Below are some of my favorite pieces of writing that include essays, journal entries, and stories.
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Journal Entry 11.20.14
Prompt: Your latest book has made you a best-selling author. Write the title of your book and a brief summary of it.
If I became a best-selling author, the title of my book would be Reflection, a futuristic, dystopian, young adult novel. This book is about a girl named Vi who lives in a perfect world where she is seen as one thing on the outside, but is the complete opposite really on the inside. She doesn't have a choice to be who she wants to be because they made her. When Vi is forced into a beauty contest by them, Vi discovers the secrets beneath the surface that no one knows. Once you have the information you are no longer safe.
I think I chose to write a dystopian, futuristic novel, because it is one of my favorite book genres. I've read a lot of utopian worlds going wrong, and I thought I'd have my take on it.
Prompt: Your latest book has made you a best-selling author. Write the title of your book and a brief summary of it.
If I became a best-selling author, the title of my book would be Reflection, a futuristic, dystopian, young adult novel. This book is about a girl named Vi who lives in a perfect world where she is seen as one thing on the outside, but is the complete opposite really on the inside. She doesn't have a choice to be who she wants to be because they made her. When Vi is forced into a beauty contest by them, Vi discovers the secrets beneath the surface that no one knows. Once you have the information you are no longer safe.
I think I chose to write a dystopian, futuristic novel, because it is one of my favorite book genres. I've read a lot of utopian worlds going wrong, and I thought I'd have my take on it.
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“Of Mice & Men” Essay Test
Halle 8W
Think about what it means to care for someone. Do you think George’s decision to shoot Lennie showed that he cared for him? What predictions can you make about George’s future? How will he feel about his decision in five years?
When I first read the scene where George shot Lennie, I was heartbroken. It took me a few more times to reread the last couple pages to understand what George had done. For some reason, I thought that was a typo, but obviously it wasn’t. I remember that night, after I had finished the book, I was lying in bed thinking. After some deep thought, I realized that George’s actions were done not out of nervousness, but out of love.
George’s decision to shoot Lennie had definitely showed that he cared about him. I read quote once that had said something about if you loved someone let them go. George shooting Lennie definitely proved that quote correct. George could’ve just let Lennie suffer the consequences for what he had done and go to jail, but George cared too much to let Lennie go through that. He also had loved Lennie so much that he also didn’t want Curley to get to Lennie and hurt him. The only option left, was to kill him himself. This had to have been the hardest thing George had ever done because he’s been with Lennie through thick and thin and has known the guy for as long as he could remember. There were so many memories he shared with Lennie and now it would have to come to a conclusion. Aunt Clara asked George to take care of Lennie, and that’s what he did.
After George had shot Lennie, it was obvious that he was sad at the end of the book. He could barely say a few words and his actions showed that he was still in shock. I think that moment after Lennie died, when George got up clearly sad, started the beginning of what George would experience for a long time. I think through the years to come, he will dwell on the fact that he had shot Lennie. It would probably take a long time for George to recover from this event because he was so close to Lennie and stuck by him, and now Lennie was gone. I’m not sure if he’ll stay at the ranch or not because he may remember many memories of Lennie there, but he also has lots of friends that will comfort him there as well. Once George has gotten over the grieving stage, I think he will become determined to get that piece of land and rabbits in honor of Lennie. If George ever looked back to the shooting of Lennie five years from now, he may still feel guilty or sad, but not as relieved because Lennie is in a better place now.
In the end, George did what was best for Lennie even though it was hard for him to do. He proved that he cared about Lennie by putting his thoughts and opinions aside and doing what Lennie needed. I hope that after that incident, George eventually got over his feelings of depression, guilt, and sadness, and lived the dream that he and Lennie had dreamt about years before. Lennie would’ve wanted George to be happy, and hopefully he is now or will be soon.
Do you think people like Crooks and Lennie are treated the same way in today’s society as they were in the novel? Do you think that Lennie would have suffered the same consequences in today’s world?
I think people have changed their opinions towards others and treat people like Lennie and Crooks differently in today’s society than back then. Before, the people of that time thought of those who were unlike them were below them. They thought that because they are “normal,” they are above everyone that is different in any way. Fortunately, our opinions and ideas have changed overtime.
