Ian’s English Blog

  Prompt Response:  Troy’s conversation made me think about how important fairness and opportunity are. People should have a fair chance to work hard and reach their goals. Summary:   Troy was frustrated because he felt that the job system was not fair to him. His experience showed how unfair treatment can affect someone’s opportunities. Reflection:   If I were in Troy’s position, I would keep working toward my goals and speak up if I felt I was being treated unfairly. I would also try to find people who could support me.

  Prompt Response:  The theme that stood out to me the most in Fences was family. I learned that family relationships can be complicated, but people still have to make choices about how they treat each other. Summary:   The play showed different problems between family members. It helped me understand how the characters’ choices affected their relationships. Reflection:   My project represents what I learned because it shows the importance of family, choices, and forgiveness. I learned that our actions can affect other people.

  Prompt Response:  The theme that stood out to me the most in Fences was family and relationships. Troy and Cory had many problems because they did not always understand each other. Summary:   The play showed me that family members can love each other but still have disagreements. Communication is important in families. Reflection:   I learned that people should try to talk about their problems instead of keeping everything inside. My project shows that family problems can affect people for a long time.

  Prompt Response:  I think forgiving someone does not mean you have to forget what they did. You can forgive someone and still remember the lesson you learned. Summary:   Forgiveness can help you move forward instead of staying angry. However, you can still be careful about trusting that person again. Reflection:   I believe forgiveness is important because holding anger for a long time can hurt you. Forgiving someone does not mean what they did was okay.

  Prompt Response:  One character who looked different in the movie than I imagined was Troy. When I read the play, I pictured him differently, but seeing the movie helped me understand his personality more. Summary:   The movie made the characters feel more real because I could see their actions and expressions. Reflection:   Watching the movie helped me understand the story better. It showed me things that were harder to imagine just from reading.

  Prompt Response:  I think one big lie can change how you see someone, especially if you trusted them for a long time. It can make you question if you can trust them again. Summary:   Trust can be rebuilt, but it takes time. The person has to be honest and show through their actions that they can be trusted. Reflection:   I think forgiveness is possible, but things may not go back to the way they were right away. Trust has to be earned again.

  Prompt Response:  I think parents have responsibilities beyond giving their children food, clothes, and a home. Parents should also give their children love, support, advice, and encouragement. Summary:   Parents should help their children emotionally and be there when they need someone to talk to. Spending time together can also make the relationship stronger. Reflection:   I believe children need more than basic needs. Having a parent who listens and supports you can help you feel loved and important.

Prompt Response:   One time, I had to choose between doing something I wanted and doing something I needed to do. I wanted to hang out with my friends, but I needed to finish my schoolwork first. Summary:   I chose to finish my schoolwork because I knew it was important. I did what I needed to do before having fun. Reflection:   I was happy with my choice because I got my work done and did not have to worry about it later. I learned that responsibilities should come first sometimes.

Prompt Response:   I think parents do not have to like everything their children do, but they should always love and care for them. Loving someone means caring about them even when you disagree. Summary:   Liking someone means enjoying being around them, while loving someone means caring about them and wanting the best for them. I think parents should support their children even when they have disagreements. Reflection:   I agree with part of Troy’s view because parents should provide for their children. However, I also think parents should show love and support. Good communication can help parents and children understand each other better.

  Prompt Response:  I think adult children can ask their parents for money when they really need help, but they should also try to handle their own money. Summary:  Parents can help their children because family should support each other. However, adults should learn how to manage their money and become responsible. Reflection:  I think family should be there for each other during hard times. If someone needs help, it is okay to ask, but they should also learn from the situation and try to do better.

  Prompt Response: A fence I have built is keeping my feelings to myself. I sometimes do this because I do not want people to hurt me or judge me. Summary: This fence helped protect me sometimes, but it also made it harder for me to talk to people and let them know how I feel. Reflection:   I learned that it is okay to trust people. I do not always have to keep my feelings inside, and letting people in can help me build better relationships.

  Prompt Response: I felt like I truly belonged when I was with my teammates. Everyone worked together, supported each other, and made me feel like I was part of the group. Summary: Being around people who supported me made me feel comfortable. We worked together and encouraged each other. Reflection: This showed me that belonging means being around people who accept you and make you feel welcome. It feels good to know that you are part of a team.

  Prompt Response: One fear I have overcome is being afraid to speak in front of people. I used to feel nervous when everyone was looking at me. Summary: I started speaking more in class and practicing before I had to present. After doing it more, I became more comfortable. Reflection: I learned that being nervous is okay, but I should not let fear stop me. Now I feel more confident when I have to speak in front of others.

Prompt Response: There was a time when I thought I knew what someone was like without really knowing them.After I talked to them and learned more about their life, I realized I was wrong. Summary: I only knew one small part of their story, so I made an unfair assumption. Getting to know them helped me see things from their point of view. Reflection: I learned that one story does not tell you everything about a person. I should get to know people before judging them because everyone has their own story.