Sheridan Logsdon
10-27-10
3/4
Response to literature: Tell Tale Heart
“I became insane with long intervals of horrible sanity.” Edgar Allen Poe explains. Who knew that one little irritation could drive someone so insane; crazy enough to make someone do something very terrible. Edgar Allen Poe exemplifies this in his fantastic story, Tell Tale Heart. In Poe’s story, a madman is driven even further into insanity by an old man’s perplexing pale blue eye with film over it. He refers to this as an “Evil Eye” He finally decided to rid himself of this haunting irritation. He decides to take the life of the old man. This is explained in the quote on page 629, “His eye would trouble me no more.” Poe does a fantastic job including great imagery, an interesting plot, and lots of suspense in this story. Edgar Allen Poe’s blood-tingling story of a demented killer will keep you on your toes.
Part of the reason it’s so exiting is, his exquisite use of imagery. “Yes, he was stone, stone dead.” He explains on page 628. I think this quote represents imagery, because you could picture him lying on the floor as dead as a stone. I also like the quote in the story, “He had the eye of a vulture –a pale blue eye, with film over it.” He clarifies on page 625. I think this quote shows an example of imagery because you can really picture it in your mind. Edgar Allen Poe’ s fantastic use of imagery makes you feel like you are really a part of the story.
Another reason you will feel like you are not just in the classroom reading a book is the interesting plot. My favorite parts of the plot are, the resolution and the climax. The quote that I like that represents the climax is the quote on page 628, “I dragged him to the floor, and pulled a heavy bed over him.” I thinkthis quote symbolizes the climax because it is the most interesting point of the story. It really makes you want to keep reading. The quote that I think symbolizes the resolution the best is “I admit the deed! -Tear up the planks- here, here! - It is the beating of his hideous heart,” found on page 630 of the story. This attention-grabbing quote is one of my favorites, because you are not expecting him to crack under the pressure and expose what he has done. This quote also adds to the suspense he implies in his mysterious story.
One of the quotes that really shows his exquisite use of imagery is “I undid the lantern cautiously- oh, so cautiously- cautiously,” on page 626. I think this quote characterizes suspense because you feel like you are watching him slowly creep in the old man’s bedroom waiting to take his life. Another quote that will keep you on the edge of your seat is “Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still,” on page 628. In this quote you can kind of picture him standing as still as he can waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Poe’s excellent use of imagery, spine-tingling plot, and nail-biting suspense make you want to keep reading further into the mysterious story, Tell Tale Heart. He does such a great job keeping people interested. When you read this story your eyes are glued to the pages and you don’t want to put the book down. Tell Tale Heart keeps you wondering what will happen next!
1.) Did I enjoy this essay? Yes. I enjoyed this essay because it was fun to add in all of the description.
2.) Was the topic interesting to me? The topic is interesting to me because Edgar Allen Poe is a really great writer and I got to kind of reflect on what he wrote.
3.) What is something I am proud of in this essay? In this essay I am proud of some of my high vocabulary.
4.) What is something I need to improve in this essay? I probably need to improve my transition sentences.
5.) How did this help me in my growth as a writer?
Yes, I think it did help me grow as a writer because it was the first reading response I have done.
