Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Research Update

   The topic I chose for the project we are doing right now is artificial sugar versus real sugar. In my paper, I plan to describe what each sugar is and how they both affect your body. I am continuing to research which is better for you to eat, because there are arguments for both. I want to include types of artificial sugars, like aspartame, and explain the makeup of the sugar and it's significance to the sugar industry. I think I will have enough to write about for this paper. 
   I am very thankful for the databases we have for research because they are really useful for my research paper. The databases have worked super well for me and I use them often for my research. I am still a little bit confused on how to make an annotated bibliography, but I'm pretty sure I have it right. Other than that, I don't have any questions or concerns.

Reading Times:
Monday: 27 minutes on book
Tuesday: 10 minutes on book and 33 minutes finding and reading sources
Wednesday: 19 minutes on book and 22 minutes annotating
Thursday: 24 minutes on book and 27 minutes reviewing and finishing annotations
Friday: 10 minutes on book and 35 minutes reading and annotating a source
Sunday: 12 minutes reading my book

Totals: 102 minutes and 93 pages in You Have to Stop This and 117 minutes on project

Monday, January 14, 2013

Free Post

   My Christmas break was very calm and laid back. I had a great time being able to sleep in late and be with my family. On Christmas morning, my sisters and I were very thankful to recieve all our presents from Santa. We were very excited to see what we got and pleased by what there was. The next day, we left for Georgia to visit our family. It was fun to be able to spend time with the rest of our family because we only get to see them twice a year at the most. 
   When my family got back from Georgia, we had a fun New Years and finished the rest of our break enjoying our presents. My break wasn't as exciting as it has been before, but I enjoyed having time off from school.

Reading Response

This week, I have been reading You Have to Stop This, by Pseudonymous Bosch. This book is part of a series I have been reading for a while. The main characters are Cass and Max-Ernest, which are a part of a secret society trying to find The Secret. This book starts off with Cass waking up from a long coma where she travelled back in time to talk with her ancestors. After she wakes up, she finds a message she was told about while she was sleeping and found the final clue to finding the Secret. While on a school field trip to a mummy museum, Max-Enest and Cass find a portal back to ancient Egypt and are stuck there.
I would feel scared if ll of a sudden i was transported back in time to place i didn't know. I'm sure thy will find a way to get back, because they always come up with great plans to fix everything. I am excite to see if they find the Secret in this book and how they get back. 

Reading Times
Monday: 44 minutes and 48 pages
Tuesday: 32 minutes and 37 pages
Wednesday: 35 minutes and 38 pages
Saturday: 26 minutes and 27 pages
Sunday: 30 minutes and 39 pages

Total: 167 minutes and 189 pages

Monday, December 10, 2012

First Semester Reading

Books:
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Short Stories we read from the book
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This isn't What it Looks Like by Pseudonymous Bosch
The Return: Nightfall by L. J. Smith
The Vow by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter

   This semester I haven't really learned anything about myself as a writer. I prefer to read mystery true event books. I don't really like to read autobiographies and biographies because I think they are boring. I usually just end up not finishing the books I think are boring. I guess my greatest strength would have to be comprehension, because it is easy for me to understand what I read and not have to read it again. I'm not really sure what my weaknesses are.
   I think the reading goals I am setting for next semester are in reach. I would like to be able to say I have completely read 16 books, 8 per semester. Also, I want to finish reading two biographies or autobiographies, because those are the books that I have the hardest time getting through. My last goal is to read more than 150 minutes per week. 

Reading Times
Monday: 15 minutes on my paper
Tuesday: 59 minutes on LOTF
Wednesday: 39 minutes on LOTF
Thursday: 46 minutes on LOTF and 21 minutes on my paper
Sunday: 51 minutes on LOTF

Total: 36 minutes on my paper and 195 minutes on LOTF


Monday, December 3, 2012

Reading Times

Monday: 21 minutes
Tuesday: 14 minutes
Wednesday: 33 minutes
Friday: 39 minutes
Saturday: 28 minutes
Sunday: 17 minutes

Total: 114 minutes(book), 38 minutes(LOTF) and 116 pages(book), 30 pages(LOTF)

Monday, November 26, 2012

LOTF Survival Update

  My focus I am supposed to be tracking is survival. There have been different types of survival I have noticed so far. The main one would be the kinds of foods and types of shelter available on the island. But the boys aren't treating the island correctly, so the fruitful island is becoming scarce of the things need to survive. Also, the signal fire is the boys way to get recognized so they can be rescued. Another would be how Jack keeps trying to kill the pig, which isn't really for food. But, hunting is a way of survival the boys use.
  The ways my focus has shifted from the beginning of the book to now aren't very dramatic. First, like I said above, the boys are neglecting the island and are ruining the beauty of the island. Then, there is how Ralph is trying to get rescued and notices how the boys aren't working or really trying to support the island. Ralph wants the boys to work instead of just playing all the time.





Semester Overview

  This semester I feel the material hasn't been very confusing. I understand the literacy narratives, traits of good writing, and short stories. The only subject I really am not sure about are literary analyses. I am not sure how to compose one still. Also, I don't really remember In Defense of Food from summer reading. 
  I need another example of the setting charts because I still don't understand the different levels. I would like it if we went over In Defense of Food again. I think that I am very prepared for the first semester exam.

Reading Times:
12/26: 45 minutes
13/26: 39 minutes
14/26: 33 minutes
15/26: 48 minutes
19/26: 47 minutes

Total: 94 pages and 128 minutes