What i have done

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (You cant go all the way to the top anymore, but I have been as far as you can go)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gold panned
27. Run a Marathon (not a full one, but for girl scouts I ran a short one)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Gone without food or water for 24 hours or longer
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Stayed up for 24 hours with NO sleep at all
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Changed a light bulb
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Mowed the lawn
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (John Schneider from Dukes of Hazard and SMALLVILLE!!!!!!!!! and had a conversation with him at the mother goose parade)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (I think I am immune to be stings….. I really do……I am not joking.

I have done 40

Semester Goals

This semester my goals are to get straight A's. I want to get an A in every class throughout the whole semester. What I mean is that if I were to check power school everyday for the rest of the semester I would see an A in all of my classes every single time. Also I never want to receive below a B- on any single assignment or project.




How are you different now than when you started school in August?



Now I talk more, have friends, and am more comfortable at the school. Also I get the school more, i get the project based learning. Before I didn't get what project based learning was really. I didn't know what the projects were gonna be about and what they would be.






What skills do you think are the most important for succeeding in humanities? Why?



I think that you have to have determination and desire, because if you don't have the desire to do the work and get good grades than why would you? You wouldn't try to succeed if you didn't have desire. Also you need to have determination because when it gets hard you will work through it if you have determination. You also need to have good listening skills so that you listen for what you are supposed to be doing for homework.






One thing I would like to improve on this semester is................I will do this by........................



One thing I would like to improve on this semester is not talking as much during class and getting my DP work done faster and making it look more presentable. I will do this by working on my DP whenever we have free time or time in class to do it. I will also stay in after school to work on it when I have time.






What are you most curious about? If you could study any topic what would it be and why?



I am most curious about what people are thinking about when they do certain things. Like when they are rude what are they thinking?? Why are they rude? Did they mean to be rude, or are they having a bad day? Do they have things on their mind and don't realize what they are doing? Do they think it is all right to be that way. Also why do people swear...what is going on in their brain when they cuss...do they think its cool or what? If I could study any topic it would be the study of the human brain...i think that is psychology right?? I would study this because it would help me to understand better why people think certain ways and do certain things.

Dialectic Journals

Book 7

Chapter 34

Page 402

" 'Xerxes does not want your lives, sir," Tommie called. "Only your arms." Leonidas laughed. "Tell him to come and get them.' "

What strikes you about this passage? Why is it interesting to you?

What strikes me about this passage is that is how brave and in charge Leonidas is. He laughed in the face of an opposing officer, who told him that he and all the Spartan warriors there didn't have to die if they surrendered to King Xerxes. All Leonidas had to say was a challenge to King Xerxes. I think it shows how in charge he is because he alone shut down a surrender offer, pretty much the Spartan warriors only chance to survival.

Book 8

Chapter 35

Page 412

"I will tell His Majesty what a king is. A king does not abide whith in his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand watch upon the wall. A king does not command his mens loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them. He serves them, not they him."

How does this connect to your life, or to other books (movies) you have read (seen) in the past? Do those connections help you understand the text?

When I read this I pictured Denethor Stewart of Minas Tirith, the Steward of Gondor in Lord of the rings. I pictured that part where he was stuffing his face with chicken and a whole lot of food, while his army was at war and probably really hungry, but there he was hoveling food into his mouth. He couldn't have cared less about his army. I didn't picture this part because I thought, "oh he fits the picture of the perfect king." I pictured him because I thought he was completey the opposite as how Xeo described a king was suppsed to be. I understand why a king isn't supposed to eat, when his men are hungry, or sleep when his men are awake, guarding. It's disgusting, rude, and not honorable. They are people who are not worthy of being king.

Book 8

Chapter 37

Page 429

"These were the final words spoken by the captive Xeones. The man's voice trailed off; his vital signs ebbed swiftly. Within moments he lay still and cold. His god had used him upand restored him at last to that station to which he yearned most to return, reunited with the corps of his comrades beneath th earth."

What strikes you about his passage? Why is it interesting to you?

It is interesting to me that the author just ends Xeo's legacy so quickly. I never expected him to die especially not out of no where, right after he told a story. I can't believe the author killed him like that.

How does this passage make you feel?

This passage mekes me sad because I liked Xeo, and i didn't want him die. I was also surprised that he died, because I always thought he would live and marry Dio.

Dialectic Journals

Book 7

Chapter 30

Page363

"It was this infant whose life would mean Dieneks' death, and Alexandros' and Suicide's by their association with him. And mine as well"

What strikes you about this passage?

What strikes me about this passage is that an infant can be responsible for so many people's deaths just by a woman claiming to be his mother. If he was not claimed, all of those men would not have to die. They would not have even been put into battle, yet because the Lady Arete claimed him as her own, they all will die on the suicide battle mission they may have avoided.

What point is the author trying to make here?

