Reflection-Part 1-Thinking and Writing
We have had to write four pieces for this class so far. They have been a memoir, an essay about The Scarlet Letter, an essay about The Crucible, and an essay about the nature walk we went on. In the memoir piece we were learning about the "brushstrokes" of writing. We had to write our memoir using all of these. In The Scarlet Letter essay we were focusing on how to write persuasively. We had to pick a topic or come up with our own. We had to prove our point on the issue. The Crucible essay focused on taking a character and comparing them to an inanimate object. We used the brainstorming process to help us get started. On the nature walk essay we related our nature walk experience to the theories of Emerson and Thoreau.

Usually went I write I go through a long writing process. It also depends on what I'm writing. If I am writing something that is informal, I usually don't think a lot about my grammar or how the sentence sounds. If it is formal I always think before I write. I rework the sentence in as many ways as I can. Once I think that I've found the best sentence I write it. I also hate to revise my writing after I have finished. This is because I revise as I go. This is part of the reason that it takes me so long to write. I read over sentences over and over again before I go to the next one.

So far this year I have learned several things about my writing. The main thing is that I try to use better and larger vocabulary. This may seem like something I should already know, and it is. My problem has always been that I have never used good vocabulary. So this year I decided it would be my goal to use better vocabulary. Another thing that I have learned is to use a good thesis statement. Before this class I wasn't exactly sure how to construct a thesis statement. I have also learned to use my writing "brushstrokes". My favorite brushstroke is "Painting with Absolutes". It is when you use a noun followed by an "ing" word. I can't wait to see what else I will learn this semester in English.

Reflection-Part 2-Process of Revision
After reading the suggestions of Mrs. Turner, I changed several ideas in my writings. In my memior, True Joy, I learned to use the "Brushstrokes of Writing". I also learned to write in action voice. I believe this made my writing sound very professional and make me seem like a much better writer. In my Scarlet Letter essay I origanally wrote "This scaffold marks the beginning, middle, and end of the novel." for my thesis statement. I then changed it to "Hawthorne uses the scaffold scences to structure his novel by places them in the beginning, middle, and end of the novel." I changed this because Mrs. Turner suggested that I have a stronger thesis and show the use of structure. I also have a tendency to start to write in past tense. With Mrs. Turner's help I realized this and changed it. I also revised my Crucible Essay. I wasn't happy with my essay in the first place. After I read Mrs. Turner's comments I realized that even though I was not going to put in on my blog, my essay need revising badly. I changed the introduction paragraph to include Arther Miller and his reasons for the personality of the characters.

Reflection-Part 3-Learning from your Classmates
After reading through Dylan's "Cut Away" essay I realized how different I wrote my paper than his. I learned that I needed to try to go deeper into the comparisons between my person and my object. Dylan also used excellent metaphors and similes. I learned that I need to use more of these in my writing because they make it more interesting. After reading Savanna's "Black Belt" memior I learned to use more literary elements, such as personification, imagery, and loaded language. Savanna used personification very well. I love this sentence in her memior: "Silence filled the karate studio because off all the nervousness and because just like a test at school, we couldn't talk under any circumstances." In Erika V.'s "Nature/Transcendentalism Essay" I learned that I stink at writing compared to her. Actually, I learned that I should go into more detail and think more when I write. I've noticed this year that I haven't thought enough about the topics I am writing on. Erika's essay helped me see just how much more I needed to elaborate on things.

The Scaffold in The Scarlet Letter

It was, in short, the platform of the pillory; and above it rose the framework of that instrument of discipline, so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp, and thus hold it up to the public gaze. (8)" The scaffold in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter plays a more significant role in the novel than many would imagine. The scaffold, or a type of public platform, resurfaces throughout The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses the scaffold scences to structure his novel by places them in the beginning, middle, and end of the novel.

In The Scarlet Letter the scaffold is introduced as a place of embarrassment and punishment for Hester Prynne. She must endure harsh criticism from her fellow citizens. "Of an impulsive and passionate nature, she had fortified herself to encounter the stings and venomous stabs of public contumely, wreaking itself in every variety of insult; but there was a quality so much more terrible in the solemn mood of the popular mind, that she longed rather to behold all those rigid countenances contorted with scornful merriment, and herself the object. (10)" The scaffold marks the beginning of Hester's new life with her baby and her sentence of wearing the letter A. From now on, she must tolerate the rejection of the society she lives in. The scaffold also begins the novel in a grim way.

