Look How the Essays are progressing!

Check out the insightful final draft about Veronica's essay, the final product of our Stargirl unit! 

Final Draft

Jan 3, 2012

Stargirl Dynamic Characters Essay

By Veronica 

Stargirl is a dynamic character because she changes throughout the story. In the beginning, she is weird and stands out from the crowd. By the end of the story, she has the choice of who she wants to be and who she really is.  In the first paragraph, I’ll prove that she is a unique character. The second paragraph is about how Stargirl tries to fit in for Leo and how this affects her. Then, in the third paragraph, we learn if Stargirl was even accepted at the end, and who she decided to be. Stargirl is a weird, yet, kind, teenage girl. For instance, it’s a normal day at Mica Area High School, the place is sunny and crowded. You look down the hall into the cafeteria and see chaos, and in the middle of it all is a girl with a long pioneer skirt, strumming a ukulele, singing, “Happy Birthday!” to a poor red-faced ninth grader. This is Stargirl.

Stargirl is the exact opposite of the definition regular. She carries a rat instead of a dog with her. She wears long, flowy pioneer skirts instead of tight, short miniskirts, and she strangely knows more about you than you do about yourself. She sings, she sings in the halls and in the cafeterias. Stargirl lives in her own world. She follows her own dress code and “people rules”, “She wore an off-white dress so long it covered her shoes. It had ruffles around the neck and cuffs and looked like it could have been her great grandmother’s wedding gown.” (pg. 4) Will she change because of a boy or stay true to herself?

Stargirl is proud and happy with herself, but becomes less confident with this choice everyday that Leo convinces her to become normal. Stargirl shows up to school in in jeans, sandals, had burnt- red nails, and lipstick, painted eyes, all kinds of rings and humongous hoop earrings. She changed her behavior, and wore what she hated the most. She didn’t sing, she didn’t carry a rat or even a ukulele. Stargirl was gone, and instantly replaced with Susan. Susan became sadder and sadder with every passing day, pretending to be a regular girl. “She looked magnificently, wonderfully, gloriously ordinary.”(p. 139&140) Stargirl was confused and hurt that Leo liked Susan better. Should she change back and leave Leo or choose to be sad and have Leo and the crowd like her. Would she be accepted then?

Even though she melted into the crowd, Stargirl still stuck out, and so she was never accepted. She would always be different and people didn’t like that, they never accepted her fully. After seeing the real Stargirl, they would never accept her again no matter how much she changed. Her father got a job offer far away from Arizona in Pennsylvania. She took this as a chance to become herself again, even if people didn’t accept her. If people in her new town would like her, they were going to like her as Stargirl and only Stargirl. She showed up at the final dance before she left on a bike covered with flowers in a beautiful buttercup dress. Everyone stared and stayed a distance away as she danced with herself. A little while later, all you could see were people scrambling to cling on to someone else’s back and do the bunny hop…with Stargirl as the leader. People might never fully accept Stargirl, but they could at least have fun and treat fairly. Stargirl might never be normal, but at least she’s happy with it that way. By the end of the book, Stargirl learns many valuable life lessons.

She learned to be herself, or people might like her for someone she’s not. Stargirl took chances and was kind to everybody, and she was happy all the time. Teenagers never do random acts of kindness and they always try to fit in with the crowd instead of trying to be their selves… and they are never very happy. Why do you think the world thinks it’s weird to do acts of kindness or start singing when you want to? In Stargirl’s world it’s weird to walk down a hall and not stop and compliment someone or start friendly chats. Why is this normal in our world?

Remember this book? Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli!

In English class, Veronica compared the first few pages of Stargirl to the first few pages of Maniac Magee, both by Jerry Spinelli. Which was more intriguing, mysterious? Which pages made you want to continue reading the most and why? I like how Veronica commented on the author's writing style and use of punctuation as she supported her idea. 

