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Macbeth Character Analysis Q4 Benchmark Portfolio

Posted by Jhonas Dunakin in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:41 pm

My first writing I've done in this school. I'm also very proud of this piece since I was trying to impress the teacher at the time with the little writing ability I had. It turned out to be a good grade and it turns out my hard work payed off.

​Jhonas Dunakin                        How Macbeth Lost His Way                                     Red

11/4/10

Macbeth has changed tremendously throughout the story; he went from a war hero to a dead traitor who was killed by one of his friends. In the beginning of the play everyone liked him. He had strong connections and he was the second most powerful man in all of Scotland towards the middle of the play. Then towards the middle of the play he started to change into a new Macbeth one that was in control and wanted to keep it that way, for a long time. He killed his best friend Banquo and attempted to kill his son to ensure that his kids wouldn’t be kings. He also did the same thing to Macduff. In the end Macbeth seemed to slowly come back because he felt guilt and fear. If he were spared he would’ve returned to normal eventually. Here is proof to all my reasoning.

 

In Act 1 scene 2 of Macbeth, King Duncan is with the Captain. Duncan is very grateful is for what the captain did for Macbeth. Duncan was so pleased because now he is able to kill the current Thane of Cawdor and replace him with Macbeth. “This is the sergeant who like a good and hardy soldier fought ‘gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend; say to the king the knowledge of the broil as thou didst leave it.” (Act 1, scene 2, lines 4-8) This quote reveals that Macbeth is kind and grateful for this man who has saved him. Which shows that Macbeth is a kind and gracious man, even the King respects him. He is strongly connected with his friends now in the play.

           

In Act 1 scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth is with Banquo. They are talking about the witch’s prophecy. Macbeth seems very confused with his side of the prophecy. It seems like he is iffy about what they predicted. Banquo is very pleased about what the witches have to say to him. He likes that his son’s and his son’s children will be king, that there will be a long line of kings in his family. “ If chance will have making, why, chance may crown me without my stir.” (Act 1 scene 3, lines 144-146) This quote reveals that Macbeth is starting to have thoughts about him being king. He’s starting to question the prophesy the witch’s have told him and Banquo. It’s the making of a new Macbeth and his personality changes. He’s beginning to have thoughts but doesn’t plan to take any action. It seems like he’s going to wait for the moment when he just automatically becomes king. Macbeth seems to assume that no one will find out what is going to happen and his friends will remain loyal to him.

 

In Act 1 scene 7 of Macbeth, Macbeth is at his house. He’s having a feast with King Duncan. Macbeth is starting to talk to himself about the plan of the assassination of Duncan. “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well if were done quickly. If the assassination could trammel up the consequence and catch with surcease success.” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 1-4) This reveals that Macbeth is willing to go through with the assassination of Duncan.  He seems semi confident that this plan will actually work and Macbeth will rule Scotland as King. He seems to be turning into a new Macbeth because he’s talking to himself about an assassination, the old Macbeth would never do that. That’s why there are two sides of Macbeth arguing with one another. He’s being very secretive which is why he’s alone.

 

 

In Act 1 scene 7 of Macbeth, Macbeth is still talking to himself about the assassination attempt on Duncan. He’s debating weather he should go through with it or leave it alone. He is alone during the soliloquy and has left the room where the feast is being held. “He’s here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself” (Act 1, scene 7, lines 15-16) This is the good none treacherous half of Macbeths personality who is talking. He says Duncan trusts him and believes he will be Duncan’s right hand man.  He doesn’t want to feel like a failure and traitor to his own country. Which is why he’s currently debating the subject on weather to kill Duncan or betray his wife by not executing the plan. Macbeth doesn’t want to lose his trust in anybody close to him that includes Duncan.

 

In Act 2 scene 2 of Macbeth, Macbeth is at home and it’s the middle of the night. He has just killed King Duncan and his hands and cloths are bloody. He is currently talking to Lady Macbeth he’s in shock and can’t believe what he just did.  “I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare you not.” (Act 2, scene 2, lines 55-56)  Macbeth is regretting killing King Duncan, he has no idea why he has done it and Lady Macbeth is trying to toughen him up. Lady Macbeth is doing that by sexually bring him to her and telling him to finish what he’s started. Not to back out that he will be rewarded for what he has done.

 

In Act 3 scene 1 of Macbeth, Macbeth is talking to the assassins about killing Banquo. He is trying to convince them that its his fault that there lives are pretty bad. “Not i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say’t; and I will put that bosoms whose execution takes your enemy off, Grapples you to the health but sickly in his life, which I his death were perfect” (Act 3, scene 1, lines 103-108). Macbeth is convincing them that this is the time to take back their vengeance and strike back. The assassins seem to agree; Macbeth seems to reveal a very convincing side of him. He will go to any lengths to get what he wants and will even kill his best friends to get to were he wants to go.

 

In Act 4 scene 1 of Macbeth, Macbeth is explaining his evil plot. He’s going hire the assassins and they’re going to everyone in Macduff’s house. They’re going to go into the house and kill everyone who’s in there to stop Macduff and his family in becoming King.  “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” (Act 4, scene 1, lines 172-174). Macbeth reveals his inner evil he had all these years.  He is going to try to shut down Macduff mentally to strike fear in others. This reveals a brand new Macbeth, one that is willing to take it a step further than he should, even if it does mean breaking the line of friendship with Macduff.

