tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54580236066026356982024-03-14T01:02:34.384-07:00Adam Almontaser's ELA Blog!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-50541085924342482622015-04-10T19:15:00.001-07:002015-04-10T19:16:23.037-07:00GaoKao VS SAT & ACT The gaokao and the sat and act are all mandatory tests for students in America and the gaokao for students in China. The gaokao has long term effects while the sat and act have short term effects. Although both exams are important, the gaokao can affect your career and your life as a student. The sat and acts are both tests that determine your placement in colleges, not scoring high enough will lead to the enrollment of a public college. The gaokao has harsher consequences and affects your life as a student more than the SAT s and acts.<br />
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The GaoKao is the Chinese national college entrance exam. In China, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, colloquially known as the GaoKao (Gao meaning high, Kao meaning test), is the ultimate yardstick of academic accomplishment. If one's score is good enough, they will receive entrance into a prestigious university.The gaokao is a standardized test for all students in China.The gaokao is held once annually at the end of the school year. Third-year high school students (high school in China lasts three years) generally take the test, although anyone may register for it if they desire to. The gaokao is an exam that calls for extreme measures when it comes to studying and passing. Many students have studied for days straight, hooking themselves to intravenous drips to give them strength to study for long periods of time. This shows the importance level of this test, the gaokao has high standards and harsh consequences. Failing the gaokao likely means ending up in a factory or construction job, or in other words, not as successful. The intention of the gaokao is to get into a prestigious university or college. Getting into a prestigious university will set your life with a well rounded education and a start to a successful career.<br />
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The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States.The SAT is a mostly mandatory standardized exam that gives a general consensus on where you stand academically in relationship to the other students of the US. The point of the SATs and ACTs is for other schools to know what you are doing without observing what you do in class. You cannot pass or fail the SATs or ACTs, schools only look at their minimum requirement score."The SAT and SAT Subject Tests are designed to assess your academic readiness for college. These exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support, and scholarships, in a way that's fair to all students. The SAT and SAT Subject Tests keep pace with what colleges are looking for today, measuring the skills required for success in the 21st century." The fallout of the SAT isn't as harsh as the gaokao as it does not determine your overall career and future. The SATs determine what university you get into, that does not mean you won't get into any at all. You are granted a college, it's just a matter of the academic level of it.<br />
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In conclusion, the aftermaths of both the GaoKao and the SATs are different in that the GaoKao has a longer-term effect and harsher consequences and that the SATs sustain a shorter-term effect and have less harsher consequences than the GaoKao.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-39401445911551839192015-03-11T08:15:00.003-07:002015-03-11T08:15:29.619-07:00<span id="docs-internal-guid-89723b88-0966-ce9a-6730-cd8c66f0ce33"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-89723b88-0966-ce9a-6730-cd8c66f0ce33" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ELA Alice in Wonderland Essay</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The classic </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alice in Wonderland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Lewis Carroll depicts a young girls’ dreams as she travels through Wonderland in her dreams. Alice has issues adjusting to a new state of society and lifestyle. Lewis Carroll portrays the idea of childhood innocence and life as a meaningless puzzle. Lewis Carroll depicts symbolism and changes in childhood by using objects to show the bigger picture and deeper meaning. Alice is faced with a series of problems that puts her knowledge to the test. She is forced to use her instinct when she falls down a rabbit hole and “lands” into the Victorian Era. An era of class in Britain from 1837-1901. Lewis Carroll portrays the idea of childhood innocence and struggles, and life as a meaningless puzzle.</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throughout the story, Alice is faced with a series of challenges that appear to be unsolvable. These series of events replicate the struggles and challenges of a crisis in the life of a child. For example, The Caucus Race and The Mad Hatter’s Riddle are events in Wonderland that test the limits of Alice’s abilities and knowledge. The Caucus Race was a land race with all the animals in Wonderland that seemed endless to Alice. Constantly racing through the course that the Dodo set. The race was only a half an hour. The Mad Hatter’s Riddle “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was proposed to her at the dinner table, this riddle caused an argument and a huge debate over semantics. This shows unorder in Wonderland.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the beginning of the story, Alice goes through a variety of physical challenges. After she falls down the rabbit hole, she is in a small room, unproportional to her body. On a small table there is a bottle labeled ‘DRINK ME’. When she drinks it, Alice shrinks to a size proportional to the room. After she shrunk, Alice realized she had left a key to a door on top of a table. She then spots a cake saying ‘EAT ME’ hoping it will bring her to normal size, but it only makes her grow a few inches taller. Leaving the key on the table forces her to cry uncontrollably to the point where she forms a pool of tears. This leads us to believe and symbolizes that as a young girl, Alice or girls around her age, are lead to be struggling with physical appearance. While girls go through these times, it is speculated that they have emotional problems as well, hence the pool of tears in chapter two. </span></span></div>
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In conclusion, Lewis Carroll depicts ideas of childhood innocence and life as a meaningless puzzle by symbolizing things we are able to perceive as something else. Many authors use symbolism throughout their stories to show two ideas using one object. Symbolism is widely used throughout Alice in Wonderland, although only some were covered, the book has plenty more to offer.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-77476016216703186802015-01-07T14:29:00.002-08:002015-01-07T14:29:59.816-08:00<b id="docs-internal-guid-a95126e2-c684-85d8-a22a-d106930a7cab" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Ms. Berner,</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Censorship is the enemy of truth” -Bill Moyers. Not owning banned books in our school library is a difficulty for children who are interested in reality. I believe banned books offer relatable situations for children who have problems at home and for students who want to learn the “real” side of our world, and not the ones we see on TV. Banned books can be a little disturbing but there should be at least a content warning, and the reader shall decide. Undoubtedly concerned parents slightly disagree. They believe there are no lessons to be offered in these books, other than to influence and bring their children into the world of sex, drugs, and violence. Banned books should be allowed in our school’s library, and in public libraries across the country.