Nates English blog

 Prompt Response: A fear that I have overcome is speaking in front of people. For a long time I would get nervous just thinking about reading out loud in class or giving a presentation. My hands would shake and I would forget what I was supposed to say. Last year I had to give a speech in front of my class and I was terrified. But after practicing over and over I finally did it, and it went way better than I thought. I still get nervous sometimes, but now I know I can do it and that fear does not control me anymore. Summary: We got together into groups to work on using our types of claims on certain topics, using evidence from an article. Reflection: I learned how to use the different types of claims in different scenarios.

Prompt Response: One issue that I think I will have to stand up and debate most often as I get older is the impact of social media. I feel like so many people think it is either the best thing ever or the worst thing in the world. On one side, Social media can connect you with people and give you opportunities you never would have had. At the same time, it can really mess with how people feel about themselves and make people care too much about what others think. I know as I get older this is going to come up a lot because social media is only getting bigger, and I will probably always be debating if it is more positive or negative. All I can do is share my experiences and try to convince others that balance is the key. Summary: Today we talked about how to use ethos, logos and pathos in an argument. Reflection: I learned how to use the ethos, logos, and pathos to back up my argument and validate it.

 Prompt Response:  One truth that I am afraid to accept today would be the fact that my favorite college football team is not as good as they once were. I've been a Clemson fan my whole life, my mom and my dad both went to Clemson and raised me to be a Clemson fan. All I have know as a Clemson fan was to win and always be in contention for the national championship. This year we had high expectations and have not lived up to the hype. They are actually 1-3 and are on track to have a loosing season. I am afraid to accept that Clemson will never be where they once were and the program is going downhill. All I can do is hope that next year will be different. Summary: We learned about ethos, logos and pathos. Reflection: I learned what the definitions for the words and how to use them in your argument.

 Prompt Response: I felt judged a long time ago when I was in elementary school. I was new to Oak Grove in the 3rd grade, and I didn't know many people. Being new, you don't really know anyone, and everyone else knows each other. My mom walked me to my first class on my first day, and I was so shy and nervous that I didn't really talk to anyone. The girl who sat next to me was mean, and I felt like she judged me before she ever talked to me, which made me even more reserved. Luckily, there was a kid who sat at my table who is still my friend to this day, who helped me fit in and make friends. Summary: Today we did a common lit because Mr. Rease was absent. Reflection: I learned how to read for answers and analyze the text to find the deeper meaning.

 Prompt Response: I would be curious to know a lot of things about Hispanic heritage because I have never actually experienced it. I would want to know what traditions they have that are different from the average American ones. I would also be curious about where the food originated from because I really enjoy the food. Culturally, I would like to know the origins of the culture and where the traditions stemmed from. Summary: We made clusters of things we thought were overrated and argued why we thought they were. Reflection:  I learned how to use clusters to plan out my argument when writing.

 Prompt Response: I felt like I really resonated with Angus's presentation. I also play basketball, so I felt like it was very relatable, and I felt like that's why it caught my attention. I enjoyed how the poem felt very authentic and straight from the heart. I also felt like he did a good job of using figurative language to help keep the audience engaged. From his poem, I learned how to keep your audience interested in the story and how to make it relatable. Summary: We presented our poems that we created. Reflection: I learned how to read poems from different points of view and how to make them engaging for the audience.

 Prompt Response: In middle school, I felt like an interloper on the basketball team. I was a beginner in a league where everyone else seemed to be an expert, and during practice, I felt like I was constantly in the way and just didn't belong. This made me feel so discouraged that I almost quit. However, a more skilled teammate noticed my struggles and took the time to help me after practice. His kindness completely changed my experience. It helped me realize that even when you feel like an outsider, you can still find your place, and it made me appreciate the sport in a new way. Summary: We did a common lit because Mr. Rease wasn't there. Reflection: I learned how to analyze the text and read to answer the questions.

 Prompt Response:  Of the 15 vocabulary words, the three I'll use the most are adroit, aesthetic, and altruism. I plan on using adroit a lot because it's a super useful way to say someone is really good at something, like being "adroit at video games" or "adroit at solving puzzles." It just sounds cooler than saying "skillful." Aesthetic is another word I'll use all the time, especially when talking about art, fashion, or even design. It helps me describe why something looks good or has a particular style, like a "dark academia aesthetic" or "a clean, modern aesthetic." Finally, I think altruism is powerful because it describes a selfless action. It's a great way to talk about people who do good things without expecting anything in return, and that's a really important concept to be able to explain clearly. Summary: We started to take notes on thesis statements and how to write. Reflection: I learned how to actually ...

