Semester Review

Looking back, I think there are many places in which I can improve. So in preparation, I will be developing sort of a study guide for myself; the units that I had trouble with would be studied prior and more thoroughly than my better units. This semester's units are: summer reading, literacy narratives (positive traits of writing, writing process), short stories + literary elements, literary analysis, and Lord of the Flies.

My two strongest subjects this semester are probably short stories + literary elements and literary analysis. The process of applying one element to each story helped me learn each story/literary element individually. After using all the elements separately, I can interpret stories with a much broader view. In addition, analyzing text has been easier for me. Using the literary elements as a guideline, I know what to focus on. I personally think these two units went hand-in-hand, just because they complimented each other.

On the other hand, there are also many difficulties I have encountered. Already halfway through the year, I feel as though In Defense of Food and Nation are losing their spot in my mind. Remembering some scenes has become a problem for me. Next come literacy narratives. I know the positive traits of writing well, but not the writing process. I believe that each writer has a different view on how to develop papers. I don't  like making a paper based on someone else's idea of how it should be  created. Lord of the Flies looks like it'll be giving me a headache. Normally, I tend to miss small details of a book that hide valuable information. I would never have thought about the recurring color of pink in the story, but luckily Dr. deGravelles pointed out this.

So, my study guide will be categorized based on difficulty, with the hardest ones first and the easier ones last. At the moment, it looks like this (most difficult to least difficult): Summer Reading > Lord of the Flies > Literacy Narratives > Literary Analysis > Short Stories + Literary Elements. I believe this guide is going to help me a lot in the future; It's been nice to take a moment and look over the units to prioritize.

Reading Response: Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies was a great book. Yes, I have read it. Last year, I was running low on my book list and independent reading was ongoing. After my sister told me we'd have to read it eventually, I took the opportunity to get two things done by reading one book. So the following response is my interpretation the second time I read Lord of the Flies: 

A recurring theme I discovered was dominance. Throughout the beginning, the older boys tended to show their superiority. Ralph claimed he was leader after finding the conch whereas Jack Merridew showed his leadership through his choir. To show their control, Ralph teases Piggy and Jack harshly commands his choir.  I found this to be an interesting aspect in Lord of the Flies.

Since this is my second time reading it, I can't really say I look forward to it. Though I see the book through blurred glass, I still remember significant scenes. I loved reading this book and I'm happy to analyze it in more detail. The idea of applying human nature to this book really opened up more doors for me, meaning Lord of the Flies made more sense.

11/05 - 30min., 11/06 - 60min., 11/08 - 30min., 11/09 - 30min.

Total - 150min., pp. 60-90 (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) pp. 1-32 (Lord of the Flies)

Class Discussion

Our plane crash activity during class went fairly well. We managed to have a  civilized discussion, whereas in other classes opinions were screamed and shouted. Our unofficial leader, Diamond, was basically pointing to those who wanted to speak, and when they spoke, everyone else was quiet and listening. For this reason I give credit to Diamond for good leadership. She helped develop a sense of organization, our greatest strength.

However, though we were organized, some of the ideas may have been a bit crazy. Eating the first-graders happened to  be a common topic that really caught me off-guard; it was too absurd for me. We had a pretty light approach to the activity, but I think if we were in a real situation we'd take the matters more seriously. This was our weakness in my opinion.

Really quickly, I just HAVE to point out something I discovered. (SPOILER ALERT!). Near the beginning of the book, when all the boys were crowded around, the person who possessed the conch could speak. In our class, Diamond gave permission to those who wanted to speak. I thought this was an interesting relation, partially because we hadn't read the book yet. It could be part of human nature...

Reading Response: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Yes, I know we never got to Feed but I have my reasons. My reasons are that at the time we were assigned different blog posts, since the literacy narrative was a big part of class. So unfortunately, we won't be able to talk  about Feed. But don't be too sad! Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? looks very promising for me.

It is based in a society after a world war, which made many animals endangered/extinct and led to most of the humans evacuating Earth. The humans that stayed protected the few remaining animals, but for those who couldn't afford them, companies built animals, and humans. These androids are equipped with the Nexus-6 brain, a advanced system that is basically just as smart as a human. The government of Earth feared these androids and banned them. Those who remained were being "retired" by bounty hunters - one of them, Rick Deckard, our main character.

Now maybe you can see why I think it looks promising. Personally, I find this plot very original. The "prologue" plays a huge role in the story and is slightly realistic. It's not a boring event, nor is it out of this world. It's something that is possible, but unlikely.

Lastly, when I was reading this week, I was distracted. I found it difficult to get through a single chapter of this book, but I did very slowly. It could be caused by my location (upstairs in my cousin's house - not necessarily noisy but occupied), lack of a bookmark (sometimes causes me to reread certain portions of a chapter I had already read), or emotional stress (my great uncle just passed away). 

In conclusion, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? looks very promising and is so far enjoyable. However, I encountered difficulty in the process of reading it.

10/29 - 30min., 10/30 - 30min., 11/1 - 60min., 11/2 - 30min.,

Total - 150min., pp. 10-60 (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Free Post: Absence

As some of you may have noticed, I wasn't at school on Friday. A close relative of mine passed away and my family and I attended the funeral. His whole family was devastated. We came in attempt to provide moral support and see my great uncle for the last time. It was a heartbreaking occurrence for all of us, but it also shed some light on foreign grounds.

I had never been to a funeral. Coming to this one taught me about the various traditions and rituals we Muslims do in burial ceremonies. It all started with the location. Relatives from all across the U.S came to a  small chapel in Houston. Tears were shed and prayers were said. Afterwards, we carried the coffin to the grave, chanting numerous prayers along the way. Lastly, we placed his body in the tomb, making sure to tilt the head slightly towards Mecca, the holy city.

Though I learned many things, I didn't enjoy it. He was an important person in the eyes of my cousins and me. He will be truly missed, but something we must understand is that it is just another turn in the cycle of life.