Semester Reflection Part 1
Choose at least three (3) of the following and answer them in depth. I will quote from your answers in your report card comments, so please take time to edit & revise your writing, ensuring that it is ready for public consumption. For each answer, be sure to use specific evidence & examples.
What have you learned about the way you learn, work, and/or collaborate?
What project was most valuable to you, and what have you gained from it?
Describe in detail one significant academic challenge you faced this year. Why was it a challenge for you? Go in depth, use specific experiences, and explain how they contrast with a less challenging experience.
Describe one valuable mistake you made this year.
What is your greatest strength as a student in a project-based learning environment?
What challenges do you face as a student in a project-based learning environment?
This blog post is due at 11:59:59pm on Thursday, June 17. all students will receive up to a possible 20/20 for complete & excellent writing.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Writing Reflection
Explain one or more specific aspects of your writing that have improved this year. In this explanation, you must directly refer to at least two specific pieces of writing that you produced for this class. You may use any assignment, project, writing sample, draft, blog entry, etc. You should discuss the writing tips & strategies we studied, the processes & methods we used, the critiques & drafts we employed and the products we created (feel free to use these specific key terms to keep your reflection focused).
Our first blog assignment was to outline what we hoped to gain in junior year, what are overall goals are. I wrote that my main goal was to improve my writing, reading and participation in class. I feel proud of my self because I think my writing has improved tremendously over the course of the year. In the beginning of the year I was really shy in class; I felt I was not smart compared to everyone else. Joann, my 10th grade teacher, told me that Randy is a great writer and he is going to push us to give high quality work. I was scared that randy was going to put me on the spot and embarrass me. So I decided not to participate at all in class. The first week past and I realize that randy was really chill so I decided to take honor. I knew that if I took honors it was going to be a challenge because English is not my first language. I decided to take on the honors agreement because I want to become a better writer and I need challenging work where am expected to produce better quality work.
Our first writing project was the American Icon. When I had finished writing my piece I felt I had produced a high quality work. I tried using all of the writing tips we had learned to that point. I used the loop as an outline for my writing piece; I started with a quote and fished it with facts. I compared my first writing project in the 11th grade American icon to an article I wrote and felt the most proud of in 10th grade. I saw a big difference between both of them. My 10th grade article is kind off just there, it has good information but not a really audience and a point trying to be prove. One of the first writing tips we learned in Randy’s class is that amateur writers write for themselves. Professional writers write for and an audience. I realized that writing for my self and not an audience was making my writing pointless. I had good ideas but I didn’t know what I was trying to prove. On my American icon I start off by quoting a poem Sor Juana said, then I took the reader deeper into who Sor Juana is and I end with facts to leave the reader with something to think about I felt I used the loop very well for my first time.
The loop improved my writing tremendously; I started to enjoy writing! Our first honors assignment was to write and article using the loop. In one of the group critiques we had, Randy showed my article as a good example. I was very happy and started to feel comfortable in class.
During internship I was asked to write and article about NAFTA. I was scared at first because I knew writing is not my strength but I could not say no. I send my first draft to Diana my 9th grade teacher so I could give my mentor something that has already been critiqued. Diana wrote back to me saying that she taught it was good and she didn’t have any corrections. I couldn’t believe it! I always got my paper back bleeding with correction. I gave it to my mentor and he liked it; he made a few corrections and then he published it.
When we started brainstorming for ampersand I tried to think of a topic I was passionate about and I want people to be aware. I tried applying a lot the writing tip we had learned over the year in my ampersand-writing piece. I wanted it to be the highest quality work I had produced in class. The writing tips I used the most was concerts not pancakes to keep my sentences strong improve quantity to improve quality removing “ing” making meaning early and many more. Overall I think I did pretty well, I mixed my personal experience with facts and I think I left the reader with something to think about. What helped the most was drafting and revision I went trough about 2 drafts of brainstorming and 3 writing critiques "create, share, critique and repeat! I know that my writing is not even close to high quality work but it has improved. I appreciate the time that Larry Rosenstock the CEO of HTH took to came to talk to my class about how proud he is of ampersand. Larry read some sentence he liked from my article and explained how he agreed and connected with them. I felt I had accomplished that reading tip were the writer creates a relation ship with the audience.
