1. I thought it was difficult to write stage directions. I wanted to have so many different scenes, but I had to limit myself to having only two or three. The set that I imagined in my head was much more detailed and pretty, but when I wrote it in my stage directions it wasn’t at all like I pictured. I liked explaining the scenes and characters through dialogue rather than just telling the reader how everything was. It was hard to have a theme in my play...I kind of just told a fun story. I don’t think I would be interested in writing drama or anything like that, but I could be good at coming up with some ideas!

2. Some ideas for my personal essay, I could write about a day in Montana. Details of how I learned to love the outdoors and love the water. I could write about Paige’s accident and how I remember every detail and every facial expression of the people I was with when we found out. It seems like that moment was frozen in time...I’m never going to forget that. I could write about the day my sister Callie got in a car accident and the paramedics told us it was a miracle she was alive. I have some ideas for my story but it will be hard to figure out which one to write and the incorporating the detail so it feels like everything is so real.

3. If I were to give a 10 year old advice about growing up in today’s world, I would tell them to not change themselves based on other people. From what I’ve learned and seen, some kids love to do rebellious things to be different and get attention. I think the people that are different are the ones who stay true to their values and beliefs and gain respect in a good way. Peer Pressure is a big issue and if you find a group of friends who share the same morals as you, you will be fine! Advice for school is to do your homework (especially starting in 9th grade). If you do your homework, that’s most of your grade right there and then the testing and quizzes will fall into place after that! :)

1. I think theme is very important in most stories. I don’t think there always needs to be a theme or an obvious lesson to the story. Sometimes I like reading a piece and then trying to figure out what the author was trying to get at or teach. Sometimes the author has nothing to teach but still makes the story intriguing so we try to stretch our imagination and figure it out. My favorite lesson learned in a story is about how life is short and to never take anyone or anything for granted. I started writing my play and realized I didn’t really have a specific theme to my story. I also realized it wasn’t good enough to not have some sort of set theme to the story. I think figuring out a theme and connecting everything in the story to that theme is a very difficult task.

2. I think the great literary works have lasted this long because they can still relate to people today and also share something about the world at that point in time. I have never personally read any of those works but I can assume that they tell a lot about the time period it was happening in. I could also assume that the issues the people were facing or relationships they had could connect with people today. I think I could do a pretty good job writing about the world today, but I don’t know if it would be good enough for people to get the whole picture of how life was like in my time period. I think I’d do great writing about teenage life but that’s it... I don’t know enough about the lives of adults... and everything is changing so fast it would be hard to capture the whole picture.

3. I want to make an impact on the people I have known in this life, not so much anyone else. I want them to know I was a happy person and laughing is my favorite thing in the world. I would want people to think I truly cared about them and loved listening to what they were thinking and how they were feeling. I want people to be proud to know me and be proud to have had a relationship with me. I hope the people that I am close with or the people who I just have one conversation with can get the sense of who I truly am. I think being “you” is the most important thing. If someone wants you to change a part of who you are, then that person is not worth having a relationship with. As a writer, I just think that each piece should have a part of “you” in it so that people can tell it’s yours and it fits what your personality is and how you look at life.

1. In most peer groups, I think trust is a big issue. If you tell a secret to someone in your group of friends, it always seems to get out to everyone else. “You can’t tell anyone I said this but..” usually has a domino effect. Trust is also a big issue because it’s hard to gain it back once you’ve lost it. In my personal experiences, I have a really hard time trusting a person. I’ve been hurt and betrayed so many times that if someone says or does something it will always stick in the back of my mind.
2. The stats guy of our basketball team has the most dynamic personality. Every time someone says thank you to him, he responds “God Bless You”. He seems to be a very socially awkward person, but he actually can carry on an interesting conversation for a long time. When you first meet him, he seems to be a guy who would have a hard time fitting in with people. When you get to know him he has a way of connecting with each and every person. On top of this, he is a genius!
3. A song that has had a big impact on me is “Moving On” by Rascal Flatts. I listen to it when I feel like I need to just put things in the past. If something is bothering me or I have just gotten in a fight with someone, it reminds me to be the bigger person and figure everything out. It helps me realize I shouldn’t dwell on certain arguments but I just need to forgive and forget. I think life is way too short to hold grudges because you never know what could happen the next day.

1. I think Happiness is that wonderful feeling you get inside when you are excited, relieved, or satisfied.
2. Being with my family makes me happy because they don't bring me down. They are always making jokes and making me laugh. Being organized makes me happy. The feeling when I wake up in the morning on a Saturday, knowing I have time to sleep as late as I want... makes me happy. Laying out in the sun relaxing makes me happy.
3. My family, friends and boyfriend are the people who make me the happiest. I love having four sisters. I can ask for advice on clothes, boys, and just life in general. We have a lot of fun when we are all together. My parents are the most caring and generous people i've ever met. They will go out of their way to do something nice or helpful. My friends make me happy because we have a lot of fun together. They have the same interests as me and we always think of exciting places to go and things to do. John makes me happy because he is the one person I can trust.
4. I think I impact my family, John and my friends the most. I also think I impact the little girls that watch soccer games or basketball games. I remember when I was little and the girls on Varsity make me want to be a better player.
5. The greatest need in my life is my family because no matter what circumstances we are in.. they can still make me happy and they make me realize nothing is more important than just having that connection and bond with the people I love. If anything were to ever happen, I know they will always be here for me and support any decisions I make.

