Sunday, June 13, 2010
Rites of Passage
My Junior year in High School has been a year to remember. I do believe that I have gone through a rites of passage because of everything that has happened this high school year. For the previous years of H.S I wasn't taking Heritage seriously, I was used to the work being fairly easy, and I was used to just taking it easy until I really had to take the work seriously. But that all changed this year. In the beginning I was taking it easy and not doing what I was supposed to but then I had a horrible first marking period report card. After that marking period I started taking my work a little bit more serious. But I have to admit that 11Th grade has been the most challenging year at heritage. I found myself getting stressed over over-due assignments and projects that kept piling up one by one. Now I know that the school work I'm being given shouldn't be taken lightly because now I'm sitting here typing on my computer for 3 hours trying to get all this work I need done so that I wont fail 3 of my classes. I also feel like I have matured from the beginning of the year to now because of my attitude and how I approach a situation. I also learned to appreciate the people who are in my life because tomorrow is never promised.
A piece of work I struggled With (A Different Side of Sapo)
Below is an assignment that I had a little struggle with and it was an assignment that I thought I did not do my best:
For the assignment that I struggled with I had to do the next scene for the book Bodega Dreams. From the start I knew this assignment was going to be hard because it was something that I am not used to doing. This was another excercise that was supposed to help us really think and analyze the characters but also the story. The next scene had to be relevant to the book and it had to be written the way Ernesto Quinonez wrote Bodega Dreams. I also had not incorperated another author's writing into one of my assignments, so that was another challenge for me but I had the book as a resource so it really didnt affect the quality of my writting. I chose to do the next scene on the character Sapo and I felt more comfortable doing it on him because I already knew how I wanted the next scene to portray him.
Before I started writing out the scene I had to think about how I was going to write it, where it was going to take place, and who was going to be in it. In had all these things to think about and I kept procrastinating and leaving it to the last day. By the time the assignment was due I had forgotten all the ideas that I had for the scene and I had to think of some new ones that weren't as good. I got a B- in the assignment and I felt it was fair because I knew that it was not one of my best pieces of work.
For the assignment that I struggled with I had to do the next scene for the book Bodega Dreams. From the start I knew this assignment was going to be hard because it was something that I am not used to doing. This was another excercise that was supposed to help us really think and analyze the characters but also the story. The next scene had to be relevant to the book and it had to be written the way Ernesto Quinonez wrote Bodega Dreams. I also had not incorperated another author's writing into one of my assignments, so that was another challenge for me but I had the book as a resource so it really didnt affect the quality of my writting. I chose to do the next scene on the character Sapo and I felt more comfortable doing it on him because I already knew how I wanted the next scene to portray him.
Before I started writing out the scene I had to think about how I was going to write it, where it was going to take place, and who was going to be in it. In had all these things to think about and I kept procrastinating and leaving it to the last day. By the time the assignment was due I had forgotten all the ideas that I had for the scene and I had to think of some new ones that weren't as good. I got a B- in the assignment and I felt it was fair because I knew that it was not one of my best pieces of work.
My Best Work (Analyses of Chino)
Below I am describing one of the assignments that I did. I feel like this assignment was one of my best:
This assignment at the beginning was a little tricky for me because we had not finished Bodega Dreams yet. Mr. Hector wanted our class to describe these characters before we really got to know them. This exercise is significant because it makes us really think and look at what the book is trying to tell us about each character. At first I didn't know how I was going to do it because I had not done that type of assignment before, but I really paid attention to the book and focused on the three characters that were going to be in my essay, Chino, Blanca, and Julio. This wasn't that hard because the beginning of the book was mostly centered around them.
I wasn't really comfortable in the beginning stages of the essay because I wasnt sure what I was going to use. I usually know what I'm going to write and how im going to write, kind of like an outline in my head. But when i started writing it all came to me and I felt like I was using great evidence to back up my main point. I organized it really well and I used quotes that went well with what I was talking about. After I was done I was still a little skepticle, but I liked the challenge that this assignment gave me. I got an A- on this essay and I felt really good about it and I feel like because I really had to think about this assignment it makes it one of my best written.
This assignment at the beginning was a little tricky for me because we had not finished Bodega Dreams yet. Mr. Hector wanted our class to describe these characters before we really got to know them. This exercise is significant because it makes us really think and look at what the book is trying to tell us about each character. At first I didn't know how I was going to do it because I had not done that type of assignment before, but I really paid attention to the book and focused on the three characters that were going to be in my essay, Chino, Blanca, and Julio. This wasn't that hard because the beginning of the book was mostly centered around them.
I wasn't really comfortable in the beginning stages of the essay because I wasnt sure what I was going to use. I usually know what I'm going to write and how im going to write, kind of like an outline in my head. But when i started writing it all came to me and I felt like I was using great evidence to back up my main point. I organized it really well and I used quotes that went well with what I was talking about. After I was done I was still a little skepticle, but I liked the challenge that this assignment gave me. I got an A- on this essay and I felt really good about it and I feel like because I really had to think about this assignment it makes it one of my best written.
A Different Side of Sapo
This is a scene that I did for one of my English assignments. I had to create the next scene in the book Bodea Dream. I feel like this was not one of my strongest pieces of work.
