FINAL!! Reflective ESSAY!!!

Throughout the school year, i have been writing alot in my Blog which is called iblog. As time have passed since my first blog post, i have seen many improvements in my writing. I have been writing about personal experinces, responses to other student’s blog posts, free writes and a lot of book reviews or essays.

I’ve never had a blog before right untill i started freshman year. At fisrt i was not too intrested in writing on Blogger because writing is something that i never really liked to do. Not only that but sinse Blogger will be part of my school asignments, obveiesly it would be all bout academic stuff.

Soon i was informed that Blogger wont always be all about your writing assignments. I consider blogger to be a writing website where you can just write out all of youer ideas and express your self freely without having no one to judge your writing. And due to this, there are many things that can write about and poast it in my blog.

Things that  happen in my everyday life inspires me to write about in great detail which is something that i still  need to work on to become a great writer. Things that happen in my life that are funny, crazy, exciting, etc.... I once wrote about the topic of death  and how i have experinced it and how i feel about it. This is a perfect example of one of my blog posts that came to be one that i liked. I Like this blog post because i didnt really prepare to write abou it. Instead i just gave it all i have and spit out all my thoughs about it. But at the same time just writing about what happens in your everyday life can also make your writing weak. That is why to post a very good blog post of someting that happened. it really needs to come in great detail. I have noticed this because I know that my writing is not that great when i dont prepare before i post my final piece. I think that this is one of the reasons that some of my blog posts are not that great. like other blog posts. In the end, I i improved my in writing strategies and know when the write time is post a good blog post.


In the begining, I always rushed to finish my blog post which was a mistake that i did. Due to this, my blogs were not so good. After i have read my past blog posts, i have seen dramatic changes in my  writing and in my ways of expressing my self. After the first semester, i began to put a lot more thought into my blogs which made my blogs be more interesting. Somethings that i was not very good at were the response post because a lot of the time, some blog posts that i have read were good but not great to a point where i could really write a lot. Not to be mean, but If there was someone who really had an extordinary mind and always wrote what was in their mind, then there would really be a lot to talk about. I like to read blogs that i can relate a lot to and express myself. I once responded to Bassam’s blog post of how he was bullied and wanted revenge. I found it really interesting so i decided to write about it...This quote shows the opposite of building mutual trust and respect. beating someone really bad is a total disrespect. I also understand how it feels to be on the side where ecery kid is insulted or has been beat up...i got stronger, and realized that i have knockout power behind my fists. i took adventege of it...his is the opposite of  resolving conflict peacfully. This is resolving your problems with violence which is not the right thing to do.

This is was my second blog post that i posted when i first started on Blogger. after reading this blog post in a long time, i noticed that it was pretty good. This post was a response post to Bassam’s blog post of revenge. And in that post he talks about how he was bullied. As you have read, i realted to his blog post. Thats something that like to do when i write my response post and over time, i have improved. For example, i give a better view of my perspective in the respnse posts.

like i said before, i like to relate many things that i see or hear. This is something that I think that i have gotten better at over time. To be good at this, i think that when we are going to but up a blog post of something that we either read or saw, alawats come back to simmilar a situation and write about how similar they are.
There was one essay that i did months ago which i think turned out to be a very good essay. The essay was basically a book review and the fact that i read a very good book it turned out really good. The book is called A long Way Gone and it was about violece of war and coruption. Due to this, I found a lot of realtions with othere things that i seen on TV.This book contains so much violence, bloodshed, gore scence and its such so violent. This book is so well written because as you are reading it, it's just as if your watching a movie. I'll say that if this book directed by a very good director, you will say that it is way worse than the movie RAMBO. This book is so brutal. I say this because it just contains very good imegry.

As you can see, i made a relation to something that i saw. There so mach that you can relate things to each other especially if you have an open mind because theres so much that you can write about if you can go in debt with what you are relating to. As a writer, this is something that i have improved a lot. I know this because every time i write about somethimg theres something i can relate to. And i think that this it is a very good thing do do as a writer because it makes your writing sometimes a lot more interesting.

Another thing that i have eperienced alot and still due when iam writing is writers block. But when it came to writing in my blog, i did not find this much of a problem. Well the reason is because in my blog, i can just release all of my emotions, momories, feelings, etc...Of course there must have been times when I just could not write something good. due to this, i would just write something that is just random and would not maake my blog post interesting.

i think my solution to this problem should be that when every time i experience something cool or bad, redord it down and then when it comes to writeing something down, i wont have to worry about writers block and write freely from whati experienced.

