Essay
First timed writing
prompt: What is the message or theme of Langston hughes' poem, "Dreams"?
consider how he plays with language to make his message clear
be sure to use examples from the poem to support your Ideas
Reflection:
I was very challenged with rushing to finish and not being able to check over what i had done. I like doing drafts better so I can perfect my writing. One of my strengths was being able to have quotes and examples from the piece of LITERATURE.
Timed writing #1 Dear Zoe
Thesis: Philip Beard really hits home with some topics many can relate to whether it's the struggles of growing up or how family effects the person you become.
I think I deserve a 3 because the body paragraph have concrete details and I feel like it is one of my better pieces from the beginning of the year. Some of my strengths were completing my thoughts and having sentences that made sense and flowed. I need to work on shortening my sentences and getting to the point quicker. I also should use a wider vocabulary.
I think I deserve a 3 because the body paragraph have concrete details and I feel like it is one of my better pieces from the beginning of the year. Some of my strengths were completing my thoughts and having sentences that made sense and flowed. I need to work on shortening my sentences and getting to the point quicker. I also should use a wider vocabulary.
Becca Branch
Humanities
October 1, 2012
I really liked doing the process essay because it helped me to just do sections then piece it all together. I did have some trouble with not being repetitive though.
House on Mango street: Growing Up
Prompt: How has Esperanza changed?
Thesis: Esperanza grows from an insecure girl to a well rounded, mature, young woman.
3
I feel like my strengths in this piece were that I kept revising and was open to new ideas on how to write. Some of my weaknesses though were how to phrase hat I wanted to say and to use figurative language.
Becca Branch
Humanities
October 24, 2012
Growing Up
When everyone is young, they think about the world differently. Esperanza from The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, is growing up in a rough lifestyle throughout the whole novel. She changes her opinion and thoughts on many topics including herself. Esperanza grows from an insecure girl to a well rounded, mature, young woman.
In the beginning of the book, Esperanza is very insecure about herself and where she is from. For example, when Esperanza thinks that there is always something better than what she has, she says, “The special kids, the ones who wear keys around their necks, get to eat in the canteen. The canteen! Even the name sounds important.” (Cisneros 43). This shows that Esperanza wants to be a part of something even though it may not be something you would want to be a part of, like how they’re the kids don’t have anyone to go home to. This also shows that Esperanza feels alone at home and at school and just wants to be included. In addition, Esperanza is portrayed as an insecure person about where she is from, and she tells the nun, “There. I had to look where she pointed-the third floor, the paint peeling, wooden bars Papa had nailed on the window so we wouldn’t fall out. You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I live there. I nodded.” (Cisneros 5).This shows how Esperanza really doesn’t want the life she has and doesn’t like how people think of her living environment. This also shows that she can’t even show people what is meaningful because she doesn’t like how people react to appearances as opposed to things with deeper meaning. Even though Esperanza doesn’t like letting people into her life, the lonelier she becomes, the more open she becomes to new experiences.
Even though Esperanza had a rocky start, she grows up into an experienced, mature young adult. For example, Esperanza starts to experience feelings for guys and starts to become a young woman and Esperanza thinks, “I want to sit out bad at night, a boy around my neck and the wind under my skirt. Not this way, every evening talking to the trees, leaning out my window, imagining what I can’t see.” (Cisneros 73). This shows the start of her becoming a young adult and how she will be thinking during the rest of the book. This also shows that she still has some insecurities that she must deal with before maturing, more like how she is uncertain about what to do to get a guy. In addition, by the very end of the book, Esperanza sees the world not revolving around herself, but as her working with the world, and then she thinks, “They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones that cannot out.” (Cisneros 110). This shows how much Esperanza has grown as a person by saying that she doesn’t just want to leave for something better but because she wants to be able to come back and visit all the old memories. This also shows that Esperanza misses her childhood and understands about all the people she grew up with and their struggles. Esperanza creates an open mind towards life and where she grew up.
