The Bird (A Random Poem I Wrote)A single bird,
Soaring in heaven, Bordered by the luminous blue sky. Elevated in the immense Earth, It flutters around the universe. With wings wide open It surges toward its prey, Opening its flamboyant razor-sharp beak, Ready to swoop down and snap a fish. The victim struggles helplessly, And then it devours its meal. Swifting pass the trees, Beating its wings energetically, Gliding with the wind, Enjoying its freedom flight. All day in happiness, It hunts and flies. Dancing and prancing, swirling and swiveling- Performing an audition in mid-air. With no consideration, But freedom. Under the blazing yellow star, The bird dives into the water, Washing and cleaning Then bakes itself in the sun. Taking off again, It Hollers as it soars, Freedom to anywhere, And wherever it goes. |
Audio Book Review
Hi, I’m Carolin. I’m currently in grade 10 at Galt Collegiate and I read the series Airhead by Meg Cabot. This series, especially the first book is full of suspense and thrills to keep you guessing through the entire book! The main character, Emerson Watts is a tomboy who doesn't care about her appearance. Unlike her sister, Frida who is the total opposite of her sister- she is very girly. So one day, Emerson is forced to accompany her sister to meet her favourite singer, Gabriel in a shopping mall. At the same time, Nikki Howard, the super model is there too. Little did they know, there was a riot and a tragic accident happened that changes Emerson's life forever. Nikki passed out while Emerson is knocked out by a large television that falls from the ceiling. When Emerson wakes up, she finds out that her brain has been transplanted into Nikki’s body. Now, when she looks in the mirror she sees Nikki Howard — and there’s nothing she can do about it. If Emerson reveals the secret about the brain transplant, her parents will be smacked with a 2 million dollar lawsuit. Throughout the entire course of the book, I was never left bored. I would recommend this book to any young adults, especially to teenage girls.
Formal Essays
Formal essays have
been very important for ages. Some people think essays are useless, but I think
they are fairly important when it comes to history, geography, science and
especially English. There are many more subject areas where writing essays are essential,
but these are the main ones. Writing formal essays can help you display a clear
understanding of your points and examples that support your argument. Also, it
helps you organize your ideas and facts in a logical order. When you write an
essay, you develop your writing skills, your vocabulary and your own writing
style. Writing essays can help you grow to be a successful writer, speaker, or a
logical thinker. Writing develops you in many ways. Essays are essential for
the development and evaluation of students' skills such as writing and reading
skills, analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as research skills.
Not only do you have to write formal essays in high school, but when you get
out of high school, you still need to have this skill in college and in
university.
Romeo & Juliet Applications
After watching the modern version of Romeo and Juliet, there are a few connections I can make that can be applied to today's world. It captures teen and love; the fact that teens believe they will love someone forever and are willing to do anything for love. They will do whatever it takes to be with that person, whether or not if their parents approve of the relationship. Teenagers always believe they are experiencing true love, but they are too young to know what's real. They can be fickle with love like how Romeo was with Rosaline. As soon as he sees Juliet for the first time, he falls in love immediately with Juliet and forgets about Rosaline. Then, they get married the next day after they met each other without their parents approval. I guess falling in love is just as quick as falling out of love! Another aspect of teens the play covers are their decisions and behaviors. Teens don't think before they act and they never realize the consequences that follows from their horrible decisions. Romeo and Juliet are well aware they are enemies but they get married anyway. In the end, Juliet fakes her death, which lead to the suicide of Romeo, then she suicides as well. Juliet made a stupid decision that resulted in two deaths. What Romeo and Juliet also captures is about parents. In real life, there are parent rivalries between families who opposes their child from having a relationship with another family’s child. Many teens seem to date someone who their parents do not approve of, forbidding their child to see one another. However, they will do whatever they can to sneak out to see their "soul mate". Forbidden love is quite a problem today, not only in the story of Romeo & Juliet. One other problem with parental issues is teenagers disobeying their parents’ commands and rules. As shown in the play/movie, Juliet strongly disobeys her father’s order to marry Paris, which leads to another problem- arranged marriage. Not many people force their child to marry someone who they don’t know and don’t like, but there are people in the world who practice arranged marriage in their culture. Romeo and Juliet captures many aspects of teenagers and their lives, not just long ago, but today as well. Love is quite a hassle, don't you think?
Shakespeare Lingo
Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down You sing a sad song just to turn it around You say you don't know You tell me don't lie You work at a smile and you go for a rid |
Cause thou hath a worthless day
Thou art striking one down Thou sing a heavy verse just to bring it around Thou speak thou do not know Thou tell me do not lie Thou stir at a trace and thou go for a ride |
Romeo & Juliet Comparison
Oour FFP class started reading Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet. There were three ways we studied the play today:
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Reading the Play
Reading as a whole class went quite well, where each of us are to read a role. I guess I like reading as a class than independently. Reading from the text was much easier to understand than watching the movies. Some people couldn't pronounce a few words, which made giggled a little. I didn't do any better myself. Some of the lines were tongue twisters because we don't speak like this in modern days. Reading in Shakespeares' language is harder than I thought.
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Watching the Modern Ver.
The first version we watched of Romeo and Juliet is the one made in 1996. It was really unnatural, especially the part where the gangsters in the movie were speaking in such a formal way. The director or creator of this movie should have modernized the script instead of using the original script. When they actually have guns, the characters say they have swords. The gangster-modern-thing made the movie not so Shakespearean. It was just abnormal watching it.
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Watching the Old Ver.
The other version we watched of Romeo and Juliet was more of an older one, filmed in 1968. It was more realistic and it feels more traditional. The costumes fitted the characters very well and the setting was exactly the same like in the book. This version of the movie is more serious and dramatic than the modern one, which is why I like this movie better. It was a better representation of the play.
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I am your...You are my...
I am your support;
You are my power.
I am your sunshine;
You are my flower.
I am your money;
You are my treasure.
I am your bummer;
You are my pleasure.
I am your song;
You are my voice.
I am your plan;
You are my choice.
You are my power.
I am your sunshine;
You are my flower.
I am your money;
You are my treasure.
I am your bummer;
You are my pleasure.
I am your song;
You are my voice.
I am your plan;
You are my choice.
Mother to Son
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor--
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now--
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor--
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now--
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes