What I've Learned About Writing

When you write, the essential concept of Essay Writing is to have an opinion. You need to express an opinion about the topic, and then support that opinion with all the facts you can muster. A good method to use when writing is the KISS method. The KISS method stands for K- keep, I- It, S- Simple, S- Stupid. Keeping this method in mind will improve your writing. The key to good writing is a mixture of short, medium, and long sentences. This means that the writing displays sentence variety especially in length and starting words. "The Big Sixteen" are very common errors that all people using English often encounter. Correctness in your writing is important to the degree that it interferes with your message. You don't want it to interfere because it's important to communicate your message and say things as clearly as possible. To improve your English usage skills, you can get people to proofread your paper, use your computer, and practice writing.

It's easier to practice writing when you are not bothered by distractions. Once you're ready to begin, think about the purpose in doing the assignment. The next step is brainstorming, to think about what information might accomplish your goal. During this process, you start gathering facts and listing ideas. Some ways to brainstorm these ideas are in a Venn Diagram, and a spider web. Try to answer the questions how, when, and why in your writing. This is started by creating a specific purpose for writing. In one complete sentence, the first step in planning your essay is to weite out your point of view, your thesis.

The thesis is the most important sentence in your essay because it's the idea that you are going to prove. The thesis must be expressed in precise language, with a clear, meaningful idea. After your thesis is completed, it's time to do the body paragraphs. The body paragraphs generally present three or four good reasons why the thesis statement is true. Each of the body paragraphs will start with a topic sentence. After you have done your thesis statement and three or four reasons why you think it's true, next you need to develop four or five sentences to clarify each topic sentence. In this part, you're able to expand your thinking to include any questions that seem appropriate. When you write about ideas, specific examples may be essential to make certain that your reader understands you. One way to communicate your writing is to create a mental picture and describe it for your reader. It's not always necessary to write an introduction before you write everything else.

If you first write your introduction, you may have an incomplete idea of exactly what you're leading into. In the introduction you should: get the readers attention, introduce the topic in a natural sounding manner, and make a smooth transition into the body of the paper. A form commonly used in everyday conversations is the generic introduction, the introduction that will work with any topic. To do a generic introduction, pick out one aspect of the thesis, and make an offensive comment about it, and let that lead you naturally into the thesis statement, just as if you were trying to change the subject of a conversation. In the next type of introduction, specialized introductions, there are several different kinds including quotations, personal experiences, famous person anecdotes, questions, and refutations.  The one you choose to do your introduction is entirely personal as long as it accomplishes the three major purposes of the thesis. This all shows how to start your essay, now to the conclusion part.

The conclusion should be relevant, clear, and concise.  Your conclusion should not only tie together the main ideas, but it should also make one, final significant point. The conclusion can either be done in the form of a recommendation, prediction, call for action, quoting a stimulating source, or a summary. This will be the reader's last impression of the essay.

When doing a compare and contrast essay, it's important to know which of the two you should use. It's best to concentrate on contrast if you're trying to show how one item is superior to the other. It's best to use compare when you are trying to show how a product of lesser value can compare to the more appealing product. At times it may be necessary to do a combination of both compare and contrast. In this type of essay it shows the whole picture, with no sides being taken. Unlike in a regular essay, a compare and contrast essay's thesis statement presents a special problem and a special opportunity. It is not limited to show only similarities and differences. Using a well structured pattern is important to the essay. The opposing pattern devotes one paragraph to one topic, and the other paragraph to the opposing topic. This allows your reader to receive a separate total impression of each topic. Alternating pattern moves back and forth between its two topics. This pattern is best when you have a large number of characteristics to cover. Topic sentences for each paragraph refer to the individual characteristics rather than the people being discussed. Structure and outlining are important in this type of essay to try to avoid the possibility of confusion. This isn't very challenging, but you have to try to not to make any silly mistakes.

Sentence combining is a skill learned in class that allows students to improve their writing, which is important in all aspects of life. Some new techniques are: move the adjectives in front of the nouns they modify, use participial phrases, and avoid comma splice by using a conjunction after a comma. There is no need to have unnecessary words, and awkward words and phrases, so those can just be eliminated.

Out of all of these, I new most of the basic information. I didn't know that there are that many options for the introduction and conclusion. Since we have done several essays in this class, I feel like I have learned to incorporate more and more of these things to my writing. Some of the things we learned this year that I've never done before was the Open Responses and the Approach Papers. These weren't difficult but it just took a little to get used to. Overall, this Essay Writing class was fun and very interesting. You are a great teacher and helped me learn a lot, thanks Mr. Bailey!