 

In Act 5 scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth is in his castle talking to himself. He has just found out from his servant that a force of ten thousand man have come to try to kill him. Macbeth is afraid but will fight to the death he has nothing to lose. “The devil, damn the black, thou cream-faced loon” (Act 5, scene 3, line 11). Macbeth reveals that his transformation from good to evil is now complete. If you observe from past scenes he would never say that to his servants or other people. But he is now showing that he is the ruler so you should fear him. Which means he wants to stay in control for a long time and will not rest until he knows his position in power is safe. At this point in the story he has no one to trust, the closets person he has to a friend is Seyton his servant.

 

In Act 5 scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth is talking to himself. He starts to reveal himself a little bit in these lines. He’s in his castle waiting for the invasion to start. He is putting on his armor and getting into his mood to fight “My way of life is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf, and that which should accompany old age” (Act 5, scene 3, lines 24-25). Macbeth reveals that he’s starting to show weakness and give up. Macbeth has never shown to ever give up. He always has the never give up never surrender attitude toward everything he’s encountered. Until now, he finally realizes that all hope is lost and will fail, but he jus won’t give up. He has nothing to lose his wife is mentally dead, he has no friends, and everyone in Scotland fears him.

 

In Act 5 scene 5 Macbeth, Macbeth is in his castle and has just heard a scream. The scream is from Lady Macbeth she has just committed suicide. All the women in the castle are in shock. “I have almost forgot the taste of fears”(Act 5, scene 5, line 9). Macbeth is showing weakness again and has almost shown almost no sign of it.  But only recently towards the end of the play has he started to slowly return to old Macbeth from the beginning of the play. But even though he seems to be showing no emotion in these lines he feels fear for the first time in a long time. He has nothing to lose, so there is no reason to give up.

Macbeth changes from a good person and war hero, to a traitor, to slowly coming back to the Macbeth from the beginning of the play.  But he is killed before he can completely transform to old Macbeth. In my opinion he only changed out of fear. He lost his wife to suicide and his once best friends were coming with a giant army to kill him. No one likes him anymore not even his own wife. He knew his time was over, but his personality will never give up. So he worked with what he had, he lost and died.

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Memoir Vignette Q4 Benchmark Portfolio

Posted by Jhonas Dunakin in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:38 pm

This is based off a real life experience I had when I was eight years old. I traveled to the galapagos for the first time. Some of the best days of my life that I will never forget. ​

Jhonas Dunkain                         My Utopia: The Galapagos Islands                        1/14/11

Red

 

            I can not believe it has been seven years since I was last in the Galapagos. It feels like it just happened a couple of months ago. But there are parts of that memory that have blown away like wind blowing a leaf. But I still remember the things that were most important to me on the trip. The flight to the islands from Guayaquil Airport was around an hour and a half. I did what any eight year old would do; I asked, “are we there yet?” I did that constantly throughout the whole flight to my dad. Imagine the annoyance in his face.

When we landed in the airport it was fairly small. It had a security team, metal detectors, the whole shebang. But it was as small as a motel room. Right after security you walked a couple feet and you were at the entrance of the airport to go to the islands. As soon as you walk through the door you look for the tour guide that has the name of the people that employed him and everything you need to get ready. We waited for other people to arrive and we were off.

First we took a tour of a small zoo. The people of the island let the animals roam free but these animals were found very sick or stranded. The workers of the island put them in the zoo to be cared for and watched over until they were well enough to go free. We saw plenty of tortoises. It seems kind of obvious because the island is known for its vast population of tortoises. There were also magnificent birds like red and blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and even flamingoes! My eight year old mind could not take all of the exotic colors on all the birds. When we arrived in town the tour guide let us off his “leash” to let us explore the town. My friend Alex and his parents came a long with us to the islands as well as my grandma and uncle Rob. I bought a pair of sunglasses (which I later lost, I was going through the losing everything phase). We walked back to the tour guide who was at the docks. He explained to us the amount of crewmen and the type of boat. I remember it being a yacht but I was not excited about being on a yacht then. Boats were boats and they were all the same to me. But now I think back and… wow…I was on a yacht. We walked the dock which seemed to be old but newly refurbished. The boat was pearl shiny and white as paper. The friendly captain and his crew immediately greeted us. He explained to us everything on the boat and like the sun deck the bar and so on. There were about twelve passengers on the boat.

 

            During dinner we had a world-class chef. Now when I say world-class chef, I mean world-class chef. This guy was the next Bobby Flay. I have never liked shrimp before but his shrimp was exquisite. It is because of this chef I love seafood so much. The great thing about the fish was that it was freshly caught daily by the crew mans spare time when they go fishing. They also had a shrimp net in the back of the boat that had shrimp. That also must have played a big role in the excellent cooking. After dinner, I was exhausted so I went to bed. My grandma offered my dad and I some pills that would prevent seasickness. My dad happily took one, but I, being as stubborn as anyone could possibly be, did not want one. When we got to our room it had a very sweet smell that clogged up your lungs. It was strange to me and my dad later told me it was diesel exhaust from the engines. I slept as well as a newborn baby, with no seasickness. The next day we woke up and immediately went upstairs to greet one of my best friends Alex. We put our feet in the water and when I first touched the clear pacific water…it was warm!!! It was even warmer than heated a pool water; it was amazing, one hundred percent natural!!! Even my dad was surprised by how warm the water was. I was getting closer and closer to my utopia.

