Monday, October 29, 2012

Patriots Pen Essay

Author's Note: This is my patriots pen essay. I didn't try my hardest, so don't take this essay too seriously. Don't worry, I didn't submit it. 


 Appreciation. The definition of appreciation is thankful recognition. We should be grateful that our founding fathers started our country. Although they made some mistakes, they started off outstanding. If we didn't have our founding fathers, our country wouldn't be the same as it is present day. To the founding fathers of our country, I would like to say thank you. 
Saying thank you to our fathers is important. The founding fathers of America made our constitution well, with some things that have changed now. One thing that hasn't changed since our founding fathers signed that piece of paper was freedom. Freedom of anything. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. When America was first found, Europeans weren't allowed to have freedom of religion. They had to believe in what their family believed in or how their lifestyle was. This was one of the main reasons why people came to America.
Another reason why people wanted to settle in America was because there were more job opportunities when America was first found. Since America was a new country, there were a ton of job opportunities. Back where other people came from, there were so many people that settled in Europe that they didn't many job opportunities. Jobs were important because that is how people make a living, support their families and survive. Jobs are still the #1 thing concerned present day. Since the election is coming up, people are going to vote for the candidate who offers and creates more jobs. 
Jobs and freedom are two of many reasons why many people decided to come and settle in the U.S. As some people enjoy life as it is, they should think about what life would be like without our founding fathers. Without their start, we wouldn't be where we are today. To our founding fathers, once again, I would like to say thank you.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Sunsets In Paradise

Author's Note: In Language Arts class, we were told to write a descriptive piece about the beach. Here is mine!


As I watch the sunset, I enjoy my cookies and cream ice cream. I feel the warm summer breeze going right through my hair while slowly placing my head on his shoulder. It were as if a dream was coming true; me and my dream guy watching the sunset together. Hearing the waves crashing makes the moment even more special. Turning my head to the right, I see an old couple walking on the boardwalk. Thinking to myself "I want to have that kind of a relationship when I'm older." When I turn back around I see that he's gone. "Had someone come and kidnapped him?" I thought? Looking around, I was so confused. He had left me. I sit down on the sand trying to hold back the tears while watching the sunset by myself. Soon, I couldn't take it anymore. I started balling in my own arms with my head to my knees. As someone taps me, I look up and there he is. Standing there singing me a sweet sweet song. I couldn't help but to put a smile on my face. After hearing his harmonious voice, he gives me a speech of how are relationship has been for the past 2 years. As he gets on one knee, I couldn't believe what was happening. Then came the big question "Will you marry me?" Immediately, I start crying and screamed yes. The sunset made my ring look even more stunning than it really was. It's been 5 years since that special day. 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Society

Author's Note: Here is a conflict/resolution piece that I wrote for language arts. It's about the book, The Hunger Games, and what the conflict was.


Some people are so grateful to be living in the society we live in right now. Others may not be as grateful. If our society was like The Hunger Games, life would be so different compared to now. In this book there is 12 districts. Every year, 24 tributes fight for their lives, only one will survive. Every child, from each district, 12-18 years old's name will be placed in a glass bowl. Katniss and Peeta both get picked to represent District 12. As the news hits them like a ton of bricks, they only have a couple of minutes to say their goodbyes. They both head off to training camp where the other 22 other tributes come together and learn how to win and be the last one standing. 

The main conflict in this book is person vs. society. Society in this point of time, is very different then present time. President Snow forces a boy and girl from each district to fight for their lives in "The Hunger Games". This lesson is suppose to toughen up children 12-18 years old. How this government is arranged, leaves me a little disturbed.

This reminds me of how other countries in this world have a dictator. Alike from President Snow. It's different from our world because our country has freedom. People of our country choose to fight for us: the tributes fought for their life and for entertainment to the Capital. Knowing about other countries that have dictators helped me understand what it was like living in that point of time.

Even though this or any dictatorship isn't right, there always is a resolution to the conflict.  Towards the end of the games, the Gamemakers decide to throw a twist and change up the rules. If both tributes from the same district were the last two to remain, they would both be able to survive and be victors of the games. Overall, this made me think a lot about dictatorship. What do you think about it? 