Word Count: 1,041

Private and public schools 2

When going to private school, all the rules are clearly stated when you first sign the contract to enter into the school. If you don't abide by the rules on the contract that you signed, there'll be consequences. Unlike private schools which can make up their own rules, public schools have to abide by the rules of the state. To help public schools enforce the rules, there is a police officer. In private schools, this role is handled by the Student Judiciary Committee. Just like there is high discipline, there is also high expectations for learning.  Learning expectations in private schools are not measured in Standardized testing until PSAT, SAT, or AP course testing. In public schools, from elementary school until senior year in high schools, learning skills are measured through Standardized MCAS testing. In public high school, just like in private, you also have to take the PSAT, SAT, and AP courses if you make it in. The course time differed at HHS and MSC, the school I went too.  At MSC, we also had a free period similar to DSB. The free period, instead of it only being about 40 minutes, was the length of a full period. The periods there were much shorter, only about 52 minutes. We had six classes a day and the schedule was rotating. Personally, I liked the schedule better there because you didn't have all the same classes everyday, two would switch out. When the two classes switched out, this would give you more time to do your work which made it easier. In HHS, seniors are allowed to leave for DSB and lunch, but not in MSC. At all times you are supervised by an adult. For this reason, when I'm a senior, I'll enjoy DSB in HHS more than the free period in MSC. Another very similar program private and public schools share are extracurricular activities.  In MSC, there isn't a football, golf, or frisbee team like HHS. In MSC, football wasn't allowed because it is "too dangerous," and  the insurance is too high. Hockey is huge at MSC, they are one of the most competitive high school teams in the country. They have their own rink and travel across the country because they are often ranked nationally. In HHS, there are all of the sports in MSC and more. Football is a huge part at HHS, they have been Superbowl champs and always field a competitive team. In public school there is more of a variety of choices because the state pays for most of it. There is a charge of $200 for any sport you are participating in the school. There is no charge in private school, it's all rolled into the tuition. Both are equally competitive. One of the problems in competing in a sports team is getting home.  In MSC, we tended to travel to farther distances. Some happened to be as far as about a one-two hour drive. At HHS, most of our competitions are within 30 minutes of the school. For both schools, to go to away games, there would be a team bus for the players and coaches, that way we all get there at the same time. After the games, there is transportation back to the school, but none back home. We would either have to have our parents pick us up or get in a carpool. In MSC, I was able to get in carpools because people lived in the same area. Unfortunately, this year at HHS, there is almost nobody that lives in my area. To get to school everyday to MSC was a pain. It took about  40 minutes to drive there on a good day, without traffic. Since it was a 40 minute drive, I had to wake up extra early just to get ready. Going to HHS is a much better drive. It only takes about 20 minutes to get there, but the traffic can also get hectic every once in awhile. When comparing private and public schools, there are more similarities than differences, particularly when looking at sports, and free time. 

Death of an Innocent Open Response

Death of an Innocent Open Response: 

The most important factors in Chris's death were his "intensity, heedlessness, and agitation of the soul," and an unlucky twist of fate. Gallien had tried repeatedly to dissuade Alex from his plan to no avail. He even offered to drive Alex all the way to Anchorage so he could at least buy the kid some decent gear. This had been a pattern throughout Alex's life and he had distanced himself from his parents because of their disapproval. Many thought Alex's behavior was crazy and suicidal. Alex had lived a life of extremes by challenging how long he could go without food, water, and shelter. He believed that he could get himself out of any possible situation that he encountered with as few supplies as possible. This behavior wasn't suicidal, but it most definitely was naive and ill-fated. He donated the $20,000 in his bank account to Oxfam, loaded up his car, and disappeared. Walt and Billie would hear nothing more about Chris's whereabouts until their son's body turned up in Alaska two years later. Even though Alex had grown up in an affluent family, he shunned money and worldly possessions. His family loved him very much but he pushed them away. He was very much a loner and wanted to test himself to see if he could survive the extremes of the wilderness. Strength is the gift of the youth, and wisdom is the gift of the aged. If Alex had used his gifts of intensity, heedlessness, and agitation combined with a little wisdom, he would have been able to survive his Alaskan adventure. If Alex had known about 6 miles due South of the bus, an easy day walk, a cabin supplied with food, bedding, and first aid supplies was plainly marked on most maps of the area. 

Waters of Babylon

John's journey to the Place of the Gods makes him more knowledgeable,mature,  

brave, and independent. All of these qualities are shown during his excursion 
because he faces his fears and bravely travels alone, down the river going where 
none of his people have gone before. 

