Future AP Lang Advice (TA Post)

        AP Lang is not impossible, but there are things I would have done differently if I could retake the class. I wish that I could go back in time to the fall and give myself some advice that would help me a whole lot in the future, but I can't. So this is for the future AP Lang students who will be able to benefit from my advice.
        First off: Vocabulary. Do not, under any circumstances, take AP Lang vocab lightly. Sure, previous english classes had ten words a week every week that you learned and took a small quiz on. By the end of the year, you usually forgot some, if not most of them. Well, in AP Lang, vocab is important. Without it, how would you know how to analyze the rhetorical devices in a piece of writing or apply those devices to your own writing? Therefore, if I could go back, I would have done something to record every new word or device that we learned in order to keep them all in an organized, easy-to-follow list that could take me through the year easily.
       Secondly: Stay on task. If for one moment you don't know what is going on, ask another student or teacher. If you don't learn the basics of the rhetorical thinking process, it will be hard to get back into the flow of things. Keep up with the reading homework and NEVER put it off until the last moment. For all you know, two chapters that you are assigned to read could end up taking hours upon hours to read (especially if you're a slow reader like myself).
        Thirdly: Break old habits. This is a tough one for me. Once I'm used to writing in a certain way, it's hard for me to switch to another form of writing. However, in AP Lang, you have to let go of some of the things that were pounded into your minds for years (such as 5-paragraph essay formatting) and open up a path for new, rhetorical ideas and strategies to flow into your writing. Even though it may take some time, I promise that it is, indeed possible to break some of the worst writing habits with time.
        AP Lang truly guides you to think in a different way. When I first heard this, I was pretty confused at what it meant. Now that I have taken a year of the class, I finally understand. Once you take this course, you start to analyze writing in a way that you didn't really do before. It's different, but very helpful in forming effective statements and building on them to form solid arguments that truly call on your reader's attention. Well, good luck, future AP Lang students! I hope this post is somewhat helpful to your life! (:

Exam Preparation (TA Post)

        Exams are quite a climax for the year. All of our studying and homework struggles lead up to one ending point that determines everything for the year. I have to say, I have never been good at studying for hours on end. I am someone who gets distracted the moment I take my eyes off of the paper. The most studying I have ever done in an exam was in 9th grade in World History. I was so nervous for the exam (I'll admit, history is NOT my best subject) that I read the entire contents of my history folder. It literally took me more than three hours. The good news is, I got almost a perfect score on the exam! Other than that, however, I haven't really downright studied for hours on end. In reality, I adjust my study habits to the situation. In English before AP Lang, it was hard to study because it was mainly based off of books, so I would just study some vocabulary. In choir, my exam involves singing a solo, so I just practice my solo a few times and work on memorization. Simple as that! There are a few classes that I study more for, but usually I will only study the things that I am really struggling with in order to use my studying time wisely.
       Other than studying, I try to take it easy the week of exams. This is sometimes challenging, due to extracurricular activities like Dutch Dance and memorizing songs for certain choirs, but I somehow manage to keep a level head. This may be because I sing a LOT and music really relaxes me. It's all about finding that one thing that truly eases your mind into a peaceful state. Therefore, what prepares me best for hard tests is calming my nerves through soothing music that I sing or play on piano in the comfort of my home. After that, I'm all ready for exams.
        As you can see, it's hard for me to pinpoint an exact way to prepare for exams. It really varies for different people. Some people study for days, others just take things easy for a while. There is no right or wrong way. It's all a matter of what works for you, and how you will accomplish that unique form of exam preparation. (:

Why Netflix is Amazing (CM)

        I'm sure most of you have heard about Netflix, the online site where people can watch TV after paying for a membership. I found out about Netflix around a year ago when my brother bought a membership. After a while, I realized just how amazing Netflix was. You see, I'm not much of a TV watcher. I'd rather sit down and watch a nice movie, or watch certain series' that catch my eye. In my situation, I feel like it would make life so much simpler to just stop paying for the TV network at my house and switch completely to Netflix. I only watch about three channels, so why pay for thousands that I will never care to even look at? Netflix has so many advantages. While a TV company may charge $80 per month, Netflix is currently $7.99 a month. I would rather not pay so much money for channels I may never watch. Not to mention, while TV plays shows at certain times and you have to navigate around commercials every ten minutes, Netflix allows people to watch anything straight through whenever they want. Also, rather than waiting for the right episodes to play, Netflix organizes its TV shows in chronological order, making it easy to simply go through the series in order and without rewatching things you have already seen. Some people may argue that TV is essential because of the news, which you can't really watch on Netflix, but it is easy to simply find a news channel online. Most news companies offer live streaming and frequent updates on current events.
         I love Netflix because you can use it anytime of any day. My family and I used to have Doctor Who marathons when everyone was home (which doesn't happen very often). This would have been difficult with just normal TV because we would have had to record a LOT of episodes, not to mention we don't even have the channel. Well, I also love to watch movies with my family, and Netflix gives us a variety of movies. I think the reason Netflix is better than television sets is that it is easy to use, full of variety for everyone, and simple. You find a show you want and press play. On TVs, you have to find the right channel at the right time, or record something ahead of time, still filled with commercials.
        I would not say that TV should be replaced by Netflix, but that many people (including me) benefit more from something like that rather than normal TV. Well, I'm done rambling on about Netflix now. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts!

Stories of Nature (CC Post)

        As soon as we started reading Into The Wild, I was hooked. The idea of someone abandoning everything they have in life to live out in nature alone and without many supplies is very extraordinary to me. As I read, I keep thinking about how hard it would be to just let go of everything you know in life. Imagine leaving your family and friends and not telling them what you are going to do, choosing to live secluded from the rest of the world. It would be nearly impossible to get even that far. So, when I think about what McCandless did, I am impressed at his will to survive out in the wild. I'm not sure I would go so far as saying that it was a good idea, but it is an amazing feat.
        While I read about McCandless's craving for nature, I can't help thinking about A Walk in the Woods, which I read last summer. It was a story about a man (Bill Bryson) who wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, so he entered The Smoky Mountains National Park and tried to fulfill his goal. However, although he hiked for his love of nature, his story was very different than McCandless's. While McCandless abandoned everything - his family, his education, his life - Bryson was better prepared. He still could not connect with his family on the trail, but at least they knew where he was, what he was doing, and that he loved them. Also, he was careful to carry provisions for the hike on his back, including food, a sleeping bag, and strong hiking equipment. He also was following an actual path, rather than deciding to simply enter the wild with no solid plans.
        Although their stories have their differences, I can't help relating Bryson to McCandless. They both decided to take a break from their everyday lives and spend some hardcore time in nature. Both were gone for months on end, and neither regretted the overall experience. Acting on a love for nature, they followed a path in life that would strengthen their spirits and give them an understanding for the amazing world around us that is often forgotten. Through inner strength and the endurance needed to survive out in nature, both Bryson and McCandless followed their instincts to take an unforgettable hike through the wild of the world outside.

The Seasons (Free Write)