Esperanza becomes a self aware adult from an immature little girl. As seen throughout the book and in the essay, Esperanza is just another kid growing up and trying to find her place in the world. She does have all sorts of problems but once she starts growing up she understands how to fix them. Once grown up, everyone has had many more experiences and thinks differently than how they might have when they were younger.
Thesis: Esperanza grows from an insecure girl to a well rounded, mature, young woman.
3
I feel like my strengths in this piece were that I kept revising and was open to new ideas on how to write. Some of my weaknesses though were how to phrase hat I wanted to say and to use figurative language.
Becca Branch
Humanities
October 24, 2012
Growing Up
When everyone is young, they think about the world differently. Esperanza from The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, is growing up in a rough lifestyle throughout the whole novel. She changes her opinion and thoughts on many topics including herself. Esperanza grows from an insecure girl to a well rounded, mature, young woman.
In the beginning of the book, Esperanza is very insecure about herself and where she is from. For example, when Esperanza thinks that there is always something better than what she has, she says, “The special kids, the ones who wear keys around their necks, get to eat in the canteen. The canteen! Even the name sounds important.” (Cisneros 43). This shows that Esperanza wants to be a part of something even though it may not be something you would want to be a part of, like how they’re the kids don’t have anyone to go home to. This also shows that Esperanza feels alone at home and at school and just wants to be included. In addition, Esperanza is portrayed as an insecure person about where she is from, and she tells the nun, “There. I had to look where she pointed-the third floor, the paint peeling, wooden bars Papa had nailed on the window so we wouldn’t fall out. You live there? The way she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I live there. I nodded.” (Cisneros 5).This shows how Esperanza really doesn’t want the life she has and doesn’t like how people think of her living environment. This also shows that she can’t even show people what is meaningful because she doesn’t like how people react to appearances as opposed to things with deeper meaning. Even though Esperanza doesn’t like letting people into her life, the lonelier she becomes, the more open she becomes to new experiences.
Even though Esperanza had a rocky start, she grows up into an experienced, mature young adult. For example, Esperanza starts to experience feelings for guys and starts to become a young woman and Esperanza thinks, “I want to sit out bad at night, a boy around my neck and the wind under my skirt. Not this way, every evening talking to the trees, leaning out my window, imagining what I can’t see.” (Cisneros 73). This shows the start of her becoming a young adult and how she will be thinking during the rest of the book. This also shows that she still has some insecurities that she must deal with before maturing, more like how she is uncertain about what to do to get a guy. In addition, by the very end of the book, Esperanza sees the world not revolving around herself, but as her working with the world, and then she thinks, “They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones that cannot out.” (Cisneros 110). This shows how much Esperanza has grown as a person by saying that she doesn’t just want to leave for something better but because she wants to be able to come back and visit all the old memories. This also shows that Esperanza misses her childhood and understands about all the people she grew up with and their struggles. Esperanza creates an open mind towards life and where she grew up.
Esperanza becomes a self aware adult from an immature little girl. As seen throughout the book and in the essay, Esperanza is just another kid growing up and trying to find her place in the world. She does have all sorts of problems but once she starts growing up she understands how to fix them. Once grown up, everyone has had many more experiences and thinks differently than how they might have when they were younger.
Like Water For Chocolate: Pushing back
Thesis: Esquivel shows that over control of children leads to rebellion.
2+
Some of my strengths for this essay were learning how the format goes and working on commentary. My weaknesses were not being able to make things flow properly.
Becca Branch
Humanities
Oct. 29, 2012
Pushing Back
Someone can only take so much before they break and rebel. In Like Water for Chocolate, the main character, Tita, struggles with breaking free from her mothers control. Laura Esquivel, the author, connects food and the months together and has different events that occur, like being separated from the love of Tita’s life, Pedro. Esquivel shows that over control of children leads to rebellion.