Sheridan Logsdon
1-05-11
3/4
Animal Testing Persuasive Essay
“The question is not, ‘Can they reason?’ nor, ‘Can they talk?’ but rather, ‘Can they suffer?’” ~Jeremy Bentham, an English utilitarian philosopher and social reformer. (www.quotegarden.com). Imagine being locked in a cramped metal cage, only to be injected with toxic chemicals a while later. A wide variety of animals endure the pain of harsh chemical tests. Most of these tests are for cosmetics and household items anyways. Animals shouldn’t have to die because humanity’s selfishness. According to the group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), “More than 100 million animals every year suffer and die in cruel chemical, drug, food and cosmetic tests, biology lessons, medical training exercises, and curiosity-driven medical experiments.”(www.peta.org/)
Animal testing affects a wide variety of animals. This includes dogs, rabbits, primates, guinea pigs, cats, birds, fish, pigs, horses, sheep, hamsters, and most commonly, rats and mice. Animals are used in many different tests. Many of which people believe aren’t necessary. "For the medical profession vivisection has been a curse, as well as a hindrance instead of an aid towards increasing our knowledge."~ Dr. John Bowie, a scientist at CAAT (Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing.) One of the tests performed on animals is called the Draize eye test. In 1994, a scientist at the FDA, John H. Draize, Ph.D, invented this. This test is usually done on rabbits. The substance is placed in one of the rabbit’s eyes; their eyes are then evaluated after one hour to see what damage is done. Due to this horrid experiment, rabbits suffer from many affects including redness, bleeding, ulcers, and sometimes blindness. Animal testing is used to make sure that products are safe for humans to use. However, there are other solutions to this problem than just animal cruelty. "Animal experimentation is not necessary. It is expensive. It is inaccurate. It is misleading. It consumes limited resources. And further, it is detrimental to the very species it professes to be working to help -- humankind."~ Dr.s Ray & Jean Greek, Sacred Cows and Golden Geese. (www.ohsukillsprimates.com). When some people say that animal testing is wrong, others argue, “If we don’t test on animals, how do we know if our products are safe?” There are a few solutions to fix this problem.
One of the solutions of the ending of the malicious testing is to test on animals for medical purposes only. This way we would still have a way of making sure that our medications are safe, but not as many animals would be affected. Only 6% of animal testing is used for medical purposes. The other 94% is used strictly for testing household items and cosmetics. How would you feel if your precious pet was taken away and tortured in horrendous lab tests? This would save needless suffering of millions of animals each year. Too many animals die for pointless reasons.
The second solution to this problem is to use only natural elements in manufactured products. "The reason why I am against animal research is because it doesn't work, it has no scientific value and every good scientist knows that."~ Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, M.D., 1986, Head of the Licensing Board for the State of Illinois, paediatrician & gynaecologist for 30 years, medical columnist & best-selling author, recipient of numerous awards for excellence in medicine. Many scientists agree that animal testing isn’t accurate, so, cutting it out completely might be the best solution. If you use all natural ingredients, you don’t have to make sure they are safe, because you already know that it is healthy ingredients. This is a good solution because not only does it help the animals not be part of the tests, it is also healthier for yourself, and the environment. Instead of using manmade chemicals and unhealthy toxins, it would be so much better to use things that come naturally from the earth. If you can’t find everything you need in a product in a natural environment, why can’t you just use the chemicals and drugs that have already tested safe?
There is no reason to make innocent animals suffer. Locking them up in cramped cages is erroneous. “God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.” ~Jacques Deval, French playwright and director. Many animals are killed after their tests and observations. If everyone just uses animal testing for medical purposes and not cosmetics, we could decrease the amount of tortured animals by millions! To make sure that the cosmetics are still safe we can use either use only natural ingredients or use the ingredients that have already tested safe. We need to stop treating animals horribly! Everyone deserves a life!
1.) Did I enjoy this essay? Yes, I enjoyed this essay because, I was really interested in animal testing.
2.) Was the topic interesting to me? Yes, it was interesting. I didn’t know all of the horrible things that happen in animal testing.
3.) What is something I am proud of in this essay? In this essay I am probably most proud of is the facts that I included.
4.) What is something I need to improve in this essay? I maybe need to improve in my introduction paragraph.
5.) How did this help me in my growth as a writer? I think this helped me in my growth as a writer because I got to research a topic I felt really strongly about.
Sheridan Logsdon
Marissa Rodriguez
Sequoia Ybarra
2-25-11
3/4
How to Make a Peanut-Butter & Jelly Sandwich:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a very popular and delicious part of America, but where did the PB&J come from? In 1901, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich title was published by Julia Davis Chandler. The sandwich immediately became a hit and is still very popular in the United States. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a yummy treat with nutritional value, too. It has jelly made from healthy fruit, peanuts that give you protein, and bread, which is a good source of fiber and grains. We will now be teaching you how to create this delicious food.
Materials:
· 2 Slices of Bread (your choice: white, wheat, potato, etc.)