 

Before breakfast my dad challenged one of the crewmembers to a diving contest. Really bad idea dad. He is an excellent swimmer and I thought that he would easily beat the crewman. But now that I look back at it, 36-year-old man who is starting to feel the affects of vs. late twenties man who has probably spent his whole life swimming in the islands. Not very good odds. I have no idea to this day what was going on through his head. My dad took his first pencil tip dive off the boat and into the water. It must have been a good minute before he came back up to the surface. When he got pulled onto the boat he proudly said, “I could make out the bottom.” The crewman smiled a smile that only bad guys in movies smile. He dove into the water in about a minute he came back up. “I touched the bottom” he said while smiling. Everyone was awed by what just happened. I do not know how deep that was but I am pretty sure no passenger on the boat would dare touch the bottom.

After that extraordinary event, breakfast was called and everyone left except for the crewman and my dad. The crewman agreed to teach my dad to the secrets of Ecuadorian diving. I had yet another exquisite meal of bacon, pancakes, and eggs magnifique!! After the last plate was cleared, our tour guide explained to us what we were going to do for the day. We were going to an island that was covered in sea lions. The reason for that is the sea lions just had their young and they were caring for them. But he assured us that there were other things to see. I was so excited, my first island! I went down as fast as a person with ADHD on red bull. I changed, brushed my teeth, and grabbed my disposable camera in a matter of minutes. I, of course, was the first person to be ready and was waiting for other people out on the deck. There were two different black boats that would take us out to shore. When we were close to shore I could make out gold figures and my dad told me they were sea lions. I was so excited, I wanted to just shout at the sea lions to come and get me. We got to shore and they were everywhere. It was like a cockroach infestation. We were told not to touch any of the animals unless they touched us first, or we would have major problems, like being mauled by the head hancho. Who was big, very big, humongous, giant, like, like 5 me’s. We’d have no chance against him. The tour guide said watch out for scorpions or their sting would sting for two to three hours. He pointed them out and I became paranoid. When we reached a cliff he pointed out to us a blue-footed boobies nest. I kind of giggled a little bit for obvious reasons but it was interesting to see. He also showed us bones from baby blue-footed boobies and told us that they were being taught to fly. The mother would take them in the sky and if the bird did not fly, it would die. The next thing we saw were frigate birds. It was mating season for them and they would puff out their bright red chest and would make a drumming noise. It was actual drumming like an African drumming circle. It was insane to see and one of the things I would never forget. The next bird we saw were albatrosses. It was matting season for them as well. When I saw them walk they automatically became my favorite bird, and still are to this day. When it takes a step, its head bends over to the side it is stepping. It is the cutest and funniest thing I have seen a bird do. Also when the male chooses a mate they walked up to the female and they put its long yellow beak next to the females and opens them and closes them very fast. The sound is like two pieces of wood clacking together really loudly. We moved on to the center of the island and we saw pink flamingoes. They were in the lake sleeping eating and caring for there young. I loved those flamingoes. Some were very troublesome, like when one tried to steal a man’s camera. It walked over to us and everyone was in their “oh-my-god-there-is-a-flamingo-walking-over-to-us” mode. The flamingo stood there for a moment, and then quickly grabbed a mans camera as if it were a berry. The man was cursing and shouting in German and it was some sight to see. It is not everyday you see a German man and his friends fighting a flamingo for his camera. The tour guide shouted while waving his arms and scared the flamingo away. We turned around and walked back the way we came to the boats. We went back to our luxurious yacht and had a wonderful meal of fish.

 

            The next day we woke up, ate breakfast, and went to an island with just sand. There were some trees in the middle of the island. But we only stayed on the beach part the whole time. The adults went snorkeling while Alex and I went scavenging. We found some fish bones that had apparently been regurgitated by a sea lion. I had no idea what that meant but now that I know…ewwwwww. We went back to the boat and spent the rest of the day on the boat. In the afternoon I was pretty bored. I put my feet in the magical Pacific water and moved them around. There was a small piece of rope hanging from the side of the boat. I started to wave it around the water and out popped a small sea lion. I assume it was a baby sea lion because of the small size. It grabbed onto the rope and started pulling it. Than I started pulling it, it was challenging me to a game of tug a war. He pulled on his end and I pulled on mine. He lost his grip in a matter of a few short minutes. Than I started to tease him by whipping the rope up into the air and back down, he jumped out of the water and grabbed the rope and pulled it out of my hands and I never saw him again. I hope he’s making good use of that rope because I later found out it was to tie the boat up to the dock.

 

            The last night on the boat, my stubbornness finally caught up to me. I got seasick during dinner. We were having shrimp and blue-footed boobie drinks which were like sunshine in a cup. I told my dad I wasn’t feeling too good. It went something like this: “Dad, I’m not feeling too good.” “Really, what seems to be the…” The next thing you know vomit is going all over my dad. I can not even begin to explain how disgusting that was so I am going to skip the description of the vomit. I could not sleep all night, this goes for anyone, take any measure to prevent seasickness. It is not the best thing to have, trust me on that.