I think that there are two points that the author is trying to make. First of all I think he is trying to emphasize the importance of having a male in your family to continue your blood-line. I think this because the people chosen to be part of the 300 are chosen by whether they have a son or not. If they have no son (like Dienekes) they are not chosen as part of the 300, because if they die they will have no one to carry on their family name. But those people who do have sons (like when the Lady Arete claims the infant, Dienekes then has a son) are chosen to be part of the 300. Also I think the author is trying to make the point that the rules in Sparta are strict and no matter how important you are or how many people do not want you to go to battle, you still have to.

Grateful

There is so much to be grateful for, but i am most grateful for Jesus. He came to earth and died for us so that we could go to heaven. He loved us so much he died for us. That is something to be grateful for.
I am also grateful that God has given me such a great family that loves and cares for me. I'm grateful that i still have a house and that my mom and dad still have jobs, in a time where many people are losing jobs and even their homes. I am grateful for my little brother, even though he is extremely annoying sometimes, I still love him. I am thankful for my older brother, and sister who are always there for me and make me laugh.
I am blessed to live in America where we have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to say and do whatever we like. I am grateful that we have a justice and that i live in the best country in the world. There is so much to be grateful for, and we don't thank people enough. Maybe every once in a while we should stop and smell the roses and appreciate everything we have.

Dialectic Journal # 7

Chapter 8

Page 75

"In our separate whippings, Alexandros fell before I did. I mention this, not as a cause for pride; it was simply that I had taken more beatings. I was more accustomed to it."

What strikes you about this passage?

It strikes me that he had taken a lot of beatings. I never thought of him as a "bad boy", but he pretty much just admitted. He must have gotten a lot of beatings for him to be "accustomed" to them. Also what strikes me is that it seems to me that, throughout this book a common theme is beating kids. They do it all the time. Like when he got caught stealing and they hung him and beat him. It also strikes me that he said that he only said that Alexandros fell before him to admit that he had had more beatings, not for pride. I think that this means that being proud was really bad or shameful back then.

What questions does this raise for you?

Was he a bad/disobedient kid? How many times was he beaten? How bad did they hurt? How long did it take for your body to get used to them? Why did he get beat?

Chapter 9

Page 93

"A spasm of the lungs seized Alexandros; his throat constricted, he began to choke. My punch hesitated. A three-foot switch burned my back. "Hit him!" I obeyed. Alexandros dropped to one knee. His lungs had frozen, he was helpless. "Pound him you whore's son!" A voice shouted from behind me. "Finish him"

It was Dienekes"

What strikes you about this passage?

What strikes me about this passage is that, even when Alexandros is completely helpless and already hurt and choking everyone still wants him to hit him. Will there be no mercy!?!?! Jeez they are so mean to Alexandros. Also, when he hesitated to hit Alexandros, he got whipped, even though Alexandros was choking. And then to call him a whore's son!! What in the world is wrong with these people!?!?!? They punished him for showing compassion and giving the kid a break for once. But the think that struck me the most was that it was Dienekes who said to finish him off. Dienekes was so nice before. I cant believe he said that.

What is your reaction to this quote? How does it make you feel?

Chapter 10

Page 103

" 'Dienekes says the mind is like a house with many rooms,' he said. 'There are rooms we must not go into. To anticipate one's death is one of those rooms. We must not even think it.' "

Do you agree with the author? why/why not?

I agree with this totally. Your mind controls everything. There are different rooms in your head and if you go into the wrong one at the wrong time you could let yourself think something that is not true, it will happen. Like if you go into the "sick room" and convince yourself that you are sick you will start feeling sick.

How does this connect to other books (movies, shows) you have read (seen) in the past? Does this help you understand the text?

One time i was watching Smallville and Clark went into someones mind and there was a whole bunch of doors. He had to choose the right one in order to save his friend. If he chose the wrong one he would die or get stuck because the person would experience whatever happened in the door he went into and have a mental breakdown. This helps me to picture the text. I remembered that episode and what the mind and doors looked like. I could really picture and understand this.

btw Clark picks the right door and saves his friend (of course).

Dialectic Journal # 3

Chapter 4

Page 29

" 'We needed Spartans,' the teacher declared, speaking softly behind his sad watery eyes. 'Just 50 would have saved the city.' ..... '50 of them,' the man still shouted, while his wife struggled to tug him back to the safety of the trees. 'Five! One would have saved us!' "

What strikes you about this passage? Why is it interesting to you?

What strikes me about this passage is that the teacher thinks that only one Spartan would have saved the whole entire city from the whole army of the Argives. I think that he must think vary highly of them. Also, for him to think that, the Spartans must have been really strong and skilled and talented. They must be the best warriors that he has ever heard about.

What questions does this raise for you?

Could only one Spartan have saved the city? How skilled are the Spartans? How many of them are there? Where are they? Are they their allies? Why didn't they come to fight with them or protect them?