· 1 Plate
· 1 Jar of Peanut Butter: 1-2+ Tbs. (chunky or smooth depending on your preference)
· 1 Jar of Jelly: 1+ Tbs. (any flavor of your choice)
· 1-2 Knives.
Steps:
1. Wash your hands with warm water and soap in the sink. Turn on the water, put your hands underneath the faucet, put soap on them, and scrub vigorously for at least 20 sec.
2. Take out a plate, two slices of bread, and a knife.
3. Set the slices on the plate perpendicular (side by side) to each other.
4. Take out a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly.
5. Unscrew lid of peanut butter jar (counter clockwise) and set it on the counter.
6. Pick up knife carefully by non-sharp side and dip the sharp end of the knife into the jar of peanut butter and use it to scoop the peanut butter out. The amount of peanut butter varies on your preference. However, the recommended amount would 1-2 Tbs.
7. Note: The more peanut butter you use the stickier and harder and to chew the sandwich will be.
8. Take knife (now covered in peanut butter)and place peanut butter side on bread and spread peanut butter on one slice of the bread. If you need more peanut butter, repeat step six and add another layer.
9. If you wish to have a clean knife for your jelly, you can either get a new knife or rinse off the knife you’re using.
10. Unscrew lid off jelly (counter clockwise) and place it on the counter.
11. Repeat what you did with the peanut butter, but with jelly on the other slice of bread.
12. Take the two slices of bread (one with peanut butter, one with jelly) and match them up and stick them together with the peanut butter and jelly on the inside to create the sandwich.
13. (Optional) You may take the knife and cut the sandwich diagonally, horizontally, or vertically through the middle depending on your preference.
14. Put materials away and clean up by: Screwing the peanut butter lid back on the jar (clockwise). Do the same with the Jelly. Put them both back in the refrigerator. Wash the knife/knives and put it/them back where you found it/them. (Probably a drawer.) Wipe up any spilled peanut butter or jelly from off of the counter using a wet paper towel. Afterwards, use a dry paper towel to finish cleaning the counter. Throw the used paper towels in the trashcan.
15. Yum! Yum! Maybe get a glass of cold milk and eat it up!
Warnings/Hazards:
1. DO NOT make this sandwich if you have a peanut, bread, or fruit allergy. However, if you know which fruit you are allergic to you may pick a different type of jelly and proceed enjoying your sandwich.
2. Be sure to hold knife very carefully. Always hold by non-sharp side and spread ingredients cautiously.
3. To avoid serious injury or even death, keep knives out of reach of small children.
4. Children under the age of 6 yrs old should not be attempting to make this sandwich.
We are not responsible for any injuries/fatalities that occur while making this sandwich. Thank you and enjoy!
We have taught you how to create the oh-so-yummy peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Now you can go home and make yourself this simple yet delicious snack. This sandwich is important because millions of people enjoy this yummy treat every day. In fact, the average child will consume 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time they graduate high school. As you can see, the peanut butter sandwich is a very important part of today’s society.
1.) Did I enjoy this essay? Yes, it was fun to write. Especially writing it with my friends.
2.) Was the topic interesting to me? Yes, it was interesting to write about because you don’t really think of all of the steps when you are actually doing something like this.
3.) What is something I am proud of in this essay? I am proud of all of the accurate steps we wrote about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
4.) What is something I need to improve in this essay? I would probably need to make the steps sound smoother and not as choppy.
5.) How did this help me in my growth as a writer? I think this essay helped me grow as a writer because it was the first technical document I have ever written and so now I know different forms of writing.
Sheridan Logsdon
5-02-11
3/4
Bethany Hamilton:
"Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you." -Bethany Hamilton. (www.monkeyouttanowhere.com). Bethany Meilani Hamilton was born on February 8,1990, in Lihue, Hawaii. She has two older brothers, Noah and Timothy Hamilton, and two loving parents, Thomas and Cherilyn Hamilton. Ever since she was a little girl, Bethany loved the water. She lives in Hawaii so it was easy to go out and surf the waves whenever she wanted to. Who knew that something as simple as doing what she loves would soon inspire the hearts of many worldwide.
