For some time now in ELA, we have been studying "close reading". This is where you closely read a song, book, painting, movie, ect. In my close reading study, I decided that I would like to look closely at music. I think that every artist writes a song for a reason. I mostly focused on the musicians, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. In almost all of their songs, I was able to pick up a specific message that they are trying to send to their listeners.
The first life message that I noticed was in the song "Same Love" (by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis). One of the things that I learned in class was that what you notice at first isn't always the most important. I used this information in my thinking by first thinking that the song was just about LGBT marriage, although I then looked even closer. Even though, this song is about the freedom to marry and love anyone you want, I think that it is also about loving yourself. One thing that Macklemore says is "And I can't change. Even if I tried, Even if wanted to." To me this means that you can't change yourself even if you want to be someone else. He is saying that you have to love and believe in yourself because you can't change who you are.
One other thing that I noticed about Macklemore is that he can also speak to you with his facial expressions. I watched many of his music videos and live performances online and saw myself being drawn towards the emotion in his facial expressions and body movements. The spark in his eye when he sings really makes me feel connected with him and the story he is telling. This method of singing really enables you to understand the lyrics and message. It's really important to understand the meaning of what he is saying because, like I said earlier, every musician writes their music for a reason and to enlighten their listeners about a certain issue. This is why I am amazed at how Macklemore sends a message across to his fans so that they can learn about something important from him just by how he acts while he performs his songs!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
The Fox
I recently read the story The Fox with my class. It was an amazing picture book about trust, loss, and forgiveness. Based on a synthesis page I made, I have a lot to say about the Fox. I have analyzed the text and picked out certain details about him to find out more about who he really is.
The first time someone would read The Fox, they would think that he is only a cold, heartless, and empty character. However, there is a deeper meaning to him. What people don't realize at first is that people usually only act like this for a reason, and in this case, something big in the Fox's life must have happened to make him feel and act the way he does. On the inside, the Fox is lonely and wants attention because he is always looking for a friend (Magpie and Dog). He feels pain because no one wants to love him, so he turns on everyone who tries to.
In this picture book, I think the lesson can be applied to life. I think the one of the morals of the story are that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, meaning that although they were right to not trust him, both Dog and Magpie should have looked at all of his pages. Sometimes, people in your life can be quick to judge, but don't let it stop you! Most importantly, don't judge someone until you truly know who they are!
The first time someone would read The Fox, they would think that he is only a cold, heartless, and empty character. However, there is a deeper meaning to him. What people don't realize at first is that people usually only act like this for a reason, and in this case, something big in the Fox's life must have happened to make him feel and act the way he does. On the inside, the Fox is lonely and wants attention because he is always looking for a friend (Magpie and Dog). He feels pain because no one wants to love him, so he turns on everyone who tries to.
In this picture book, I think the lesson can be applied to life. I think the one of the morals of the story are that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, meaning that although they were right to not trust him, both Dog and Magpie should have looked at all of his pages. Sometimes, people in your life can be quick to judge, but don't let it stop you! Most importantly, don't judge someone until you truly know who they are!
Monday, January 13, 2014
Things I love
One of my favorite things in life is rain. This picture perfectly describes my feelings about the rain. The little girl's hair is soaking wet and she is smiling. She is embracing nature and just listening to the calming cool rain all around her. She doesn't care if she gets wet because she knows that tht is the way that its what is supposed to be.
It makes me feel like I am the only one in the world when it rains. It makes me feel like everything is washed over and fresh. All of the birds and insects come out and it is like a new beginning for them too. When it rains it feels like time freezes and its just you and the world and the rain.
I love the rain because it reminds me why people live and why the earth is happy. If there wasn't rain, there wouldn't be me or you or rainbows or happiness or life. Rain is what keeps us living and loving. This is why rain means the world to me!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Top 2 books read- 2013 edition!