During the time the story Of Mice and Men took place, people like Lennie and Crooks were treated horribly. People of that time called people that were different from them in ways such as skin color and disability, mean words and treated them like they were less than everyone else. In the book, Lennie was called numerous names when he couldn’t do simple things in the time those without a disability could. Lennie wasn’t given almost any responsibilities because people had underestimated him. Life for Crooks though, must’ve been a lot harder compared to Lennie’s. He was definitely treated even harsher than Lennie. As I was reading the novel, Crooks was living like an animal or a pet. Crooks was isolated from everyone else and wasn’t allowed to talk to others due to the color of his skin. It must’ve been a hard life not being able to come in contact with others and sleep in a pile of straw. Crooks and Lennie lived pretty rough lives, but times have changed.
Today, I think that our society now is more respectful to those who may not be like us. I think our mindset is like this now, because wars have been fought and people have protested, but also that we would like to be respected the same way we respect others. Those that aren’t like the “normal” person, have more rights and opportunities now. Although we are more respectful and are more positive on how we act towards others, we are not perfect. Those like Crooks are sometimes still discriminated and may sometimes not get what they want because of their ethnicity or culture. People who have disabilities like Lennie, are sometimes approached or talked to like they’re children. The words that Crooks and Lennie were called back then are still used today. Overall though, our world has changed greatly for the better. Even though we have more things we need to adjust, we’ve gotten to a great start.
Between the 1930s and today’s time period, we have changed a lot for the better. Although there is about an eighty-five year difference, Lennie probably would have suffered most of the consequences he would have to face because of his actions. Hopefully, he will have a good lawyer that can negotiate an easier punishment. Just because you are different, doesn’t mean you have special treatment with the law. Besides rights for getting in trouble with the law, our society is different in a good way. We are more open to people being different and we try to respect others with the respect we would like in return. If Crooks and Lennie lived during this time, life would be a lot easier than what they’re used to.
What is the connection between Carlson shooting Candy’s dog and George shooting Lennie? Do you think it was right for both men to make the decision to kill?
Carlson shooting Candy’s dog and George shooting Lennie were two major events in the story’s plot that share many connections. The biggest connection or similarity was Candy and George both do what’s best for Candy’s dog and Lennie by ending their pain through death. The two men did do the right thing because they thought about their friends’ needs rather than theirs. Both decisions to kill weren’t decided by how they felt, but what the person/dog needed.
Candy’s dog getting shot had a lot in common with George shooting Lennie. I think they could be the same scene with just a few minor adjustments. Both events showed the caretaker allowing the person/canine they are taking care of to be shot due to previous events. Candy’s dog was in need of being put down because he couldn’t see, wasn’t the nicest smelling, and was practically suffering because of the pain he was going through due to health issues. Lennie on the other hand, had just killed Curley’s wife and has very harsh consequences coming at him such as going to jail and Curley hurting him badly. Both Candy and George saw that whomever they were taking care of was either currently suffering or about to deal with great pain. Deciding whether they should let them be or shoot them to end or prevent them from suffering was a hard choice they had to choose. Even though they wanted their companion to stay with them, they needed to do what was best for them and let them go. The shooting of Candy's dog in a way foreshadowed what would later come for Lennie and George because George would be forced to choose the same choices later.
In the end, I think both men did what I thought was right and put themselves through some pain themselves to end the pain of their friend. I think that shows true companionship because friendship is not just caring about yourself, but also the other person. In both situations, the men had their friendships put to the test, and they both proved that their friendships were real as can be.
Halle 8W
Think about what it means to care for someone. Do you think George’s decision to shoot Lennie showed that he cared for him? What predictions can you make about George’s future? How will he feel about his decision in five years?
When I first read the scene where George shot Lennie, I was heartbroken. It took me a few more times to reread the last couple pages to understand what George had done. For some reason, I thought that was a typo, but obviously it wasn’t. I remember that night, after I had finished the book, I was lying in bed thinking. After some deep thought, I realized that George’s actions were done not out of nervousness, but out of love.
George’s decision to shoot Lennie had definitely showed that he cared about him. I read quote once that had said something about if you loved someone let them go. George shooting Lennie definitely proved that quote correct. George could’ve just let Lennie suffer the consequences for what he had done and go to jail, but George cared too much to let Lennie go through that. He also had loved Lennie so much that he also didn’t want Curley to get to Lennie and hurt him. The only option left, was to kill him himself. This had to have been the hardest thing George had ever done because he’s been with Lennie through thick and thin and has known the guy for as long as he could remember. There were so many memories he shared with Lennie and now it would have to come to a conclusion. Aunt Clara asked George to take care of Lennie, and that’s what he did.
