Orlando's English Blog

 Prompt Response: To bring my letter (4) to life I looked for videos and quotes that I felt could be expressed the best. Letter 4 is a short letter so picking the right quote was essential so I didn't pick any insignificant sentence.  At first I was trying to go for a darker and more depressing mood but I wasn't able to add music to my video. Without the music the video did not fit the idea I was hoping to create.  Summary: Today in class we watched our letter videos.  Reflection: Having to watch my video in class was a learning experience. Now I see what happens when I don't manage my time correctly. I could have done better on the video I'd say but it was definitely a needed learning lesson.  

 Prompt Response: Someone that inspires me to do be stronger would be my older cousin. He is what someone would think of when they describe a hardworking man. He works hard in a concrete business, makes time for his family, knows how to do all home maintenance, and is truly a "man's man". He is a provider, caretaker, family man, and has even gotten a home at a young age (IN THIS ECONOMY). Even through all the challenges life has thrown at him, he has gotten up and worked hard for his needs and wants. As I get older I try to learn those qualities of hard work, dedication, and providing for my family.  Summary: Today in class we read letters 6-10 of the Color Purple. Reflection: Reading the Color Purple has been a different experience than any other book I've read. It's very dark and doesn't hide anything like how Celie has gotten her childhood and innocence taken away and even that her children have been taken from her.

 Prompt Response: My favorite word right now would be “I bro”. I use it pretty often when I’m greeting friends or I use the word for any scenario. If something unexpected happens I’ll say “ain’t no way bro”. I like the word “bro” because it can be used for any scenario and it’s normalized to say it to anyone nowadays. Summary: Today in class we started on a vocabulary comic strip.  Reflection: Starting off the comic strip was hard especially thinking of a way to incorporate the vocabulary words into a story. I did get a start of a good story now I have to finish it off with a good ending.

 Prompt Response: Something society used to accept was smoking without any regulations . In many early movies or yes shows teens and even kids would be smoking a cigarette while doing hard labor . Nowadays you have to be 21 to buy tobacco products . There’s still kids illegally smoking but it’s definitely not as much as it was back then. Not only is it discouraged now but research has shown smoking results in many medical issues such as lung cancer . (I accidentally clicked on the magic pen and I don’t know how to remove it. My apologies) Summary: Today in class we worked on a common lit assignment. Reflection: It was interesting learning the history of abolishing child labor. The Great Depression is always a great subject to keep learning and reminder so we don’t have another market crash like the Great Depression.

 Prompt Response: One of my old friends had transferred to an online school to help his parents out with bills. His dad worked in welding so my friend went to work and picked up welding. My friend was in the area and visited me at work. I didn't recognize him at first. He was covered in dirt and soot all over, from head to toe. It hit me right then and there how hard some people had it. My friend said he liked his job but seeing a barely 18 year old covered in dirt and having aged so quickly was devastating. Similar to the poem, my friend who was dealing with hard labor at such a young age was saddening, especially knowing he could've been enjoying his senior year with friends and school events. Summary: Today in class we read two poems: "Songs of Innocence- The Chimney Sweeper" and "The Chimney Sweeper: A little black thing among the snow".  Reflection: The poems showed a dark side of what life used to be for kids. Thankfully now we have laws and regulation...