Bethany loves surfing. It is one of her favorite things to do with her spare time. She started body boarding as a toddler, surfing when she was seven, and competing by the age of eight. “At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first state-wide surf competition, winning both the short and long board divisions and sparking in herself a love for surf competition.” (www.soulsurfer.com). She liked the challenge. Bethany stated, “Life is dangerous… enjoy!” (www.bookrags.com). Bethany was home schooled. This way she had more time to surf. Bethany also went to a youth group. She had a personal relationship with god. Her youth group leader was Sara Hill. Sarah was a big inspiration to her and Bethany soon became an inspiration to Sara. Bethany always put a lot of faith in God. This was the reason many people believed she survived and easily coped after her near-death experience.
On October 31, 2003, Bethany, her best friend Alana, Alana’s dad, and Alana’s brother, all went surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. She was just laying on her surfboard with her arm dangling over when all of a sudden, she felt a lot of pressure and some tugs. The water around her turned red. “My left arm was gone almost to the armpit, along with a huge crescent-shaped chunk of my red, white and blue surfboard…”, reports Hamilton. (www.soulsurfer.com) She was more shocked than scared. She didn’t really know what was happening. She later found out it had been a 15-foot tiger shark that had attacked her. After 20 minutes of paddling, she finally made it to shore. She lost over 60% of her blood. Miraculously, she lived. “It was Jesus Christ who gave me peace when I was attacked by the shark.”, says Hamilton. (www.soulsurfer.com) Even with only one arm, Bethany didn’t let that stop her from fulfilling her dream.
Surfing with only one arm was very challenging, but no matter what Bethany tried her hardest. "I can't change it, That was God's plan for my life and I'm going to go with it."(www.imdb.com) Ever since she was a little girl she wanted to be a professional surfer and she wasn’t going to let a little obstacle get in the way of her biggest dream. After the shark attack, Bethany got back in the water as soon as she could. By doing this, she also inspired many people around the world, some with disabilities, to conquer their fears like she did. Bethany’s determination is the reason she was so inspirational to many. One of the quotes that Bethany said is, "Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice." (www.goodreads.com). This quote shows how determined and tough she was. Bethany got letters all around America from people telling her that she inspired them to be the best they could be and conquer their fears.
Surfing is Bethany’s life. She doesn’t let anything keep her from doing what she loves. After a fatal shark attack she surprisingly went back in the water as soon as she was allowed to. She encouraged people all over the world to face their fears just like she did. Bethany Meilani Hamilton was just an ordinary Hawaiian girl that loved to surf. The fact that she wouldn’t let any obstacle no matter how horrible get in the way of her dreams made her extraordinary.
1.) Did I enjoy this essay? Yes, I enjoyed this essay because it was cool to write about someone else’s life that you didn’t know a lot about.
2.) Was the topic interesting to me? Yes, this topic was very interesting to me because I was one of the many people that were inspired by Bethany.
3.) What is something I am proud of in this essay? I am proud of my transition sentences and my introduction.
4.) What is something I need to improve in this essay? I would add in more information about how she impacted the world.
5.) How did this help me in my growth as a writer? I think that this helped me in my growth as a writer because I have really improved on writing biographies.
Sheridan Logsdon
2-10-11
3/4
Chamber of Commerce Technology Essay:
Imagine students learning in a better environment and actually getting the material that is being taught. Although some inventions might be difficult to formulate some of the ideas are very practical. If I could create a new form of technology to make the classroom a better place, it would be, touch screen desks for every student and teacher. In my opinion this would establish a great learning environment for students.
Touch screen desks for everyone would be a great invention for students and teachers of all ages and grades. It would be the size of a regular desk, but the whole thing would be touch screen. The touch screen desks could be a hologram, and when they are shined on the desks, you can see all your assignments. You could also type all of your assignments on a holographic keyboard already connected into the hologram. It would help students tremendously to stay on top of their work.