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Banned books require a level of maturity, there needs to be a certain level of understanding for the reader to develop a lesson from the book. The book a reader chooses should depend on their level of maturity. “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The determination about which books should be restricted from children depends on their level of maturity. A person less mature might misinterpret the meaning of subject matter resulting in inappropriate thoughts, beliefs or behavior.” said Brandon Redlinger from </span><a href="http://www.csindy.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.csindy.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This statement agrees with the majority of the student community. We believe students should have power over what they read. Students shouldn’t be restricted to what they read. “I have visited dozens of high schools, rich and poor, private and public, integrated and segregated, absolutely safe, and fearfully dangerous, and have heard hundreds of stories that are tragic and collectively amazing.” Sherman Alexie said. Banned books featuring drugs, sex and violence can help teens across America dealing with struggles at home, and in their own personal lives. Reading these books will provide an outlet, and a stress reliever for these teens. It will help them relate, succeed, and progress happily. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Banning books is like blinding someone, covering their eyes from reality. How can you expect someone to mature, grow, and develop sympathy for others when you aren’t able to experience situations that are a reality for other students? “The current research suggests that books can give readers more than one opportunity to tune out and submerge themselves in fantasy worlds. Books provide an opportunity for social connection.” - Gabriel and Young Providing social connection for struggling and discouraged teens will give them support to help them in their situations, lives, and daily struggles with personal issues they have at home. For example, a teen addicted to drugs can read a story about someone overcoming the addiction and will influence them to do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Others may say that banned and challenged books offer too much violent and sexual content. “Oh jeez, do we really have to have this argument again? Here goes, contemporary literature has too much sex and violence and our kids need to be protected from its depravity.” -Meghan Cox Gordon. Why ban violence and sex now? It has been around forever in literature. Classics, Shakespeare, and so many other poets feature the same amount or even more of drastic and sexual content. We are exposed to these themes everyday, news, movies, video games, and most importantly, the internet.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In conclusion, I feel that banning books is a wrong doing and should be illicit. Banning books hides the real side of the world, students shouldn’t be held back to explore the lives of another human being, or a fantasy character. If a book is really that bad that it should be banned, there should be a stamp warning. A stamp warning is a warning on a book that presents profanity, so there is a forewarning. Having a stamp warning is an excellent way for teens to attain maturity in giving them a choices in life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adam Almontaser</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-1726849003868649342014-11-30T18:05:00.001-08:002014-11-30T18:05:24.031-08:00Social Justice Project Responses<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 0.2in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
I born, I black.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
I grow up, I black.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
I scared, I black.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
I sick, I black.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>And
when I die, I still black.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>And
you white people.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
you born, you pink.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
you grow up, you white.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
you go in sun, you red.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
you cold, you blue.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
you scared, you yellow.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>When
you sick, you green.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>And
when you die, you grey…</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>And
you calling me colored?</b></span></div>
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<b>-<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Malcolm
X</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>This
poem leads us to equality in all humans and being racially classified
by color. It shows that white people call black people colored yet
they go through every color of the rainbow. The fact that white
people call black colored does not show human equality. Color doesn't
define anyone, no race is supierior to the other. Even though this
poem was developed a while ago, rascisim is still a problem. More
specifically, human rights and equality.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Acts
of Injustice</u></span></span></div>
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<img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="238" name="graphics1" src="http://i1.huffpost.com/gen/2146722/thumbs/n-HOMELESS-RICH-NEW-YORK-large570.jpg" width="570" />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Being
homeless is a great example of injustice. Sometimes homeless people
mess up their lives on their own, but the unlucky ones are born into
it. This doesn't show equality and human rights. They should be
entitled to food, shelter, and money from the government. There are
over 56,ooo homeless individuals. They are in need of stable housing
and food. New York City is home to 103 billionares, more than any
other city in the world. This makes me think of how selfish people
can be. Although it's none of their business, I don't blame them, but
it wouldn't kill them to spare a dollar or two. Or possibly give them
another chance at their life. This makes me think about being
grateful because homeless people have nothing, and you only realize
how much you love something once it's gone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/new-york-homelessness-billionaires_n_5953464.html"><span style="color: #6666ff;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/new-york-homelessness-billionaires_n_5953464.htm</span><span style="color: #6666ff;">l</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Ferguson,MO
Rioting Live</span></span></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> As
I was watching the news, t</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">he
riots in Ferguson, MO </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">were
being streamed live. These riots, on the streets of </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Ferguson,
</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">MO </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">are
destructive and unreasonable. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">People</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
are rioting over the death of an unarmed </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">African-American
</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">teenager, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">named
Micheal Brown by the hands of a St. Louis, Missouri police officer.
This rioting occurred after the officer who shot Micheal Brown was
not indicted. The rioters</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
are endangering more lives by protesting violently. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">For
example, they were looting, burning down stores, businesses, police
cars, and destroying the city. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Peaceful
protesting gets messages across </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">of
injustice </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">more sensibly.
