What is tone? Didn't understand until now.

I was always confused when it came to tone. I really didn't understand it's importance until I learned about it a little more in Mrs. Elliott's class, but now i have a clear understanding as to why tone is really important in literature. Tone enriches or modifies the meanings of spoken words.We are all familiar with the great variety of tones possible in speech. We may be put off by a note of condescension, or whining, or aggressiveness. We can be comforted by tones that are sympathetic or soothing. We find ourselves persuaded not only by cogent reasons, but by the sounds of patient reasoning. We often sense that a person is saying something quite different from what his words convey: his words may be calm, but his voice agitated; or his words may be pleasant, while his entire manner speaks of impatience or dislike. Words of praise are easily turned into words of scorn by a touch of irony in the voice. It all makes sense to me now. -Zaid H.

What's in a promise?

     Before Thanksgiving break we were asked the question of what a promise meant to us. To me, a promise holds trust. The definition of a promise is a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; it's a commitment. When someone promises you something you trust them to keep that promise. When we make and keep a promise, we are building trust with that person. If you know you can't keep it- don't make it. As the saying goes, rules are meant to be broken, but promises are meant to be kept.

~Kaylee Hernandez

Teamwork...Brittany Delaney

This semester every student was put in an english team, and was expected to work together to achieve the final goal of growing as a english group.  I had never really talked to the people that were put in my team so i was kind of hesitant to believe that we could ever grow close.  As the year started to progress, we began understanding eachothers flaws and strengths, and learning eachothers personality traits.  We started hanging out together after school and depending on eachother in ways other than just academic needs.  I started to trust my team not just as fellow students but as friends.  As i started to get to know the people on my team, i started to love them for all of the diversity that our group shared.  Zach had the idea that our team should meet for pink berry after school one day to bond and get to know eachother better.  when we arrived it was kind of quiet and awkward, but as the meeting progressed everyone started to loosen up and before we knew it we were all laughing and having a great time.  As we came into class the next day, and earned our first participation sticker, we felt accomplished and like we were finally an official team.  From that day on, we knew that we could count on eacother and that i had met a new group of people that had become friends that i loved.  I want my team to know that i appreciate them and the support that they give me in english class.  I have truly met an amazing group of people that have opened my eyes to a better understanding of what teamwork really means.  I love you all and i can't wait to see what next semester will bring us!

Retrospect

As the end of the semeseter approaches, we look back at the semester as a whole to determine where we are. It is interesting to look back at what we've learned and how we've done. In retrospect, those annoying assignments may have proven to be worthwile. For example, the "To the Snake" assessment was confusing to me at first and i did not like the poem. After I began to understand the complex symbols and archetypes I realized how facsinating the poem was. It went from a simple poem about a Green Snake to a poem about human life that was very easy to connect to. The same goes for the novel, Frankenstein. I think the quote Mrs. Elliott showed the class at the beginning of the semester, "to live a life worth living" has shown up in a lot of our assignments. All of the literature we've read has had some outlook on a life worth living. Even the reading response to "The End of Solitude" talked about life. I think the class goal of learning not only Literature is being met, or at least in the progress of being met. I know I've learned a lot; however, in retrospect I know I can work harder to gain even more knowledge. Looking back at the past  teaches you how to approach the future and strive for goals.

-Andrew V

what we have all been waiting for: the end

As the semester is coming to a close, many bittersweet memories come to mind. Times of triumph and success and times of fret and worry. Even though this is an English class, there were times, I admit, when I needed to ignore everything around me, even if that included the lesson (sorry Mrs. Elliott!), to study for an art history quiz or a physics quiz later on in the day. Among other things, if there was one thing I learned from this class it was how to study effectively by tuning out everything and paying attention to the task at hand. Fortunately, when I did listen to the lesson (which was most of the time) I was able to implement this characteristic and strength to the tasks at hand. With this new found trait, I was able to focus on essays, different types of analysis, and effectively cooperate with my team/group members.

Many of us view this ending semester as the grand finale. I always hear students in the hallways talking to their friends about how there is just one more week of school and then they can stop trying. In reality, it is true that these seniors deserve a break. I mean, they have worked hard for the past three and a half years, so a break is well deserved. BUT, I think this second semester is where us seniors grow into the college students we dream to be. There are many important skills that we have not learned yet, and just giving up after finals this semester is not the smartest thing to do. New skills can be grasped next semester that can even better our education and outlook on academics in college. After all, what's the point of being in school if you're not actually going to try?

So while students in your class may be sleeping, dozing off, or even studying for a quiz later on in the day, I know I will give my full attention to the class every day until graduation (most likely until the pain is unbearable).

~ Simon L.