 

            The last day was a very emotional one for me. I had such an unforgettable time with my friend and even to the crewmembers like when they let me play video games with them and I beat them all. You can imagine the embarrassment that they felt. I would also like to thank the sea lion spot for playing with me when I was bored. He had a big spot around his eye and so that is what I decided to call him from then on. We said our last good byes to the captain and crew and the tour guide escorted us back to the motel-sized airport. We said our good byes and thanks to him and I was crying. I did not want to leave. This is as close to a utopia as I have ever gotten, and I had to leave it. We went past security, back to our plane. We took off and I left my utopia for so far seven years.

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The Odyssey Compare and Contrast Essay Q4 Benchmark Portfolio

Posted by Jhonas Dunakin in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:33 pm

This is the piece I'm most proud of. It's not the best written piece but I worked long and hard on this. I think my hard work payed off and I tried my best. Keep in mind that everything in this magazine represents me, even the adds. Hope you enjoy. 

​Jhonas Dunakin            Odysseus and Al Capone Connected Trough Time                        Red

3/8/11

 

            Even though Al Capone is a real life figure and Odysseus is a mythical character, their legends are both connected. Al Capone was a famous mobster for his crimes, including the Valentines Day massacre, which started the end of the North Side Gang. The way the North Side Gang was executed was very crucial. it was executed was Al Capone and his crew were disguised as policemen. They ordered the rival gang members to stand against a wall and shot them with Tommy gun till the dropped dead. Odysseus on the other hand is a famous character from many ancient Greek tales including Homer’s famous story of the Odyssey. Odysseus also fought a war against a rival. He was fighting the Trojan War and during it disguised himself and his men. But instead of them disguising themselves like Al Capone and his men, they hid away in a statue that the Trojans thought were an offer to the gods. The Trojans brought it into the city and at night they opened the gated to the city and the Greeks killed everyone. As you can see their legends have already been tied together.

 

            In addition both Al Capone and Odysseus both show signs of being strong men but sometimes not so intelligent as leaders. For example when Odysseus leads his men through Scylla and even though Circe told him that he would lose some men she told him to resist and to let it take some of his men. It’s better to loose a few men rather than all of them. “Scylla’s no mortal, she’s an immortal devastation, terrible, savage, wild, no fighting her, no defense just flee the creature, that’s the only way. Waste any time, arming for battle beside your rock, I fear she’ll lunge out again with all of her six hands and seize as many men” (Book 12, lines 130-134). Odysseus stubborn as he is, prepares himself for battle to fight it and Circe’s warning is forgotten as he decides to keep his pride high, rather than deny the challenge as he was told. “I donned my heroic armor, seized long spears in both my hands and marched out on the half deck.” (Book 12, lines 245-246) “Now Scylla snatched six men from our hollow ship, the toughest, strongest hands I had, and glancing backward over the decks, searching for my crew I could see their hands and feet already hoisted, wailing down at me, comrades riven in agony, shrieking out my name for on last time!” (Book 12, lines 264-270) Even though Odysseus’s adventure was mythical Al Capone had a similar thing happen to him. Al Capone had everything going for him; he was in charge of Chicago for the 1920’s till the early 1930’s. Even though he thought that his illegal activity was tax-free his tax lawyers told him it was not. He being as stubborn as Odysseus was he did not listen to them. He was then sued buy the U.S. government for failure to pay his income tax. He owed $215,080.48 in taxes, which in today’s modern dollar money is worth $2, 408,901.38.

 

            Furthermore Odysseus and his men was part of a famous war known as the Trojan War just like Capone was part of a gang war against the North Side gang. The Trojan War was fought by a group of ancient Greek city-states. This includes the ancient empire of Ithaca lead by King Odysseus. The way they fought their wars was way different than the gang wars. They had battle tactics and battle formations, but their motives were the same. The reason the Ithacans fought the war was to eliminate a common enemy and competition in wealth. The Trojans had a very popular trade route that would make them very wealthy. In comparison, Al Capone had competition in the same nature. Al Capone had very many rivals in the alcohol industry during the prohibition era. (1920-1933) In order to eliminate the competition and plundered all their riches he declared war with them. The end of one of the wars was the Valentines Day massacre the marked the end of the North Side gang which was smartly planned by Al Capone, just like Odysseus had planned the Trojan Horse which marked the end of the Trojan War.

 

            As a result Odysseus returned home after 20 years away from home to be greeted by suitors, just like Capone returned to his gang after 7 years in prison only to know that it was in the hands of a new leader. Odysseus after 20 long years away from home returned to Ithaca with nothing and had to fight for everything he had lost after those years. “These suitors are not just ten or twenty, they’re far more you count them up yourself now, take a moment…” (Book 16 Lines 276-277) Al Capone faced a similar task after he was let out of prison in 1939. He had to get to get in control of his gang once again. But just like Odysseus he had obstacles to get through before he could get it back. Odysseus had to make sure Penelope was safe and to be careful because it was Odysseus, Telemachus, and two servants against about 120 men. Al Capone had to fight off his numerous dieses that he developed in prison.

