class is to support this and help this knowledge grow.