Short Stories

  For the three short stories we were assigned to read last week, I read Araby, by James Joyce, Sucker, by Carson McCuller, and The Sniper, by Liam O'Flaherty. When I read these stories, nothing really popped out at me that seemed interesting to write my thesis on. All of these stories were quite good, but I'm still not sure what to write my thesis paper on. I think that reading a few more of these stories and finding an interesting thesis in them will help me write a great thesis paper.
   To be honest, I haven't really thought about what my thesis should be and how to create a good thesis. Even though I have not found what I am looking for in the short stories, I am still a tiny bit confused on how to come up with a thesis. I understand that it is a statement that needs to be arguable, but I'm not sure how to form a thesis statement. 

Reading times:
Monday: 12 minutes (book)
Tuesday: 17 minutes (book)
Wednesday: 77 minutes (short stories)
Thursday: 23 minutes (short stories)
Saturday: 11 minutes (book)
Sunday: 16 minutes (book)

Total: 56 minutes (book) and 100 minutes (short stories)

"The Waltz of the Fat Man"

  Throughout all the short stories we have recently read, the one that sticks out most to me was "The Waltz of the Fat Man" by Alberto Alvaro Rios. I think the reason it sticks out most is because the story is so sad. The guy is so alone that he gets excited over going to wakes so he can kiss the widow's check. I think one literary element that works its way into the story would have to be setting.
  In this short story, the physical aspects are shown when he talks about his good blue painted house and the walnut trees and wild oleander. I don't think there is a specific time period this is told in for the temporal aspect, but the main part of the story seems to be told over about a month or so. The social aspects in this town are focused around looks and actions and are very judgmental. Like whenever Noe puts up the clocks in his butcher shop, people ask to see if there is a law against it. The atmosphere in this place doesn't sound too friendly for the psychological aspect. The people make small talk to everyone, but don't really talk to anyone they don't like.

Reading Times:
Monday: 39 minutes (short story)
Tuesday: 44 minutes (Uglies)
Wednesday: 53 minutes (short story)
Thursday: 39 minutes (short story)
Saturday: 31 minutes (Uglies)
Sunday: 29 minutes (short story)

Total: 160 minutes on short stories, 81 minutes and 87 pages in Uglies

Quarter Evaluation

I believe that this Quarter I have been a good student in English I. I have not been late to class once, always bring all of my supplies, and check my email everyday. I think I pay attention to lectures, take notes very productively in class, and don't normally engage in side conversations. There are still a few things that have room for improvement. 
There are few things I could work on in class like trying to participate and add more comments in class discussions, or maybe trying not to go off topic whenever we are in small groups. I think I should also get more sleep, because I sometimes feel like I am going to fall asleep in class. I feel that by the end of Second Quarter, I will be better than I am now.

Reading Times

Monday: 18 min (Uglies)
Tuesday: 32 min (short story)
Wednesday: 37 min (short story)
Thursday: 35 min (short story)
Saturday: 33 min (Uglies)

Reading Response

   This past week, I started a new book. My new book is called Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. This book is set in a future world, where everyone is turned "pretty" by plastic surgery when you reach the age sixteen. The main character, Tally, finds a new friends named Shay. Shay believes that being "pretty" is shallow and the people of Pretty Town have actually been and "pretty-minded" by the operation. I just recently started the book and am excited to see if Tally goes through with the operation or flees with Shay to the outside of the city.
   Because I haven't quite gotten into my book, I can't really determine the plot structure. But, having read only the beginning, I have a few ideas for the plot structure. I am already sure that the protagonist in this book is Tally, with the antagonists being the Pretty Town rulers who make people have the operation. I think that the conflict is Tally's decision to become "pretty" or stay normal. One detail of the rising action so far would be when Tally met Shay.

Monday: 26 minutes (Uglies)
Tuesday: 21 minutes (To Build a Fire)
Wednesday: 14 minutes (To Build a Fire)
Thursday: 56 (To Build a Fire)
Saturday: 34 minutes (Uglies)

Total:
60 minutes and 47 pages in Uglies
91 minutes reading and annotating To Build a Fire

I am a Writer Who...

  I am a writer who is not confident. Throughout my academic life, I have wrote everything from papers to made up stories. Even though I enjoy writing because it gives me a way to express my ideas and voice, I have never felt confident in presenting my work. I get anxious that people will think my writing stinks or won't understand my message. I like to keep my writing to myself.
  I still give my best effort to make my writing amazing, but always feel I am missing something when I'm finished. I would really like to gain more confidence and improve my writing skills in everything I write.