Describe one specific goal for your future writing. Your explanation of your goal(s) must include some or all of the following: writing samples from this year, writing strategies you have used in the past, writing strategies or techniques you would like to develop, examples from authors you respect, etc.
Now that I learned how to write! My goal for my future writing is to expand my vocabulary. This was one of my primary goals when the year began, but I didn’t have a chance to improve on it as much as I wanted to. I want to expand my vocabulary so I can transfer my ideas to paper with more power and imagery.
One of the authors I respect is Kurt Vonnegut. I feel his writing is very interesting his analogy are very strong and the whole time you are reading his books you have a clear image of what he is talking about. It’s also kind of easy to interpret thing differently since he writes about strong topics and compares them to something completely different like babies and war.
Explain one or more specific aspects of your writing that have improved this year. In this explanation, you must directly refer to at least two specific pieces of writing that you produced for this class. You may use any assignment, project, writing sample, draft, blog entry, etc. You should discuss the writing tips & strategies we studied, the processes & methods we used, the critiques & drafts we employed and the products we created (feel free to use these specific key terms to keep your reflection focused).
Our first blog assignment was to outline what we hoped to gain in junior year, what are overall goals are. I wrote that my main goal was to improve my writing, reading and participation in class. I feel proud of my self because I think my writing has improved tremendously over the course of the year. In the beginning of the year I was really shy in class; I felt I was not smart compared to everyone else. Joann, my 10th grade teacher, told me that Randy is a great writer and he is going to push us to give high quality work. I was scared that randy was going to put me on the spot and embarrass me. So I decided not to participate at all in class. The first week past and I realize that randy was really chill so I decided to take honor. I knew that if I took honors it was going to be a challenge because English is not my first language. I decided to take on the honors agreement because I want to become a better writer and I need challenging work where am expected to produce better quality work.
Our first writing project was the American Icon. When I had finished writing my piece I felt I had produced a high quality work. I tried using all of the writing tips we had learned to that point. I used the loop as an outline for my writing piece; I started with a quote and fished it with facts. I compared my first writing project in the 11th grade American icon to an article I wrote and felt the most proud of in 10th grade. I saw a big difference between both of them. My 10th grade article is kind off just there, it has good information but not a really audience and a point trying to be prove. One of the first writing tips we learned in Randy’s class is that amateur writers write for themselves. Professional writers write for and an audience. I realized that writing for my self and not an audience was making my writing pointless. I had good ideas but I didn’t know what I was trying to prove. On my American icon I start off by quoting a poem Sor Juana said, then I took the reader deeper into who Sor Juana is and I end with facts to leave the reader with something to think about I felt I used the loop very well for my first time.
The loop improved my writing tremendously; I started to enjoy writing! Our first honors assignment was to write and article using the loop. In one of the group critiques we had, Randy showed my article as a good example. I was very happy and started to feel comfortable in class.
During internship I was asked to write and article about NAFTA. I was scared at first because I knew writing is not my strength but I could not say no. I send my first draft to Diana my 9th grade teacher so I could give my mentor something that has already been critiqued. Diana wrote back to me saying that she taught it was good and she didn’t have any corrections. I couldn’t believe it! I always got my paper back bleeding with correction. I gave it to my mentor and he liked it; he made a few corrections and then he published it.
