My life relates to the theme of To Kill a Mockingbird because I was sort of discriminated against when I was little. At times I have been ashamed of my parents because they were more strict than all of my friends parents. I hated it when all of my friends could go to this movie or read that book, and I couldn't. I can relate to Scout because her friends were discriminating against her because of what her father was doing. In my case, I was rejected because of what my parents weren't letting me do.
I have learned so much from To Kill a Mockingbird. I learned that it is O.K. to be different. Like Scout, I was ashamed of my parents, but like Scout, in the end, I was proud of my parents, not ashamed. I also learned from the novel that things learned can apply to more than one aspect of life. The theme of not killing a mockingbird applies to life not only literally, but it applies theoretically as well.
I think To Kill a Mockingbird is a great story, but it is more than that. The novel has extreme insight into real life. In my life, I "killed a mockingbird" when I yelled at my parents because I was mad with one of my friends. Even though my parents had done nothing to me to make me mad, I took my anger out on them. This novel has also taught me a lot about discrimination. I knew it was wrong, but I never really understood that there was more than one level and more than one kind.
I think that this novel is a classic English class novel because it explores so many new ideas about so many old, used-out topics. That is why To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite books.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Boo Radley
When I was little, high school scared me. I had watched those cheerleading movies that show school as an extremely exclusive environment: If you don't fit the criteria for our group, well then you better find another because there's no way we would be caught dead sitting with you. I also saw one of my best friends enter high school, and she was always doing homework, even in the summer. I was scared that I would have so much homework that I wouldn't be able to have a life. This is, metaphorically, relating to Scout's fear of Boo Radley. Scout is afraid of the unknown; she has never seen, met, or heard from Boo Radley; she has only heard stories. I had never been a high school student; I had only heard rumors.
At the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout realizes that Boo Radley was nothing to be scared of. He was kind, and he watched out for her and Jem when they were growing up. She finally understood that she never thought about the fact that what she had been told may have been false.
I realized that high school is so much different than what I had been told by Hollywood. I understand that there are cliques, but they aren't super exclusive. I also know you want to find a core group of friends to hang out with, but it's O.K. to step outside of your comfort zone, and hang out with someone new. Homework in high school really isn't all that bad. I have a fair amount of homework, but when I was younger, I thought I would never be able to do that much. Now that I am a freshman, I can see that high school is nothing to be scared about. Is it a big change from middle school or elementary? Yes, but when you get to a highschool age, you are ready to take on that kind of challenge.
Scout and I both had something in our life that we were scared of. We both realized, in the end, that there was nothing to be afraid of. I think that this proves Atticus' point: you never really understand a person (or thing) until you walk around in their shoes (or halls).
At the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout realizes that Boo Radley was nothing to be scared of. He was kind, and he watched out for her and Jem when they were growing up. She finally understood that she never thought about the fact that what she had been told may have been false.
I realized that high school is so much different than what I had been told by Hollywood. I understand that there are cliques, but they aren't super exclusive. I also know you want to find a core group of friends to hang out with, but it's O.K. to step outside of your comfort zone, and hang out with someone new. Homework in high school really isn't all that bad. I have a fair amount of homework, but when I was younger, I thought I would never be able to do that much. Now that I am a freshman, I can see that high school is nothing to be scared about. Is it a big change from middle school or elementary? Yes, but when you get to a highschool age, you are ready to take on that kind of challenge.
Scout and I both had something in our life that we were scared of. We both realized, in the end, that there was nothing to be afraid of. I think that this proves Atticus' point: you never really understand a person (or thing) until you walk around in their shoes (or halls).
Friday, September 17, 2010
Introduction to Our Blogs
I am a dedicated English student. I love to read, write, and be a part of discussions in class. If you are following my blog, you will see that I don't write very much unless the assignment is long. I don't like to add a lot of "fluff" in what I write; my writing is straight to the point. I want to give the online world a new perspective on literary works. When I write, I don't want to give typical, expected answers. I want to make people think about things in a different way.
The meaning of English Class is learning. One is taught how to read better, write better, and expand their vocabulary. One is also taught how to be more grammatically correct when writing. English is a four-year requirement for college bound students because, without good English skills, one will have a much harder time getting a good job, not to mention getting into a good college. A person has to have a good grasp on the English language and how to use it before they try to enter the world of careers.
By excelling in English, I will definitely grow academically. I will be able to write good, grammatically correct papers, in high school and college. It will help me in all of my classes, and after school, it will help me in the work force. Excelling in English, I will also grow personally. I will be able to read books with a better understanding of what goes on. I love to read, so this will be a particularly useful skill later on through school, and even after.
English is a great all-around subject that is important for everyone to be a part of. There are so many practical uses for English unlike some things learned in school, such as Greek mythology. I think everyone should strive to do well in English because it will be a useful tool for the rest of their lives.
The meaning of English Class is learning. One is taught how to read better, write better, and expand their vocabulary. One is also taught how to be more grammatically correct when writing. English is a four-year requirement for college bound students because, without good English skills, one will have a much harder time getting a good job, not to mention getting into a good college. A person has to have a good grasp on the English language and how to use it before they try to enter the world of careers.
By excelling in English, I will definitely grow academically. I will be able to write good, grammatically correct papers, in high school and college. It will help me in all of my classes, and after school, it will help me in the work force. Excelling in English, I will also grow personally. I will be able to read books with a better understanding of what goes on. I love to read, so this will be a particularly useful skill later on through school, and even after.
English is a great all-around subject that is important for everyone to be a part of. There are so many practical uses for English unlike some things learned in school, such as Greek mythology. I think everyone should strive to do well in English because it will be a useful tool for the rest of their lives.
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