My New Paper

For my new paper, I've decided to redo my literary analysis. I've decided to work on sentence fluency and conventions. My voice is fine in the paper, along with, my word choice. I worked on my organization with an outline, required in class. Dr. D says that my ideas are great with a strong argument and well supported evidence.

The two aspects of my paper that I choose to edit are sentence fluency and conventions. The reason I chose to work on sentence fluency of my paper because there are quotes that are independent. Quotations are the main issue with sentence fluency. I also chose conventions because a few times, I put the quotations inside the period. Also, I have one comma splice. The conventions I messed up on are major conventions, and that is why I choose to fix them.
Reading Times:
3/17/13=City of Glass; 35 min.; 33 pages
3/18/13=City of Glass; 28 min.; 28 pages
3/21/13=City of Glass; 10 min.; 9 pages
3/21/13=City of Glass; 47 min.; 46 pages
3/23/13=City of Glass; 26 min.; 24 pages
3/24/13=City of Glass; 18 min.; 16 pages

Jane Goodall's Mistake

Plagiarism is frowned upon in the English world. Plagiarism, as the dictionary explains, is "the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own." Jane Goodall is known throughout America, and the world. With such famousness, people know what you do in your life and judge your, in this case, her actions. The fact that she thought it was right to use "the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own," or plagiarism, in a huge source, or primary source, is completely wrong in the world. Many people have lost jobs over such an act. This act, being so serious, should be treated seriously. The fact that it was let off lightly makes this affair worse than it is. Another worsening aspect of this subject is the lack of heart with the apologies. This issue is a huge deal and following through with such act shouldn't be dismissed as if nothing happened. The apologies for doing this act contained no feeling and nothing was sincere.
To fix this situation, I would redo the book. After the reproduction of writing it, there should be strict editing in order for no mistakes to happen with plagiarism. They editors, writes, and anyone involved in the first copy of the book should be fined for what they've done. This act shouldn't go unnoticed and untreated; it should be resolved with discipline. After the fine is paid, they should truly apologize for their actions. Plagiariam is a big issue, and, no matter who you are, it should never go unnoticed. Even with Goodall, there should be no tolerance.
Sources:
New Oxford American Dictionary

Reading Times

Reading Times:
3/9/13=Nervous Conditions work; 56 min; Playlist
3/11/13=Nervous Conditions; 16 min.; 14 pages
3/13/13=Nervous Conditions work; 20 min.; Playlist
3/14/13=Nervous Conditions work; 42 min.; 3 letters to Nyasha
3/15/13=Nervous Conditions work; 17 min.; 1 letter to Nyasha

Why Nervous Conditions should be read next year

Nervous Conditions was a decent book to read. I did feel that the book was slightly irrelevant and didn't have a point to it as a book. Although this is my thoughts, I also thought this book was a fun book to read. It also had some riveting moments. It was a slow read for me, but I am a slow reader. This book, I believe should be in next year's curriculum. This should teach the students of next year about the situation in Africa and how many people have to live. This teaches children the hardship of African people. People in America need to understand how lucky they are with the life they have. This book also shows the lives of African people from one of the lowest view points, a young girl in Africa. It shows a different world, a world that needs to be shown to young children.
Also, the very common dogma that "history repeats itself" explains why we have history class or anniversaries of events. This book shows what it's like in Africa 20-30 years ago. This could happen again today: it could already be happening. With this book you see what it's like to be in Africa: what the situation is in Africa. Reading this book causes awareness of the situation in Africa to the people who read this book. Awareness of situation can cause solutions to the problem of a caste system, malnourishment, women being treated poorly, and education of only men, providing them with jobs, and no jobs for women without education.
Another factor to look at for this book to be read is the projects. The projects produce thought processes of the book and points for the students. The projects and quizzes show that the student is reading the book and doing what they are supposed to do. The projects of this book provides thinking and wondering. The wondering provides discussion.
This book provides discussion because of the opposite society from the book. Teenagers don't understand the society of Africa, but this book provides a glance at it. Ninth graders will have questions on this society and will want to understand what's going on. So, this book provides questions for class discussion, discussion with friends, and discussion outside of school. The logic of students will enhance when this book is read because they will ask questions and get answers. The answers they receive will give them an understanding of the book and, as a larger picture, the society of Africa.

