Anaya´s English Blog

Prompt Response:  I made a claim stating that  The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping  will be the best movie of the year. Someone asked me why, and I backed it up by stating some evidence. I said that the trailers and promo pictures look really awesome, and all the interviews and critic reviews say how amazing it is. The past five Hunger Games  movies have been amazing and lived up to expectations. The book accuracy was also good compared to others. Explaining your evidence is really important because it shows that you really know what you're talking about.  Summary: Today in class, we learned about the importance of explaining our evidence.  Reflection:  This is important because being able to support your claim shows that you are passionate about it and that you actually know what you are saying. 

Prompt Response:  The learning method I enjoy most is hands-on activities. I learn more this way because you have to be very involved, and you must participate. You are forced to really understand what is happening because it is something that you are actively working on. When you are also doing hands-on activity in a group, you especially need to learn the topic because you d on't  want to be the only one not contributing.  Summary: Today in class, we did the observation, experiences, and readings of five claims that we made. Reflection:  This is important because it can be helpful to know what kind of claim you are making. 

Prompt Response:  Something I will never fully understand is space. Space has always fascinated me, so I have done a lot of projects on it. The specific thing I will never get is that space is infinite but also expanding at the same time due to dark matter. I will never understand how it can be both, but at the same time it makes sense.  Galaxies form when dark matter and primordial gas pull together through the force of gravity. This could also cause the expansion.  Summary:  Today in class, we identified the readings, observations, and experiences of different claims. Reflection:  This is important because it is good to know how to make a supportive claim.

Prompt Response:  One thing that makes me different from other people is that I can write using both hands, and I use my left hand for most tasks. In sixth grade, I tore my ligament in my right hand, and I was wearing casts for a little over a year. I had to completely immobilize my right hand, so I taught myself how to use my left hand for everything. Even now, with my hand fully healed, I still use my left hand for lifting heavy things out of habit. I use my knife in my left hand, and my parents tell me that it is the improper way to use it, but it is the only thing that feels comfortable for me.  I do write fully with my right hand because it is easier.   Summary: Today in class, we watched speeches and identified the speaker, purpose, audience, context, and exigence.  Reflection:  This is important because being able to identify the aspects of a speech is beneficial.

Prompt Response:  Living around Atlanta has influenced how  I see my community because everyone behaves  differently. I see people being respectful and kind, and then I see them  throwing their trash into  bushes and onto  the side of the road. Atlanta is a very expressive community where people can be themselves. There are artistic murals and graffiti around. It makes me feel like I can be true to who I am. Something I would tell someone who is not from Atlanta is to go with the flow and express yourself.  Summary: Today in class, we read Keisha Lance Bottoms' speech, " Go   Home ." We identified the speaker, purpose, audience, context, and exigence. Reflection:  This is important because it is good to know our city's history and the past events that have happened that shape the city into what it is today.   

Prompt Response:  The most creative thing I have ever made was a set of string bracelets. Online, there is a website called Bracelet Book, and it has thousands of tutorials for different bracelets. During summer break, I decided to follow a tutorial for a really hard bracelet that I didn't think I could do. It took me so long, but I finished it, and I'm very proud of it. It was a very complex design, and I messed up a lot. This stands out because it took hard work and perseverance. It is still my favorite bracelet I've ever made. Summary: Today in class, we read President Trump's speech  regarding immigration and border control and identified the speaker, purpose, audience, context, and exigence of the text. Reflection:  This is important because it is good to be able to analyze who the speaker is talking to and what the purpose  is .

Prompt Response:  A time I felt totally lost was when I was completely overwhelmed with homework and quizzes in sophomore year. It was February, and I had an AP World unit test while having a ton of homework in all my other classes. I wanted to quit so bad because I did not know where to start. Eventually, I made a list and went down it one by one and slowly checked things off. I started off with the assignments due first and then spent time studying for AP World. I turned in all my assignments on time and got the highest score I have ever gotten on a unit test in AP World. What I learned from that time is to always take things one by one and stay patient with yourself.  Summary: Today in class, we did an assignment on finding claims for a certain topic and then determining if it is a claim of policy, claim of fact, or a claim of value. Reflection:  This is important because when you need to make your own claims for future assignments, it is good to know what kind of clai...

Prompt Response:  Something I believed in as a child was that witches were real. While in elementary school, I had a dream that witches were coming to my house to snatch me up, so I hid underneath my glass dining table. When I woke up, I believed it was real, and for a long time I was really scared of witches. Whenever I saw birds flying, I thought they were witches on brooms. This was after I read  Witches by Roald Dahl. I got over that fear when I watched Hocus Pocus, and it is now my favorite Halloween movie. Summary: Today in class,  we covered what a claim is and the three different types of claims. Reflection:  This is important because a claim is something that can be arguable and it is good to know when you need to make a claim.

Prompt Response:  An argument that I wish I had handled differently was when I was accused of making a mess in the kitchen. My brothers blamed me, and I clapped back and argued. I wish I had defended myself properly because it was not me. I could have won the argument if I used a bombproof excuse. I was not home when it happened, so it could not have been me. With that proof, the argument would have ended with me because there would have been no way I could have done it. Then my brothers were accused, and they actually did it.  Summary: Today in class, we went over how to talk your way out of a speeding ticket with a police officer. Reflection:  This could be important in the future because you might unknowingly speed, and knowing how to respectfully talk to the cop so you don't get charged.  

Prompt Response:  A time I tried to persuade someone to do something I wanted was to make my friend watch The Hunger Games with me. I used pathos to convince her. I said that it would mean everything to me because they are my favorite movies. I said how the movies would change your perspective on many things and would make you feel something. The movies left me thinking for a while after I watched them, and I said they would do the same to her. Pathos was definitely the way to go because it made her feel bad about not watching my favorite movie. We watched all five, and she ended up loving them. Summary: Today in class, we presented the origin of our name assignment. We also reviewed ethos, pathos, and logos.  Reflection:  This is important for the future because learning how to stand up in front of people and present is a good skill to have/develop.

Prompt Response:  As I grow older and face new experiences, I think discussing and debating politics will come up with my family, friends, and society. When you turn 18, you are at the legal age of voting, which means that you are eligible to vote for the new governor and president. The presidential election is important because it decides how our country is going to run for the next four years. This is an important issue to discuss as you get older because every vote matters, and what you do can change the course of the country for better or for worse.  Summary: Today in class, we covered ethos, pathos, and logos and how to identify which is which. Reflection:  This is important if we ever want to go into marketing in the future. This can help us identify the most effective way to advertise different products.  

The three goals I want to achieve this year are to become a better writer, improve my time management across all my classes, and get a good SAT score. Becoming a better writer can help me in all my subjects and in many future careers.  Improving my time management is also incredibly important because, in life, you will always have many things to do at once. Getting a good SAT score will be incredibly beneficial when applying for colleges.