After George had shot Lennie, it was obvious that he was sad at the end of the book. He could barely say a few words and his actions showed that he was still in shock. I think that moment after Lennie died, when George got up clearly sad, started the beginning of what George would experience for a long time. I think through the years to come, he will dwell on the fact that he had shot Lennie. It would probably take a long time for George to recover from this event because he was so close to Lennie and stuck by him, and now Lennie was gone. I’m not sure if he’ll stay at the ranch or not because he may remember many memories of Lennie there, but he also has lots of friends that will comfort him there as well. Once George has gotten over the grieving stage, I think he will become determined to get that piece of land and rabbits in honor of Lennie. If George ever looked back to the shooting of Lennie five years from now, he may still feel guilty or sad, but not as relieved because Lennie is in a better place now.
In the end, George did what was best for Lennie even though it was hard for him to do. He proved that he cared about Lennie by putting his thoughts and opinions aside and doing what Lennie needed. I hope that after that incident, George eventually got over his feelings of depression, guilt, and sadness, and lived the dream that he and Lennie had dreamt about years before. Lennie would’ve wanted George to be happy, and hopefully he is now or will be soon.
Do you think people like Crooks and Lennie are treated the same way in today’s society as they were in the novel? Do you think that Lennie would have suffered the same consequences in today’s world?
I think people have changed their opinions towards others and treat people like Lennie and Crooks differently in today’s society than back then. Before, the people of that time thought of those who were unlike them were below them. They thought that because they are “normal,” they are above everyone that is different in any way. Fortunately, our opinions and ideas have changed overtime.
During the time the story Of Mice and Men took place, people like Lennie and Crooks were treated horribly. People of that time called people that were different from them in ways such as skin color and disability, mean words and treated them like they were less than everyone else. In the book, Lennie was called numerous names when he couldn’t do simple things in the time those without a disability could. Lennie wasn’t given almost any responsibilities because people had underestimated him. Life for Crooks though, must’ve been a lot harder compared to Lennie’s. He was definitely treated even harsher than Lennie. As I was reading the novel, Crooks was living like an animal or a pet. Crooks was isolated from everyone else and wasn’t allowed to talk to others due to the color of his skin. It must’ve been a hard life not being able to come in contact with others and sleep in a pile of straw. Crooks and Lennie lived pretty rough lives, but times have changed.
Today, I think that our society now is more respectful to those who may not be like us. I think our mindset is like this now, because wars have been fought and people have protested, but also that we would like to be respected the same way we respect others. Those that aren’t like the “normal” person, have more rights and opportunities now. Although we are more respectful and are more positive on how we act towards others, we are not perfect. Those like Crooks are sometimes still discriminated and may sometimes not get what they want because of their ethnicity or culture. People who have disabilities like Lennie, are sometimes approached or talked to like they’re children. The words that Crooks and Lennie were called back then are still used today. Overall though, our world has changed greatly for the better. Even though we have more things we need to adjust, we’ve gotten to a great start.
Between the 1930s and today’s time period, we have changed a lot for the better. Although there is about an eighty-five year difference, Lennie probably would have suffered most of the consequences he would have to face because of his actions. Hopefully, he will have a good lawyer that can negotiate an easier punishment. Just because you are different, doesn’t mean you have special treatment with the law. Besides rights for getting in trouble with the law, our society is different in a good way. We are more open to people being different and we try to respect others with the respect we would like in return. If Crooks and Lennie lived during this time, life would be a lot easier than what they’re used to.
What is the connection between Carlson shooting Candy’s dog and George shooting Lennie? Do you think it was right for both men to make the decision to kill?
Carlson shooting Candy’s dog and George shooting Lennie were two major events in the story’s plot that share many connections. The biggest connection or similarity was Candy and George both do what’s best for Candy’s dog and Lennie by ending their pain through death. The two men did do the right thing because they thought about their friends’ needs rather than theirs. Both decisions to kill weren’t decided by how they felt, but what the person/dog needed.
Candy’s dog getting shot had a lot in common with George shooting Lennie. I think they could be the same scene with just a few minor adjustments. Both events showed the caretaker allowing the person/canine they are taking care of to be shot due to previous events. Candy’s dog was in need of being put down because he couldn’t see, wasn’t the nicest smelling, and was practically suffering because of the pain he was going through due to health issues. Lennie on the other hand, had just killed Curley’s wife and has very harsh consequences coming at him such as going to jail and Curley hurting him badly. Both Candy and George saw that whomever they were taking care of was either currently suffering or about to deal with great pain. Deciding whether they should let them be or shoot them to end or prevent them from suffering was a hard choice they had to choose. Even though they wanted their companion to stay with them, they needed to do what was best for them and let them go. The shooting of Candy's dog in a way foreshadowed what would later come for Lennie and George because George would be forced to choose the same choices later.