From i what i have accomplished from blogger such as new strategies in ways of writing, i have came to a conclusion for next semester. For the next semester, i shall try to reach my goals to improvemy writing. One of my goals is to add alot more details in my eriting. This has always been a problem for me because details is what makes peoples writing good. To achieve this goal i will need to think about the topic that i am writing about indebt to get a lot afrom it. writing many words that relate to my topic can come upon great detail. I also wish to accomplish my goal of reducing clutter in my writing. I think that in every essay that i have wriiten, there is always clutter. Due to this my writng turns out to be not as effective. Wys to achieve this goal is to take out all the things that are useless or expand more on it. As you can see, i have done good and bad in my writing, i develped new ways to make my writing better, found ways to reduce writers bolck, and set new goals for myself for next semester.

Reasponse post to essays

This is to Ashli:
Well Ashli, i can see why you would read this book and im not going to lie, the book seems really intresting. From what you wrote, i can see that there is so much you can get out of it. What I'm trying to say is that you can learn from it. I think that trhis book is a good example of how things can turn out if wether your successful or not.
As i read you rough draft, i noticed many things where you can add a lot more detail and where you can be more clear with what you said. I saw how you said that the personalities of the two sisters are different. But, my question is how do the differences of the two sister affect the theme of the story. But wait, you never explained what the theme and the conflict is. Theme and conflict is always good to have in book reviews. That way, you can say how the differences of the personalities of the two sisters either affect the conflict or how it causes a conflict. This is something that you should expand a lot more in your essay. That way when your doing your final essay, it will be very easy to undersatnd. : / = D


To Ivan:
I havent read the book that you read and i probably wouldnt want to read it because i can just see the movie. You really workeed hard on it becaue you explained a lot. But, not enough. what i look in in these essays is the themes and how they are developed. you can easily get the theme by just reading the summary of this book. But for those who havent read the book, add as much detail you can so that in the end the theme will come out. This is what i told Ashli. I think that i saw the conflict but thats one thing that i think that you should make more clear. what is the conflict.

To Elizabeth:
i can see how you enjoy reading Terry Pratchett books. Maybe I'll take into consideration of reading some of his books. to keep it simple. i think that you should explain a lot more about the characters and how they affect the theme of the sotry and the conflict.

Final Book Review "Search for Safety"

The book that I have recently read is called “Search for Safety” by John Langan. I have also read many other books from the same author and in a way, they are al very similar. They all have a social conflict meaning that there is always someone or a group of people that are causing the conflict to the main character. Or a better way to say it is “Character vs. Character” Well any ways. The book “Search for Safety” happens to be character vs. society. The main “main” character is Ben McKee.

Ben McKee is treated like shit by his stepfather who hates him. But of course, Ben's mom is blinded by love. Larry is considered to be and aggressive and jealous man. And yes, Ben' mom is still in love with him. Ben cant really do much because he knows that he will be beaten. In the beginning of the book already Ben is being beaten by Larry for not ordering simple orders such as stay in room. "When I want you upstairs, you stay upstairs!" he yelled." But I-"Whap! Larry cuffed me hard in the jaw with the back of his hand, snapping my head back and splitting my lip...This constantly happens through out the book and there’s nothing he can do since he has no protection from his mom, there’s nothing he can do. You know if i was Ben's situation would of probbaly didnt do nothing.  Ben's takes a hit for not following that simple rule. Just imagine what Larry would do to ben If he calls the police on him. Ithink that his life would be in great jepoardy. But is it worth it? Hummmm maybe not. That risking your life against a psychopath.

The only safe place that Ben has is school. In school, he has new friends and has a great time. But most of the time, he needs to hide his bruises that Larry leaves him after beating him. This here is similar to the same situation with David and his mom in the book A Child Called It. I just think is what Ben Mackee will do.

The other book that i read from the same author is Brothers in Arms. Both of these books share many similarities. They both have the same plot, violence in the conflict and there’s always the main character has a hard time staying safe everyday

I think that the purpose of writing this book is to show the way some people are living in the same situation just like Ben. And yea, there are many families all over the world where the father especially stepfathers are very abusive in many violent ways. And for those who have never experienced this situation in their live, this book gives a very good ideal of how it is. Also, this book has a lot of imagery through very good details. That the thing about this author, he gives a ton of sensory details.

As the book was ending, I noticed drastic changes in the characters like Ben. Thought out the book, Ben was kid who tried all he can do stay safe in his own house.  Ben's mom married a guy who hates Ben, Due to this, Ben was miserable because he didn't get food very often and was always beat by his stepfather. I don’t blame him, His stepdad was to strong.

I was really frustrated because of actions of the main characters. First of all, Ben was to sacred to call the police and send who is his step dad because of the beatings he was receiving. I mean why would you hide that like a deep secret. I think that is an ignorant act. Ben’s mom is so STUPID. First of all she's blinded with love. She loves Larry. But is having your husband beating your one and only child considered to be love? That’s stupid. Another thing is that she even takes the beatings from Larry for only looking at a guy. “Larry, you got things all wrong. i was just talking to him. That’s all"..."next time you don’t even look at him. You hear me"...WHAP!...Stop it Larry...WHAP!”This here shows lack of responsibility from both parents. But of course. Ben's mom is deeply in love with him and won’t leave him. Aoutomatically, this shows that Larry is very jelouse. As you can see, Ben's mom only saw a guy and Larry got reallt mad. And remember, what will Larry do next  if she would do something like kiss the guy. He will probably kill her. But then again is it worth it? is this real love? NO

Ben is really scared of Larry because of what he has been doing. There’s a part where Larry says that he is willing to kill Ben if he ever calls the police. Due to this, Ben does not try to call the police. As time passes, Ben’s teachers and friends are noticing the burses in his body but Ben is holding it back and acts like he has nothing. At one point it was now to stand up and burst out the truth. And so he did. But, it was a mistake that he did. Due to this, Larry was going to kill Ben big time. But then the police caught him and everyone were now happy.

These types of situations happen throughout the world. This is why I wanted to read this book. After reading this book, it gave me a good perspective of domestic violence. After finishing this book the first thing that popped is this situation. I mean you never know, the people that you know may be going through the same thing. This is why the John Langan wrote this book. To give the audience a good perspective of what domestic violence is.

After finishing my book, "Search For Safety" by John Langan, I noticed drastic changes in the the characters like Ben. Thoughtout the book, Ben was kid who tried all he can do stay sfe in his own house.  Ben's mom mareied a guy who hates Ben, Due to this, Ben was miserable because he didn't get food very often and was always beat by his stepfather. I dont blame him, His stepdad was to strong.

While reading the book, I was really frustrated because of actions of the main characters. First of all, Ben was to sacared to call the police and send who is his step dad because of the beatings he was reciving. I mean why would you hide that like a deep secrect. I think that is an ingorant act. Just even writing about this gets me mad..UGH!!!! but it is just a story. Another thing is that Bens maom is so STUPID!!!!!!!!! I HATE HER!!!! First of all she's blinded with love. She loves Larry. But is havibg your husband beating your one and oly child love. Thats Stupid!!! Another thing is that She even takes the beatings from Larry for only lookking at a guy.

" Larry, you got things all wrong. i was just talking to him. thats all"..."next time you dont even look at him. you hear me"...WHAP!...Stop it Larry...WHAP!

tHIS HERE SHOWS COMPLETE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY FORM THE BOTH PARENTS. but of course. Ben's mom is deeply inlove with him and wont leave him. Nother thing about Ben's mom is that she is jusy a stupid person who lioke to be taken advantege of. I hate her!!!!!!!!!!. Larry dosent work and with the job that mom has, he needs to pay for rent, foof and bills. aND YOU KNOW lARRY DOES? he takes about half the money and buys beer. She is so stupid!!!! UGH!! i HATE. HER.

tHATS IT, I CANT FINISH THIS BLOGPOST. iM FU**** MAD!!!!!!!

c 

Search for Safety first test-run of book review

If you've read other books by this same author, how does this one compare? (You don't need to decide which one is better, although you can.)

What was the author's purpose(s) in writing this book, and how can you tell? How well was this purpose achieved?

The book that I am reading is Search for Safety by John Langan. Jhon Langan has a series of books that happen to have the same plot. I haven't read all of the books. I've only read one and the one that I am reading right now. I liked the first book that i read and sice i liked it, i would want to read the other books that he wrote. The thing about the books that he writes is that you can some what realte to the themes.

In Search for Safety, the main character is Ben Mckee. Ben Mckee is treated like shit by his stepfather who hates him. But of course, Ben's mom is blinded by love and at one point, Larry who is the stepfathewr of Ben beats her up for looking at anothe guy other than him. Rught of the bat, Larry is considered to be and aggressive and jelous man. And yes, Ben' mom is still in love with him. Ben cant really do much because he knows that he will be beaten. In the begining of the book allready Ben is being beatin by Larry for not ordering simple orders such as stay in room.

The only safe place that Ben has is school. In school, he has new friends and has a great time. But most of the time, he needs to hide his bruises that Larry leaves him after beating him. This here is similar to thae same situation with David and his mom in the book A Child Called It. I just think is what will Ben Mackee do.

