My english study is woven into my other studies, however it does have some aspects that are seperate. In my learning plan I wrote that I would address english standards 1, 4, 5, and 6. Below are the standards and how I planned to address them in my learning plan.
An Excerpt From My Narrative
For English I worked on gaining proficiency in standards 1, 4, 5, 6 (Reading, Expository Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language). For standard 4 (Expository writing) I wrote about my science study on my Weebly site Chakras and Science. While writing I was originally trying to show my knowledge by writing with harder language, and writing of a higher level. After talking to Chris he said that it was actually better to write in a simpler manner of higher level concepts, and when writing of simpler concepts to write of a higher level. I worked on employing this in my articles and I think it definitely improved the work. For this standard I would say that I have reached proficiency. This is demonstrated in my work, and the clarity I have worked towards throughout this semester. The goal of this clarity is to make the topic easily comprehensible to the reader.
For Global Citizenship, I wrote an expository piece on dreadlocks. Then I cut it shorter to be a Chronicle article. This article I turned in for Global Citizenship. For English, I took this piece and expanded it. Adding details, and my own personal opinion at the end.
As I read for Science, and Global Citizenship I wrote down vocab words in my vocab log. Then defined them, creating my own definition, and using them in a sentence. Two of my favorites are coiffure and frisson. In my own definition frisson means, A quickly and unexpectedly brought on feeling of excitement or fear. Coiffure in my own words means a person's elaborate hairstyle. I planned to do something with this log but found that I ran out of time and was not able to. This log demonstrates my proficiency in the standard of language, as does my writing.
During the third quarter I started reading Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War by Hal Vaughn. I was hoping to connect it back to my Global Citizenship but as I continued reading it I found that it was more about Chanel's relationships than anything else, and that it was not of use to me in my study. I decided to stop reading it and wrote a break-up letter. Finding things to read related to my study has been a bit of an issue since many books about the fashion industry tend to be more of the trashy beach read kind of book than the analyze for your English class kind of book. So I decided to read books about being an African-American in the United States rather than relating my reading to fashion I will be related it to African-American culture. After meeting with Meg, the librarian, I started reading Why We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Then Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and You Can’t Touch My Hair And Other THings I Still Have To Explain by Phoebe Robinson. I also read Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko with Sage. Reading a book together was a bit challenging. We both have different schedules and often did not ended up where we said we would be in the book by our next meeting. It was also a very challenging book to read. I think having Chris present for more of our meetings would have been very helpful to improving what we got out of the book. I then wrote a poem about being a white women, as I felt it was important to explore my own identity in my work as I was studying about others identities. In the piece I talk about the lack of privilege and the sexism I go through as a women. But also how I have privilege as a white person, and don’t deal with racism. I watched Ted talks during the third quarter and responded to them. This was definitely one of my favorite parts of my English study to do. There's always lots to think about within them. In order to improve my response, I started writing down what I was thinking while watching the talk, rather than just responding after. I often forgot my thinking after watching the talk. I found this increased the quality of my response.
For Americanah I wished that I had done more with the book. I think it has a lot to it, however due to the amount of other things I had happening in my study I decided to treat it as an independent reading book. Once I complete it I will write a response and review. My proficiency in the standard of reading is shown through my responses to the readings. These responses show my understanding of the texts.
For Global Citizenship, I wrote an expository piece on dreadlocks. Then I cut it shorter to be a Chronicle article. This article I turned in for Global Citizenship. For English, I took this piece and expanded it. Adding details, and my own personal opinion at the end.
As I read for Science, and Global Citizenship I wrote down vocab words in my vocab log. Then defined them, creating my own definition, and using them in a sentence. Two of my favorites are coiffure and frisson. In my own definition frisson means, A quickly and unexpectedly brought on feeling of excitement or fear. Coiffure in my own words means a person's elaborate hairstyle. I planned to do something with this log but found that I ran out of time and was not able to. This log demonstrates my proficiency in the standard of language, as does my writing.
