Introductions & Reading
Hello! I'm Julia, and I made this blog specifically for my English class. You probably won't be seeing anything else from here. As for my first response, I think I'm the type of reader who uses books...
View ArticleI am Noticing...
Currently, I'm reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. One of the things I noticed recently was how conflict was handled throughout the book. Almost all of the book is seen through first...
View ArticleWho Does it Better?
This week, we read "Checkouts", a short story by Cynthia Rylant. The plot revolves around two characters, who are shown to feel affection towards each other, yet have never attempted to express it....
View ArticleComing of Age
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green contains many aspects typically seen in a "coming of age" novel. The story mostly focuses on young characters like Hazel, Augustus, and Isaac. Each of them will...
View ArticleProve Something
When you "prove something" in literature, you use details from the work and apply your own insight in order to show your understanding. This is usually done last because it requires you to look...
View ArticleTo Kill a Mockingbird: Part One
There were many memorable moments in the first part of To Kill a Mockingbird that I'd like to include here, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be when Scout and Jem found several hidden items...
View ArticleThe Trial: Dramatic Reading
This week, we did a dramatic reading of the trial in To Kill a Mockingbird. The character I portrayed was Mayella. Her most memorable line probably took place in the section where she started to...
View ArticleFinishing To Kill a Mockingbird!
I absolutely loved the ending in To Kill a Mockingbird. Though I still have many unanswered questions, the last part just seemed to fit and complete everything in a perfectly subtle and simple way....
View ArticleExploring Poetry Out Loud
The evaluation criteria in Poetry Out Loud is divided into seven sections: physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, level of complexity, evidence of understanding,...
View ArticlePoetry Out Loud: My Poem
Like I've mentioned before, I think my poem talks of a deceased man who had recently drowned. Despite trying to find help, his struggling in the water was mistaken for waving, and went ignored. On a...
View ArticlePutting Research to Work
Without prior research, it would have been difficult to notice the satire that goes behind most of the humor in The Importance of Being Earnest. For example, Algernon often made jokes about the...
View ArticleDiscussing The Importance of Being Earnest
Reading The Importance of Being Earnest was a very enjoyable experience--I especially liked the witty jokes and puns. My group discussions definitely helped me understand the script more as a whole,...
View ArticleGreat Expectations: Dickens' Craft
One thing I've noticed while reading Great expectations that separates Dickens from most authors is that he seems to prioritize character introspection above their actions. Events in the book are...
View ArticleWhat I Like about Great Expectations
So far, reading Great Expectations has been a really fun and interesting experience. The plotline is a bit hard to follow sometimes due to Pip's constant inner monologues and extremely detailed...
View ArticleClose Reading in Stage Two
I've already mentioned this, but rereading specific passages in class really helped me notice subtle details about Estella's childhood and her feelings regarding it. Like I've said before in a...
View ArticleThoughts on Reading Great Expectations
I started reading Great Expectations expecting the worst (judging from what I've heard), but I was actually pleasantly surprised! The story was good, the mysteries were captivating, and the...
View ArticleRomeo and Juliet: First Thoughts
I had already anticipated that we would read Romeo and Juliet since the beginning of the year, and I'm glad we're starting it. Other than vague, general ideas, I really don't know much about...
View ArticleComparing R+J to Film Versions
Personally, I think one of most prominent differences between the film and book (so far) is how the setting and actions are conveyed. It's clear the book mainly focuses on the characters' words to...
View ArticleMy Freshman Year
Prior to attending OHS, I was extremely nervous, doubtful, and bracing for the worst. I had no idea what to expect out of a high school, and I was not particularly excited to find out. I was really...
View ArticleConclusion
Creating and using this blog to write about my own thoughts on books, writing, and class assignments has definitely been a unique experience like no other. I've learned a lot of new material, vastly...
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