When we started brainstorming for ampersand I tried to think of a topic I was passionate about and I want people to be aware. I tried applying a lot the writing tip we had learned over the year in my ampersand-writing piece. I wanted it to be the highest quality work I had produced in class. The writing tips I used the most was concerts not pancakes to keep my sentences strong improve quantity to improve quality removing “ing” making meaning early and many more. Overall I think I did pretty well, I mixed my personal experience with facts and I think I left the reader with something to think about. What helped the most was drafting and revision I went trough about 2 drafts of brainstorming and 3 writing critiques "create, share, critique and repeat! I know that my writing is not even close to high quality work but it has improved. I appreciate the time that Larry Rosenstock the CEO of HTH took to came to talk to my class about how proud he is of ampersand. Larry read some sentence he liked from my article and explained how he agreed and connected with them. I felt I had accomplished that reading tip were the writer creates a relation ship with the audience.
Describe one specific goal for your future writing. Your explanation of your goal(s) must include some or all of the following: writing samples from this year, writing strategies you have used in the past, writing strategies or techniques you would like to develop, examples from authors you respect, etc.
Now that I learned how to write! My goal for my future writing is to expand my vocabulary. This was one of my primary goals when the year began, but I didn’t have a chance to improve on it as much as I wanted to. I want to expand my vocabulary so I can transfer my ideas to paper with more power and imagery.
One of the authors I respect is Kurt Vonnegut. I feel his writing is very interesting his analogy are very strong and the whole time you are reading his books you have a clear image of what he is talking about. It’s also kind of easy to interpret thing differently since he writes about strong topics and compares them to something completely different like babies and war.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Historical Reflections
I am very nervous to go into college, but if I have the chance of choosing a historical figure to be my roommate it will definitely be Franklin D Roosevelt. I want to major in sociology and political sciences and I think FDR can give me valuable advice. It will be such a relief to have him as a friend, I can always ask him for help and his answer are going to be the best. I have many questions about how the political world works and it would be very interesting to see what he responds. I also want to know what are his view on immigration, does he agree with 1070, what should be done to stop illegal immigration.
I admire how FDR acted with the new deal to get the United States out of the great depression. Our world is currently suffering a recession and it would be interesting to see what is going on in FDR’s mind today and the solutions he is thinking of. If he becomes president I would ask him to not forget about Latin America and to legalize weed like he did with prohibition. He would probably agree because he did it before and legalizing weed will reduce the high crime rates in lain America especially México. In conclusion we need FDR as president again he has been the most productive and well respective president I have heard about. But before he becomes president and saves the world he needs to be my roommate!
One day I would love to open up and orphanage/organization where we offer education to homeless children. I believe like FDR that “Peace, like charity, begins at home.” So if these children are not given love and home what is going to become of them? I know that FDR is the perfect person to ask him for advice in how to start this organization because he believes “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” and this is exactly my goal with giving children better opportunities I want them to have a better future.
If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Peace, like charity, begins at home.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
http://www.inspirational-quotes-and-quotations.com/fdr-quotes.html
http://www.wow4u.com/franklin-roosevelt/index.html
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/franklin_d_roosevelt.html
I am very nervous to go into college, but if I have the chance of choosing a historical figure to be my roommate it will definitely be Franklin D Roosevelt. I want to major in sociology and political sciences and I think FDR can give me valuable advice. It will be such a relief to have him as a friend, I can always ask him for help and his answer are going to be the best. I have many questions about how the political world works and it would be very interesting to see what he responds. I also want to know what are his view on immigration, does he agree with 1070, what should be done to stop illegal immigration.
I admire how FDR acted with the new deal to get the United States out of the great depression. Our world is currently suffering a recession and it would be interesting to see what is going on in FDR’s mind today and the solutions he is thinking of. If he becomes president I would ask him to not forget about Latin America and to legalize weed like he did with prohibition. He would probably agree because he did it before and legalizing weed will reduce the high crime rates in lain America especially México. In conclusion we need FDR as president again he has been the most productive and well respective president I have heard about. But before he becomes president and saves the world he needs to be my roommate!
One day I would love to open up and orphanage/organization where we offer education to homeless children. I believe like FDR that “Peace, like charity, begins at home.” So if these children are not given love and home what is going to become of them? I know that FDR is the perfect person to ask him for advice in how to start this organization because he believes “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” and this is exactly my goal with giving children better opportunities I want them to have a better future.