Masks

I feel like we are taking about masks, henceforth, the title. I feel like everywhere you go, you have to behave and act a different way. Like most of you with siblings, and even without, your parent(s) would always tell you when you were younger, or even now, "Behave in the store," or, "Don't fool around." While they say this they know how you and your brother/sister usually act at home, but your parent doesn't want you to act that way in public. Most of us, as I'm sure of, not only have friends from school, but also friends from other places, like, as the prompt says, sports or church or even online. I have two major social groups in my life with many friends, church and school. I also have a different social environment in my home. At school, there are so many people, and with that amount of people, I don't fell that it's necessary to always be the loud one that I am elsewhere. I feel more reserved and quiet at school. I don't always express my opinions or sign up for a lot of things. The people in school expect of me to be quiet and maybe not sign up to do things. They may expect me to be a good student, but not be crazy and open. School is the observing deck of my social life.
The next level of my social life would be my youth group. Some of my closest friends are there. At my youth group/church, I'm very loud (and obnoxious at times). I sign up for sot things they offer, leadership mainly. That's where most of my life is. I usually have a great time and I am allowed to express my opinions freely with people who listen. There, I'm so open and loud there. That level, I consider the ground floor, where I can be open, but also not showing every side of me. Not everything that needs to be revealed. When I come into the youth group room, people expect me to be loud, and maybe annoying, and to lead things when there is offering.
My house though, is my mini sanctuary where I can be totally and completely who I am, although maybe getting in trouble for being too loud and crazy at times. My secrets are with my family who I am open with. I feel like I can be so open to them because they love me no matter what. There is no judgement at my house, which allows me to say what I feel whenever I feel it. This is my basement. The place where it's private and quiet, and although messy or dark or dirty, I can be at peace.

State Powerlifting Meet: a detailed description into my mind

State meet is coming almost here. There s so much to worry about. Also, so much to be good about. What happens if I don't get my weight? Coach B has told us that someone will mess up at the meet. Will it be me? Will I embarrass myself and the team? Relax. I shouldn't be worrying. I'm great at this. I've also improved so much over the year. I now am squatting, recently, 155 pounds. That is crazy. I mean the weight on the bar is huge, immense. Then, dead lift, on of the best lifts I can do. What if Coach B wants me to do 300 pounds? I mean, he wanted me to do 285 at the last meet and even that was an insane weight. 300 pounds will be crazy for me to do. But, I feel confidant I could make it. The thing that's worrying me most, though, is bench press. At regionals I failed it. I couldn't lift 120. Why? It was all about positioning. All I'm saying is that I hope to get 135 pounds for bench press. Can I make it? Remember: pull down AND back, place it on your sternum, breath in and out SLOWLY, back arched, and feet flat on the floor, under you. If I can do those three things correct, I'll make the weight. Hopefully, this meet will be fine. I can do it!!

Reading Times:
3/5/13=Nervous Conditions; 10 min.; 7 pages
3/7/13=Nervous Conditions work; 30 min.; Prezi
3/8/13=Nervous Conditions; 36 min; 30 pages
3/9/13=Nervous Conditions work; 22 min.; 2 reading guides
3/9/13=Nervous Conditions; 27 min.; 23 pages
3/10/13=Nervous Conditions; 28 min.; 21 pages

Evaluation (post #1)

So far, I think I've done a pretty good job with my work. I feel that I could've worked harder on my work earlier because of later turn ins or not reading all the chapters. I will improve by reading what I need to and doing my work throughout the week instead of all at once. I feel like my most favorite mini-project was the reading guides, and my least favorite was the vocab test. I thought the vocab test was going to be something different and it was a bit of hard work. Also, I liked the character bookmark, although it was a bit time consuming. I think this is a better way to do projects than doing one huge project at the end. Think C2 layered project will be easier than the first. I like this process where we choose.

Reading Times:
2/27/13=Nervous Conditions work; 15 min.; 2 reading guides
2/28/13=Nervous Conditions work; 47 min.; character bookmark
2/29/13=Nervous Conditions work; 58 min.; 2 reading guides, vocab test
3/3/13=Nervous Conditions; 13 min.; 9 pages
3/4/13=Nervous Conditions; 10 min.; 6 pages
3/4/13=Nervous Conditions work; 20 min.; Prezi map

Nhamo Reflection (post #2)

In Nervous Conditions, Nhamo dies, as we all know (or at least she mentions it a hundred times). I want to reflect on what impact he had towards other characters, and how he, although he was a jerk, was an excellent student. Nhamo isn't liked by most of the characters, except maybe Jeremiah. One of the first memories of him, by Tambu, was of him beating his sister for not doing what he's told. Another memory is his gloating. Since these memories are all from Tambu, we can clearly tell that she does not like her brother. Neither does her younger sister, Netsai. Netsai, in fact, openly admitted that she doesn't like Nhamo.
Although, by this he is put out to be a jerk, he is a very good student. He loved reading books and always graduates top of his class. He also picked up a totally new language (English) within a few months. Nhamo is the next provider in the family, meaning he has to work hard to provide. I feel that that is a tough goal and weight to carry on your shoulders. I feel that Nhamo takes that goal seriously because he does well in school and is able to succeed. Until he dies, I feel that he pulls his weight and succeeds so that his family can be provided for.