If I was in the shoes of </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Micheal
Brown's</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> parents, I would
feel overwh</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">elmed because
“my son's” death is what sparked the terror and destruction. I
would tell the angry rioters to look honor Micheal's death and as a
wake up call for our local politicians to train police officers more
effectively all around the nation. These rioters are asking for their
human rights and equality for African American citizens. They believe
the white officer would not have felt threatened if Micheal Brown was
white instead of</span> <span style="font-size: 16pt;">being
black. They are promoting equality for everyone no matter what race,
gender or color a person is. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Detective
Almontaser's View on How He Changes the World</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Q:
How does your job allow you to help change the world?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">A:
My job allows me to investigate and apprehend individuals who </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">have
committed crimes against society.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Q:
Do you enjoy your job?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">A:
Not necessarily, sometimes its not so fun. It exposes me to see </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">the
terrible things that people can do to each other as humans. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The
best part is putting a really bad guy in jail.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Q:
What is the average of hours in the office?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">A:
The average is 65 hours a week, sometimes no days off. Depends </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">on
what case I'm working on.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Q:
What is the most amount of hours you have spent on a case?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">A:
Some cases only take me 2 hours of my week, but some cases will </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">take
100 hours of my week. It all depends.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Q:
Are there any others way you change the world than your job?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">A:
I drive a hybrid (an eco-friendly electric car) and I recycle.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Q:
What is your motto?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">A:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">to
do nothing.” -Edmund Burke. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">That's
something I learned in the marines, that's something I took </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">from
the marines, and that's something I took to my job.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Q:
Can you share a story about your job?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">A:
Last Winter, we had to investigate a case of child abduction. We </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">were
able to put clues together that the neighbor took the girl, </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">she
was 5. It took us 2 days to get a warrant, an order from the </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">judge,
to be able to ping the phone. Pinging a cell phone means </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">using
cell site towers to </span><span style="font-size: 17.27272605896px;">triangulate </span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">the location. We were able to </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">find
him in a house in NJ, and we returned the little girl to her </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">parents
and the guy went to jail.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Our
World- Both the Good and the Bad</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*An
interview with Nawal Almontaser, an educator in the New York City
public </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">school
system.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Q:
What do you believe is good about our world and what is unfair </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">about
our world?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">A:
Is there anything good about our world??? Well, what I think is
</span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">good
about our world is the technological advances that our world </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">has
achieved over time Particularly, computers, the internet and </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">cell
phones. Major breakthroughs in medicine and science and the </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">abundant
amount of natural resources our world provides us with. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">There
is however a lot of unfairness in our world...perhaps more </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">than
there is good. Unfairness with corrupt government that only </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">looks
out for itself and not for its people, poverty of children in </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">the
world and within the United states and inequality based on </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">gender,
race, sex, and socioeconomic backgrounds. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hollywood's
Perception VS Reality</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> I
was watching a rerun of a Nickelodeon series, iCarly. iCarly is a
sitcom about a teenage girl who lives with her older brother Spencer
in Seattle, WA. Carly's father is in the U.S. Navy and does not live
with her. Her older brother, Spencer, is her guardian and a father
figure. They live in a modern fancy apartments with elevators that
lead directly into their homes. I can infer they have a lot of money
because they have a pretty big apartment in a big busy city, and
those types of apartments can range in the hundred thousands. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> The
main actors on the show are middle class </span><span style="font-size: 20.9090900421143px;">Caucasian </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">teenagers, with
the exception of one African American friend who live in Seattle
Washington. The show portrays teens lounging around school hallways
during school hours where all the drama takes place. The teens come
and go as they please without parental permission or involvement.
They get themselves into situations that don't seem very realistic
mostly sparked by their online web show iCarly. These teens run
around chasing the opposite sex and are rarely shown having any
r</span><span style="font-size: 20.9090900421143px;">esponsibilities </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">or doing school work. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
This Hollywood portrayal of teenagers influences many kids in my age
group and exposes them to many mature things. Young children could
stumble upon this show and find two 15 year olds making out or
escaping from their fire escapes late at night. Children are exposed
to content they are not educated on and make their own assumptions
instead of being educated by their parents. This show exposes kids to
unrealistic behavior where teenagers are always dressed to perfection
with the coolest clothes, hair and makeup. These images are
brainwashing children into thinking that their lifestyle is the norm
and that they should be like them.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">While
walking through my neighborhood I observed...</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Homeless
people asking for change</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Many
idling cars - air pollution</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Hispanic
construction workers</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Pedestrians
distracted with their cell phones-hazardous to drivers</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> While
on my daily walk to school along 4<sup>th</sup> ave, I pass by a few
construction sites. The majority of the workers are of Hispanic
descent and are hired by private contractors that pay their workers a
mite of money for diligent work. These workers do their jobs from
dusk til dawn and they need to be paid just like the others. I can
infer that they don't have enough money to buy a cell phone because I
witnessed more than once, a line of construction workers at a pay
phone on 10<sup>th</sup> street 4<sup>t</sup><sup>h</sup>
avenue. I've also observed minimal dollars in their wallets when they
open it to pay for their modest breakfast, a coffee and bagel. They