1. I do not like to be scared. If I am with my friends and someone is joking around its fine but otherwise I just don’t like the feeling of my heart dropping.
2. Something that scares me is being home alone. I sometimes get that feeling in my gut that someone is watching me so every corner I turn I always look around and I always have my phone in my hands just in case. I am afraid of the dark. Even when I am with someone it just freaks me out not being able to see everything in view. Another thing that scares me is the window in my bedroom. It’s not just random, I had a bad experience. I was lying in my bed one night at about midnight. The window is above me to the left on the side of my room. The light was on in my room and I was talking to my sister on the phone who was upstairs. I saw some kind of movement in my window so I put my hand over my face to peer through and see what it was. I saw a face sideways staring at me through my window. He didn’t know that I saw him because I was discrete and didn’t freak out. I walked out casually and then sprinted upstairs after I got out of sight. I yelled down for my dad and he ran out to the porch. The guy put his shirt over his head and ran away. We never caught him and it will always freak me out. My biggest fear is a man kidnapping or raping me. I hear about stories on the news and from other people of this happening and I feel that a 17 year old girl would be most likely to have that happen to them. Who knows if I will ever outgrow the fear but so far I haven’t.
3. Mad is where someone turns insane just to get their way. When I think of a person who is “mad”, I think of someone who has intentionally hurt someone else over something that can be worked out in better ways. Anyone who murders someone is mad. Anyone who rapes or beats someone is mad. 4. I think when a person cares a lot about another person and that person gets hurt intentionally, it can drive someone to become insane. I think people, money, alcohol, drugs and competition are some things that can drive people insane when it gets out of hand.

a) The setting in the second half is important because it shows us that Connie still doesn't feel safe even in her own home. It is also at night so it makes the story more scary than it would normally be.
b) I am drawn to Connie because she is a young teenage girl like myself and she thinks nothing bad could ever happen to her and a lot of people think that way until something changes their lives
c) The message I am seeing is to never talk to anyone you don't know even if you feel you have no one else to go to. At least know something about them and make sure they aren't there to hurt you
d) It appeals to so many people becasue it's quick and it has an interesting conflict and it can probably relate to a lot of people
e) I think Arnold Friend came back to rape her and kill her
f) The man probably couldn't get any girls by just being himself so it angered him and he does whatever it takes to get a girl. He also might have had a bad experience growing up and learned from that

1.A character the reader can relate to
2.Antagonist
3. Conflict right at the beginning of the story and interesting
4.Length- Not too long so readers don't get bored
5. some mystery parts for the reader to put together in the end
6. told by the person it happend to
7. A title which makes me want to find out more
8. distinct personality in characters
9. interesting murder
10. Suprise ending

Assignment # 3

MONTANA(memory poem)

With the sun shining through the glass

I am the first to awake

Touching the water with my toes

I feel a rush of ice all the way up to my nose

I quickly leap onto the rocks

waiting for the adventurous day ahead

As the rest of sisters wake from their beds

I explore the wonders of Flathead Lake

I don't make a twitch as I come across a friend

slithering past, a little baby snake

Skipping rocks and splashing in the water is what I do best

as my laughter and smiles light up the rest

My energy never fades while im at this wonderful place

It will always be favorite, to escape

As the sun sets I beam with warm feelings

Not wanting the day to end

I pack my bags and shed a tear

but then I think, there's always next year

SAE

The place I love the most is down University Avenue

The one with the lions, the purple and yellow, it's true

The brothers out on the porch enjoying the sun

Always smiling and having fun

All so nice but always trouble

TITF remarks and a few minors, doubled

Charlie's room or Ganny's Pub is where the party's at

If not, you'll probably find them buying brand new hats

No one will ever change my mind

Those are my favorite boys, I find

I can't wait for the years to come

because SAE will be my home

ONE FRIEND

I have so many wonderful friends

Who to trust? Who is real?

Please Lord, just one is enough to send

One who will understand and feel

Someone to listen but never judge

Someone to give and not expect a thing back

When I am down to give me a nudge

When I am unreasonable to give me a smack

Help me stay strong as I struggle to find

A friend who loves me for me

A person with some peace of mind

There aren't many loyal, can't you see?

I know you will help me mend

By sending me just one true friend

The first time I was introduced to "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascall Flatts, was in my sisters car. I usually am not a huge fan of country music but this song actually had meaning and related to me. The song is mostly a love song, but it can be taken as a different way to look at life. Everyone who comes in and out of our lives, no matter how big or small of an impact they have, was meant to shape our future and path God has for us and no matter how many times you fall, you have to keep trying and work through problems and everything will fall into place.

Bless The Broken Road

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Now I’m just rollin’ home into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you

MY PROMPT

Describe a time where you felt someone made an impact on your life without them even knowing so.

I like to write about real life events. I love to write about things that have happened in the past and all the emotions and feelings that go along with it. I would like to spend time on writing that is reflective so I can look back on it. I'm not very good at poetry or song writing so I would like to learn and spend time on that also. A writer that I enjoy is James Frey. When I read his book A Million Little Pieces I felt that he didn't hold anything back. Even though now I know it wasn't all true, I did love the way he wrote.

Metaphor Poem

I am me
I am like the sunrise
always ready to brighten up someones day
I am like wind
I love the freedom to roam and explore
I am like a tornado
determined to conquer anything in my way when I compete
I am like rain
when I need to release what's inside, I never hold anything back
I am like the ocean
calm and collective
I am like lightning
when I become angry, it's quick and then over in a second
I am like water
living life to the fullest, because who knows when it could evaporate