Maniac Magee Paragraph
By Veronica


Maniac Magee is more interesting in the beginning because it begins immediately with a mystery, and several things you have to figure out. His parents died in a street trolley and people immediately started making up rumors. In Stargirl, the only thing that catches you in the beginning is the question, “Who gave Leo the tie?” In Maniac Magee you wonder about his parents and you want to know more about him. “And he had regular parents, a mother and a father. But not for long.” (p. 1) Immediately you want to know what happened to his parents, and to him after they died. In think it started off a lot more interesting because of the punctuation he used to. “And just like that. Maniac was an orphan. He was three years old.” (p.1) The short choppy sentences make it more dramatic and effective. I like Maniac Magee’s beginning better because of the big mystery element in it.

Interview between Two Historical Figures!

5^th Grade History: Historical Characters Dialogue Assignment.

The Assignment: You will be writing an interview for a news show where Bartolome de Las Casas interviews Pocahontas. Based on your reading of his book “Tears of the Indians,” what kind of questions would he ask?

Based on what you have read about Pocahontas, what would she say in response. What information about her life would she like to communicate?

Criteria: You dialogue should be a page and a half, at least (single-spaced, skipping lines in between each speaker). You should write in an interview format. 

Interview With Las Casas and Pocahontas

Written by Veronica

Las Casas: Hello, Pocahontas. Thank you for inviting me into your abode. (Waves hands around room)

Pocahontas: You are very welcome. Thank you for coming! I can tell this is going to be a very successful meeting. Congratulations on your new book, Tears of The Indians. Your writing truly expresses that the Native Americans are normal and human beings. We, like in your book, are “patient, meek, and kind.” I especially liked the line, “This infinite multitude of people was so created by God.” 

Las Casas: Thank You! It was a challenge writing the book, but my cause is making progress by enlightening the minds of Spanish and English people. I feel strongly about exposing the quote, “Abominable villainies of the Spaniards,” for it tells of the horrid things they have been doing.

Furthermore, I would like to ask you a few questions about your normal life before the English Colonists arrived in Virginia and the people you met.

Pocahontas: Oh, yes I’ve met many colonists, some of them quite cruel. Others were nice, including John Rolfe, who I am currently wedded to. Another colonist named John Smith, I have become very good friends with, in fact, my papa, or Chief Powhatan, has adopted him after I saved him from being executed by father. My father then adopted him for me as a friend. Later we figured out he was actually very nice.

Las Casas: Oh thank you for this valuable information, but I am still bubbling with curiosity. After saving John Smith, did he treat you normally? Did the English colonist realize that you and your tribe are exactly like us?

Pocahontas: Obviously not, Bartolome, they still continue to kill my people for very frivolous reasons, such as building a tent on “their land”, even when we were here first. *Shakes head sadly* Millions of Indians have been killed for really no reason at all.

Las Casas: I see, I cannot express my sorrow and sadness. I will try to do my best to stop this vile behavior.

Pocahontas: Thank you very much. If there is anything I can do to help stop this injustice, please inform me as soon as possible.

Las Casas: Thank you, and I will. Now, let’s move on to more positive things like, what do you like do for fun?

What is your idea of fine dining? *Crosses legs dorkily. * 

How would you describe your personality?

Pocahontas: We farm, but we are mainly hunters. We use fish to fertilize our corn - fields. We’re excellent hunters, farmers, and food gatherers. We eat wild birds and game. The men hunt moose, caribou, beaver, otter, and other small animals. Women gather nuts, greens, and berries. The women also grow corn, beans, and squash. We also eat lots of rice.

Las Casas: Ooh, all that sounds very delectable. *Licks lips*

Pocahontas: Oh it is! We, like regular people, play games with kids, play ball and tag. I did so enjoy cartwheels too!

Las Casas: Very fun! Very fun indeed!

Pocahontas: Now, I would describe myself as adventurous and outgoing and brave. I’m always up for a good adventure like this one here.

Las Casas: Thank you for all this very important information, I will do my best to help. It was very kind of you to take your time! Thank you and farewell!

Pocahontas: Farewell! Thank you!

Science/English Interdisciplinary Unit

For 7th grade English class, Jessica is reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson, a young adult novel with elements of science fiction. The sequel to this book recently came out (The Fox Inheritance) and Jessica is excited to read that book as well. In class, we read a short story from the author which was from Jenna's friend Allys' perspective. We discussed this story and you can read the multiple perspective creative writing prompts below, which Jessica responded to.