deserve to be paid more for the labor that they do. </span></span>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-32328935451680597242014-11-05T16:24:00.002-08:002014-11-05T16:24:58.874-08:00Independent ELA Reading Essay<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"When there is no struggle there is no strength." Oprah Winfrey. The </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Invention of Hugo Cabret</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Brian Selznick portrays the lifestyle of an orphan living in the walls of a Paris train station. Hugo Cabret is an orphan, but his unique qualities separate him from the rest; he is an orphan, a clock keeper, and a thief. Hugo has an astounding story behind him. He is an only child raised by his dad, who worked the night-shift at a museum in the heart of Paris. One night, his dad went through storage and found a broken automaton, a machine that writes a specified message when wound up. One night, his father attempted to repair the automaton when the museum mysteriously caught on fire. Hugo's father perished in the uncontrollable blaze. He never came home. The automaton was left behind in the ruins, and Hugo made it his mission to reveal what his dad's "message" was through the automaton. Throughout the book, Hugo taught himself the mechanics of clockworks and gears and little toys that wind up. He may be a homeless orphan, but his characteristics set him apart from the rest.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hugo was singly raised by his father who died in a museum fire. Hugo’s father was a big part of his life, he only had his dad. “Soon Hugo’s father had filled several notebooks with drawings of the automaton. He opened the automaton up and carefully disassembled it. He drew detailed pictures of all it’s parts, then he cleaned them and patiently put it back together. On Hugo’s birthday, his father took him to the movies as usually done, and gave him one of the notebooks as a present.” Meanwhile, Hugo’s father grew obsessed with getting the automaton to work. He brought Hugo back to the museum a few more times and explained how the mechanisms worked. "One night, the old guard in the museum forgot that Hugo’s father was up in the attic, and he locked the door trapping him inside. Hugo had no way of knowing what happened, the museum set fire." Hugo was depressed and deeply shook by this event. He loved his father so much and this was the worst that callus ever happen to him. Most orphans go through this point in their lives but Hugo has many characteristics and personalities that makes him a unique orphan.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hugo was a mental genius when it came to clockwork and gears. From here on Hugo was taken in by his alcoholic Uncle Claude being his only live relative. “‘Pack your things quickly, Nephew,’ Uncle Claude had said, his breath smelling of alcohol as usual.” Uncle Claude took Hugo to his hidden room in the walls of a Paris train station. His uncle’s job was to fix all the clocks around the station daily. Hugo caught up quickly and had to take over his uncle’s job, because he was always hungover and drunk. “A few weeks later, Uncle Claude was out late and never came home. He was found dead in a river not too far from a bar downtown.” Hugo had to keep on doing daily rounds around the station fixing the clocks so there wouldn't be a problem, and have the station guards realize Claude was dead. This eventually became a huge part of Hugo’s life. He felt close to his father when he spent time working with little mechanical toys and gears. All these events made Hugo strong, this helped him carry out tasks throughout the book. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As an orphan, there is a lack of food, and money With living in a crowded Paris train station, thats the perfect opportunity to steal and hide from guards. Hugo’s “morning routine” would be to take a fresh bottle of milk and a croissant. “Hugo slowly crept to the lower level of the station, the cafe bakery. He snatched a bottle of milk from the bottom shelf and took a cellophane wrapped croissant. He dashed off hoping Madame Emile didn't catch him.” Hugo only ate a croissant and drank a bottle a day. He had many struggles that other orphans never had. Orphans usually run away to a shelter or another family member, Hugo would've done the same. But, his main focus is to repair the automaton to see what his father’s message was. Every day Hugo would have the same nightmare, the station inspector chased him back to the time keepers room, where he stayed. The station inspector catches homeless kids using the station as a “shelter” and takes them to an orphanage. “At that moment, Hugo accidentally dropped the ice and the bottle of milk, which shattered loudly on the stone floor. As Madame Emile spun around and spotted him, she yelled, “My milk! So you’re the one who’s been stealing from me!” Madame Emile was talking to the station inspector when this happened, Hugo was chased by the station inspector. He ran into the walls of the station and the inspector soon followed. He chased Hugo throughout the whole interior of the station until he lost him. Hugo was hiding in the highest clock in the station. The clock at the top of the station.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In conclusion, Hugo is a unique orphan, his characteristics set him apart from the rest. His struggles as a young timekeeper and thief, leave him restless. All these events made Hugo strong, this helped him carry out tasks throughout the book. "When there is no struggle there is no strength." Oprah Winfrey.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-37715385832305943012014-10-22T17:26:00.003-07:002014-10-22T17:28:44.833-07:00<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Adam
Almontaser
10/22/14 </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Ashes
Blog Final</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> “When
there is no struggle, there is no strength” - Oprah Winfrey. In the
short story Ashes by Beth Pfefferer, we see a lot of struggles and
issues with Ashes. There is a clear theme that relationships can be
complicated between parents and their kids. Sometimes our
relationships can influence our life choices and give us decisions
that will lead us to our future. Ashes has to deal with her fathers
manipulation, there are promises not kept and her decisions on
choosing to listen to her father or standby her mother.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> One
of the issues Ashes has to deal with is her fathers verbal
manipulation, he always says she is “One in a Million” to make
her feel comfortable when she is with her dad. Her father used
compliments to make Ashes do stuff she would have never done. She was
“ordered” by her father to take money, $200 from her mom’s keep
safe to give it to his dad from his divorced wife. “The skies
turned grey as she looked out the window when she stole her moms’
keep safe money.” The skies turning grey is a sign of guilt. Ashes
knew she did something wrong, she just thought she was helping her
dad, but he knew she wasn’t. Ashes was out eating with her dad when
he said his famous line, “ Your one in a million.” Her father
thinks that his plan of manipulation is working but Ashes has
suspicions. “Am I really?” I asked, not needing the reassurance.
I knew I wasn’t a one in a million girl, no matter how often Dad
told me I was.” Ashes didn’t need the reassurance because she is
told that so many times. She know her dad isn’t truthful when he
says “One in a million.” Ashes knows her dads methods and tactics
to use her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> Ashes
also has to deal with as a young adult is accepting that her dad
promises won’t be kept. Ashes’ dad promised her a necklace of
stars, she never got it. “Dad used to promise me the stars for a
necklace, but like most of his promises, that one never quite
happened.” From this there is a clear statement, her dad has
impossible promises, or in other words, unrealistic. “Mom said
‘He’s an irresponsible bum. That was her way of wording it.”
This quote also supports the fact that the dad is untruthful, and
irresponsible, bums are exactly that. Irresponsible people can’t
keep promises, her dad is one of them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> Lastly,
another issue that Ashes has to deal with, is her decision making
between her mother and her father. “No, I just thought maybe you
could borrow the money, just for a day or two, until I straighten out
all my finances. Your mother would never know the difference.” This
the part where Ashes has to listen to her father, or standby her
mother. This is a crucial moment in the book, she can destroy her
relationship with her dad, who she sees twice a week, or her mom
where she sees her on a normal day to day basis. “Dad touched me on
my shoulder, gloved hand on winter coat. ‘You’re one in a
million,’ he said to me. ‘The best daughter a man could dream
of.” This quote is giving Ashes the “reassurance” she needs to
give her dad the money. Although the short story didn’t end there,
it left off with Ashes staring at the keep safe money listening to
her dads car rumble in the distance. “Your one in a million it
cried.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> In
conclusion, struggles and teen issues relate to the book as a whole
because Ashes is faced with many challenges, and tough decisions.