 

            Even though Al Capone is a real life figure and Odysseus is a mythical character, they’re legends are both connected. This statement might be true, but I’ve found a small catch to it. They have different endings to their stories.  Al Capone gave up and retired to home in Florida with his wife in 1949 and died of pneumonia, which was unrelated to any of his dieses. Odysseus on the other hand killed all the suitors and everything returned to normal. But one thing is similar about there endings. Al Capone may have died in the end but died a happy man, living happily ever after with his wife in his beautiful home in the Florida countryside. Odysseus also had a happily ever after ending with his wife and son in his giant palace in his country of Ithaca.

 

 

 

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Me Magazine Q4 Benchmark Portfolio

Posted by Jhonas Dunakin in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:26 pm

​This is who I was at the beginning of the year, my first benchmark. Some things have changed but I'm generally the same person. 
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Independent Reading Project Q4 Benchmark Portfolio

Posted by Jhonas Dunakin in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm

This is my first book review project. I believe it is better than my most recent one which is a podcast. I think it is a well written and I'm proud of my work. I hope you enjoy it

Jhonas Dunakin                        Book Review: Cat & Mouse                                    1/19/11

Red

 

            Cat & Mouse by James Patterson is a mystery fiction in a book series of so far sixteen books. It is a number one bestseller and has bin reviewed in the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Tribune, San Diego Union, Baltimore Sun, and Publishers Weekly. James Patterson is a New York Times best seller thirty five times. The book Along Came a Spider (1993) was made into a movie in 2001 staring Morgan Freeman as Detective Alex Cross. Along Came a Spider is the first book of the Alex Cross series.

 

            Cat & Mouse is about a DC Metro Police Detective who has a degree in psychology. He is African-American, has two kids Janie and Damon, and his partner is his best friend John Sampson Gary Sonji (a murderer Alex caught in a previous book) has escaped from a maximum-security prison and on top of that the FBI is pressuring Alex to work with Interpol and Scotland Yard on a case in Europe who dissects his victims alive. The killer is named Mr. Smith. Gary Sonji threatens to kill Alex and his family. Alex is determined to find Sonji and he sets up a trap in New York City Hospital. Sonji senses the trap and runs away to the swears. Alex finds him and shoots Sonji who is carrying a firebomb that goes off and kills him. Sonji promises that Alex and his family will be killed. A man comes to Alex’s house beats him, his kids, and his grandma Nana Mama. Alex is taken to the hospital and is declared to be in critical condition. The second in command of the FBI is a good friend of Alex and he brings in a specialist (Thomas Peirce) to find out who did the crime. Thomas is working the Mr. Smith case and is not happy to be working this case as well. Thomas is working the Mr. Smith case because Mr. Smith first struck when he killed his girl friend in Cambridge Massachusetts. He is told to work with John Sampson Alex’s partner. They are brought to Princeton were they connect the crime with Sonji’s brither. Thomas goes to Sonji’s brother’s house without Sampson and he beats him and Thomas psychologically tortures him because he knows he has a major case of OCD. He confesses to doing it all and Thomas thinks to himself ‘I’m So much better than Alex Cross.” Sampson and Thomas return to DC and Alex is still found in critical state according to the doctor’s report. The real Alex is brought to FBI in Quantico and he tells the agents there that he was never in critical state that he was faking it because he found out that Thomas was Mr. Smith. That the story he told the cops was false. He actually caught his girlfriend cheating on him and killed her. Her name was Isabella. Alex found the pattern in how Mr. Smith was killing. The names of everyone he killed followed the phrase “I Killed Isabella Calais.” S wasn’t killed yet and Alex found out it was Mr. Smith himself. Alex found him in his apartment in Cambridge and fought with him. Sampson stormed in and killed Thomas/ Mr. Smith.

 

The main characters are Alex Cross, John Sampson, Gary Sonji, and Thomas Peirce/ Mr. Smith. The main conflict is person vs. person. It was mostly Alex facing psycho killers. My favorite character is Thomas Peirce/ Mr. Smith because he tricked the whole FBI and worked on a case against himself. He also solved a case that no one could solve, the beatings of Alex Cross and he also killed in a specific pattern. The book has no important messages it was just for entertainment. But if there was a message it would be don’t kill in pattern or the authorities will find out.

 

            I could relate to John Sampson because he never gives up and he has a long time friend who he does everything with. I have two of those friends. He also seems mentally strong and has a positive attitude most of the time. I have never done any of the things that any of theses characters have done. I’m not a world-class detective or a psychopathic killer. But there is a part when Sampson is surprised and crying when Alex and his family was beaten, I have felt sorry and sad for the death of a good friend. His mom died in a car accident coming home from Baltimore and she fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a construction site.

 

            I absolutely love this book, series, and author. I have read the first four books and I have bought the next four in the series and I’m currently on the fifth book Pop Goes the Weasel. One strength of the book is that it uses a lot of descriptive writing which helps you be in the book instead of just reading it. It also has a lot of interesting characters. The psychopathic killers that James Patterson creates are very creative. All the books in the series have something psychological in them and follow some sort of pattern that is really difficult to decipher. Also Alex Cross is an interesting character He was a psychologist who was living it big. Had a beautiful wife and kids. His wife was killed and he quit being a psychologist to join the DC Metro Police. He also lives with his grandma in a dangerous part of DC, South West. There is lots of crime and drug abuse in that part of the city. The story is also very unpredictable. For example the patterns are very hard to predict and it’s hard to guess what the bad guy is going to do next. If I could change something in the book I would change how Gary Sonji dies. It seems like a death that happens to bad guys in movies. It should be an unpredictable death.