In the end, I think both men did what I thought was right and put themselves through some pain themselves to end the pain of their friend. I think that shows true companionship because friendship is not just caring about yourself, but also the other person. In both situations, the men had their friendships put to the test, and they both proved that their friendships were real as can be.
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3 Quote Paper By: Halle 7W
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
I think this quote means love is the answer to driving away hate. Martin Luther King referred it to darkness. If you put darkness with darkness it’s just adding on to the amount of darkness you had before. It’s the same with hate. When a person hates you and you hate back the hate has increased. Love helps the hate disappear, like light does to darkness. If we use love to retaliate against the hate the hate goes: POOF! The love we give to a person who hates can maybe change their life around and go down a better road. Love is the answer to stopping hate from spreading.
“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
I think this quote means no one has a right to tell you what to do unless they are responsible for you or they are in charge of you. For example parents and teachers have a right to tell you what is the right thing to do in a particular situation. Classmates and friends really don’t have the authority to do that. What Eleanor Roosevelt is saying is that no one can say no you can’t do that unless the can say yes you can do that. Let’s say a friend tells you, you can’t buy those shoes. You don’t have to listen to her because it’s your money and you can use it in anyway you choose and also she can’t force you not to. Your friend can’t also force you to buy the shoes. So all Mrs. Roosevelt is saying is that no one has a right to say no for you unless they have a right to say yes to you.
“No matter what you do, someone is always going to say something about it.” -Halle jfg
I think my quote means is that everyone has their own opinions. What ever you do, for example skydive or draw there are always going to be people who like it and people who don’t. Everyone has an opinion, some are good and some are bad. There will always be people who will enjoy what you do and some who will just dislike it. There really is no way for you to make everyone happy, either way one will be happy and one will be angry. Overall it won’t matter what you do as long as you go with what you believe in. If you true to what you believe you will be content with yourself and that’s all that matters. At the end it won’t matter about what others think it will just matter about how you think about yourself.
Bibliography:
1. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth101472.html#pgreEwesVyTG371r.99
2.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/eleanorroo384412.html#Oly2Ms4y2XRdxSxQ.99
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
I think this quote means love is the answer to driving away hate. Martin Luther King referred it to darkness. If you put darkness with darkness it’s just adding on to the amount of darkness you had before. It’s the same with hate. When a person hates you and you hate back the hate has increased. Love helps the hate disappear, like light does to darkness. If we use love to retaliate against the hate the hate goes: POOF! The love we give to a person who hates can maybe change their life around and go down a better road. Love is the answer to stopping hate from spreading.
“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
I think this quote means no one has a right to tell you what to do unless they are responsible for you or they are in charge of you. For example parents and teachers have a right to tell you what is the right thing to do in a particular situation. Classmates and friends really don’t have the authority to do that. What Eleanor Roosevelt is saying is that no one can say no you can’t do that unless the can say yes you can do that. Let’s say a friend tells you, you can’t buy those shoes. You don’t have to listen to her because it’s your money and you can use it in anyway you choose and also she can’t force you not to. Your friend can’t also force you to buy the shoes. So all Mrs. Roosevelt is saying is that no one has a right to say no for you unless they have a right to say yes to you.
“No matter what you do, someone is always going to say something about it.” -Halle jfg
I think my quote means is that everyone has their own opinions. What ever you do, for example skydive or draw there are always going to be people who like it and people who don’t. Everyone has an opinion, some are good and some are bad. There will always be people who will enjoy what you do and some who will just dislike it. There really is no way for you to make everyone happy, either way one will be happy and one will be angry. Overall it won’t matter what you do as long as you go with what you believe in. If you true to what you believe you will be content with yourself and that’s all that matters. At the end it won’t matter about what others think it will just matter about how you think about yourself.
Bibliography:
1. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth101472.html#pgreEwesVyTG371r.99
2.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/eleanorroo384412.html#Oly2Ms4y2XRdxSxQ.99
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Should schools take one week off each month instead of eight weeks off summer?
By: Halle 7W
Is it hard for you when you go back to school? Are you reluctant to go to that horrid building where teachers keep you held captive for seven hours straight? Well, worry no more! Taking off one week each month is the best solution for you! Now I know as a student this sounds terrible to you, but I think I will be able to convince you by the end of this essay. It’s way better to take a break this way because we wouldn’t have to dread going back to school (because there isn’t one), we would be smarter, and it is harder to forget the stuff you learned from previous school years. I know this sounds crazy like “Why would I want to do this instead of summer vacation,” but I’ll convince you.
