Amelia's English Blog

Prompt Response:  My most unforgettable meal was on the first cruise I took with my family. I had a big fear of boats and the boat sinking and as a little kid I was so sure that I was not going to make it out alive. However, when I saw all the food available on the cruise I completely changed my outlook. I remember the breakfast buffet feeling like it changed my life. Every morning I would eat scrambled eggs, toast, mushrooms, beans, grilled tomatoes, bacon, berries and orange juice. It was so fun to be able to curate my own meal and to a little kid that was a dream come true.  Summary: Today in class we read letters 41-45 and took a quiz on those letters. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and analysis skills.

Prompt Response:  A time when I learned something unexpected about a family member was when my parents told me the stories about the early stages of their relationships. They were both very much the hippie type when they started dating, and their relationship was tumultuous at times.  At one point, my dad almost moved away by himself to live in a remote community isolated from civilization.  The stories I've heard at one point just seem like a world away from my mom and dad. These stories changed the way I saw them because they are such a far cry from their lives now and it reminded me that they had a vibrant and exciting life before I was born. Summary: Today in class we continued reading The Color Purple and answering questions on Writable. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and analysis skills.

  Prompt Response:  I have a friend in my weight training class who helps me learn everyday. He seems to know so many fun facts about languages and countries in Europe and climate change. Every time we talk I learn something new from him and it always surprises me how in depth he can explain a random concept. I also started going to academic bowl because he is the president and he shocks me by how many obscure questions about literature and history he can aswer. It has come to a point where he gives everyone else a 10 second head start before he buzzes in whenever he thinks of the answer. Overall, he has influenced me to better myself intellectually and teaches me many things everyday. Summary: Today in class we continued reading The Color Purple and started answering questions on Writable. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and analysis skills.  

Prompt Response:  My video was about Letter 1 of the Color Purple, which introduces the abuse Celie faces at the hands of her father. I tried to bring this story to life by focusing more on Celie's emotions and the atmosphere of their household. I think the song I chose encapsulated the sadness of the situation while also sounding ominous. I used the typewriter animation on the quotes I inputted to emulate Celie writing the letter, as well as a strike through animation to represent the formatting in the actual book. I think I used dramatic pauses and transitions well to communicate the hopelessness and fear I was going for. Summary: Today in class we watched our videos for The Color Purple letters. Reflection:  I got a better grasp for how my classmates interpret the parts of the book we have read so far.

Prompt Response:  A time when me and a family member shared a moment of joy after things had been tense was when I accidentally cut myself when I was cutting fabric, but my dad and I were still able to joke about it. When I cut myself, I was bleeding pretty bad and there was a lot of chaos as my parents tried to find the right bandages. It was a lot of drama and it was pretty overwhelming. However, after the chaotic moment passed, me and my dad were cracking jokes about me being careless and the blood stain on my headphones. Even though the subject matter was dark, it was nice to share that moment with my dad and it helped me feel more relaxed and less embarrassed about my mistake. Summary: Today in class we worked on our videos for the Color Purple. Reflection:  I got better reading analysis skills and summarizing skills.

  Prompt Response:  A time when someone gave me advice that sounded right at first but ended up being wrong was when my friends told me to take dual enrollment my senior year. They would say that I should join them and do it because it would make the school year easy and give me more time to do things besides school. For me, this advice turned at being wrong because I never want to feel like I’m taking the easy way out. I learned a lesson that what feels fulfilling and right for one person might not be for another person and I should stick with my gut on decisions like that. Summary: Today in class we read more of The Color Purple and started working on our videos for our assigned letter. Reflection: I got better reading comprehension skills and analysis skills.

Prompt Response:  A time when someone’s desire for control hurt a friendship was when my friend only ever wanted to talk about herself and her problems and controlled the conservation but never hearing or listening to me. I would tell Harpo that if you really love someone and they love you, then you won’t need to control them. The right person will listen to you and understand what you need from them, and if you still feel like you need to control their every move, then the relationship isn’t right for either of you. Summary:  Today in class we read and discussed letters 11- 17. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and analysis skills.

  Prompt Response:  I want to know more about the relationship between Mr. ____ and Shug Avery. I wonder how they met and if they are really in love. I also wonder about Celie's almost obsessive behavior over Shug Avery and if it will go anywhere. I think it's interesting that Mr. ___ and Celie have so little love for each other that Celie helps him get ready to go see Shug Avery, and she doesn't question where Mr. ___ was. All she wanted to know was details about Shug Avery like what she was wearing. I wonder if Celie will ever meet Shug Avery and what their relationship would be like. Summary: Today in class we read and discussed letters 11- 17. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and analysis skills.

  Prompt Response:  My friend Stella inspires me to be stronger and more confident. She is so true to herself and she's not afraid to say what she means even if it will get her in trouble. She is so social and can make friends with anyone and I really admire her for that. I really admire how passionate she is about the things she likes and will learn everything there is to know about a topic. I admire how much she loves to share her passions with others and she can make any topic fun and interesting to hear about. Summary: Today in class we read Letters 6-10 and answered discussion questions. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and analysis skills.

Prompt Response: When reading the first 5 letters of The Color Purple in class, I was very shocked by the raw language and unfiltered story telling. I thought that the style of writing was very powerful and purposeful. The fact that it was written authentically, like a 14 year old girl actually wrote it made it pack much more of a punch and feel more real. If it had been polished with perfect grammar and vocabulary, it wouldn't convey the same raw emotion and discomfort that it leaves the reader with. Although the subject matter is heartbreaking, I'm excited to see where the story is going. Summary: Today in class we answered and discussed pre-reading questions and began reading The Color Purple. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension, writing, and discussion skills.