Beth Pfefferer is clear and successful on bringing her message across
throughout the short story because Ashes struggles and challenges are
visible, they are relateable. From the ending of the short story,
many predictions can be formed. She will take the money and make her
dad joyful, or leave the money and make him disappointed. The quote
“When there is no struggle, there is no strength” - Oprah Winfrey
really ties into this book because this proves that Ashes is strong
because there is lots of struggle in this short story.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-51847798182452740662014-09-13T16:52:00.001-07:002014-09-13T16:52:27.197-07:00 The book Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica is about a Valley, Massachusetts boy named Nate Brodie. Nate is not an ordinary boy, he has a passion for football. Sometimes when you were 13, nothing made sense to you. It was never like this for Nate. Nate had been having more and more trouble figuring out his world especially with everything that was happening to his family. He lived in a poor family. One-day during a football game, Nate makes his first touchdown and says I hope my mom got that on film with the camera we have thats on its last strand. And I know my dad is already not here because he is finishing his last shift at his second job. Nate's favorite football player is Tom Brady. One day Nate goes with his mom, and best friend Abby to a store to finally buy the Tom Brady autographed football he always wanted after saving for over a year. After he bought it he got the chance to sign up to throw a ball from 30 yards into a hole at the half of a New England Patriots game and win $1,000,000. He won the raffle and got to do it. This event takes place in a couple of months. He knew that if he made this throw, his life would be almost back to normal. He knew it would help his family and himself. This throw was a one time opportunity, a Million Dollar Throw.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-42191619153627392622014-03-31T17:18:00.002-07:002014-03-31T17:20:17.200-07:00Poetry Literary Essay<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” by Emily Dickinson and “Acquainted with the Night” by Robert Frost both share the concept of darkness being a struggle, stress, and depression. Every poem uses techniques like P.O.V, imagery, and structure to alter with the feel of the poem. Both poems use these techniques to give the reader a view from different sides.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Both poems show different P.O.Vs in different ways. In “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark”, Dickinson uses the term “we” throughout the poem which gives the reader a sense that the author is referring to a group or more than two people. Maybe even the reader. “We grow accustomed to the Dark- When light is put away”. When using we, it makes us feel like what is happening can be applied to more than one person. It makes us think we are not alone, which can make the poem feel very moody. In “Acquainted with the Night”, Frost uses the term “I” throughout the poem. “I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain- and back in rain”. This makes us think of a person who is stuck in the world of depression and sadness and doesn’t know how to overcome it. Using “I” throughout the poem gives the reader a better interpretation of the person being trapped or stuck and they feel as if they cant escape. The speaker doesn’t show much feeling, he doesn’t share his problems with anybody, that is why he can’t over come depression.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Imagery is an authors craft device used in both poems. Imagery is when metaphors, similes, descriptions, etc. paint a picture in your head of what is happening in the poem. For example in “Acquainted with the Night” the speaker says, “Still at an unearthly height, One luminary clock against the sky.” The word luminary means to be bright or to reflect light. From this quote, we can infer that the “luminary clock” is the moon because the moon can be used to tell time and it very luminary. In “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” , there is a steady use of darkness being depression and stress. And light being a symbol of hope. We can identify this because the tone of the poem is very dark, it is about a group of people entering a life of depression and stress.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The structure of the poems are not so alike. The structure of the poem “Acquainted with the Night” , is in very short 3 burst stanzas. These 3 lined stanzas are very emotionless. They show no feeling; this makes us think that the speaker is trapped in a world of depression and stress and he doesn’t know how to cope with it or how to overcome it. In “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark”, we get the uneasy feeling of stumbling. The author uses hyphens throughout the poem to leave an uneasy feeling. This gives us an uneasy feeling because it is stopping in the middle of a stanza uncomfortably.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In conclusion, both poems share the same authors craft techniques. P.O.V, imagery, and structure to give the poems their very own feeling. These 2 poems can connect to the real world because people are in real life struggles they don’t know how to get out of. People let depression take over their life and they don’t reach out to others for help.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-45463573173821506002014-03-07T15:25:00.000-08:002014-03-07T15:25:37.105-08:00Comparing Poetrey Essay<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The poems “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke and “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden both introduce a working class father and the bond with their children. In both poems the speaker focuses on a memory from when they were a child. In “Those Winter Sundays”, the father is faced with unnoticed love from his children. They take his hard work for granted even when he wakes up early on Sundays, his day to relax, to do chores. In “My Papa’s Waltz”, a memory of the speaker and their father is revealed, we are introduced to a father that is a very hard worker and has a drink of whiskey to settle in after a long day of labor. After that customary routine is over, he waltzes his son to bed, almost every night.<br />
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“Those Winter Sundays” and “My Papas Waltz” both share the same concept and theme. They’re both about relationships and bonds between a father and his children. Both poems are portrayed as a memory. In “Those Winter Sundays” the speaker looks back on all the chores and hard labor his dad did for him. “Sundays too my father got up early and put his clothes on in a blueblack cold, then with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.” This quote is saying that even on the father’s day off from work, he still gets up early and works. Because the father had cracked hands, you can infer that he worked hard. No one ever thanked him or appreciated what he did. The speaker took his father’s labor and hard work for granted, until he looked back at the past and realized that he was just showing love, something he never received from his children. The speaker regrets not showing the love his father deserves.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Although there are bonds in both poems, they are not exactly the same kind. In “My Papa’s Waltz” we’re brought into a memory of a usual evening with another hard working father who’s described as loving and caring with “palms caked hard with dirt, and whiskey breath that could make a small boy dizzy.” We can infer that he was also a hard worker as well. The bond between the father and his son is much stronger than the one in “Those Winter Sundays”. The father has a usual routine, when he comes home, he likes to have a whiskey to settle in and relax. It is possible to infer he may have had a little to much to drink since his breath could make a small boy dizzy. Their bonding is in a fun and gentle way, just like waltzing off to bed. “We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself.” This quote is saying that the father is more of the outgoing parent and wants to have fun with his on since he doesn't see him a lot. The father and son were very much into the waltzing that they didn’t realize the pans fell. This caused the mothers’ frown as she looked at the close bond they had.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In conclusion, both poems share the same theme with having working class families and how they have bonded with their children. Both fathers are similar, they are both very hard workers but, they have very different bonds with their sons. For some families in the world this isn’t a poem to them, it is a reality. Some fathers aren't appreciated for the work they do for their kids and families. The take home message or theme from this poem is that love is shown in different ways and nothing lasts forever so take nothing for granted.