In science class, we are discussing issues this book raises and gaining background on information about bioethics, stem cell research, neurons, and antibiotic resistance. Jessica will be writing a short "position paper on a similar topic. 

A.     Write from Allys’ perspective, her thoughts and feelings when she realized the truth about Jenna Fox at the time of the novel The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

Creative Writing Blogs

By Jessica 

Allys’ Perspective

It all made sense to me now. How Jenna could run so fast, was so strong, so smart, and so obedient. She was a creation not a person. An engineered machine. I sat in my bed looking at my stumps, my pallor skin, appalled she wouldn’t just let the world take her. Who would do this? Who would choose that…that lifestyle? Waking up every morning only to remember its not you fingers, not your heart? She mentioned she was in an accident, a terrible accident. Her parents! They knew she would die, and her father being the creator of BioGel figured he would try everything to save her…and did. He saved his daughter by replacing everything in her body.    I couldn’t believe it, I gasped. I had to tell the FSEB offices, they would be arrested for sure. For playing with life, blatant disregard of the law. I screamed only to find a tube in my throat. Tears welled up in my eyes. I held my breath and the monitor that made sure I had enough oxygen, started to beep immediately. My parents rushed in, their faces masked with concern. They removed the tube.

“What’s wrong?!” my mother screamed frantically.

“Nothing mom, nothing. I just need to tell you something,” I rasped.

“What, honey? Anything.”

“I need you to…to, turn Jenna in. She’s engineered, by her parents.”

I breathed  a sigh of relief as my mom nodded. The world shifted in front of my eyes and I slipped into darkness.

B.      

C.     Write from Allys’ mother’s perspective, as she decided to reconstruct Allys’. This scene will take place AT the same time as “The Rotten Beast” short story. 

 Allys’ Mom’s Perspective

After Mr. Fox told me he would save Allys   I was overjoyed. It was something I had never felt. This relief, this overwhelming sensation that everything would be okay. Everything was fine, Allys would live, my daughter would be living. When she woke up, it was the best day of my life. Until she was outraged. Bitter it wasn;t her body. Her body before had a stump for and arm, a stump for a leg.

Now she had long, slender fingers. He body was smooth and graceful. Her face was renewed, he long dark hair shiny and soft. He voice was a series of musical notes, entrancing. Dr. Fox told me she would be fast, so smart, and strong, she would still have her same memories and opinions though. Our Allys was her, living, breathing talking. When We brought her home she was stubborn. We had to lock her door, keep her confined. My husband was scare she would attack him. He spent his days out in the garden while I tidied and cooked tiptoeing around Allys’ feelings. Jenna came to the house one day. Allys looked at it and inspected it, it was ripe and fresh and absolutely mouthwatering, She peeled some of the skin and immediately put it back in the bag. She shuddered and went in to the garden. She ran. Allys ran. I never thought those words would leave my mouth. I sat down wondering how long it would take for Allys to realize we did this for her. How long she would actually want to run and play with her new arms and legs?

Jessica's In-class Essay about "In the Blink of an Eye" by Norma Fox Mazer

written in one hour only!

Lessons Of Life

by Jessica

What would you do if everyday you came home sobbing? Uncontrollable tears spilling down your face. Your sisters teasing you constantly, “Turn off the faucet, somebody! She cries at the drop of a hat”; everyday you see what goes wrong in life. You put on a brave face outside your home, but every jeer someone throws, you cry a little more inside. In the story, “In the Blink of an Eye” by Norma Fox Mazer, Norma Fox is a female teen struggling to see the good in the world and others. She is warring with her mind and her heart all day, everyday. Norma wants to keep the tears from coming but she  “…doesn’t ask for tears. They just come,” and sometimes in life we don’t ask for the good or bad, they surprise us, just like Norma’s tears.