The first book i am recommending is called This is What I Did. It is a book in verse (a book written in poems) about a boy who suffers from an abusive relationship with his father. This book is so interesting, empowering, and inspirational, that I think it could change the lives of the people reading it. This is What I Did is a book that I will be forever recommending and one that I will keep on reading over and over again!
A series of books that I have just started to read near the end of 2013 is the Harry Potter series.
Although it is a classic that many people have read- if you haven't, that you should start right now!
It is such a good adventure story and is written so well that the author sometimes makes you feel as if you are there. It is one of those kinds of books that you read all the way through on cold and rainy day. Harry Potter is worth any one's time to read and it was definitely one of my favorite 2013 reads!
A series of books that I have just started to read near the end of 2013 is the Harry Potter series.
Although it is a classic that many people have read- if you haven't, that you should start right now!
It is such a good adventure story and is written so well that the author sometimes makes you feel as if you are there. It is one of those kinds of books that you read all the way through on cold and rainy day. Harry Potter is worth any one's time to read and it was definitely one of my favorite 2013 reads!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
For our group's inquiry, we came up with the question "How does the way characters are treated in books (and real life) make you feel?" For this blog post, I am going to be focusing on one from the real world and two from fiction books. In Because I am Furniture, Anke, the main character, feels like she is ignored by her father and isn't good enough for him. She feels as if no one cares for her -especially her father- and isn't loved. When I put myself in Anke's shoes, I fell that she is confused about her relationship's with her family. After reading the book, it makes me more aware of things like this that are happening in the world because the book was written so realistically. I really admire the way that the author made me fell about Anke and the way that she is treated.
I also notice that in the beginning of Harry Potter, harry is treated horribly by his uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia. Harry fells that it is very unfair because they don't have any reason for treating him this way. The contrast between how they treat Dudley and harry is so large that it is hard to tell that they are even related. When I think about how harry is treated, I feel that it is very unfair for the reasons just stated. Even though this is fiction, it still relates to the real world because these things happen to many children in the world.
Finally, in "upfront" magazine, about "gypsies" and their culture. Often, when they get married, it is at a very young age (about 13 years old). In my opinion, I feel that this is very weird. I think so because in the American culture, we usually married around 27 years old, which is a lot older than 13. I also question this way of life because it will make children pressured to "love" someone and might not make the right decision. All in all, I think that the way I read or notice things definitely affects how I feel about them.
I also notice that in the beginning of Harry Potter, harry is treated horribly by his uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia. Harry fells that it is very unfair because they don't have any reason for treating him this way. The contrast between how they treat Dudley and harry is so large that it is hard to tell that they are even related. When I think about how harry is treated, I feel that it is very unfair for the reasons just stated. Even though this is fiction, it still relates to the real world because these things happen to many children in the world.
Finally, in "upfront" magazine, about "gypsies" and their culture. Often, when they get married, it is at a very young age (about 13 years old). In my opinion, I feel that this is very weird. I think so because in the American culture, we usually married around 27 years old, which is a lot older than 13. I also question this way of life because it will make children pressured to "love" someone and might not make the right decision. All in all, I think that the way I read or notice things definitely affects how I feel about them.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The social justice issue that I would like to focus on in this blogpost is abuse. The book that I just finish reading is Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas. It shows many examples of kids being abused. One of these examples are when Anke's father chases and beats her sister with a chair. This is an accurate example of abuse because the father is harming Anke's sister repeatedly and this is really what happens to some children every day. This social Justice issue is one that cannot be ignored and really comes alive in the book.
Another way that this big issue is show in the book is when Anke explains that her mother - even though she wants to- doesn't do anything about the abuse. This part of the book makes you realize that abuse is still happening today all around the world and there still isn't much being done about it. Anke tells readers that even though she wants to speak up to her dad, she doesn't because she knows that there will be consequences. I think that this is a correct portrayal of abuse that is happening in the world around us. Because this book in verse is written so beautifully, readers can take away the true meaning of what abuse really is.