 

            I would highly recommend this book. Especially to people who like unpredictable things and/or surprises, it has action, adventure, and mystery. The book is also part of a sixteen book series that has different killers and mysteries. Not only does it have that but it also has romance. It has everything you could possibly want in a book, it’s an easy read, and I can almost promise you that you will get hooked after a couple of chapters

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My Four Top Journal Entries Q4 Benchmark Portfolio

Posted by Jhonas Dunakin in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:27 pm

These are my top four journal entries in my opinion. They speak out to me about my points of view and who I am as a person. I hope you enjoy them. 

How does your environment shape who you become?     3/16/11



My environment is pretty much were I live. Its all around me and around everyone else. It develops our personality, what we look like, our influences, everything. For example someone who lives in an indigenous tribe in the Amazons will be different from someone who lives in New York City. The person in the Amazon uses basic tools and materials to help him with his everyday life but he uses man power instead of coal or gas. A person in New York City or modern society has a computer, a TV, lives in a tall apartment building, fridge, microwave, a living room things in that nature. Another example would be music. You can compare American Rap with Spanish Bachata you can see a tremendous difference. Rap is like a long poem in song form and Bachata is has different instruments like guitar and trumpets. It just depends what your introduced to and what your willing to accept in your life.

 

How did you feel when you encountered the word “nigger” in kindred? What are your thoughts on the word in general?                  3/18/11



When I encountered that word I didn’t really react to it at all. It’s come back in modern language as a cool word that only African-Americans are able to use. But it’s been extended to be used to all the major “minorities.” This includes African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Also to me it’s just a word, no word can be used to offend me. I see words as informative, all words, no matter what the word is. In general, it’s just a word. No one takes it offensive to it anymore. Even though it was created and designed to insult the African-American race. It seems it’s only offensive if a person of the White race or “majority” race uses it. I think the only reason it is offensive in that context is that Whites are the originators of the word and it seems to be a way to get back at the White man. A word everyone is aloud to use except for White people. Seems like revenge to me.

 

What do you think is going to happen to Kevin if he’s left in 1819?    3/24/11



I think it can go in two different ways with Kevin. He will either be questioned by all the white people and beaten and would go back to 1976 just like kindred does when she gets into trouble. Or he could act dumb and play it out and people would trust him and he would be safe in 1819. I believe they both have the distinct ability to travel through time when in the face of danger. 


What are some of the expectations put up on you by others? What are your own expectations of yourself? Are these expectations different? How? 4/5/11



People expect me to be a good person in general. They expect me to be knowledgeable and to be a good student in school. People in general especially my family have high expectations for me. I have high expectations for myself. But I try my best only to help others. When I’m older I want to help people who are less fortunate and need my knowledge to help them. I expect myself to be a diligent worker in school and outside the school environment. I only pay attention in school to help others around me, my family and loved ones. For it is my knowledge the world will feed off of and depend on. Everyone in this room is the future and it is for this reason I have these high expectations.


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The Odyssey Analyses

Posted by Franklin Mancebo in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:21 pm

In this part of our Q4 benchmark I was required to analyze a ​character in the story called Macbeth.hope you like it.....

Dionysos (DionusoV)

Is a god who was twice born. The first time her was in the womb of Semele and then she died by the bolt of Zeus. Then Zeus saved him and put him in his thigh till he was born again. In the story Lycurgus, the king Lycurgus discovers that Dionysus is in his kingdom .So what the king does is has all of the followers of Dionysus

to be put in prison. Then Dionysus fled to Thetis and then caused a revolt because of the drought that he caused. Dionysos made the king crazy and made him kill his son thinking that it was stick ivy. A wise man claimed the land was going to be dry while Lycurgus was alive. So his people killed Lycurgus and then Dionysos lifted the drought.

 

   I think this is a very funny because it describes the god Dionysos and how violent and also fair he can be. I say that because he is known for being the God of wine, parties and festivals, madness, drunkenness and pleasure. So like probably had a wild party when the king got mad at him and then did what he did. Then Dionysos was drunk on wine from the party he got made n put a curse on the king’s land. When the king was killed that brought him pleasure.

 

 I believe that the symbols (thyrsus, grapevine, leopard skin

Panther, tiger, and leopard) represent him because they symbolize power. Like if you see any of the animals you would be scared. And the leopard skin and thyrsus if they are on your body you will look cool.

 

 I think this god exist because their has to be god that “PARTIES HARD.” So they made him to have fun. I think the Greeks really like him because in away he is like the bad uncle in the family that is a bad influence.

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Reflection:

Posted by Ayoola Hooks-Gibbs in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:19 pm

Reflection:

    What I feel my portfolio says about me, as a 9th grade English student is that I’ve progressed throughout the year. My grades for the Benchmark gradually got higher as the year started to end, which means that I improved throughout the year. My strengths in English are focusing in class, doing my work, turning in homework and assignments. My weakness is test taking. Even though I got a good grade on the spelling quiz I have trouble remembering if the vocabulary word is a verb, adverb a noun or an adjective.