            At the beginning of the story, Norma picks up a cigarette from the gutter taking a long drag. She glances around the neighborhood; if anyone spotted her smoking her mother would kill her! She speeds home bumping into Herbie Sternfeld. His parents are the landlords and her “mother says [she] has to be polite to the Seinfeld’s,”; for Norma it’s easy being nice to Herbie’s parents but it’s difficult to be nice to Herbie. Herbie is weird, he does experiments in the shed, he walks funny, and his hair is stiff and black. When Herbie calls Norma a dirty liar she blows a breath of hot, stinky gutter smoke into his face. He reels back and pushes her, cracking her head into a tree. He walks off leaving Norma and her secret, silent cries, alone.

            That night Norma lays down in bed hearing Herbie yell at his parents next door, Norma wishes she had parents like the Sterfeld's. Every time she passes by them they “nod their white little heads and say, ‘Nice girl! Nice girl!’” and Norma’s heart swells with joy at their love and compassion. The next day Norma plays her favorite game called “Spies”. She runs down to her shed and presses your eye against the slats only to see Herbie across the room mixing things in jars and beakers. It excites Norma to be so sneaky and, “Once or twice, Herbie looks toward the flimsy wall separating us, and seems to look at almost the exact spot where I’ve got my eye.” She runs back up the stairs promising herself she won’t do it again, but she doesn’t want to stop, so she goes on playing Spies.

            One day as Norma peeks her eye into the slat she realizes Herbie is not across the room, “He is right there standing by the wall staring back at me,” a hypodermic needle in his right hand. He raises the needle and pushes the plunger sending a stream of hot acid into her eye. She staggers backwards running up the stairs. Soon the doctors arrive saying, ”that if it was a fraction closer, she might have lost sight in that eye.” Norma realizes she hasn’t cried the whole time that this ordeal has been happening. She wonders if she doesn’t cry in front of strangers but soon comes to understand that she had passed over the invisible line between childhood and becoming more mature.

            Norma proved to be a dynamic character; she changed in a significant way over the course of a story. She started out as a crybaby with a rough exterior but ended up as a mature teen who would never lose the sense of gratitude that she had sight in her left eye. When we reach that point where we are stuck between being a child and an adult, it can be a rough transition.  You make mistakes, take the wrong road, but that is what life is about. This story taught me that it is okay to change who you are. Norma will always remember her sensitive past, and try to carry the lessons she learned with her into the future. 

Veronica created an Imaginary World

My Imaginary World

By Veronica

I look out across the streets and see sunlight streaming from several umbrellas. The people under them have smiles spread across their faces and are humming a joyful tune. Dark clouds encircle me and my mood turns as grey as them. Drops from the clouds catch in my hair, so I lift it higher. The person next to me is drenched head to toe in cold dripping water; hopefully her day will turn around.

Mine hasn’t been the best…at all. Starting the morning with a fresh bowl of crunchy cereal I was filled with sunshine. When I got to work, my boss Mr. Blue moped around all day and started yelling at everybody in the building. Lunch break was fairly better I ate my homemade soup that warmed me up after the cold gray clouds that had been looming overhead the past few hours. I worked and worked the rest of the day. I felt proud of myself, my own little sun popped out of my umbrella,  heating the top of my brown hair with warmth.

Sparks of adrenaline shot through me as I raced through the tiny town of South Pinemont, named after the large towering pines that once covered the land. I love my town because of its small population of fifty people. Everyone is good friends and it is never crowded. I see a large shadow fall over me. I look up and see the only pine left; it’s needles sticking out as confidently as when it rose from the ground.  I sit at the bottom and notice my secret stash of sunshine is gone. I see a speck of it and lunge to catch it, but the thick roots suck it up as if it were as precious a diamond. I look up and see the clouds in my umbrella turn dark black and know that a rainstorm will soon follow. I look up at the real sky and almost tumble off the hill towards the town. Then I see ebony clouds menacing in the sky, they quickly hide up the baby blue as quick as the first drop of rain lands on my head. I run my hands over my black jeans and navy blue top to push off any stubborn raindrops. Quickly whipping my hair up into a tight bun I grab my umbrella and sprint through the town. My foot lands in a pool of ice-cold water. My sneaker absorbs it into my sock. Great, I think, now my feet will be numb along with the rest of my body!