Finally, on page 231 of Because I am Furniture, Thalia Chaltas writes about how Anke's sister, Yaicha knows that if she were to tell anyone that she was abused by her father, then he would kill her. She knows this because her father told her he would. Still, nothing is done about it. This is truly scary to read about because we know that it is real. reading this might make readers realize that even though they might not think so, it is a real social justice issue that is happening in the world. This book has made me realize that things like this are real, and even though it doesn't seem like it, things can be done about it.
Another way that this big issue is show in the book is when Anke explains that her mother - even though she wants to- doesn't do anything about the abuse. This part of the book makes you realize that abuse is still happening today all around the world and there still isn't much being done about it. Anke tells readers that even though she wants to speak up to her dad, she doesn't because she knows that there will be consequences. I think that this is a correct portrayal of abuse that is happening in the world around us. Because this book in verse is written so beautifully, readers can take away the true meaning of what abuse really is.
Finally, on page 231 of Because I am Furniture, Thalia Chaltas writes about how Anke's sister, Yaicha knows that if she were to tell anyone that she was abused by her father, then he would kill her. She knows this because her father told her he would. Still, nothing is done about it. This is truly scary to read about because we know that it is real. reading this might make readers realize that even though they might not think so, it is a real social justice issue that is happening in the world. This book has made me realize that things like this are real, and even though it doesn't seem like it, things can be done about it.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Maureen
Johnson's article "Yes, teen fiction can be
dark – but it shows teenagers they aren't alone" introduces the idea that
banned books are often the books that show readers they are not alone and can
get through tough situations. She goes on to say that just because authors are
writing about things like rape and self harm, doesn't mean that it give the
reader the idea to do that, so all the book is doing is either helping someone
that is going through the same situation or is teaching someone about the real
world. "There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt
youth. No one writing about self-harm is teaching how to self-harm. No one
writing about rape is providing instructions on how to rape or how to be raped.
I know this seems a ridiculously obvious point, but this is the argument that
comes up again and again." Maureen ends her article by saying that YA
fiction really helps readers by showing them that they aren't alone and that
everything they're going through is normal.
In Maureen Johnson's article, I noticed some craft moves that helped make her side of the story more believable. One craft move I picked up on was that she used a ton of loaded words like ''grossly underestimate'', "completely ignores", and "saves someone's life" to evoke emotion. One more example of a craft move that she uses is she creates imagery by comparing situations in your mind and saying "All food is Italian food, and I don't like Italian Food, so it should not exist. The fact that it does exist means the food industry is
forcing it on my children!" these craft moves allow readers to have feelings about YA fiction and think about what they are reading.There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth.
On a personal level, I agree completely with Maureen Johnson's article. I do not think that young adult fiction books should be banned because they help readers through tough situations and show them that they aren't alone. A certain line that stood out to me was "There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth." because it showed me that all authors really want to do is help readers by sending a message through their writing."if subjects like these are in YA books, it's to show that they are real, they have happened to others, and they can be survived."
In Maureen Johnson's article, I noticed some craft moves that helped make her side of the story more believable. One craft move I picked up on was that she used a ton of loaded words like ''grossly underestimate'', "completely ignores", and "saves someone's life" to evoke emotion. One more example of a craft move that she uses is she creates imagery by comparing situations in your mind and saying "All food is Italian food, and I don't like Italian Food, so it should not exist. The fact that it does exist means the food industry is
forcing it on my children!" these craft moves allow readers to have feelings about YA fiction and think about what they are reading.There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth.
On a personal level, I agree completely with Maureen Johnson's article. I do not think that young adult fiction books should be banned because they help readers through tough situations and show them that they aren't alone. A certain line that stood out to me was "There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth." because it showed me that all authors really want to do is help readers by sending a message through their writing."if subjects like these are in YA books, it's to show that they are real, they have happened to others, and they can be survived."
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