Monday, May 19, 2014

Farewell Blog

             
           Throughout this journey in Mr.Thomas class i've learned many things. I've also wrote MANY essays, which were all pretty boring at first. The most difficult for me was the rhetorical analysis essay. Mainly because it required me to study and remember the different and many rhetorical devices. But after a while i begin to use the same three easy devices that anyone one could find in a reading. After that the essay was easier to produce. The essay I liked the most and could write with no problem would probably be the argumentative essay. I guess what made it easy was that I enjoyed it the most.


           Devil In the White City and In cold Blood were two of my favorite books that I've read this year. I love mysteries and stories that have crime, they keep me entertained. Books like these are hard to put down which is probably why I loved them so much. I really didn't hate any reading you gave us , but if i could ski one it would have to be The Crucible mainly because of the way the characters talked. 
       

  Mr.Thomas you are a wonderful teacher, and i'm not just saying that so you can give me a good grade. English has always been one of my favorite subject. I went into this class this year thinking an AP class would be difficult because of essays, but you've made sure to make me a better writer. I can dish out an essay in less the amount of time required by college board, I would've never been able to do that with out CRAAP and HELP.

Thank you Mr.Thomas for being a great teacher!

Monday, March 3, 2014

What I carry

                                 

   In Tim O'Briens novel, The Things They Carried he describes to us the things the men carry in his platoon. These things aren't necessarily physical objects they're a combination of dreams, relationships, personalities, and memories.    

One physical object that I carry with me everyday no matter where I'm going or what I'm doing is my phone. Probably  like every other teenager in the world. I'd probably go insane if i didnt have it with me all the time. Ok, maybe i wouldnt . But I would probably have to do physical activities or read books to keep myself entertained instead of plaing flappy bird or tweeting.

My long term goal for the future is to be a succeful women. That way i can payback my parents for everything they've sacrificed for me. In order for me to reach that i focus on my short term goal. Which is to do good in high school and get good grades that way I'm able to go to a good college. I carry those goal with me everyday, they're my motivation to keep going and not give up whenthings are getting rough.

My "Martha" or "Martha's" would probaly have to be my brother and sister. More my younger brother because I want to be able to be his role model as he gets older. I want to be successful so that I can help my parents with him when it comess to his college tuition. He is my motivation to keep going when things get rough. His laugh and sense of humor helps cure my insanity.
 

One memory I carry with me is when my sister got her acceptance letter to her top school. Ever since my sister had her mind set on the medical field she's wanted to go to Baylor. Not to long ago she got her acceptance letter to Baylor and her eyes just filled with joy because she had been waiting for so long. Thats something i'd like to experience, I want that feeling that shows me that all my hard work and stress has finally payed off.

Of course my personality is something that i carry with me all the time ,24/7. I wouldnt know how to describe myself. I just know that I have my mind set on where i'd like to be in the future. I am going to do what I need to do to get there. I guess i would have a determined type of personality.

Those are the things I carry to get me through this war we call life.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

My favorite blog

My parents were both born here in the United States, but both spent a large part of their childhood in Mexico. Being raised by hispanic parents with a catholic background.My parents were raised in two completely different living situations and lifestyles.
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 My father was raised by a single mom, he spent his saturday nights taking care of his younger sister while his mother and older were out working to pay the bills. My father didnt have a relationship with his father until he was well  into his twenties. And because of that he believes that no matter what they do , or how crazy the drive you, FAMILY IS EVERYTHING. He never says it but he shows it every morning when he wakes up to go to work, when he goes to all our late soccer games even when he's tired, and when he's lecturing us to do better than him and my mother did. He's never let us give up on anything, he's taught us that practice makes perfect. He didnt go to college, so he makes us work hard because he believes education and a nice respectful attitude is the key to a succeful life. But some days I find him stuck in the past, he believes the place for a lady is in the house, taking care of the family. My dad doesnt believe in material things, he'd much rather go; camping, hunting, or fishing. He'd chose a pair of boots before a pair of nikes. My father is a simple man who needs nothing but good company to keep him happy.

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My mother on the other hand was raised by both parents. My grandmother was very strict about attending church and completing your seven sacraments. My grandfather was a very strict man who didnt really allow for my mom and her sisters to go out like the other kids. My mother is a very materialistic type of lady, she keeps up with the latest fashion trends, never leaves the house with out makeup, and always has a pair of heels on. My mom has made sure we've celebrated all the catholic holidays and participate in the churhc activities. She's also made sure me and my sister were the best of friends and that we always watched over our brother. She always taught us to give to those who are less fortunate, she's taught me to be kind to everyone even if they're ugly to you. She's taught me to always be strong when times are tough. She's taught us to cook, although our self made meals mainly consist of ramen noodle soup , we've learned how to make her tex-mex enchiladas and her home made chilli. My mother unlike my father believes that a women doesnt belong in the kitchen, she's always taught me and my sister that we shoud depend on a man to live.
My "third" would be to continue with the catholic religion. And thanks to my father I do believe that an education is the only way to a succesful life, but good company is the way to a happy one. I'd continue the tradition of going camping every memorial day weekend that my father started when i was just a toddler, I'd continue to cook my mothers mexican-american dishes. I believe that for me, my "third" option would be a combination of my parents lifestyle and the lessons they taught me. They are the ones who raised me and they're satissfied and happy with their life. You must never forget where you came from, I believe that you must always stay loyal to your culture. In my opinion the "third" option is just you growing up, it's different for everyone.
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Why do you hate us Mr.Thomas?

 
Edgar Allen Poe is most famous for his horrific ability to keep his readers entertained. He has his own unique writing style that keeps us readers intrigued yet sometimes disgusted.
With The Fall Of The House Of Usher, Poe first catches our attention with the plot. If I were to write a horror story I would have to use Poe's sense of description and plot settup. He explains the outside of the house and the landmarks around it. The narrator explains to us " but with first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit.". I want my readers to be able to feel like the narator. I want them to be as creeped out and scared as he is. Poe also has this technique when rhyming that is almost rhythmitic. As if it were a poem. I would use this technique because I feel it would keep my readers entertained.
 


Another technique that I found very interesting while reading this story is that Poe has very little characters. He uses a total of six characters throughout this story. Also his main character, the narrator of the story is never identified. I find this as a very useful technique in a horror story that I would use. Not knowing the identity of the narrator kept me intrigued, I wanted to know who he was. Was he even real? Or was he imagined by Roderick Usher?
Also within the characters he creates a unusual relationship between Roderick Usher and his sister Madeline. He keeps us wondering throughout the whole piece.  Are they intimate? Are they just siblings orr? If I were to write a horror story I feel like this would be a strong way to keep my readers intrigued and wondering.
 
Also another good technique that Poe used in his horror story that I felt that I would like to use in my own story is a vague ending. Poe ends the story with the House Of Usher in quotation marks. It makes a reader wonder what the prupose of that was. Was he refering to soemthing else? Was he personifying the house ? Every reader will have their own different perception of those quotes. Thats why Poe is such a talented author, because he is able to give each individual reader their own ending.
 
 
 
...P.S sorry its late Mr.Thomas, my computer froze last night.