 

    My experiences in making this portfolio are having the chance to make my previous assignments better, now that I’ve had more experiences writing papers. What it was like going through all of my work is how I gradually got better at writing papers and my grades got better. The piece I was most proud with is comparing the book “The Odyssey” with the movie “O brother where Art Though”. The reason why I’m proud of my self with this piece, because I took time out my lunch, I went to Lit Lab everyday, I worked really hard and I had a goal to get an A on that assignment which is what I told the teacher.

 

Tags: Dunn, English 9, Portfolio
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Macbeth Character Analysis

Posted by Ayoola Hooks-Gibbs in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:18 pm

Quarter 1 BM(Macbeth Character Analysis)- We had to pick ten quotes and a main character  from the play “Macbeth” , and write what they went through and how they changed throughout the play.

 

 

Thesis: Lady Macbeth changes dramatically through out the play, her plan to kill Duncan eventually happened, which wound up haunting her throughout the play and she started to regret her decision-makings.

 In Act 1, Scene 5. Lady Macbeth got a note from her husband Macbeth.  She is reading the letter, which says that Macbeth the weird sisters saluted him and referred him to the coming on of time with Hail king that shalt be! As Lady Macbeth was reading the letter she says  “Thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant”(Act 1 Scene 5, Line 11). This reveals that Lady Macbeth is basically saying don’t lose your chance to become King.

In Act 1 Scene 5. Lady Macbeth just finds out that her husband Macbeth is on his way back home from his trip. She starts to panic because she finds out late. The King is coming so of course Lady Macbeth wants the house to look clean, and have food prepared for them. When Lady Macbeth finds out about the King and Macbeth is coming she says aloud. ”Would have informed preparation” (Act 1 Scene 5,Line 33.) This reveals that someone should of told her earlier about Macbeth coming so she could prepare for him, as in prepare she means, clean up, and might even mean to look pretty and dress up for him. If you had a husband that you loved and you didn’t see him for a while you would want to look pretty and dressed, up. At this point Lady Macbeth is thinking of a plan so Macbeth can eventually be king, she is being devious.

 

 

       In Act 1 Scene 5. When Lady Macbeth finds out that Macbeth could possibly have a chance at being king, she thinks of a plan to kill King Duncan. Obviously Lady Macbeth is a woman but she wants to become manlier and have more manly features to kill King Duncan. When Lady Macbeth was alone thinking about a plan to kill Duncan she said.

“Come to my woman’s breast and take my milk for gall” (Act 1 Scene 5, Line 46-47)

This reveals that Lady Macbeth wants to have manly features after she thought about killing Duncan. The quote pretty much says that she wants to exchange her breast for a mens chest. She wants to be tough. At this point Lady Macbeth is going to talk about her plan to kill Duncan to Macbeth. Macbeth would have to be the one to kill Duncan, because he is a man.

     In Act 1, Scene 7 of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are in the scene when they’re planning   about killing Duncan. Macbeth is becoming unsure but Lady Macbeth is all for it.  As Lady Macbeth was talking to Macbeth she said. “What cannot you, and I perform upon”(Act 1 Scene 7, Line 70)? This reveals that, even though Lady Macbeth is woman she is not afraid to kill Duncan to get what she wants. On the other hand Macbeth is too scared, and what Lady Macbeth is trying to say in the quote is, if she can do it,  he u can do it. Lady Macbeth is more for it than Macbeth. She wants to get her way. Will her way affect anyone, like her or Macbeth?

 

 

 In Act 2, Scene 2 of Lady Macbeth. Macbeth has finished killing Duncan and comes out the room with bloody hands, which is evidence! Lady Macbeth tells him to go wash and then she goes in to the room to finish what Macbeth started. As Macbeth was panicking about killing Duncan. She said, ”A foolish thought to say a sorry sight”(Act 2 Scene 2, Line 24). This reveals that Lady Macbeth her thought of killing King Duncan was very clear in her thought, but when her thought becomes real, it’s a sorry sight, maybe this is when she starts to regret her thoughts. Even though she got her way, doesn’t mean it’s going to turn out the way she wants it to be. What about the evidence?

   In Act 2, Scene 2 .  Macbeth has just killed King Duncan. He is panicking, doesn’t know what to do so Macbeth tells him to wash that filthy witness off your hands, because if someone goes to Macbeth and see’s the blood on his hands, it’s obvious he killed Duncan. When Macbeth still had the evidence on his hands Lady Macbeth said “Go get some water and wash this filthy witness from your hand.”(Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 49-50) This reveals that Lady Macbeth doesn’t want to get caught and her too is panicking about the situation. The quote itself means that she wants Macbeth to wash the evidence (blood) of him killing King Duncan away , and by washing blood away guilt will be less.

      In Act 3, Scene 1. Macbeth holds a solemn supper, for most of the characters in the play. This supper happens recently after Duncan gets killed, and not many people know who did it. Lady Macbeth trys to act surprise and say that there has been a gap in the supper. Lady Macbeth says, ”It had been as a gap in our great feast”(Act 3 Scene 1, Line 12). This reveals that this a the time around when Macbeth killed King Duncan and Lady and Macbeth act like they have no idea what happened. In modern time the quote means that Lady Macbeth notices that there is a gap that gap would’ve been replaced with Duncan but he got murdered. Do you think that Duncan is going to haunt the person that killed him?