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-80253058794088788232014-01-28T16:49:00.001-08:002014-01-28T16:49:12.639-08:00Argument Essay Final: Should College Athletes be Paid? Adam Almontaser 1/28/14 The NCAA has a rule where they don’t allow any of their college athletes to be paid by their universities. Even though the athletes makes tens of millions of dollars for colleges, they don’t receive a dime for their hard work. This has caused an immense debate between players, their coaches, and those outside of the system like students and adults. College athletes should be paid because they don’t have enough time for jobs or for work. They need money to support themselves, it is challenging to live without food or clothes, they should receive a stipend.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One reason college athletes should be paid is that they don’t have enough time to work for money when they are at practice all the time. Also the teams travel a lot so they can’t really work at a store or. Huffington Post states “… For little extra money to see a movie or go out to dinner ONCE a week, my freshman roommate worked a job at the university working about $7 an hour…” This quote basically says that not all players come from a rich background and can just get money from their parents. It also shows how athletes need money to do things they want to do. USA Today Sports claimed “… I feel for athletes whose families need money. Those athletes need to work and we don’t have time because of our school and practice. There are some situations where I feel they should be paid. I feel like I’m here…” -Justin Utupo a football college athlete that plays for Notre Dom, a college football team. Again, this ties in with jobs, everybody doesn’t come from a wealthy background where they can get money from their parents. Another reason why college athletes should be paid is because they need money for necessities like food and purchasing clothes and shoes. Huffington Post also claims “…However, once the season started up, my freshman roommate couldn’t work that job anymore..” When the players are off of the team, when they aren’t playing, they have little to no time to work. The season comes along every few months and the players barely have enough to support themselves. Almost any NCAA executive that has a playing college team is ensured about one million dollars per year while their players who make them that money don’t get a single dime.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Another reason why college athletes should be paid is that scholarships aren’t enough money. Most colleges provide cafeteria’s with food plans for their students. But, just because colleges provide their students with free food, doesn’t mean that students have physical pocket money for other things they might need. Tyson Hartnett, a visionary entrepreneur, and a former high-level professional basketball player, was interviewed by Huffington Post and stated that “..the point of this is that a scholarship doesn’t equal cash in a players pocket. Even with any type of scholarship, college athletes are typically dead broke…” This means that college athletes have no money to go out and have fun with their family or friends. Scholarships still don’t leave money in a players pocket when they should to help them get a form of money.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some people may think college athletes shouldn’t get paid. They think that enough money is already spent on them. Pitching Politics, a network that excels with college sports knowledge says “… Tens of millions of dollars are invested into practice, exercise, and training their 18-22 year old athletes…” That’s the college’s decision, not the players. The players join a team to help the college earn money for itself but also to earn money for the players. With Greg Bishop, a retired American college and professional player, speaking, a video from cnn.money.com explains that “… Everyone can make money off of Johnny Manzeil (a football college athlete) except for Johnny Manzeil…” Colleges can sell his jerseys for a decent amount of money without him getting any. This quote is saying that everyone can benefit off of Johnny except for himself. He cant receive any form of profit for selling jerseys or autographs. Colleges basically use their players to make money if their players aren’t receiving any form of payment.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In conclusion, college athletes should be paid. They don’t have money for necessities, and they don’t have time to work jobs to earn cash outside of training. Scholarships aren’t enough, college athletes are very busy, and they need to start making money by playing for their teams.<br />
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Bibliography:<br />
Huffington Post. Huffington Post, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.<br />
http://huffingtonpost.com/ tyson-hartnett/college-athletes-should-be-paid.<br />
Pitching Politics. Pitching Politics, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. <http://wnd.com/2013/09/<br />
why-college-athletes-should-not-be-paid/print/>.<br />
<br />
Should College Athletes be paid? ESPN Videos. ESPN, 4 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.<br />
<http://espn.com/videos/college/athletes/be/paid>.<br />
<br />
Should The NCAA Pay College Players. CNN Money. CNN, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.<br />
<http://cnn.money.com>.<br />
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USA Today. USA Today, 7 Jan. 2013. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. http://www.usatoday.com.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-13637380514810104702014-01-24T07:15:00.002-08:002014-01-24T07:15:55.061-08:00D,G,&,DP <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie is an intense book about a 13 year old boy in 8th grade named Steven Alpart and his family going through troubles when they find out that their 5 year old son Jeffery has cancer. When Jeffery found out he had cancer, he really didn't know what it was until his mom and his doctor explained to him in a friendly way. When Steve was making moat meal for Jeffery, Jeffery feel off his high stool and banged his nose on the counter top. Then, he started to bleed non stop so he was rushed to the emergency room. There, it was said that Jeffery had leukemia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In this book, Steven changes from a boy to a man and a hero to his little brother. In the beginning of this book, Steven says that having a little brother is horrible, its the worst thing you can imagine! After Steven sees Jeffy in the hospital, he sees the pain that Jeffery has to go through everyday in the hospital from the "bone 'narrows" to the blood tests. Steven then comes along with Jeffery to help him stay calm when Medic Mike (Jeffery's toy) isn't there. One day, at the end of the book, Steven's crush Renee Albert comes at his house then he slams the door on her. Jeffery realizes Renne went from being beautiful to being my friend, and Annet went from being my friend to being beautiful. Steven realizes how beautiful and nice Annet is when he stops liking Renee ( the hottest girl in school).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In conclusion, Steven changes from a boy to a man. After being with Jeffery for a day when his mom was sick, Steven and his dad realize the troubles of their mom and Jeffery. Everyone's bond in the family is then strengthened and tighten together.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-11811925674426208452014-01-08T16:54:00.003-08:002014-01-08T16:54:40.163-08:00Character Change: Greg Heffley Greg Heffley, the star of the popular Diary of a Wimpy series, has released a new book in the series. Number 8, Hard Luck. Since I've read all the Diary of a Wimpy kid books, I've noticed changes in Greg from when he was in 6th grade to 8th grade. He went through all the changes a normal teenager would go through. For example, break ups with friends, and fitting in with his peers.<br />
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Greg Heffley and Rowley Jefferson have been friends since before they could even speak to each other. Breaking them apart would be a tough job. But, when Rowley gets a girlfriend, Greg seems to envy him. Greg thought he was better than Rowley, he felt that Rowley followed HIM. When Rowley was with his girlfriend, he would never do anything they used to do together. For example, blowing bubbles in their milk or anything silly. Rowley would think they would be immature.<br />