Search For Safety happens to be the second book i read from the same author who is John Langan. The other book that i read from the same author is Brothers in Arms. Both of these books share many similarities. They both have the same plot, violence in the conflict and theres alawys the main character has a hard time staying safe everyday. I am not done with the book but what it seems like the theme of thew story is to stand up search for a better way to live. This theme is very similar to the theme in the book Brothers in Arms.

I think that the purpose of writing this book is to show the way some people are living in the same situation just like Ben. And yea, there are many families all over the world where the father especially tepfathers are very abuseive in many violent ways. And for those who have never experienced this situation in their live, this book gives a very good ideal of how it is. Also, this book has a lot of imegrey through very good details. That the thing about this author, he give a ton of sensory details.

"Whe i want you upstairs, you stay upstairs!" he yelled." But i-"Whap! Larry cuffed me hard in the jaw with the back of his hand, snappping my head back and splitting my lip...

This constantly happens through out the book and theres nothing he can do sinse he has no protection from his mom, theres nothing he can do. Maybe further in the book, Ben's mom will realize what she and got her self into and Ben by marrying Larry. Overall, this book seems good because of the way it was written and for the purpose of why it was written.

Vignette Response

While reading the first vignette that Luis Alba wrote, I was really impressed because he i know that he put all of work into it. The one thing that i liked about his vignette which happens to be titled " The Sirens Go Off" is first of all, the title, his title cached my attention which made me want read it. As I was reading this vignette, there was a lot of suspense which makes his piece very interesting. One thing that luis states in his vignette is

David walked with the backpack full of spray cans and I had the caps on all my pockets. We found a spot right in the middle of the train. We were nervous...David and I were hesitant to be the first to start painting...All of a sudden, a motorcycle engine just turned off. We ran. I looked back while running, across the train I could see red and blue lights on the floor and on the bridge on top of us.

This here shows a lot of suspense and it just makes you want to keep on read what will happen. I can relate to a similar situation that Luis had went through. The one difference wasn't about  the poliece and trying to run away. My situation was being caught with my cousins by some Border Brother, the fact that my cousins happened to be gang affiliated with the nortenos. Just as how Luis was nervous and scared, that was the same thing that i felt. Another thing that i noticed about Luis vignettes is that he used very good figurative language. And a lot of his figurative language gave a better tone and taste in his vignettes. In the same vignette, "The Sirens Go Off" one of ny favorite

I shivered like if I had furious ants crawling all over me, bitting my skin making me feel cold.

This similie gave a humerous tone and really showed feelings in his situation. This similies can represent the sensation of being nervous , scared and maybe scared to death within a panic situation. This is what i think of this expression. Overall, i think that Luis vignettes show a lot of work that have been put into and very good figurative language that makes up the vignettes. And also i can relate to some of his vignettes. In the end, it is very good.

 

 I think that Sandra Cisneros would say that boys and girls should be raised equally due to different standards that they are raised by. If i were to ask Sandra If teenage boys and girls should be raised with equal morals, I'm pretty sure that she will say yes.

One reason why she would say yes is because throughout history, men were considered to be superior to women. And in some cases, This ideal is still happening. On pg. 88 in the book The House on Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros , it says, "Nenny says she wont wait her whole life for a husband to come and get her." And on page 89 "There is always one with the red lips who is beautiful and cruel." Since the book was written by Cisneros, She implies that girls should embrace their feminine side but shouldn't let men control them and should maintain their independence. Yes some boys are raised to have the upper hand in the family and get the idea that women should dedicate their live to their husband. Due to this, some women are actually used to this idea.

Another reason why Cisneros would say that boys and girls should be raised the same way is because boys can be aggressive, Due to male aggressiveness, guys are temped in a way. And some guys are raised to be strong, Guys will then believe that they are strong enough to take over women.

This may seem hard to believe but it is not. On page 100 it says, "Sally make then stop, i couldn't make them go away..." This here shows that Esperanza cannot "defeat boys' power in society. She ant even overcome it. Clearly, men take advantage. This happens if boys are raised to be aggressive while girls are raised to be smart and to be a house wife. And a lot of the time, men who are aggressive  take over women even if they may be smarter. Its like that.

In many families a girl who is beautiful, must stay safe. Guys will always like a girl who is beautiful. Girls are raised to stay safe and sometime especially to stay away from sex.until their ready. If they happen to have sex, then they may be considered to be sluts. On the other hand, guys who have sex, may be considered to be cool. This is all due to the way boys and girls are raised.  But maybe, if both guys and girls are raised with equal morals, then it would be a whole different situation. This is why Sandra Cisneros would say that girls and boys should be raised equally with equal morals.