        I love Michigan. It's such a wonderful state and I feel like we tend to take it for granted a lot. One of my favorite things about it is that we get all four seasons. We get the freshness of spring, the traditions of summer, the beauty of fall, and my favorite, winter. Okay, so I admit it, I'm one of those few people who adores snow and absolutely loves the winter. This is funny even to me, seeing as I'm always cold, but I honestly love the winter. It just brings out the happiness in me. Anyways, I love having all four seasons. I know that a lot of people travel down south for the winter, but I just don't see the point. Yeah, they escape the cold weather, but look at what they're missing! Winter is such a beautiful season. I love watching the snow as it piles up outside and glistens in the sunlight of the day. Of course, I wouldn't want to live with winter all year round. I don't see how the people who live far up north survive. I would freeze without the comforting thoughts of warmer seasons just around the corner. The change from season to season really is something. A blossoming spring develops into a crisp summer, and then the leaves change color, and snow starts to fall. I would have to say that my favorite season change is, without a doubt, winter to spring. This is because we have already adjusted to the icy weather of the winter months, so even though 50 degrees would feel cold in the fall, in the spring it feels like a heatwave has washed over us! Therefore, I rest my case. Michigan is awesome, and we are so lucky to live here. One of my sisters lives down in Virginia, and they get hardly any snow most years. In fact, once when I was visiting her at Christmas time, her school got a snow day in the anticipation of snow. I woke up the next day expecting to see lot's of snow outside, like when we get snow days up north. Well, there was no snow. In fact, it didn't even start snowing until after lunch time. Compare that to our recent week of snowdays due to our massive amounts of snow currently occupying the town. I really do love the snow. I know a lot of people hate it, but there's something about it that just makes me smile. The same thing goes for falling leaves, shades of so many colors drifting through the air and piling up on the ground. This is also true for blossoming flowers and plant growing seasons. Every season has unique traits that make it special in its own way. Without one of the seasons, something would be missing from my life. With them, I feel so complete. I really don't know how I could live without one. It would be so different. People who live without winter and those who live without summer really are tough! I would miss the balance of the four seasons way too much. I'm so glad we live in such a beautiful state. Michigan truly has its perks! (:

The Dairy Dilemma... (Convince Me Post)

       

        I really don't like milk. I never have, and most likely never will. I remember when I was little I would drink maybe a glass or two weekly. Today, I can't even remember the last time I drank it! Okay, I do have my reasons though. First off, I'm slightly lactose intolerant, so if I don't take my lactose intolerance medication before drinking milk, I get terrible stomach aches. That may have something to do with it. I know that numerous people share this trait with me. And it's not fun. Even if I take medicine before eating dairy products, my stomach still hurts after eating something as simple as a bowl of ice cream or macaroni and cheese. But mainly, I honestly just don't like it. To me at least, milk tastes strange, makes my stomach hurt, and causes me to cringe every time I drink it.
        Now some of you milk-drinkers out there are probably mad that I'm basing this entirely off of my own personal opinion. However, it turns out that I am not alone in my quest to not drink milk. Many professionals have stated that drinking milk past childhood is in fact not as good for you as they once thought. First off, cow-milk, what we normally drink, was made especially for baby calves and not for humans. Every species has its own, unique version of milk, and they drink milk from their own kind. So it seems a bit odd that we drink the milk of other animals. Besides, baby mammals like calves only drink milk when they are young. Then they stop. Humans, on the other hand, drink milk all throughout their lives, contradicting the natural pattern that mammals follow. Also, milk ironically depletes the calcium from your bones. This goes against everything we have known about milk. I grew up hearing that I should drink a glass of milk every day (which I did not do) so that I would stay healthy and build up strong bones. Now, that entire idea is being questioned. Should we really be drinking milk throughout our entire lives?
        Whether you don't drink milk for personal reasons or for health reasons, there are always other ways to get calcium into your diet. Exhibit A: Almond Milk. This is one of my greatest discoveries. The world outside of dairy milk. If you find a good brand of soy milk or almond milk, it is a great substitute for cow-milk. Personally, I love Silk Almond Milk. After growing up with hating regular milk, I was surprised to find a drink like milk that actually tasted good. Not to mention the fact that almond milk can have more nutrients in it than regular milk. When I first started drinking Silk Milk, I realized that there was a whole 50% more calcium in it than regular milk. It also tastes wonderful in cereal and in cooking experiments like macaroni and cheese! Another way to get calcium into your diet without milk is by consuming other forms of dairy more. There's yogurt, cheese, and so much more.
        This concludes my rant about milk. I never thought I would end up writing about such a random topic, but it happened. Now I can officially say that I have written a blog post about how terrible milk is. I understand that some of you may feel differently, but now you have a look into the other side of this dairy drink. Thank you for listening! (:

Why Child Stars Go Crazy... (IR)