In the beginning of The Scarlet Letter the scaffold is seen as a horrible and scarring place. By the middle of the novel the perception of the scaffold changes. Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale reunite for the first time in seven years on the scaffold. They stand side by side holding hands on the platform. "She silently ascended the steps, and stood on the platform, holding little Pearl by the hand. The minister felt for the child's other hand, and took it. (104)" It is also here that Pearl asks Dimmesdale "Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, tomorrow noontide? (105)" This becomes a recurring question for Pearl in the novel. This view of the scaffold is much more warm than the previous. It shows Dimmesdale's sensitivity to the sin that he commits.

Following the middle scene of the scaffold in The Scarlet Letter is the final scene. This scene with the scaffold is undoubtedly the most important. In this scene Dimmesdale appears before the entire town. Here he asks Pearl and Hester to join him on the scaffold. As he leans on Hester for support he confesses all of his sins to the crowd. When he is finished he reveals his scarlet letter. He then asks Pearl if he can have his kiss. "My little Pearl, dear little Pearl, wilt thou kiss me now? Thous wouldst not, yonder, in the forest! But now thou wilt? (210)" Pearl then kisses him and he dies. In this scene the scaffold is portrayed as an enlightening and heartbreaking place. It shows the redemption of Dimmesdale and his tragic death.

The scaffold resurfaces several times and marks important plot changes in the novel. The mood of the scaffold also changes throughout the novel. In the beginning it is horrible and appalling. By the middle of the novel the mood changes, and by the end it is depressing. The scaffold in The Scarlet Letter plays a significant role in the course of the novel.

True Joy

Every summer the youth group at my church goes on a mission trip. In 2006 we planned on going to Tampa, Florida. Unfortunately, so many people dropped out that we had to change our plans. With our trip only weeks away our youth leader, Carrie, had to act fast. She decided the youth would go to Myrtle Beach, which everyone enjoyed.

Our youth group stayed at a house right on the beach. Every morning we went to a different organization in the Myrtle Beach area. During the afternoon we played at the beach. On Wednesday we went to a water park. One night Carrie showed us a slide-show of where we would be going the next day. As I watched the slide-show I noticed that some of adults and children were in wheelchairs. Afterwards, Carrie told us everything we needed to know about The Joy School. If focused on helping handicapped children and adults socially interact with their peers. It also provided a summer daycare for children whose parents had to work. Carrie then told us that not all of the children and adults were friendly. This is when my worries began.

I suddenly became very nervous. I had never experienced an angry or even mean disabled person before. How would I react? How would they react to me? Millions of questions rushed through my head. I forced myself not to think about it until the next morning.
The next morning we piled onto the bus and bounced down the sandy road to our destination. As we pulled into a small parking lot a solid white church, small and secluded, came into view. Stomach churning , I walked into a small room with yellow walls. Children and adults crowded around tables wile some stood at a huge whiteboard. We all stood in the center of the room, feeling unsure and anxious, until a small girl walked up to us. She held out a puzzle. I smiled. Why had I been so nervous? This little girl seemed excited that new people came to play with her.

Eventually, everyone in my youth group split up and became more relaxed. We put together puzzles, read books, and colored pictures. Everyone in the room played and laughed. One boy brought his favorite rap CD and danced to it. He insisted that we dance along. Face red, I joined in. By the end of the day we all knew the dance to "It's Going Down."
The Joy School leaders led us to the backyard of the church. A small patch of bright green grass lay between two sidewalks. A shabby volleyball net spread across the grass. The adults and children ran to the grass, while others rolled or were pushed. Walking slowly, I stepped onto the grass to participate in the game. One man from the other team insisted that two girls from our youth group and I be on his team. He told us to hit the ball especially hard just for him.

After lunch we filed into the small sanctuary of the church for singing. When the leaders were finished with their songs and music our youth group received an invitation to sing our own song. The only song we could think of that that they hadn't already sung was one of my favorites. As we sang "This Little Light of Mine" I watched every person in the room. Almost every person in the room began to follow along with us by raising their finger and doing some of the hand motions. While not everyone in the room knew what was going on, they seemed excited because they got to participate.

Looking back on the week as a whole, that day stands out the most to me. I'm not sure if it was because of my sudden change in nervousness or because I felt like I learned something important from everyone there. I do know that I had no reason to be nervous and I ended up having a great time. In 20 years I hope to look back and remember that day just like it was yesterday.