Multiple times, Tita is set straight by Mama Elena’s rules and more times than not, feels that they are unfair, When Mama Elena makes Tita redo her stitching, Tita says,”But that’s if a person makes a mistake and you yourself said a moment ago that my sewing was...” Then Mama Elena says,” Are you starting up with your rebelliousness again? It’s enough that you have the audacity to break the rules in your sewing.”(Esquivel 12). This shows that no matter what, in Mama Elena’s eyes, nothing will ever be perfect especially something Tita has done. This also shows the mama Elena will find a way to make it Tita’s fault and belittle her. In addition, Mama Elena wants no emotion out of Tita from Roberto’s death, Mama Elena says,” Sit down and get back to work. i don’t want any tears. Poor child, I hope the Good Lord has taken him in all his glory, but we can’t give into sorrow; there’s work to do. First work, then do as you please, except crying do you hear?”(Esquivel 99). This shows how Mama Elena only thinks in one way and not about how others might be affected by events.This also shows that Tita is just getting shut up more and more and she will sooner or later speak up and rebel. Mama Elena must learn that if you treat others with disrespect, they will treat you with no respect as well.
Tita just can’t take the verbal and physical abuse from Mama Elena. When Tita finally speaks her true feelings about Mama Elena, Mama Elena starts to say,” Shut your mouth! Who do you think you are?” Then Tita responds “I know who I am! A person who has a perfect right to live her life as she pleases. Once and for all leave me alone, I won’t put up with you! I hate you, I’ve always hated you!”(Esquivel 199).This shows how Tita finally breaks free from Mama Elena. This also shows Tita finally breaking out of her box and speaking how she truly feels. in addition, when Mama Elena doesn’t want another word out of Tita, she takes her rage out, Esquivel says, ”Mama Elena went to her, picked up a wooden spoon, and smashed her across the face with it.”(Esquivel 99). This shows part of the reason why Tita would rebel after taking all this abuse from Mama Elena. This also shows why it took so long for Tita to finally rebel and leave because she was too afraid of what might happen. Tita learns that the only way to get out of an abusive house is to leave even though she has tried to stick up for herself.
When there is no freedom for Tita she tries every possible way to create it. Tita always knew that she had destiny for struggle and perseverance. Once Mama Elena had made her life as tough as it could get Tita did what anyone would do, and she pushed back. Each person is different, which concludes to differ on how much pressure they could take before putting the pressure right back.
2+
Some of my strengths for this essay were learning how the format goes and working on commentary. My weaknesses were not being able to make things flow properly.
Becca Branch
Humanities
Oct. 29, 2012
Pushing Back
Someone can only take so much before they break and rebel. In Like Water for Chocolate, the main character, Tita, struggles with breaking free from her mothers control. Laura Esquivel, the author, connects food and the months together and has different events that occur, like being separated from the love of Tita’s life, Pedro. Esquivel shows that over control of children leads to rebellion.
Multiple times, Tita is set straight by Mama Elena’s rules and more times than not, feels that they are unfair, When Mama Elena makes Tita redo her stitching, Tita says,”But that’s if a person makes a mistake and you yourself said a moment ago that my sewing was...” Then Mama Elena says,” Are you starting up with your rebelliousness again? It’s enough that you have the audacity to break the rules in your sewing.”(Esquivel 12). This shows that no matter what, in Mama Elena’s eyes, nothing will ever be perfect especially something Tita has done. This also shows the mama Elena will find a way to make it Tita’s fault and belittle her. In addition, Mama Elena wants no emotion out of Tita from Roberto’s death, Mama Elena says,” Sit down and get back to work. i don’t want any tears. Poor child, I hope the Good Lord has taken him in all his glory, but we can’t give into sorrow; there’s work to do. First work, then do as you please, except crying do you hear?”(Esquivel 99). This shows how Mama Elena only thinks in one way and not about how others might be affected by events.This also shows that Tita is just getting shut up more and more and she will sooner or later speak up and rebel. Mama Elena must learn that if you treat others with disrespect, they will treat you with no respect as well.