Prompt Response: I'm glad it's homecoming week because it feels like school has more purpose now. I  feel more excited knowing that homecoming is right around the corner. Being part of the Lakeside community makes me feel included and like I have a second home. Lakeside is where I've spent most of my time in the past few years, so it holds a special place in my heart. As much as I hate some stuff about school, I have enjoyed the experience thus far and have created memories that will last a lifetime. To show off my school spirit, I try to follow the themes for homecoming week and support our sports teams by attending and cheering them on. My favorite tradition of homecoming is the football game. I like how most of the people who go to our school are in attendance, which creates a cool atmosphere. Summary: Today, we took an assessment on the poem Constantly Risking Absurdity and worked on our digital poster for it. Reflection: I learned how to analyze poems and use that anal...

 Prompt Response: I enjoy hands-on activities because they're more interactive, and it's the way I learn best. Being hands-on for me is better because I feel like I am not just being taught it; I am able to teach myself. I feel like worksheet work is just busy work handed out ot make students do something just to get a grade, whereas if it's hands-on, you get to learn it by doing it yourself. Summary: Today, we finished up our poem and  Reflection: I learned how to create poems and use figurative language in it.

 Prompt Response: The thing I enjoy most about creating my poem is the rhyming part of it. I want it because it feels like I am making a rap or a song. I like how I can exercise my creative side and really let my creative juices flow. I also enjoy making poems about whatever I want because it's easier to write and compose. Summary: We created our own poems and used literary devices and an extended metaphor. Reflection: I learned how to formally compose my own poems.

 Prompt Response: One thing that makes me different from others is how I work on things that I feel are important to me. For example, the things I love the most are like golf and working out, which is why I spend lots of time on those things. I feel that some people do what they are told to do and follow their parents' plan for them. I, on the other hand, luckily have the freedom to focus on what I want to do first rather than do what my plan is. I am trying to carve out my own path and make myself the person I want to be. Summary: We talked about Emily Dickinson's poems. Reflection: I learned how to analyze poems and read based on certain points of view.

Prompt Response: One incident where I made a bold decision was when I was in a match with my friends at the golf course. We decided to play a two-on-two on two, and on the line was a blizzard from Dairy Queen paid by the losing team. After a costly triple bogey to put us down four in the match, I knew I had to change something dramatic in my swing to help my team to victory. As the round went on, I felt that I was hitting the ball better when I would shift my weight forward more. This helped dramatically as we were able to tie it up on the last hole to force a playoff. I ended up hitting the green to win the match, and it was one of the best comebacks I had ever pulled off. Summary: Today in class, we analyzed a new poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, which compared acrobats to authors. Reflection: I learned how authors can be compared to acrobats, as well as a new style of writing that I had never seen before.

 Prompt Response: I would choose the song Happy by Pharrell Williams because, currently, in life, I am very happy. I would choose it because it's very upbeat, and I try and focus on keeping myself positive and put my head in a good space. I also try and have fun even during school, and with the song's upbeat melody, it represents it well. Summary: Today, we took a quiz on poem analysis and completed our questions on analyzing quotes. Reflection: I learned how to analyze quotes.

 Prompt Response: I would create a poem about my journey playing golf, where I started as a beginner playing with my friends and messing around. Then I started to see improvement and started to realize that I could become a good golfer. So I tried out for the high school team and made it. It was a hard journey to make the team, as I spent long hours practicing every day to get better. I felt like my golf game was finally coming together, then our first match came, and I played the worst round I have ever played. It was one of my lowest points me but I was able to bounce back and showed why my hard work paid off. I think the message would be to work hard to achieve your goals and stay strong during adversity because better times are to come. Summary: In class, we talked about analyzing poems by Emily Dickinson. We also started to analyze quotes. Reflection: I learned how to analyze quotes and find the topic and other things about it.

 Prompt Response:  So far, I have nothing to really complain about. The class is going great for me, and I feel like the topics that we are discussing are interesting, and I am excited to keep learning. I enjoy that we do more projects instead of tests because I feel like I can meet the standards better. The only thing I would change in the class is the amount of time we spend presenting. I do feel that it is good to start now and get prepared, but at the same time, I feel like we are doing a few too many presentations. Summary: Today in class, we analyzed three poems by Emily Dickinson. We analyzed the themes and underlying details in the text. Reflection: I learned how to correctly annotate while analyzing the text. I also learned about others veiws on death and how it can be gentle.