American Literature Final Poster
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Prompt: As the first semester comes to an end, take time to reflect on your learning and growth in this course. In a well-developed response, explain what you enjoyed most about the class, identify the project or assignment you found most engaging, and discuss which aspect of the course you connected with the most (such as poetry, fiction, writing, or discussion). Finally, reflect on one area where you feel you need additional support or improvement as we move into the spring semester.
Prompt Response: W hat I enjoyed most about this class was how engaging the class was. The majority of the work we did in class we did with Mr. Reese or with our group members. Poetry tended to spark my interest the most. I liked the background stories to each poet and what their inspirations were for their poems. Finally, one area where I feel I need additional support or improvement as we move into the spring semester is trying to identify specific meaning for lines in poetry. This is what I enjoyed most about this class. Summary: I learned about other people's poems. Reflection: We presented our Final Projects today.
Prompt: Many holidays center around traditions. Describe one tradition that is important to you or your family and explain why it still matters (or why it no longer does).
Prompt Response: O ne tradition that is important to me is watching holiday movies with your family. Holiday movies are meant to bring joy to people and be fun. I feel like it's important to share that with your family. It's a huge part of the holiday season and many people share this tradition. This is one tradition that is important to me. Summary: I got checked out early due to the conflict that happened today. Reflection: I got checked out early due to the conflict that happened today.
Prompt: How have the holidays changed as you have grown older? Compare your experiences of the holidays during childhood with how you experience them now, focusing on shifts in perspective, responsibilities, or emotional meaning.
Prompt Response: T he holidays changed as I have grown older due to the amount of reality that I've gained. I love the holiday season and always will but It doesn't feel the same any more. I've learned how horribly stressful the work force is during the holiday season, the presents are more of a thing I've seen rather than things I'd enjoy, and Christmas shopping is a nightmare. The only thing I still enjoy is the movies due to the nostalgia. This is how the holidays changed as I have grown older. Summary: I learned about vocabulary in section 6. Reflection: We did questions 2-4 for vocabulary section 6.
Prompt: Write about something you’ve outgrown but still miss.
Prompt Response: Something I've outgrown but still miss is Trick or Treating on Halloween. I will become 18 soon and have definitely outgrown the tradition. I've made many memories over the years going across my neighborhood with my best friends trying to get the best candy. We would go home, lay out all of the candy we could collect, and trade. This is something I've outgrown but still miss. Summary: I learned about the Langston Hughes poem. Reflection: We took our test on vocabulary 1-5.
Prompt: Write about something that you can't stop thinking about.
Prompt Response: Something that I can't stop thinking about is my the Christmas present I bought for my mom. I bought her a vintage Patt Benatar t-shirt from the 80's a week ago. The seller is being lazy and not sending me updates. The good thing is if the seller doesn't ship it to me by the 14th, I'll get a full refund. This is something that I can't stop thinking about. Summary: I got checked out early today. Reflection: I worked on my Blogger assignment when I got home.
Prompt: Cultural Identity Mask
Prompt Response: This Cultural Identity Mask assignment really made me think outside the box for who I am. I had to dive a lot deeper into what I really enjoy. I named religion, interests, ethnicity, and other facts. It was actually quite enjoyable. This Cultural Identity Mask assignment really made me think in different ways about myself. Summary: I learned about other people's culture. Reflection: We worked on presenting our Cultural Identity Mask.
Prompt: Write about the best gift you have received.
Prompt Response: The best gift I have received is a 2012 Gibson Gold-Top Studio (guitar). It had been a guitar I'd been wanting for a long time. I received it on Christmas and told my family how grateful I was for it. I immediately plugged it in and started writing new music on it. This is the best gift I have received. Summary: I learned about the new vocabulary in section 5. Reflection: We worked on part 1. questions for section 5 vocabulary.
Prompt: After watching the short film Identity, write a blog post reflecting on how the masks in the film represent the pressure to fit in and the struggle to discover who you really are. Choose one moment from the film that stood out to you and explain why. Then, connect the film’s message to Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” and to the mask you are creating in class. What part of your identity do you want your mask to reveal?
Prompt Response: The masks in Identity show how we hide our true selves to fit in. Figuring who you really are is hard, but the film suggests our genuine, imperfect identity is the most important. Both "Identity" and "I, Too" show the struggle of being told who you are and the strength it takes to be yourself. The Identity I want my mask to reveal is my interests, which are very important to me. Summary: I learned about the theme of the short film "Identity." Reflection: We worked on watching the short film "Identity" and discussing our final project.
Prompt: In “I, Too,” the speaker expresses pride in his identity and his rightful place in America. Reflect on your own life: What aspect of your cultural identity are you most proud of, and why?
Prompt Response: The aspect of my cultural identity I am most proud of is the southern food culture and southern hospitality. Food is cooked with soul and love down in the south compared to other places I've been. The southern hospitality is also pretty good. You're able to be in public and have a conversation with a random person you've never talked to before. This is the aspect of my cultural identity I am most proud of. Summary: I learned about "I, Too" today in class. Reflection: We worked on making a mask off of ourselves.
Prompt: In “We Real Cool,” the speakers make choices that seem exciting, bold, and rebellious, even though those choices lead to consequences. Write about a moment in your own life when you followed what looked cool or fun, only to realize afterwards that it wasn’t the smart or responsible path. What influenced your decision, and how did your perspective change later?
Prompt Response: A moment in my own life when I followed what looked cool or fun, only to realize afterwards that it wasn’t the smart or responsible path was in middle school. I was hanging out with a group of people that already have a bad reputation. I ignored it due to lack of knowledge and sympathy. Ignoring these signs was a horrible decision, resulting into rough situations and experiences. I did take the wrong path but I did learn a lot of life lessons while going through those difficult situations. This was a moment in my own life when I followed what looked cool or fun, only to realize afterwards that it wasn’t the smart or responsible path Summary: I learned about the meanings in We Real Cool. Reflection: We worked on the assignment for We Real Cool.
Prompt: Discuss something meaningful or memorable you experienced over the break, or reflect on what you felt most thankful for during that time.
Prompt Response: Something memorable I experienced over the break was playing guitar with my 80 year old grandfather. He's been a guitarist ever since he was 14. Stories are always told when i'm around due to our love of music. Music bonds us together and it's a joy talking about his past with music. I'm very grateful and lucky that I get to have a grandfather like him. I will remember these memories until the end of time. Summary: I learned about the new vocabulary in module 4 today. Reflection: We did sections 1-4 for the module 4 vocabulary.