I see the mayor standing in the middle of all the rain with his face towards the sky and his umbrella lying on the ground. I can almost swear I see tears streaming from his eyes, but I blame it on the rain.

“Mayor…um sir?” I ask, he sits down in a puddle then starts crying into his hands. A few days ago, I would’ve giggled at the sight of a seven -foot muscular man doing this, but this is a different situation. I look around and see the whole town either lying on their stomachs bawling or moaning and being snippy to each other.

I’m my normal self, I check to see if any tears are welling up, but they aren’t. That’s it! I think, I’ve seen sunshine in the last few hours, so I’m not miserable like my friends. If the clouds don’t go away soon, I’ll turn as miserable and pathetic as my friends around me. I have to do something, quick. I sit down next to the mayor, stroking his back, trying to calm him while I come up with a plan. I hop up and pump my arms as I dash towards the only hope left.

Pine needles are peeling off the pine tree from the lack of sunshine by the time I get there. I grab a bag of coins to trade and rush up the branches as quick and as quiet as mice. I reach the cloud lingering overhead. I stick my hand through it and instantly feel the other side greet me with warmth. Sticking my head through the thick cloud, I cough as dust and smoke fill my mouth and hair.

“Spoo!” I spit it out, watching it make a dent in the cloud creating a little hole. I wipe my self off with the back of my hands and look up. I feel like I’m in a plane high above the clouds and the world. The blue sky hangs overhead limply ready for the cloud to leave. I see a pop of sunshine pass through my body and look around. A glimmer of light passes behind a thatched roof cottage, which is perched on top of the clouds. It looks worn as if someone has lived in it his or her whole life. I walk up to the house the dark clouds closing around my feet more and more with every step. I can almost hear the tree beckoning me back to where it is safe and well, not warm, it’s pouring rain, but it’s home. I shake the idea from my head remembering my friends and how helpless and desperate they looked with tear streaming down their faces.

I knock and an immediate answer is followed. A tan golden arm pushes me inside; I fall to the itchy carpet on the ground.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” exclaims a warm, low voice. I look up and a worried man is reaching to pick me up. He’s wearing a cheery yellow shirt, which almost seems to glow against his caramel skin and his loose brown jeans almost blend in with his skin. “Are you alright? I’m so sorry, it’s just that I can’t go out there!”

“Yes, I am, but why can’t you go out there? Umm… sir”

“Please, please call me Ray. I’m worried that all my sunshine will be sucked out of me.” Ray says in a worried voice. I guess my eyes are bulging a bit when he gets shy and says, “Yes, yes I know…I’m the sun!” Perfect! I think, I found him!

“Ray? Where do you get your, umm, powers from?”

“My shirt actually, it’s been passed down from “sun” to son.” He chuckles to himself at his corny joke as he points to his shirt. The shirt is so cheery and bright you could think it would catch on fire any second now.

“Do you have any more?” I ask already raiding his closet rudely.

“Umm… yes, but it’s an antique, considering it was my great, great, great, great grandfather’s,” Ray says with a sigh.

“I’ll give you anything for it, anything!” I exclaim happily, finally finding my answer. I touch the bag of coins getting ready to pull them out.

“Hmmm… let’s see. You know, I would like a glass of some nice cold rainwater. Haven’t had that in forever!”

“Of course!” I scurry over to his cabinet and rummage through them until pulling out a cup. I zip out the door over to the pine. I scurry halfway down the thick trunk of the pine, it’s strong branches supporting my weight. I reach my hand out from under my pine umbrella and my cup is instantly full. Careful not to spill it, I slowly make my way back up the tree and to Ray’s house. Handing it to him, he places it in a glass case on the kitchen table then hands me a old yellow shirt. I grab it and it starts glowing. I step out onto the black platform and carefully lay the shirt on the cloud. It sucks it up like air and vanishes along with it leaving only a clear blue sky and a layer of white fluffy clouds. Once I’m down the tree I hug my friends and tell them of my amazing adventure.

We are having an art show!

UNDESIGNED    BEAUTY

December 2, 2011 at 2:00

At Rebel Waltz Academy

Our Amazing Photo Exhibit!