Tita just can’t take the verbal and physical abuse from Mama Elena. When Tita finally speaks her true feelings about Mama Elena, Mama Elena starts to say,” Shut your mouth! Who do you think you are?” Then Tita responds “I know who I am! A person who has a perfect right to live her life as she pleases. Once and for all leave me alone, I won’t put up with you! I hate you, I’ve always hated you!”(Esquivel 199).This shows how Tita finally breaks free from Mama Elena. This also shows Tita finally breaking out of her box and speaking how she truly feels. in addition, when Mama Elena doesn’t want another word out of Tita, she takes her rage out, Esquivel says, ”Mama Elena went to her, picked up a wooden spoon, and smashed her across the face with it.”(Esquivel 99). This shows part of the reason why Tita would rebel after taking all this abuse from Mama Elena. This also shows why it took so long for Tita to finally rebel and leave because she was too afraid of what might happen. Tita learns that the only way to get out of an abusive house is to leave even though she has tried to stick up for herself.
When there is no freedom for Tita she tries every possible way to create it. Tita always knew that she had destiny for struggle and perseverance. Once Mama Elena had made her life as tough as it could get Tita did what anyone would do, and she pushed back. Each person is different, which concludes to differ on how much pressure they could take before putting the pressure right back.
Final Flowers For Algernon Essay
(Only first two paragraphs)
6/14/13
Humanities
Becca Branch
Motivation is the Key
To be motivated means to never give up. The main character in “Flowers for Algernon,” Charlie, has a very low I.Q.. He gets an operation to help increase his knowledge but then learns his intelligence will eventually go away. In “Flowers for Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes, readers learn that motivation is more important than intelligence because motivation allows more growth for a person and there is more desire for completing a task.
For example, Charlie is someone that never gives up and keeps growing to become a better person. On Charlie’s date with Miss. Kinnian, she is complimenting him on the progress he’s made, she says,”You’re like a giant sponge now, soaking things in”(Keyes). Since Miss. Kinnian knows Charlie before the operation, she can see the self growth the best. It used to be Charlie getting help, now he is teaching Miss. Kinnian and exploring the vast knowledge of the world he could never understand before. In addition, when Charlie is eating dinner at a diner, a boy drops some plates and customers start making fun of him, and Charlie says,”Only a short time ago, I learned that people laughed at me. Now I can see that unknowingly I joined with them in laughing at myself. That hurts most of all”(Keyes). He grows in a way that he can see himself from the point of view of the smarter and dumber person. As Charlie grows, he develops emotions about himself that he wouldn’t have had before. Charlie grows as a person right after the surgery and as he is losing the effects.
6/14/13
Humanities
Becca Branch
Motivation is the Key
To be motivated means to never give up. The main character in “Flowers for Algernon,” Charlie, has a very low I.Q.. He gets an operation to help increase his knowledge but then learns his intelligence will eventually go away. In “Flowers for Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes, readers learn that motivation is more important than intelligence because motivation allows more growth for a person and there is more desire for completing a task.
For example, Charlie is someone that never gives up and keeps growing to become a better person. On Charlie’s date with Miss. Kinnian, she is complimenting him on the progress he’s made, she says,”You’re like a giant sponge now, soaking things in”(Keyes). Since Miss. Kinnian knows Charlie before the operation, she can see the self growth the best. It used to be Charlie getting help, now he is teaching Miss. Kinnian and exploring the vast knowledge of the world he could never understand before. In addition, when Charlie is eating dinner at a diner, a boy drops some plates and customers start making fun of him, and Charlie says,”Only a short time ago, I learned that people laughed at me. Now I can see that unknowingly I joined with them in laughing at myself. That hurts most of all”(Keyes). He grows in a way that he can see himself from the point of view of the smarter and dumber person. As Charlie grows, he develops emotions about himself that he wouldn’t have had before. Charlie grows as a person right after the surgery and as he is losing the effects.
Reflection on timed writings
Throughout this year I have improved as a writer. During my first timed writing, I remember struggling to finish my first paragraph. It was difficult even knowing what to write about. As we worked on more of them and learned the essay format, I became more confident when writing. I have become stronger now that I know about time management. I feel like I can write a lot and I feel confident with what I put on the paper. What I am still working on is completing the essays.