        Have you ever noticed the trend of child actors that grow up to be troubled people? So many actors and actresses that go into TV careers become corrupt and do incredibly foolish things. Many of the young stars we come to know and love turn out so different. Miley Cyrus, Amanda Bynes, and so many more celebrities that started acting when they were young have made some very bad decisions. The actress I always think about is Lindsay Lohan. She was one of my two favorite child actors. I loved her role in The Parent Trap and it became one of my favorite movies. When she grew up, the choices she made that messed up her life made me feel sorry for her. I really do hate how almost all children with acting careers go bad. So, I got to thinking, why is it that so many child stars go crazy in the first place? There has got to be a reason.
        I did some research and found an article written by my other favorite child actress, Mara Wilson. She is proof that not all child actors decide to make bad choices. For those of you who don't know her, Mara Wilson started as a child actress (I know her best for her starring role in Matilda) and once she started growing up, she left hollywood. The article she wrote was titled, "7 Reasons Child Stars Go Crazy (An Insider's Perspective)". She made a lot of good points and it was very interesting to read about.
        For Instance, one of the things she wrote about was the parents of the child who is acting. This is something I have wondered about as well. Sometimes it's not the actor's fault, but the parents. Mara explained that when she was little and she decided to start acting, her parents tried their best to change her mind. They were very protective of her, and this probably saved her from getting too pulled into the acting life. Many child stars go into acting because their parents want them to, and it's not the choice of the child themself. Then when they turn 18 and are declared an adult, they can make decisions for themselves rather than for their parents, and they can make bad mistakes.
        Also, being in an acting career means that throughout your entire life, people will be just waiting for you to make a mistake, observing your every flaw. That's enough to drive anyone crazy. Child actors who continue acting until they are adults never have a chance to go through a rebellious stage in their life. Almost all teenagers have a point in their life when they question things and make mistakes, but then learn from those mistakes and become a much better person. Well, would you want to rebel like that with a million eyes watching your every move? I didn't think so. Therefore, young actors miss out on that part of life, so they can't help rebelling at a later point in their lives, which causes mass consequences.
        Another point Mara brushed on was the truth that child actors get used to the attention and then they lose it all. By growing up in such an environment as acting, many children get spoiled. They get used to so many people paying attention to them and they love it, so they keep on acting and forget about the reason they were acting in the first place. They forget about their love of acting and focus in on the people who want them to act. And eventually, those people lose interest in them. And then they don't know what to do with their lives. They don't know if they should take up a different career or if acting is all they really know how to do. So, many young actors do things that they will later regret in a state of confusion. Mara gives the advice that all child actors should get out of the business as soon as possible to avoid corruption.
        The #1 reason that child stars go crazy, in Mara's opinion, is that they can't escape it. She only acted when she was a little girl and sees it as an old hobby, but people still recognize her as the girl who was in Mrs. Doubtfire or as the girl who played Matilda. She has a different life, but many people can't seem to grasp that. Once a child gets into the acting life, it is incredibly hard to leave. Imagine if Miley Cyrus had suddenly decided to quit acting in the middle of filming Hannah Montana episodes. A lot of young girls would be furious and the producers would not be happy. Young actors also have to put into account the feelings of their fans. Once you are involved in acting, it's nearly impossible to escape.
        There are many more reasons as to why so many young actors do what they do. I only elaborated on a few of the reasons. There are many factors to be taken into account with the question of why child stars go crazy. I guess what gets me is the number of them that make huge mistakes. If it were only a few actors who messed up, it wouldn't be nearly as big of a problem. But with the fact that almost every single one of the child actors I grew up with has made terrible life decisions, I can say that this is definitely a problem. Of course, some young actors are able to escape the grasp of the acting life. Some are able to heal from their mistakes and turn their lives around. Others are able to escape it all completely, just like Mara. However, the past will always be there. Even if child actors do stop acting, people remember them. That can be a good thing, but it can also be bad.

This is a picture of young Mara Wilson next to the Mara Wilson of today.

Here is the link to her article:

http://www.cracked.com/blog/7-reasons-child-stars-go-crazy-an-insiders-perspective/