Reflection

Thinking and Writing:

Nature- When writing my nature essay, I based my writing on my encounter with nature. I had to do this while using quotes by Emerson and Thoreau to support my reasoning of what I experienced with nature. The main idea of my essay was comprehending my positive encounter with nature and using a lot of description to do so. Both Emerson and Thoreau's quote helped support my opinion of why it was a good experience to me. In this piece, I learned that you can actually enjoy nature when you are around it.

Memoir- The writing of my memoir was fun and very enjoyable. In this essay, I had based my writing on the time I had broken my nose. The main idea of this essay was telling about my experience in a descriptive way by using things such as dialog. I also had to bring back some memories that occurred to help catch the attention of the reader. In this piece I learned how to become more creative through my writings.

The Scarlet Letter- In this writing, it was mainly written about how the letter "A" had changed its meaning throughout the novel. In this writing, I had to think really hard to process why Hawthorne chose to change the letter and why was it significant. In this piece, I learned how to use examples in the book to backup my opinions thoroughly.

Crucible Character- The essay of comparing the character Mary Warren to a bean bag was quite difficult to me. When writing, I was trying to figure out how she could be compared to a bean bag and why is this object a good comparison. I had also used quotes and examples in this piece to help sustain my thoughts in this writing. Through this, I learned to have deeper thoughts, convincing ideas, and great ways to compare the object to Mary when writing this comparison essay.

Overall, I think that the main connections between all of my pieces were not to be afraid of just relying on my inner thoughts and opinions. But by doing this, I also needed quotes and examples. Three things that I learned from this class that were most helpful are the use of imagery, complex sentences, and making sure I include my tone in my writings.


Process of Revision:

Nature- My revision in this piece were learning to add more sensory details to my description of the forest and objects that were within it. An example of this is a sentence in my second paragraph (http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dcw9c6nc_8ddc76d&hl=en). It had first written, "As I walked outside, I could feel the intensity of the illuminate sun shining across my face." After then knowing that I needed more description, I added "and the brown gushy mud sliding between my flip-flops. By adding those types of revisions in this piece, it can now let the reader feel as if he/she is actually there.

Memoir- The major problem in this piece was not letting my brush strokes be noticeable to the reader. So in my revision, I had to go back and change some sentences to have adjectives shifted out of order. An example of this is the sentence in my second paragraph
(http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dcw9c6nc_0gmf8d3&hl=en). At first, it had said, "I demanded that it was my turn to play next, but one of my brothers complained that it was a game only for them." But I later changed it to "Demanding that it was my turn to play next, one of my brothers complained that i was a game only for them." I also had to revise the overuses of being verbs such as: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, and been. An example of this was when I had wrote in my first paragraph, "I woke up extra early and everyone were awake doing there daily tasks. However, instead of using "I", I revised it to, "Waking up early, everyone was doing their daily tasks while my mom cleaned and prepared breakfast."

The Scarlet Letter- When revising the Scarlet letter, I had to revise the use of too much summary. I also had to think more by not only making observations, but drawing conclusions to support my ideas. I mostly needed to explain more why I thought something in particular was important to the novel. An example of this was in my third paragraph (http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dcw9c6nc_4c2rsgw&hl=en). In this paragraph, I talked about how the letter "A" is beginning to stand for alone. In the thesis of this paragraph, I stated how when she starts her sewing business, she starts to become popular in the town. Even so, I didn't tell why this was important to the novel. I revised this by saying, "This has an importance to the novel because by her sewing, it helps to show how she and the townspeople are slowing shifting during the novel."

Crucible Character- For the revision in this writing, I also had a problem with having too much summary of the play. In addition, I had to revise staying in present tense when writing this piece. An example of this was when I had wrote, "Mary Warren was effortlessly threatened by Abigail and is broken down in the court." (http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dcw9c6nc_6d6zrhf&hl=en) I changed this sentence to be in present tense by saying, "Mary Warren is effortlessly threatened by Abigail and is broken down in the court. I also had a little trouble with tying together the first paragraph, but I had help from Mrs. Turner by a suggestion of a sentence.There were not any other revisions in this writing that I had to consider.