During the third quarter I started reading Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War by Hal Vaughn. I was hoping to connect it back to my Global Citizenship but as I continued reading it I found that it was more about Chanel's relationships than anything else, and that it was not of use to me in my study. I decided to stop reading it and wrote a break-up letter. Finding things to read related to my study has been a bit of an issue since many books about the fashion industry tend to be more of the trashy beach read kind of book than the analyze for your English class kind of book. So I decided to read books about being an African-American in the United States rather than relating my reading to fashion I will be related it to African-American culture. After meeting with Meg, the librarian, I started reading Why We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Then Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and You Can’t Touch My Hair And Other THings I Still Have To Explain by Phoebe Robinson. I also read Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko with Sage. Reading a book together was a bit challenging. We both have different schedules and often did not ended up where we said we would be in the book by our next meeting. It was also a very challenging book to read. I think having Chris present for more of our meetings would have been very helpful to improving what we got out of the book. I then wrote a poem about being a white women, as I felt it was important to explore my own identity in my work as I was studying about others identities. In the piece I talk about the lack of privilege and the sexism I go through as a women. But also how I have privilege as a white person, and don’t deal with racism. I watched Ted talks during the third quarter and responded to them. This was definitely one of my favorite parts of my English study to do. There's always lots to think about within them. In order to improve my response, I started writing down what I was thinking while watching the talk, rather than just responding after. I often forgot my thinking after watching the talk. I found this increased the quality of my response.
For Americanah I wished that I had done more with the book. I think it has a lot to it, however due to the amount of other things I had happening in my study I decided to treat it as an independent reading book. Once I complete it I will write a response and review. My proficiency in the standard of reading is shown through my responses to the readings. These responses show my understanding of the texts.
My work in quarter 3
I was working towards proficiency in Standard 4: Expository Research Writing. As well as Standard 6: Language through the articles I am writing for science. As this website is a part of my study, and a work in progress some pages do not have content yet.
Additionally, for Standard 6: Language I am keeping a vocab log, and using the words in sentances to demonsrate understanding.
Additionally, for Standard 6: Language I am keeping a vocab log, and using the words in sentances to demonsrate understanding.
At the end of February I started reading Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War by Hal Vaughn. I did not finish this book, because it was not enjoyable and I felt I was getting little content from it. Here is my break up letter,
Reading this book was for Standard 1:Reading. In addition to this book I summarized, and analyzed some of my readings for social studies.
For Standard 5: Speaking and Listening I am watching Ted Talks. I am responding to them with a summary, questions I may have, what made the speaker powerful or what didn't, my personal response to their words, and what I can take away from the speaker.
My work on my Science and Chakras website is also showing my work towards proficiency on Standard 4: Expository Writing.
Quarter 4
At the beginning of this quarter I started reading You Can't Touch My Hair; And Other Things I Still Have To Explain by Phoebe Robinson.
I also read Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko with Sage. For this I wrote a poem about my own identity, as well as a review. Before writing this poem I did a mind map sort of thing about who I am. I thought that given the rest of my study in addition to this book looking at my own identity was important. Particularly in relation to race. Lastly, I wrote a paper about the main character, Tayo's, similarities and mine.
Lastly for reading, I am wrapping up Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I hope to write a review for this book once it is completed. All of these books were to address Standard 1 Reading (Comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate a wide range and level of complex and literary text.)
In quarter three I responded to TED talks. For quarter four I continued to do this addressing standard Standard 5 Speaking and Listening (Initiate and participate effectively in a range of discussions, responding thoughtfully to diverse perspectives and expressing ideas clearly and persuasively.) I also read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book that went along with her TED talk We Should All Be Feminists. Below is my response to both the book and talk, as well as an updated version of my TED talk document.
I also responded to a New York Times article. This again fell under standard 5 (reading.)
I also continued my vocab log. However, I had planned to do something more with it and did not due to time. This log was to address Standard 6 Language (Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard english grammar and usage when writing and speaking.)
To address standard Standard 4 Expository Research Writing (Conduct short and sustained research projects based on focused questions demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation) I wrote a paper based on my research from Global Citizenship on dreadlocks.
A screenshot of the total hours in my time log as of 6/11/18 is below. I would not say that in anyway this is an accurate timelog. I often forgot to log, or chose not to when I did anything for less than 30 minutes.