At the beginning of the story, John says "My father is a priest; I am the son of 
a priest." Throughout the story, John matures and evolves into a leader, and is 
recognized by the current leader of the hill people, his father, as their future 
leader. This is evident when his father says "Truth is a hard deer to hunt. If 
you eat too much of the truth at once, you may die of the truth." His father, 
through these words, recognized John as the future leader of the hill people. He 
cautioned John about sharing the lessons he's learned from the Place of the 
Gods. His father didn't want John to say anything because he was scared of the 
way people would react because the knowledge that John had was dangerous. 
"Perhaps in the old days, they ate knowledge too fast." According to his father, 
knowledge is power but too much knowledge might kill him. 

John's maturity has completed by the end of his journey as he returns home to 
his father. John's father reflects upon this journey when he says, "You went 
away boy. You came back a man and a priest." John's father is very excited about 
the discoveries that John has made in the Place of the Gods. He is so overcome 
with joy because John made the discovery of men in the Place of the Gods, 
something that he couldn't have done in his time.   "The law is not always the 
same shape-you have done what you have done. I could not have done it my time, 
but you come after me. Tell!"  John explains all about his discoveries in the 
Place of the Gods and his father is overwhelmed by the truth. He cautions that 
the truth is too much for the dear people. 

When John reaches adulthood, he asks his father for permission to go on his 
journey. "It is time for me to go on my journey. Give me your leave." John is 
brave enough to endure the trip on the river and to explore the Place of the 
Gods. He discovers the man and brings the news back to his father. He faces many 
perils during his journey. He was "afraid, afraid. The current of the great 
river is very strong- it gripped my raft with its hands." No one from his tribe 
has ever gone to the Place of the Gods, including his father. Knowing he will be 
alone, somewhere no one has been before, requires bravery and determination. 
John faces his fears and learns from his experiences and brings his knowledge 
back to his father.

John is very independent, his journey to the Place of the Gods has shown 
leadership and independence. When John's father says, " It is forbidden to 
travel east. It is forbidden to cross over the great river...," he expects his 
son to break the rules and do it anyways. This is how he knows that when he 
tells him not to go to the east of the river, that he will go to the Place of 
the Gods. 

Clearly, by the end of John's journey, he has grown in knowledge, independence, 
maturity, bravery, and is ready to take a leadership role as the priest of the 
hill people. His father recognizes these changes and respects the growth, but 
cautions him to slowly impart knowledge to the hill people. 

Private/ Public schools.

Up until this year I have gone to private or "catholic" school. Even though private and public are both kinds of schools you can go too, they are both very different. Private school and public schools are different when it comes to money, uniforms,  accepting students, subjects, class sizes, etc. When I went to a private school, I had to pay tuition, unlike in public schools which you don't have to pay. In order to be accepted into the private school that I went to, MSC, you had to take an entrance test. All you had to do was pass the test to be accepted into the school. The majority of my grade from my elementary school had taken the test too. About 75% of my old school got accepted into the school, so I knew a few people.  The next difference was class size. Each class was probably within the range of twelve to fifteen. In public school the range for the major classes is around 25-30. It was a lot easier in the private schools because the teacher could take control of a smaller amount of people easier than a larger amount. The only major difference with subjects was one, Religion. In private school we had to take it as a subject every year. Here, in private school we rarely ever even mention anything about the subject. Every year in private school we would basically be relearning everything but just in greater detail which got kind of boring. Another thing we had to do was learn a ton of prayers and read the bible. In elementary school at least once a week we would usually walk up to the church that was right down the street. In MSC we had a mass whenever the administration of the school felt like having one. At times this sucked because it was like an hour and a half long. The positive side of this was that we got out of classes to go to it. On top of going to mass during school, they expected us to go on Sundays too. Every once and a while they'd ask us questions about the homily to see if we actually had gone. Now that I switched this year it has basically gone to waste because I'm never really ever going to need to know any of this stuff ever again. A positive about going to private school was also that you got excused from almost every CCD class. I probably had to go to about five classes  in my life to receive all of the sacraments so far, while public school people had to do so many more. I have received Baptism, Holy Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation.  Lastly the dress code. Luckily, last year, my dress code wasn't as terrible as some schools. For girls, we had about three skirts: plaid, navy blue, and gray. We had a pretty good variety of shirts also. For boys, unfortunately they didn't have as many choices. A lot of rules came with these uniforms. The length for skirts on girls had to be two inches above the knee. This had been a problem for most girls. At random times there would be people with a ruler measuring to see if your skirt was actually the appropriate length. Since most girls rolled their skirts, they would rush to unroll them before the person checking got to them.  If it wasn't the right length, you would get sent to the office to either change into pants or a longer skirt. This would suck if you had to change because the skirts they'd give you were extremely ugly. A plus about wearing uniforms is it doesn't take more than two seconds to choose what you're going to wear. I like going to public schools because we're able to dress down. At times, this can be a pain to choose what you're going to wear. Since there's no dress code there's so many more choices of what you can wear.  I switched this year to private because I was getting bored of private school and I wanted to see what it was like to go to public. Overall I'm glad that I switched because public school is way more free and less strict overall. At times I miss my friends that rarely see now that I used to see everyday, but I got to meet a lot of new people here this year, so I'm glad I came.  Word count: 748