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When Rowley and Abigail (Rowley's girlfriend) broke up, everything turned back to normal. Greg realizes that middle school is a bumpy ride that will almost last forever. They started to hang out again and blow bubbles in their milk at lunch. Rowley then soon finds out that Abigail never loved him, and that going out with him was just to get her old boyfriend, Micheal, to be jealous. Then after that, Abigail and Micheal were back together again.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-56020052125971901392013-12-18T13:23:00.003-08:002013-12-18T13:23:40.405-08:00Read-a-thon Inquiry Question My book clubs inquiry question was "What are different super heroes ways of giving justice?". We found this question to be perfect because we all read comics about our favorite super heroes. I read an origin comic of The Amazing Spider. My other group members read comics on Green Arrow, Captain America, and The Hulk.<br />
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Spider-Man's way of giving justice is by helping his community and his neighbor hood. In most of Spider-Man's appearances, he is retrieving stolen peruses or bags from criminals to their owners. Captain America on the other hand is the total opposite. In most of his appearances, he is saving the world from his enemies like Red Skull. He also fought in World War II in the comics, another example of him "saving the world".<br />
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Hulk keeps on trying no matter what. In most of his fights, his enemies are greater than him, in strength and size. For example, Zzzax, one of hulks enemies. Zzzax is made out of fire and is way stronger than hulk. But he will still fight no matter who it is. He will keep on trying until the job is done.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-84499728826861177102013-11-20T15:29:00.000-08:002013-11-20T15:29:25.274-08:00Character Change I have been reading the book <u>Football Hero</u> by Tim Green. <u>Football Hero</u> is the sequel to Football Genius, the first book of the series. <u>Football Hero</u> is a great book. It is about an orphan named Ty who has a passion for football. His brother, "Tiger" is an all time football star who gets paid for playing football. Ty looks up to his brother and hopes to become a football legend.<div>
But, his aunt and uncle, (his guardians) don't want him too. They don't have faith in Ty. They don't believe he has what it takes to become a legend of the NFL. Over time, there have been many <span style="background-color: yellow;"><u>character changes</u> .</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Ty has changed from a wimpy boy to a man. For example, his uncle didn't want Ty to play football, so when it was Ty's 14 birthday, his uncle gave Ty his work papers. His uncle wanted him to work for money because they were poor already, but Ty believed he could make it in the NFL. I also see changes in his football work. He became faster and smarter, this also a change from a boy with silly plays, to a young man with strategic planned out plays.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> Overall, this book is a great book. I can't wait to finish </span><u>Football Hero</u> to move onto the next book. Although I haven't finished the book, I hope Ty makes it to the NFL. I wish to see Ty as a more mature young man in a few chapters or in future books!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-36469454355266650942013-11-13T05:17:00.004-08:002013-11-13T05:17:31.544-08:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Adam Almontaser 707</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">11/</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5/13</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Memoir Piece</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> ELA</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I slowly walked down the black staircase, holding onto the chipped red hand railing. “Alright guys enter quietly.” said my fifth grade teacher Mr. T. We walked into the auditorium, there were hundreds of, white lined up chairs. As we were directed to our seats, our guidance counselor Ms. Manna grasped the shiny black microphone. “Rrrrriiiiinngggg” Everybody covered their ears to the loud screeching of the microphone. Ms. Manna’s raspy voice came onto the microphone. “Hello everybody! Welcome to this years award ceremony! Everyone clapped and cheered and whistled. I could see in the corner of my eye, my mom taking pictures of me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After 30 minutes, I almost fell asleep listening to everyone bragging about their awards. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead from the lights and because I was nervous too. I wasn’t getting any. After about 15 minutes, my name was finally called. “Holy Crap that was a long time” I thought to myself. It was an award for science. The paper was warm and smooth. Then I got a second one, a gold medal came with it too. It was cold and bumpy. The next one was for perfect attendance, it came with a silver medal, with a calendar on it. When Ms. Manna said “This award is a special one” I knew I wanted it right away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“This award is from president Obama.” Everyone clapped and cheered and whistled again. My face turned from apricot to printer paper white. “Yousef, Natasha, Jesse, Luis, and…. Adam!” “Please come up!!” I jumped for joy as I ran through the aisles! My parents cameras lit up like guns. That’s when I got my first life lesson, work hard in school. This teaches me to push harder in school, because one day I would want to get another letter!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-2116912794687349202013-11-06T12:50:00.001-08:002013-11-06T12:50:39.422-08:00"Watching You" UpFront Magazine<u>"Watching You"</u><br />
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I recently read the article "Watching You " by Patricia Smith. I thought I could reflect on some of her ideas and information she mentioned in her article. The article "Watching You" is about how the government is able to listen in on phone calls, e-mails, and text messages. There are many privacy concerns, but, they can save many lives. If you ask me for my opinion, it would be YES.<br />
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I would say yes because America has faced many tragedies. For example, 9/11 and Boston Bombing that took place in 2012. These events could've been 100% stopped. If the government looked in on the phone calls to blocked numbers and e-mail to wanted people, we would all be safe. I'm pretty sure 9/11 and the Boston Bombings took a lot of planning to make it happen. An Al Qaeda member was stopped on a train in 2006 and was carrying a bomb, these tactics stopped it.<br />
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In conclusion, I feel that the government should be able to look through phone calls and e-mails and texts. What if you were on that train?, What if your loved ones were on that train? So, what do you think?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-44085230041742267612013-10-22T10:31:00.002-07:002013-10-23T16:39:48.311-07:00<u>Scholastic News: Roadkill for Dinner</u><br />
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This article is about a new law in Montana that states that people are allowed to eat roadkill they find on the highways. Personally, I feel that this law is cruel and wrong. I think this because they should just install bars on the highway that deer and other animals can't jump over. Many animals like deer<br />
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Every year over 2 million animals are killed on the highway. These animals include elk, deer, cats, moose, and in some areas, antelope. This happens in many states that have road crossings, major highways, interstates, and rural areas. In states like Arizona, New Jersey, and Montana, people are allowed to eat any animal they find dead on the road. All they have to do is pick them up and cook them.<br />
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**This Paragraph is My opinion**<br />
I think this law is nasty and disgusting. If you find dead roadkill, you should just leave it there for bugs to eat it, its part of the lie cycle. We're sure as heck not bugs, so leave it to them. Also, eating dead animals on the side of the road, rotted, and dirty, that's unsanitary. To prevent this should add gates to the sides of these roads so that no animals can go on the road. Or, lower the speed limits so if the animal gets hit at a lower speed, they can have a chance to live. And, they won't damage their car as much.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-2597708399595368062013-10-16T16:20:00.001-07:002013-10-16T16:20:40.103-07:00Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Connections Lately I have been reading the Diary of A Wimpy kid series. I re read all the books and I got some great memories. Right now I'm read the 7th book in the series, <u>The Third Wheel</u> by Jeff Kiney. Even though this series is not my level, I still think there is a deeper meaning to the story.<br />
