A Long Way Gone Essay

Rationale-

This assignment was the wrap up of the Sierra Leone unit. The Sierra Leone unit consisded of both the  learning of Sierra Leone's blood diamonds and then leaning about the war and child soldiers. After reading the book students were given the choices between 5 writing prompts. I chose the prompt Discuss how war is romanticized and glorified in our Western culture and whether or not war is something that should be greatly admired. I chose this topic because I do believe that war in westernized countries is seen very different then war in third world countries like Sierra Leone. The skills that were focused on in this assignment was to write an information paper with clear and well developed topics. The purpose for writing this paper was to develop writing skills and being able to support it with evidence. 

Proof-

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ESCn_wpRGiwX0ap9F-Gb7ewNXBJQinqmnc1FRQRpiD8 

Standards-

W. 9-10 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task/purpose and audience

In this piece my writing was conducted so that it developed over the course of the text. I did meet this standard because my writing was clear and well produced with my paper developing throughout.  

W.9-10.2 Write informative/ explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and the information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis  of content. 

I wrote an informative essay to demonstrate complex ideas over the texts. I did this through analyzing content and combining them into explaining e complex ideas and concepts of how war is glorified in western based countries. I did meet this standard for this reason.

Reflection-

In conducting this paper I learned about how war is glorified in western based countries especially America. This assignment opened up my views on war. For example a connection I have from this assignment was that I was turning into someone who glorifies war. I play those war video games and I always have though that guns are cool and if your in the army you were cool after this I'm not. I now realize that war is very serious. In other countries along with this one war is real people are dieting in war. My view on glorification of war has changed. Throughout this assignment my main strength was editing. I made several versions of edits to this paper the first of course my own and next my teachers. What I struggled with the most was making an outline. I couldn't think of a strong way to set up my body paragraphs but wrote them and put them together in a way that it flowed. 

Genocide Research Paper

Rationale- 

The purpose for producing a research paper was to prepare students for college and to develop writing skills in general. The given task of the research paper was to be given a genocide from the past and to conduct a well put together paper. During the project an outline, annotated bibliography, smooth draft and final draft all have to be produce. This was an independent writing assignment which meant that class time is given to work on your paper and students had to self motivate to prove they can produce a clear and thorough paper with well developed topics. The focused on skills that I learned were mainly researching skills. I had to focus on reliable sources and weave out the false information. This is a very important skills to have. The content which I learned about in this was the Cambodian Genocide from when it happened, to the worlds reaction to the genocide.

Proof- 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AJvmpcc2HJO9BbcfRGy4Tc3TZFLI7lCfPwxDHo3zJkQ

Standards-

RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. 

I worked really hard on this standard I worked on citing several quotes from the book in my paper and even one from a famous figure. I used MLA style in text citations to utilize them in my paper. I did meet this standard. 

L.9-10.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

I edited this paper the most I have ever edited a paper. I went back several times and focused on my spelling, punctuation and capitalization to make my paper the best it could be. I bleobe that I did meet this standard.

*Research—3B. Integrate information into the text selectively and purposefully, while following a standard citation format (MLA) and avoiding plagiarism and over reliance on any one source

I met this standard by putting my body paragraphs together in a way that it flows consisting only of correct fully sited information with no plagiarism in the text. 

*Research— 3A. Collect relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using effective research and online-search methods, and determine the credibility and accuracy of the sources while assessing the strengths and limitations of each source for the specific task, purpose, and audience.  

I did a good job with this standard by proving my information I was using in paper with atleast one other source. I also used different methods of portraying my information as in diagrams, photos and writing. I met the standard because of this. 

Reflection-

The genocide paper was my favorite out of all the other assignment we did all year. Even though it was by far the hardest and most work I enjoyed it because I liked my topic. I enjoyed learning about the Cambodian GenocideThe it was something that I never would have known about if I didn't research it. I liked learning about the history of the world and how far we have come to not have genocides be happening today, I find it fascinating. The learning process of this assignment was largely time. How much time you were willing to give to make your paper the best that it can be. The thing that went the best for me in this project was my topic I enjoyed doing the research and the low of this protect was the short deadlines. I believe there wasn't enough time to make the paper the best they could be. I wouldn't have used my time more wisely, if I could do it again. 

A Long Way Gone Annotations

Rationale- 

After reading and annotating the book A Long Way Gone by Ishmeal Beah I realized that my annotating skills have developed. The unit consisted of learning about the Sierra Leone blood diamond history. Then it was onto reading the book. The book was about the life of Ishmael Baeh about loosing his family to the war in Sierra Leone and then becoming a child soldier. Ishmael would get drugged every day and then sent to raid villages and kill everything in sight. Along with this Ishmael spoke about his rehabilitation process to try and recover from all the drugs he would get each day. The purpose of reading this book was to learn of life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. Another purpose of reading this book was to develop reading abilities and annotating abilities, pulling out important quotes, themes and character development. In this unit the focussed on skills were being able to pull key concepts and interpret them through annotations. 

Proof-

Standards-

RL.9-10.2 Clearly determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text... (see above)  

In my annotations I analyzed theme throughout the text. I made sure that while I was annotating I was looking for theme in the book. One of the most reoccurring themes was moving on and not letting events stop you. For example when Ishmael lost his family. I did meet this standard for this reason.

Literacy.RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex character(s) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme  

Over the course of text I had many circumstances where I analyzed how characters have developed over the text. I did meet the standard for that reasoning. 

Literacy.W.9-10.2.b Develop the topic with well- chosen, relevant, ...concrete details, quotations, or other information/ examples...

In my annotations I explained the topic in depth. Whenever I found quotes or anything important I would further develop them in detail. This being the reasoning why I met the standard. 

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings;

In the text of course there were many confusing words, phrases and imagery. I discussed it over with my piers to clear it up. I also looked up confusing words and phrases. I met the standard for that reasoning. 

Reflection- 

The content of this project was the annotations of the book A Long Way Gone the book relates to the real world examples of war and child soldiers. In the world there were actually places that children are being forced to fight with no choice. This is a very serious problem. The learning process of annotating the book was largely based self advocating and persevering yourself to actually do your work and analyze character development, themes and important quotes. I didn't enjoy annotating as much as I enjoyed the other assignments. I know that it was required I just felt that it was a lot to read the book and annotate at the same time, I feel as if it took away my deeper understanding of the book. The thing that went the best in this assignment was the effort and time put into it and the thing that didn't go well was trying to annotate while Readong I struggled with it.