Learning From Your Classmates:

After reading the portfolios of my classmates, Erika Verbeck , Savahnna Keown, and Melody Williams. I had learned many resourceful things about them. Erika Verbeck's writing of her experience with nature helped me learn that when you are explaining your thoughts make sure that you give great reasons and examples of why you think so. In my opinion, Erika did a really good job on giving her motives of why nature was like different situations in life. (http://erikaverbeck.blogspot.com/). I think that in Savahnna's memoir piece; she had wonderful descriptions in her story, which made you feel as if you are right there with her. When I was reading it, I could picture everything she was saying. I think that this is a very important thing needed for writing, but a difficult thing to do which I thought Savahnna did accurately. (http://savannakeown.blogspot.com/). In melody's writing of Nature, I also think that she did a great job backing up her opinions of her encounter with quotes and examples of Emerson and Thoreau.

Nature

There is no true definition of what nature can be to someone. It usually has different meanings to different people. But to me, nature is a wonderful way to be taken into another world and become one with yourself in a spiritual way. Nature is one of the main keys of Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism involves the beliefs of nonconformity, self-reliance, free thought, confidence, and importance of nature. Both Ralph Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were two Transcendentalists who had strong views about the subject of being more involved with your intuition or the "Divine Soul" of what nature can truly be.

Recently, I had the opportunity to experience what nature can really mean to me. As I walked outside, I could feel the intensity of the illuminate sun shining across my face and the brown gushy mud sliding between my flip-flops. I then directed my hand over my forehead to protect the sun somewhat from my eyes. Initially, I thought how can I make this experience something similar to what Emerson had encountered? I didn't believe that I would get something out of it, but that it would be boring and a waste of time. Crouching down low avoiding the sharp scrawny limbs and scratchy leaves, I stepped into the woods with my friends. The forest was extremely vivid and had a distinct smell and various types of leaves and trees. The trees had soft green moss surrounded by small leaves, some turning brown, with tiny holes in them. As I wondered around, I still didn't as if I was getting anything out of it. Soon, everyone had broken up into small groups, and the forest had become much quieter. In the woods, there was a ROTC ropes course. In the middle, there was a giant net. Excitedly, everyone began to jump on it.

When it was cleared out by most of my classmates, my friends and I decided to take a try at it. At first, it was difficult but I quickly managed to get comfortable. As I glanced around the auburn woods, it seemed as if no one else was around. The footsteps and talking amongst my classmates were completely tuned out. Emerson once stated that "In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man in spit of real sorrows." While laying on the net, I began to forget about my stressful studies and just focused on what was then and there. There was no distraction as the serenity of the woods made it easier for me to be calmed and relaxed. I felt as if there was an internal peace within me and at that moment, my mind was free of anxiety, just as the quote described. In my opinion, my experience represented the importantce of nature and the self-reliance of transcendentalism. I had partially relied not only on nature, but myself to understand how important it could be to me.

David Henry Thoreau also stated that, "A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into the beholder measures the depth of his own nature." This is a quote from David Henry Thoreau. In this quote, Thoreau is describing how parts of nature like a lake, are beautiful features that are needed for the earths "eye". But the person who is in it can only determine themselves what nature they see and can only understand it with their own eyes. When I was in the woods I thought that the feeling of nature and all of its gorgeous surroundings would come easily to me so that I could interpret it as Emerson and Thoreau once did. However, my viewpoint changed completely once I was actually there. I began to realize that I cannot see nature if I only perceive it through my natural eye, but I must interpret it through means of my spiritual self. When I started to do so, the negativity of being in the woods had completely left me. This quote showed me also the self-reliance of transcendentalism. We can never understand nature if we don’t first depend on ourselves to see it on our own and not just by relying on nature itself. Thoreau's quote also expressed to me free thought.

The views of Emerson and Thoreau gave me a confidence that an experience with nature can be positive. It can open you to see the true beauty of nature for yourself. In conclusion, through the examples of quotes, both transcendentalists conveyed nonconformity, self-reliance, free thought, confidence, and importance of nature. Ralph Emerson and Henry David Thoreau’s outlook on nature through their writings of experiences greatly influenced my journey with nature.