Students could use the touch screen desks to type their assignments, watch the video of the teacher’s lesson, and use it as virtual binder. Typing all of the work that you need to do, would save paper, and pencils. It would also be much neater, making it easier for the students to read. Also saving paper, would be watching the lesson that the teacher is teaching. This way she wouldn’t have to handout the worksheets, because you would do the work right there on your desk. Using the desk as a virtual binder would help students stay organized and on top of their work. Not only would it help the students, it would be beneficial to the teachers as well.
The idea of touch screen desks would help teachers in some of the ways it would help the students. If students type their assignments, the teachers can read them with ease. Also, they can grade all work on the computers. This way the students could see their grades right away and fix them if need be. If teachers could send the work to all of the students desks, it would save a lot of time and paper instead of them printing out a ton of copies of the same thing. When students are finished with their work, then can hit summit and it will send it back to the teachers. This invention could benefit many people.
Touch screen desks could be amazing invention for everyone. It could save paper, keep things organized, and just make it easier for students to complete their work. Helpful things are created all the time. Why not invent the things that could be very beneficial and easy to invent. Touch screen desks could change the educational world forever!
1.) Did I enjoy this essay? I did enjoy this essay but I wish I would have had more time to write it.
2.) Was the topic interesting to me? This topic was interesting to me because it made you use your creativity and imagination.
3.) What is something I am proud of in this essay? I am proud of the invention that I came up with.
4.) What is something I need to improve in this essay? I need to improve on my introduction.
5.) How did this help me in my growth as a writer? This helped me because, I got to use my imagination.
Sheridan Logsdon
12-02-10
3/4
A Life of Adventure!
Who knew that a young boy growing up in Downey, LA could have the opportunity of a lifetime? Imagine being picked out of 75,000 people to be able to participate on one of the most popular game shows on television. Dana Logsdon was lucky enough to be a contestant on the show "Wipeout." He was so exited when he got the call. After all, "Wipeout" is one of his all-time favorite T.V shows. Then again, who doesn’t like to see people running through a giant obstacle coarse, getting beat up along the way? Wipeout wasn’t the only exiting thing that happened in his life. Jet skiing accidents and skydiving also prove that Dana’s life is filled with adventure.
Dana went skydiving for the first time when he was 24 years old. “Skydiving was definitely the scariest thing I have ever done!”. He went with a group of his friends including his brother-in-law. All of us were very ecstatic. Jumping out of an airplane takes a lot of braveness. They were all pretty nervous, but in the end they had a lot of fun! Even though it was very nerve-racking for them, they also thought it was very exhilarating. “Even though it was very frightening, I would defiantly do it again!” Skydiving might be the scariest thing he has ever done, but the most senseless thing he has ever done, was pretty frightening too!
Dana Logsdon loves to go to the river and ride jet skis. However, one day he wasn’t thinking. “The stupidest thing I have ever done was riding my jet ski backwards.” He decided to be funny and tried to ride his jet ski backwards. Little did he know that wasn’t a good idea. After a little while of riding on the front of it, he fell off into the water. He came up to get a breath of air and saw the Jet Ski accelerating towards him. “I ended up in the emergency room with four stitches and two missing teeth.“ Needless to say, he rides jet skis forward from now from now on. Anywhere from Jet Ski riding to dominating the Wipeout coarse, Dana Logsdon loves to show off.
Mr. Logsdon’s favorite memory as an adult is competing on the television show Wipeout. “It was so much fun! I would’ve paid to do something like that, but I got to do it for free!” One night Dana and his family were watching Wipeout on T.V. His daughter said, “Dad, you should go on that show! You would do really well.” Dana agreed and said, “Sign me up!” He hadn’t heard from the producers in a while so he was signed up again. Sure enough he was called back the second time, but they asked him if he wanted to do a different show called Money Drop with his wife, Kathy Logsdon. They both decided that it would be a great experience, so they accepted and drove to LA to audition. After the audition for Money Drop, the producer said, “Do you want to audition for Wipeout too?” He then went over to the auditions for Wipeout. He walked in wearing a button down shirt and a nice pair of jeans. He looked around to see people wearing kilts, tutus, and rubber duck floaties. “I didn’t think that I was crazy enough to be on the show.” He was defiantly wrong. Dana Logsdon has had a very good life. He has had the opportunity to do many amazing things! “You only have one life, so live it to the fullest.” Dana has done some very thrilling things in his life but can still be responsible when he needs to be. “I am very blessed with the life god gave me.” he says.