If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Peace, like charity, begins at home.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
http://www.inspirational-quotes-and-quotations.com/fdr-quotes.html
http://www.wow4u.com/franklin-roosevelt/index.html
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/franklin_d_roosevelt.html
Monday, June 7, 2010
Literary Reflections...
If you could bring one character from any one book that we have read this year with you when you go to college, who would bring? Why?
If I could bring one character from the seven books we have read this year when I go to college, it will defiantly be Jay Gatsby from, The Great Gatsby because he is determine, loyal and a good hearted person. Jay Gatsby was the character I connect and understood the most. I have many friends very similar to him, they are determined, to leave their past, start a new life and work hard to turn their hopes into reality. This is something I really admire and respect from a person; I think it is essential to have something in life to fight for in order to have a real life. In my opinion Jay Gatsby was very innocent for the real world, he got lost and started fighting for the wrong dream that eventually lead to his death. “his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him." He was determined to win daisy’s “love” back with money but realized that she was not worth fighting for. I consider my self a good trustful friend and I will like to have him as a friend in college. I think he suffered a lot and thought that the only thing that was going to bring him happiness was money and Daisy. I would have help him realized a lot sooner that his goal is unreachable and worthless. Then I will convince him to change his dream in to something that will benefit a lot of people, like starting an organization in a developing country were he can help give children opportunities to succeed. I believe that jay Gatsby is a good person and will enjoy spending his money and time helping kids. Eventually this will help him replace his obsession with daisy and he will finally find peace and happiness with him self. “They’re a rotten crowed…you’re worth the whole damn bunch put together” I agree with nick Jay Gatsby could do so much better then spend his life as puppet throwing big parties in that materialistic society he is lost in.
And….. it is always good to have a rich friend as roommate. I could convince him to pay for my college, maybe buy me a car, and help me start my dream organization in Tijuana helping orphan children. I could convince that we need to offer these children better opportunities to succeed so they don’t make the same mistake he did to reach his materialistic goal (drug dealing!) I would love to have him as a roommate we can throw real parties!! convince him to buy me house in cancun!
I wish this is real!
If you could bring one character from any one book that we have read this year with you when you go to college, who would bring? Why?
If I could bring one character from the seven books we have read this year when I go to college, it will defiantly be Jay Gatsby from, The Great Gatsby because he is determine, loyal and a good hearted person. Jay Gatsby was the character I connect and understood the most. I have many friends very similar to him, they are determined, to leave their past, start a new life and work hard to turn their hopes into reality. This is something I really admire and respect from a person; I think it is essential to have something in life to fight for in order to have a real life. In my opinion Jay Gatsby was very innocent for the real world, he got lost and started fighting for the wrong dream that eventually lead to his death. “his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him." He was determined to win daisy’s “love” back with money but realized that she was not worth fighting for. I consider my self a good trustful friend and I will like to have him as a friend in college. I think he suffered a lot and thought that the only thing that was going to bring him happiness was money and Daisy. I would have help him realized a lot sooner that his goal is unreachable and worthless. Then I will convince him to change his dream in to something that will benefit a lot of people, like starting an organization in a developing country were he can help give children opportunities to succeed. I believe that jay Gatsby is a good person and will enjoy spending his money and time helping kids. Eventually this will help him replace his obsession with daisy and he will finally find peace and happiness with him self. “They’re a rotten crowed…you’re worth the whole damn bunch put together” I agree with nick Jay Gatsby could do so much better then spend his life as puppet throwing big parties in that materialistic society he is lost in.
And….. it is always good to have a rich friend as roommate. I could convince him to pay for my college, maybe buy me a car, and help me start my dream organization in Tijuana helping orphan children. I could convince that we need to offer these children better opportunities to succeed so they don’t make the same mistake he did to reach his materialistic goal (drug dealing!) I would love to have him as a roommate we can throw real parties!! convince him to buy me house in cancun!
I wish this is real!
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