     In Act 3, Scene 4. It’s the day of the big supper after the Duncan was killed and now Duncan’s ghost is haunting Macbeth, which made him look crazy in front of all his guests. Lady Macbeth was trying to cover what just happened. Probably everyone is wondering what is wrong with and wants to find out the problem. As Macbeth left to get his self together Lady Macbeth said to the guest You shall offend him and extend his passion”(Act 3 Scene 4, Line 58) This reveals that Banquo is haunting Macbeth, because he murdered him, Lady Macbeth tells the guest that he is sick, to cover up what is really going on. She means in the quote that you should basically be patient to him.

     In Act  5 Scene 2 . Almost at the end of the play Lady Macbeth starts to sleep walk and, talk about the night when Macbeth killed Duncan. Starting to haunt her, she starts to repeat what she told Macbeth when he had evidence on his hands (blood). After Macbeth murders Duncan Lady Macbeth says: ”Wash your hands, put on your night gown, look not so pale”(Act 4 Scene 2, Line 61-62) this reveals that the day when Macbeth killed Duncan starts to haunt her in her sleep. The quote means to wash away the evidence until it looks like nothing ever happened tonight.

 

 

 

    In Act 4, Scene 2 . Lady Macbeth is still sleep walking, still talking about the situation. Maybe she will start to regret her choices, even if something goes your way don’t expect it be perfect at all times. As she was sleeping walking she said,  “ What’s done cannot be undone”. This reveals that Lady Macbeth is regretting her choice, that she only thought about her and only her self in the situation of getting what she wanted. The quote basically means that you cant have a re-do in life. 

       Lady Macbeth got her way, did it turn out the way she wanted to? No, it happened, but it turned out worse.  The thoughts of the night Macbeth and her killing Duncan turned in to nightmares. The situation haunted her, until she couldn’t stand it anymore, and killed herself…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Dunn, English 9, Portfolio
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Memoir Vignette

Posted by Ayoola Hooks-Gibbs in English 1 - Dunn on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:18 pm

Quarter 2 BM(Memoir Vignette)-we had to pick a situation when we had a realization in our lives.

 

      9:00 pm: I hear my mom yelling “What were you thinking?” “ Give me your wallet and your keys”My brother hits my father , my mom tries to break up the fight and that was just the beginning of the worst to come that night. Then my dad says  “You know what , you think you’re a man? Get your stuff and get out”. I tried to hold Romare back ,  while he tries to pack up his things , while my parents still yell at him for how stupid he is. He tried to leave but I kept on pulling him back while I cried my eyes out. He pushed me away .I look at him as he left and thought about a holding a grudge for sometime , because he pushed me on purpose and he didn’t even look back , I felt sad and abandoned.

     As I was still thinking about the day before I got dressed while my dad kept on  calling my brother’s name  so he could wake up for school, each time my brother never answered, I started to get worried, because at this time my brother should be at school.  After the fourth time, my dad walked up the wooden , creeky stairs to the third floor where my brother’s room was at, all of a sudden my dad yelled and tells my mom to hurry up stairs. My mom and I stopped what we were doing ran up the stairs and see my brother laying on his bed, seeing that he threw up what he had for dinner. My mom got her phone goes in to the other room and called the police panicing and telling them what has happened to my brother Romare. The police were being complicated with my mom so my dad takes the phone away from my mom and tells the police our address and tells them to hurry up, with an ambulance.

   The ambulance finally came all I could do was panic and cry. My mom went with my brother and my dad stayed with me . I told my dad that I wanted to go to school, that maybe it would take my mind off of everything,

   When my dad dropped me off at school I sat at my regular spot at school with my friends, I was feeling ok, until my best friend, Majuel came to school, said hi to me, and I decided to tell her what happened that morning. As I told her, I started crying, everyone, stared and started to ask me what was wrong. A couple of my friends walked me to the counselor, Ms.Cocer.

     When my friends and I arrived at the counselors office , I tried to tell her what  happened , but I stared to cry all over again. She let me call my dad , when I call my dad says that my brother , is ok   and that when he picks me up I can go visit him at Einstein hospital.  After the phone call I felt much better. When lunch came around I thought about how lucky my brother is and how lucky I was to not lose my brother.

  At 3:00pm I rushed out of school see my dads Volvo , and hop in , without saying bye to my friends. I was too eager to see my brother.  As my dad was driving us to the Einstein hospital to visit my brother I asked him how Romare was holding up. He said that he is doing fine and that if we had taken any longer to find out that something was wrong that he would of died.

  My dad and I arrive at the Einstein hospital we enter go to large front desk told the woman my brothers name “Romare Hooks” and she told us his new room number. When we came to his room I saw him laying in the bed he looked tired , but he looked happy to see me. I hugged him tightly he looked at me and apologized about the other night and of course I forgave him.

  As I was sitting in the corner while my family members were talking to my brother , I thought to myself that I was honestly fortunate to still have him in my life alive. I thought about my grudge and how this morning I thought about not talking to him for a while. This whole day changed my perspective on grudge holding one day you hold a silly grudge on a person you love and the next there lives could be taken away. There will be more good sunny days between my brother and I know now not to hold grudges.  You never know when your loved ones life will be taken away from you. Life is too short to hold grudges

 

 

 

 

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Dunn, English 9, Portfolio
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