The Broken Nose

Saturday mornings are always fun, especially during the summer. As usual, I woke up extra early to watch my favorite cartoons on Nickelodeon. Waking up early, everyone was doing their daily tasks while my mom cleaned and prepared breakfast. I just finished watching cartoons, and decided to go downstairs and find something else to do.

On my way down the steps, I heard a heavy bounce so loud, that my feet could feel a vibration through the floor. My two older brothers were playing a basketball game. We had a small plastic basketball goal that was about 5 feet tall in the house. Mom really didn't like us playing inside the house because right behind the goal was our pool table. She was afraid that someone would accidentally break it or get hurt. Demanding that it was my turn to play next, one of my brothers complained that it was a game only for them. As I threatened to tell mom, he changed his mind quickly. My oldest brother then gave in and said, "Just let her play." While my other brother left, we began to start the game. "This time, don’t let me win", I told him. Getting the ball first, I went in for the shot. But this time it was harder to do than I expected. Trying to jump and dodge him to the left, I clumsily banged my nose on the hard edge of the pool table instead of getting it in!

At first I got right back up and felt perfectly fine. Seconds later, there was a sharp pain in my nose that became unbearable. I started crying uncontrollably. Feeling guilty, my brother kept on repeating "I’m so sorry". But I tuned out everything he was saying and rushed up the stairs to tell mom. Surprisingly, there wasn't any blood, but just a small red bump. My mother took a good look at it and told me that is going to be fine. After she bandaged it, my brother got yelled at for playing basketball in the house, knowing that he wasn't supposed to. The next day, my nose still hurt badly and didn’t feel like it was getting any better. Next, my parents thought that we should make a doctor's appointment to make sure that it wasn't anything serious. The following morning, we arrived at the doctor's office while I sat impatiently, waiting for them to call my name. Finally, it was my turn to see him next. We waited in the small white boxed room for fifteen minutes. I've always hated the long wait and smell every time we went to the doctor’s office. They always made sure that the temperature was kept ice freezing cold.

Before we knew it, the doctor came in and was very polite. He asked a few questions, then bluntly told us that I had broken my nose. Being overdramatic, my mom was extremely worried. But I thought "No big deal". Soon, my thoughts changed once he told me that I was going to have to have surgery! Apparently when hitting my nose, one of my bones had popped out of place and they needed to pop it back in. I was so terrified and had so many questions. I mean, what if something went wrong? The doctor ensured that it was going be safe and fast. But that was hard for me to believe. Most doctors say that to all their patients and not all of them can come out fine. He told us that the surgery would take place in a few weeks. Those few weeks ironically passed by entirely too quickly. The day had come, and I was so scared. On the car ride there, the possibilities that something could go wrong couldn't get out of my head. We then had arrived. I first went into a small room and was told to put on a blue cotton gown. It was very comfortable. Nervously waiting for them to get me for the surgery, I sat motionlessly. But before that actually happened, all of my relatives visited me and each gave me a big hug.

My grandmother was the first to come see me. She told me that she had a surprise. I was so excited as she slowly pulled out a Winnie-the-pooh stuff animal that I didn’t even expect! Winnie the Pooh was my favorite show and Pooh was my favorite character. She wanted it to keep me company during the surgery. Soon after, a nurse came in and said it was time to go. But instead of walking, she had a red wagon full of comfy cushions that she said I could ride on, to the surgery room. There was a big grin across my face, that wouldn't stop showing. Strolling down the hallway, everyone was nice and welcomed me. Before the doctor got started, he told me that they were going to give me sleeping gas, so that I wouldn't feel anything during the surgery. Feeling relieved, the doctors laid me on a cold table and put a clear plastic mask that only covered my mouth.


Everything else after that is just a blur. I woke up not remembering much. Nothing hurt and I was in no pain. I looked at the white bandage on my nose, feeling o.k., and was glad that the surgery was done. Holding my bear tightly at my side; I happily waited to be greeted and see my loving friends and family.