1.) Did I enjoy this essay? Yes, I enjoyed this essay because I got to interview my dad before I wrote the essay part of it.
2.) Was the topic interesting to me? Yes, it was interesting to me because I got to write about someone that I already knew really well.
3.) What is something I am proud of in this essay? I am proud of my introduction in this essay.
4.) What is something I need to improve in this essay? I would make the body paragraphs less choppy.
5.) How did this help me in my growth as a writer? This helped me grow as a writer because it helped me write better biographies.
8th Grade Writing Reflection:
1. What satisfied you about your 3 top pieces of writing? I really liked my use of vocabulary in my top 3 essays. Especially the Response to Literature. I also was very descriptive.
2. How have you have grown as a writer this year? This year I have grown in a writer in many different areas. I am a lot better at righting biographies now. Also I learned how to write a Response to Literature and a Technical Document.
3. How will growing as a writer help you succeed in school and in life? It will help me succeed because I am going to have to write more essays and different types of writings in high school and throughout life and writing all of these pieces really prepare me for that.
4. How has our use of technology helped or hurt your growth as a writer? The use of technology is both helpful and hurtful. It is helpful because I usually have access to the Internet when I need it. It is hurtful because the computers at the school go so slow it is hard to get anything done.
5. What is a quote about writing that you truly relate to? Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov
6. What does that quote means to you as a writer? I really like this quote because it’s telling you that you don’t tell the reader basic information. You kind of give them little hints or clues of what you could easily just say. That is the writing that I always try to do.
Social Studies Portfolio:
1. What Social Studies topic was the most interesting to you? Why? African Americans in the Mid-1800s was the most interesting topic to me because it was really interesting to hear about the slaves and how badly they were treated! It was horrible how they were punished and how they were torn away from their families. I think it was topic and though it was unfair.
2. Who was the most interesting person you have studied this year? What impact did they have on you and/or America? I would say that George Washington was a pretty interesting person to study. He had a big impact on America and me because not only because he was a General in the Revolutionary War, he also was the first president of the United States of America. He also made his own farewell address when he left presidency.
3. What quote reflects on the importance of knowing history? How do you relate to that quote? “History, in brief, is an analysis of the past in order that we may understand the present and guide our conduct into the future.”- Sidney E. Mead
4. What is the importance of knowing U.S history? How will it help you in life? It is important to know about U.S history because we wouldn’t know about the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, or any other historical document. We also wouldn’t know that people had slaves, or treated them unfairly. Some of that slavery might have still been going on if we never knew about it. The more we know about are past, the better our future will be.
Portfolio Summary Questions:
1) What are some characteristics that show you are ready to move on to high school? Why are these characteristics are important? I would say that one of the characteristics that shows I am ready to move on to high school is maturity. It is important because in high school your teachers are not going to put up with immature people.
2) When working collaboratively, what are some effective qualities you bring to the group? I am good at coming up with creative ideas. I can think of really good things to work with too, like supplies that we need and the materials that would work the best.
3) Imagine you were able to go back and redo the past 3 years of middle school, what would you do differently and why? I would not change anything too much, because I learned from my mistakes. If anything I would probably need to use my time more wisely and not procrastinate as much.
4) What advice would you give to incoming 6th graders so they can be successful in middle school? I would tell them to always try their hardest in everything that they do, and to use their time wisely because it’s easy to fall behind if you waste all of your class time.
5) How do you plan on being truly involved in your high school experience? I am planning to be involved in my high school experience by doing SCHS cheerleading. I have already done competitive cheer in my past so I think cheerleading is a great way to stay involved with my school while doing something I love.
6) Imagine you could have a crystal ball that would let you see your future. What will you see in four years as you are getting ready for your high school graduation? Who are you as a person? What plans will you have? I could see myself in the future, at my high school graduation, as being very well educated. I would imagine by then I would know what I want to do with my life and how I will succeed in a career.
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