Analyses of chino
Below is an English Writing assignment which I believe is one of my best works that I have done this year.In this essay I analyze the character Julio (Chino) of the book Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quinonez:
The subject of my essay is based on the characters of "Bodega Dream" by Ernesto Quinonez. The first character is Chino's wife Blanca and the second character is Chino's best friend Sapo. Sapo is Chino's childhood friend and they used to go to school together. Chino looked up to Sapo when he was younger even though he knew that Sapo was always up to no good. Blanca is Chino's childhood sweet heart. When she was younger, Blanca was the girl that every guy wanted because she was smart, beautiful, and religouse.
In Bodega Dreams, Blanca represents the positive influences of Chinos life and the lifestyle of the hood. Blanca reminds Chino what he is suppose to do and what he isn't suppose to do.
"You know he is bad news. Always has been. I dont want you around, Enrique" (pg 14). This quote is significant to Blanca's personality because we can understand that she is just looking out for Chino, almost like a mother would with her child. And like a child Chino feels like he has to hide certain things with Blanca so that she wont get upset with him.
Sapo represents the bad side of Chino and the bad influences of the hood. Sapo leads Chino down the wrong path without him knowing. In Sapo's eyes he feels like he is looking out for his childhood friend by always having his back and in some ways protecting him from other people who might try and give him trouble.
"Yo Chino, man whass up? You know you my pana right? And like you know yo'r the only guy I can trust right, I mean we go way back...yo mira I have this package.. can I leave it her wi'choo, Chino?" (pg14)
This quote supports Sapo's character becauseit shows how badly he influences Chino as opposed to the posotive influence of Blanca. Its almost as if bopth Sapo and Blanca are the main functions of Chino's decision. Chino can choose to go home to Blanca and study for school or he can go smoke a blunt with Sapo and go meet a big time kingpin, and throughout the book decisions like these question Chino's morailty.
In Bodega Dreams Chino experiences the lifestyle of two very different people. His choices affect either person for the bad or for the better. Whether he chooses to be influenced by Blanca or Sapo, consequences seem to be inevitable. I can relate to the character Chino because like him I understand the negative and the posotive that sorround people. I also understand that it's sometimes more tempting to choose the more negatrive, risky influence.
The subject of my essay is based on the characters of "Bodega Dream" by Ernesto Quinonez. The first character is Chino's wife Blanca and the second character is Chino's best friend Sapo. Sapo is Chino's childhood friend and they used to go to school together. Chino looked up to Sapo when he was younger even though he knew that Sapo was always up to no good. Blanca is Chino's childhood sweet heart. When she was younger, Blanca was the girl that every guy wanted because she was smart, beautiful, and religouse.
In Bodega Dreams, Blanca represents the positive influences of Chinos life and the lifestyle of the hood. Blanca reminds Chino what he is suppose to do and what he isn't suppose to do.
"You know he is bad news. Always has been. I dont want you around, Enrique" (pg 14). This quote is significant to Blanca's personality because we can understand that she is just looking out for Chino, almost like a mother would with her child. And like a child Chino feels like he has to hide certain things with Blanca so that she wont get upset with him.
Sapo represents the bad side of Chino and the bad influences of the hood. Sapo leads Chino down the wrong path without him knowing. In Sapo's eyes he feels like he is looking out for his childhood friend by always having his back and in some ways protecting him from other people who might try and give him trouble.
"Yo Chino, man whass up? You know you my pana right? And like you know yo'r the only guy I can trust right, I mean we go way back...yo mira I have this package.. can I leave it her wi'choo, Chino?" (pg14)
This quote supports Sapo's character becauseit shows how badly he influences Chino as opposed to the posotive influence of Blanca. Its almost as if bopth Sapo and Blanca are the main functions of Chino's decision. Chino can choose to go home to Blanca and study for school or he can go smoke a blunt with Sapo and go meet a big time kingpin, and throughout the book decisions like these question Chino's morailty.
In Bodega Dreams Chino experiences the lifestyle of two very different people. His choices affect either person for the bad or for the better. Whether he chooses to be influenced by Blanca or Sapo, consequences seem to be inevitable. I can relate to the character Chino because like him I understand the negative and the posotive that sorround people. I also understand that it's sometimes more tempting to choose the more negatrive, risky influence.
Poem (Creative Me)
Below is another poetic assignment that my teacher Mr. Zambrana assigned:
Sergio
Honest, Smart, Caring, Funny
Brother of Eric and leslie
Loves his family and friends
Who feels stressed
Who needs a vacation
Who gives love, advice, and happiness
Who would like to see his uncle one more time
Resident of New York
Flores
Sergio
Honest, Smart, Caring, Funny
Brother of Eric and leslie
Loves his family and friends
Who feels stressed
Who needs a vacation
Who gives love, advice, and happiness
Who would like to see his uncle one more time
Resident of New York
Flores
Acrostic Poem(WINTER)
Below is an acrostic poem that was assigned by my English teacher Mr. Zambran:
Winter is very cold
Its the most wonderful time of the year
No one likes the cold
Trees are all missing their leaves
Everyone is outside playing in the snow
Remembering how much you miss the summer
Winter is very cold
Its the most wonderful time of the year
No one likes the cold
Trees are all missing their leaves
Everyone is outside playing in the snow
Remembering how much you miss the summer
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