Theme of The Interlopers

The theme of The Interlopers is a long standing feud between two families. Both men despised each other for reasons unknown. They have known about their family history's since they were kids which caused them to be in dispute. The feud goes on for so long that the reason the families are feuding, is forgotten. The people involved in the feud in the end, Georg and Ulrich have trouble understanding the reason for the fighting. This occurred when they were trapped underneath the tree. Ulrich offers to have his men free Georg. Ulrich says to Georg, "We've been rather fools; there are better things in life than getting the better of a boundary dispute." Georg said that it would be weird if the people saw them together because everyone knew they were enemies. They each prayed that their men would arrive first so that they could save their new friend. The irony of the situation is that when something does come, it's wolves. This means that they will both die.

Naswa Resort

Since 2006 we have been going to New Hampshire every year. We meet up with about 
7 other families, about 30  people all from my mothers side of the family. We 
stay at the Naswa Resort. In order to fit us all, we rent all of the cabins in 
our row. The cabins are located right on the lake with all of the summer 
activities. One of the activities includes a boat ride tour of the lake, Lake 
Winnepausauke. Other activities include snorkeling, paddle boating, kayaking, 
jet skiing, tubing, and much more! 

Out of all those things my favorite was probably jet skiing. As you're going 
across the waves, you have an adrenaline rush. On the jet ski, you can either 
sit or stand to navigate across the waves. Jet skiing was outstanding, and it 
also gave you a chance to view the lake as you're going by at high speeds.
Located right on the lake was also the bar. I tried just about every "virgin" 
drink they had. My favorite was either the strawberry daiquiri or the mudslide. 
We were able to buy the drink glasses, which we still have to remind us of our 
trip. 

Another fun activity we did was go to Fun Spot. Fun Spot was the second largest 
arcade in the world. Since it was raining every day, we went every day to the 
indoor arcade. This was a good way to waste my parents money. I would like to go 
from game to game, I didn't exactly have a favorite one. Whenever I was running 
low on coins I'd play a 'circus game' where you put a coin in and tried to knock 
multiple ones down. This was the type of game where you win some and you lose 
some. Every day we probably spent about two hours here. The arcade had three 
levels so it kept you occupied. 

The most memorable year of these summer trips was in 2009. We knew this wasn't 
going to be a good week by the looks of the weather forecast. Five of the seven 
day trip it poured  all day long. This killed most of our plans because they 
required sunshine. The fifth day was  by far the worst. The day began with 
torrential rain so as it was we had to stay inside. By the afternoon, the roads 
were flooding. I had noticed that the water being flooded was getting closer and 
closer to the propane tank. We of course were located right beside it, lucky us! 
My sister and I at the time weren't even in our cabins. We had been in the cabin 
with our grandparents. We watched the rain and wind carry my grandparents' grill 
and swing set into the lake. The sand around the house had eroded and the water 
had just been flooded even more, almost to the point of reaching our house. Soon 
after, I saw people leaving their cabins. This made me wonder why people would 
be leaving in such weather. A couple minutes after, we heard a knock on the 
door. The person at the door said we were being evacuated to the hotel across 
the street. The guy said the water was getting too close to the propane tank and 
if it had got closer, it would blow up.  After hearing this, we ran to our cabin 
and grabbed all of our belongings because we didn't know what would happen. 
After we were in the hotel, we just stared out the window and watched the rain 
destroy anything in its path. 

The next day we were allowed to go back to the cabins and get the rest o our 
belongings. We saw the parking lot had eroded away, the swing set and grill were 
gone, and the sand had huge holes in the ground. We decided to go home since our 
trip had been washed out. On our way home we stopped at Fun Spot to redeem our 
weeks worth of tickets. We had about 20,000 tickets! We didn't waste them, we 
put all of ours together and got an electric scooter. Surprisingly we had just 
enough to get it. By the time we arrived home, it was a beautiful day. It was blue 

skies and 80 degrees. Of course that's just our luck.