Minutes Until Death

Author's Note: This piece is a cause and effect piece we were assigned in Language Arts. It's about the book The Hunger Games and the climax and the cause and effect of the book. I wrote this to demonstrate my understanding of climax. 


Peeta and Katniss both get chosen from District 12 to fight for their lives in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games were an annual event for the Capital's enjoyment. As they go through training and convincing the people of the Capital to sponsor them, they start to try to impress everyone so they can survive. They get a major makeover and also do interviews live everywhere. Only one survives every year, but this year, there's a twist. 

First, the climax in the story was all 24 tributes going into the horrifying Hunger Games. As they all try to put a poker face on, they are all terrified of dying. The beeps of anticipation gets the tributes heart's racing. Right after the rambunctious beep, they all run towards to all the survival things: water, food, sleeping bags, etc. While the games go on for a couple of days, more and more tributes start to die and alliances start to form. They forgot to remember not to trust anyone. 

Before all of this chaos, all 24 tributes had to go through a process. They all had to go through painful makeover to look impressive to the public. As the training process goes on, enemies start to form and get stronger. The training teaches them how to keep themselves alive. Each district gets a mentor. There has only been one successful man who has won the Hunger Games in District 12; Haymitch takes so much advantage of the wealth, that he becomes an alcoholic. Peeta and Katniss are apprehensive and timid about going into the Hunger Games and dying. 

If Peeta didn't have Katniss and Katniss didn't have Peeta, the story wouldn't be the same. This could relate to the real world. Some people may not be able to live without a certain person or maybe just friends or family. To me, my family and friends are really important for me because I know that they will always be there for me. That they would catch me when I fall. Just like Katniss and Peeta.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Inspiration

Author's Note: In class, we were told to write a personal narrative that is a "seed" instead of a "watermelon". The "watermelon" is the big picture of a story. A "seed" story is the main message without any unnecessary details.


Some celebrities are an inspiration to individuals. Others may say someone who has made an impact in their life may be an inspiration to them, such as a family member or a very close friend. One person that has made a tremendous impact in my life,  is my grandmother. In 2008, when I went to South Korea, it was the last time I had seen her. Korea was a whole new experience for me. I learned so much and had such an amusing time. 

As I look around my grandmother's house, the first thing that draws my attention was the giant window that captured the city lights. I am so amazed how my own grandmother lived in this spectacular apartment with a breathtaking view. It was as if it was pulled out of a movie. My sisters and I were escorted to our room that we would be staying at for about the next couple of weeks. By looking around, this was nothing like home. No bed; just an empty room with a couple of blankets. 

Right as we arrived at the apartment, my grandmother wanted to go sightseeing around where she lived with my sister's and I after dinner. I wasn't so psyched about going. After all, I was jet lagged. We went to a local grocery store and she bought us all ice cream. When I was eating my ice cream, there were thoughts running through my head "What a cool grandma! Buying us ice cream at 11:30 PM!"  As we would sleep, she would wake up at 2:00 AM to cover us with blankets and go back to sleep. 

Some nights she would just watch us sleep. I thought that it was a little creepy that she would just sit there and wait for us to shut our eyes and have sweet dreams. Whenever my sisters and I wanted to go somewhere with my cousin, she would always want to tag along as if she was our bodyguard. The reason why she did this was because she wanted to spend every moment with us as if there was no tomorrow. Even when we wanted to go on a walk around the neighborhood or go to the playground, she would always follow us. By this time, I was so sick of her following us around and always tagging along.

Honestly, I thought that my grandmother was annoying when I went to Korea. I then realized that she wasn't try to irritate my sister's and I. My grandmother wanted to show how much she loved us by caring for us and pouring tons and tons of love on us. She was like a friend who listened. A friend who understood and comforted you. No matter what. If we were half way around the world, or if she was in the middle of doing something, she would be there. Family first was really first for her. She thought this because no matter what, us as a family would be for her whenever. She didn't need anyone else as long as we, as a family, were there for her. 

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Help


Author's Note: In class, we were given an assignment to give a quick retelling of a book that we have read. I did my retelling on The Help. Enjoy! 

The Help is a group of African American women who worked for White families, as maids/housekeepers, for a living. A girl named Skeeter wants to write a book about what life is like being part of The Help. This book explains how they were treated, what they had to go through, what it was like working for a white families , how they were treated and all of their stories.