Have you ever had a time when you didn’t want to go to school? If you said yes then was it because you did not want your weekend or vacation to end? This is very common and mostly happens before school starts. If you think about it, you could ignore this problem. So, if there was no summer then this problem would cease. Plus your parents wouldn’t be as stressed out because they wouldn’t have to drag you out of the house in the morning. Your parents might be happier and maybe even nicer. The chances of yelling at you would decrease. Wouldn’t you like that? I’m sure you would, I know I would. Don’t you see? Having one week off is a win win situation. Your parents are happy and you’re probably happy too.
Almost every student wants to improve their grades, right? When you have so much more time at school, you can learn a lot more. If you are covering big loads of work at school, there may be less homework. Also if you get through so much then you will probably move on to higher material. As you go through more and more material you could just skip the grade overall. That would be awesome if you think about. We would probably be very advanced. This would make your teachers happy and probably make you happy too.
Isn’t hard when you are taking a review test or like the ITBS test and you can’t remember some of the material that you are positive you learned? This wouldn’t happen either because we wouldn’t have a long period of time to forget about it. Most students forget a lot of the stuff over the summer. With one week off each month (and two in December) you have a less chance of forgetting. Also this helps because you will be able to learn more. Expanding your knowledge is always a great thing to do. Your classmates are happy and you are too.
Was I able to convince you? If not here are my final words. In conclusion, taking a week off each month is better than eight weeks of summer. It is good because you wouldn’t be grumpy to go back to school, you would be smarter, and it’s harder for you to forget stuff you learned before. There many more reasons, but I wasn’t able to mention it earlier so now is my chance. Some other reasons are you have a longer break (12 weeks to 8 weeks), your parents would be filled with joy because they don’t have to take care of you in the summer, and last if you feel tired like school is going to last forever you could just look forward to the week of the break. I hope I have convinced you and thanks for reading. I am happy and I hope you are happy too.
By: Halle 7W
Is it hard for you when you go back to school? Are you reluctant to go to that horrid building where teachers keep you held captive for seven hours straight? Well, worry no more! Taking off one week each month is the best solution for you! Now I know as a student this sounds terrible to you, but I think I will be able to convince you by the end of this essay. It’s way better to take a break this way because we wouldn’t have to dread going back to school (because there isn’t one), we would be smarter, and it is harder to forget the stuff you learned from previous school years. I know this sounds crazy like “Why would I want to do this instead of summer vacation,” but I’ll convince you.
Have you ever had a time when you didn’t want to go to school? If you said yes then was it because you did not want your weekend or vacation to end? This is very common and mostly happens before school starts. If you think about it, you could ignore this problem. So, if there was no summer then this problem would cease. Plus your parents wouldn’t be as stressed out because they wouldn’t have to drag you out of the house in the morning. Your parents might be happier and maybe even nicer. The chances of yelling at you would decrease. Wouldn’t you like that? I’m sure you would, I know I would. Don’t you see? Having one week off is a win win situation. Your parents are happy and you’re probably happy too.
Almost every student wants to improve their grades, right? When you have so much more time at school, you can learn a lot more. If you are covering big loads of work at school, there may be less homework. Also if you get through so much then you will probably move on to higher material. As you go through more and more material you could just skip the grade overall. That would be awesome if you think about. We would probably be very advanced. This would make your teachers happy and probably make you happy too.
Isn’t hard when you are taking a review test or like the ITBS test and you can’t remember some of the material that you are positive you learned? This wouldn’t happen either because we wouldn’t have a long period of time to forget about it. Most students forget a lot of the stuff over the summer. With one week off each month (and two in December) you have a less chance of forgetting. Also this helps because you will be able to learn more. Expanding your knowledge is always a great thing to do. Your classmates are happy and you are too.
Was I able to convince you? If not here are my final words. In conclusion, taking a week off each month is better than eight weeks of summer. It is good because you wouldn’t be grumpy to go back to school, you would be smarter, and it’s harder for you to forget stuff you learned before. There many more reasons, but I wasn’t able to mention it earlier so now is my chance. Some other reasons are you have a longer break (12 weeks to 8 weeks), your parents would be filled with joy because they don’t have to take care of you in the summer, and last if you feel tired like school is going to last forever you could just look forward to the week of the break. I hope I have convinced you and thanks for reading. I am happy and I hope you are happy too.
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