REFLECTION #2

There is one specific story that has personally impacted my life, the story of my father’s childhood. My father had a tough childhood. He grew up in a family with eight brothers and sisters and in a poor economic situation. He was the second eldest and so he had to assume the responsibility of becoming a provider at a very young age in life. At the age of fifteen my dad was forced to drop out of high school and get a job. He was really disappointed because he loved school and always managed to get good grades. My father definitely had a bright future set out for himself.  But with the reality of their situation he soon found a low paying job working on the fields cutting and planting watermelons. He was out in the hot heat all day and would get home exhausted with an aching back. It was truly gruesome work. But the reason why this story inspired me so much is that even though my dad had to sacrifice his goals in life for his family he never gave up. Once his brothers and sisters were old enough to provide for themselves he moved to California with my mom where he got a good paying job and went back to school to finish what he had started. He was able to provide a life filled with many opportunities for my brother and me, a life that he never had. Because of this I remind myself every day that I must never give up and can accomplish anything I set my mind on. I am proud to call such an inspiring man my father.

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Vocabulary

Decapitate

Source Sentence:
After slaughter, the hogs were decapitated, split down the length of the belly, pried open, eviscerated, and strung up by the hind hocks on a high conveyer belt.

Context Clue Explanation:
I used the word slaughter as an example of the meaning of decapitate.

Original Sentence:
Kind Henry VIII accused his second wife Anne Boleyn of  high treason and as punishment she was decapitated.


Acquiescence

Source Sentence:
I'd be screaming at them, telling them how much I detested their blind, thoughtless, automatic acquiescence to  it all, their simpleminded patriotism, their prideful ignorance, their love-it-or-leave-it platitudes, how they were sending me off to fight a war they didn't understand and didn't want to understand.

Context Clue Explanation:
I used the word automatic as a synonym of the meaning of acquiescence.

Original Sentence:
As an intern at Vogue, Sally always had to be acquiescence to all of the requests that were mandated from her supervisors.

Reticence

Source Sentence:
To an extent, I suppose, his reticence was typical of that part of Minnesota, where privacy still held value.

Context Clue Explanation:
I used the word privacy as a synonym for the meaning of the word reticence.

Original Sentence:
Growing up as an only child, Billy developed a very reticence personality.

TO DO LIST

MUST DO

1) Read Practical Writing Guide pg. 32-35 and Chapter 4
2) Write my Rough Draft for writing assaignment
3) Study for Quiz on Sharrons presentation

SHOULD DO

1) Read pg. 65-88 in The Things They Carried
2) Start on the Guided Reading Questions for Chapter 7 and Chapter 8
3) Work on thesis

COULD DO

1) Clean my room
2) Give both dogs a  shower
3) Take dogs out for a walk

The Things I Carry

The things I carry in my life backpack are of the ordinary, school materials, my phone, and of course the love of my amazing family and friends. These are what make up the main contents of my life backpack. The reason I carry these things is mainly due to necessity. My school materials are always of need considering I have school almost every day. It just makes my life so much easier if I have all my materials on me at all times. My phone on the other hand is a need of survival. If I don’t have access to my phone it’s as if I have been disconnected completely from society. And the love of my family is what keeps me going every day and reminds me of what I want to be in life. Friendship as well is another thing that I am lucky enough to carry. I actually have two specific objects that I carry that symbolize the importance of friendship to me. I carry a bracelet that I got at a fair with one of my best friends. I see that bracelet almost as a good luck charm and like to have it on me on important dates and events because I feel as though it will allow me to perform better at whatever it is that I am doing. Another object that I carry that symbolizes friendship to me is half of a two dollar bill that was given to me from my other close friend. The other half was kept by her,  and so I see it as a charm of our everlasting friendship. And those are the things I carry.

Vocabulary

Ambiguities

Source Sentence-
They carried it on their backs and shoulders- and for all the ambiguities of Vietnam, all the mysteries and unknowns, they were atleast the single abiding certaintythat they would never be at a loss for things to carry.

Context Clue Explanation-
I used the words mysteries and unknowns as an example of ambiguities.

Original Sentence-
For all the amibiguities that lay ahead for Stacy and Luke on their trip to Europe, they had three overpacked suit cases filled with objects that might be of necessity.

Poise

Source Sentence-
For the most part they carried themselves with poise, a kind of dignity.

Context Clue Explanation-
I used my own logic to define poise with the word dignity.

Original Sentence-
The model strut down the runway with such poise.

Taut

Source Sentence-
It was an action shot-womens volleyball- and Martha was bent horizontal to the floor, reaching, the palms of her hands in sharp focus, the tongue taut, the expression frank and competitive.

Context Clue Explanation-
I used the words sharp, focus, and expression frank as examples of taut.

Original Sentence-
When some people ride roller coasters their expressions get taut.