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The book so far has been about how Greg doesn't like being around his brothers. He also doesn't like how he always get hand-me downs and that Manny the youngest, gets new clothes and toys. Greg was also talking about when he was in his mother's womb and how he could sleep all he wants and he could do flips when he felt like it. He tried to recreate these moments but he couldn't get any privacy because Manny and Rodrick don't give him space or privacy.<br />
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I can connect to some moments in this book. At one point, Greg said " Sometimes I have to wait until all of Manny's imaginary friends are done using the bathroom before I can get in." I can connect to this. Even though my sister doesn't have imaginary friends, she still takes a year and a day to get out. And when I go to my other bathroom she gets out..... Same story, different day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-5976662145269111722013-10-09T11:48:00.001-07:002013-10-09T11:48:28.985-07:00up-Front Magazine: Has the Arab Spring Failed?up-Front Magazine: Has the Arab Spring Failed?<br />
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The article <u>Has the Arab Spring Failed?</u> is about the turmoil in the Middle East and how there are thousands of people dying from protests and wars. In countries like Egypt, and Libya, there are dictators who have been ruling for 20 years. I feel, yes it has failed.<br />
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See, countries in the Middle East do not have presidents like the United States and Canada has, and many other countries. They have dictators. A dictator is a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession. The article stated, "Security forces used armored vehicles, bulldozers, tear gas, bird shot, live ammunition, and snipers to raze encampments of protesters who supported the deposed Islamist dictator." This act killed thousands of Egyptians in Cairo. The dictator then stood down. "The confrontation lasted more than 12 hours and turned parts of Cairo into a war zone. More than 600 people were killed and close to 4,000 injured." This shows that spring in the Middle East has defiantly failed. And this crisis is not only happening in Egypt. It's happening in Tunisa, Isreal, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen.<br />
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This crisis in the Middle East connects to me personally. This connects to me personally because I'm from the Middle East, I'm from Yemen. I am glad to be living in America, my country is a living battlefield right now (Yemen). I'm soooooo glad we have a president, and a great one!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-24987249415036484352013-10-01T16:27:00.000-07:002013-10-01T16:27:16.729-07:00 <em><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author's Craft- Literary Devices</span></u></em><br />
<em><u><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></u></em><br />
<u>Hugo Cabret</u> by Brian Selznick is about a young man named Hugo. He is an orphan and he lives by himself in a train station. Hugo is different from everyone else, he has a unique talent. He can fix clocks and machinery from a huge clock tower clock, to a small wind up mouse. As Hugo grows older he finds out more and more about his dad who passed away and how he was working on an auto-maton( a machine that writes out a message). He figures out how to fix the machine and it draws something, a man in the moon with a fireworks rocket in his eye.<br />
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I think Brian Selznick has a very original and exquisite way of writing, he uses imagery to express words into nice pictures that form in my head. Imagery helps the reader create images out of words, details that appeal to our senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. For example, in one part of the book it said, "His dirty blonde hair covered his dirt smudged forehead and his red tipped ears". This quote gave a description of what the main character, Hugo, looks like. This tells you that Hugo is a hard worker making his shifts around the train station to fix all the clocks. All in all, literary devices enhance the story to make it better and more understandable.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-4989730006843398672013-09-26T11:40:00.000-07:002013-09-26T11:49:02.840-07:00My Name Piece<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Adam Almontaser<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>By
Adam Almontaser<o:p></o:p></u></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: green; font-family: Chalkboard;">My name is Adam
Almontaser. Most Adam’s I know are pretty funny, like Adam Sandler. And, I’m
pretty funny myself. I'm like a jack in the box to little kids! Most think of me as a class clown. But I can be serious
sometimes. My dad really liked the name Adam so he chose it for me and my mom
liked it too. My dad wanted my name a lot so that’s why he decided to choose
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 2.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Chalkboard;">My friends often think of
my name with trouble…. Okay sometimes I can be a troublemaker. Like when I shot
a pencil at my 5<sup>th</sup> grade teacher’s leg, he was cool with it though.
Me and him have a good relationship he’s like my friend.. But other than that,
I am very smart. I have a really great average in math. I feel very special for
having my name even though many people have it. This is because my name is one
of the first names to ever be used on Earth. That says something nice….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Chalkboard;">But I feel angry when
people make fun of my name. They say Ah-DUMB and circle me and say they. That’s
when I get into trouble. I go crazy and get all of them back and say you’re the
one calling a person with a 97 average dumb? That just makes them 100 times
dumber if you understand me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458023606602635698.post-66132331147021888692013-09-16T16:12:00.002-07:002013-09-16T16:12:16.218-07:00Adam Almontaser 707 9/15/13<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><i><u>Football Genius Response</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
Over the summer, I read a few books. One of my favorites was <u>Football Genius</u> by Tim Green. This book is about a 13 year old named Troy White who moved to Atlanta because his mom got a job there with the Atlanta Falcons NFL Team. When Troy arrives to his new school, he makes 2 new friends, Nathan and Tate. Those 2 friends know his incredible talent, he can call the plays in a football game before they happen. Troy has also made enemies at his new school too, a bully named Jamie. Troy made a huge gamble with Jamie and said he will give him an Atlanta Falcons ball over a game of football on t.v. They were betting to see which team would win. After he lost the bet, he had to give a Jamie a ball but he actually didn't have one. Troy discovered that the Atlanta Falcons Star Player Seth Holloway lived next to him, so he had a mischievous idea to steal a ball from Seth's yard. After he accomplished that with his friends, his mom found out and was disappointed. She made him return it and say sorry. When Troy arrived at Seth's house with the ball he told the truth. After that, Seth invited him in for a drink and they were watching football. Troy started calling out plays normally like he was watching a game on his couch at home and that's when an idea sparked in Seth's head. Seth decided his team could use Troy to help them win the season because they were 0-2. Troy started to help the Atlanta Falcons win the season, and he got paid for it. After that, Seth was really close with Troy and his single mom. They soon got together and started to date.<br />
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This book got me to think that if you have a passion for football or any sport, you should follow that path and you will be brought good things. The take home message/lesson is to follow what you like and if you work hard, everything may turn out fine.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399511251846640624noreply@blogger.com3