In grade 9 ELA class we are doing a novel study on a book of our choice. I have chosen the book uglies. So far I have enjoyed this book and it has been full of adventures and excitement. Uglies is a book about a girl named tally who is about to turn sixteen and she can’t wait to turn pretty. Tally’s friend Peris is already a pretty who is slowly losing interest for Tally. The setting is playing a really big part in the book because Tally is in ugly town and Peris is in pretty town. The pretty people are in one town the ugly People are in the other. So far I’ve connected with the main character Tally because she’s just calm and takes things as they come. So far the way the author has made the characters so laid back. Personally I love the way this author Scott Westerfeld has wrote this book. He writes it out so smoothly making it just like you are there in the book.
Section B: Be creative
In my ELA class we had to do assignments based off of the movie I am Sam. I chose to find four songs that relate to the film or one of it’s themes. Provide lyrics and a short paragraph write up for each to explain your selection of it and how it relates to the movie.
Two happy songs:
Happy
I feel good
Two sad songs:
Sad song
I’m only human
Explanation:
I chose the song “I feel good” by James Brown because I can see it fitting in really well when Sam started his new job at BP’s. A line in the song is “I can hold you in my arms and do no wrong” this relates because when Sam had Lucy everything was ok and happy.
I chose the song “happy” William Pharrell because at the end of the movie when Sam picked up Lucy and started running around it was like there family was pieced back together. A line from this song that I can relate to the movie is “like happiness is the truth” I relate this because Sam was always about the truth And lies were wrong.
I chose the song “I’m only human” by Christina Perri because when Sam got Lucy taken away at her birthday party he was very upset. A line from the song is “I’m only human” all Sam was trying to do was be “normal” like everyone else.
I chose the song “sad song” by We The Kings because after a while when Sam started to lose hope and give up it was like he had lost himself. A line from the song is “without you I feel broke like a half of a whole” because when Sam didn’t have Lucy he was broken and had lost everything he had worked for
Lyrics: Happy [Produced by Pharrell Williams] [Verse 1] It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to say Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space With the air, like I don’t care, baby, by the way [Hook] (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do [Verse 2] Here come bad news, talking this and that (Yeah!) Well, give me all you got, don’t hold it back (Yeah!) Well, I should probably warn ya, I’ll be just fine (Yeah!) No offense to you, don’t waste your time, here’s why… [Hook] (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you know what happiness is to you (Because I’m happy) Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
Lyrics: I feel good
“I Got You (I Feel Good)” James Brown
Wo! I feel good, I knew that I would, now I feel good, I knew that I would, now So good, so good, I got you Wo! I feel nice, like sugar and spice I feel nice, like sugar and spice So nice, so nice, I got you [Sax, two licks to bridge] When I hold you in my arms I know that I can do no wrong and when I hold you in my arms My love won’t do you no harm and I feel nice, like sugar and spice I feel nice, like sugar and spice So nice, so nice, I got you [Sax, two licks to bridge] When I hold you in my arms I know that I can’t do no wrong and when I hold you in my arms My love can’t do me no harm and I feel nice, like sugar and spice I feel nice, like sugar and spice So nice, so nice, well I got you Wo! I feel good, I knew that I would, now I feel good, I knew that I would So good, so good, ’cause I got you So good, so good, ’cause I got you So good, so good, ’cause I got you [End lick] [Short pause, drum cue] Hey! Oh yeah-a…
Lyrics: I’m only human Christina Perri I can hold my breath I can bite my tongue I can stay awake for days If that’s what you want Be your number one I can fake a smile I can force a laugh I can dance and play the part If that’s what you ask Give you all I am I can do it I can do it I can do it But I’m only human And I bleed when I fall down I’m only human And I crash and I break down Your words in my head, knives in my heart You build me up and then I fall apart ‘Cause I’m only human I can turn it on Be a good machine I can hold the weight of worlds If that’s what you need Be your everything I can do it I can do it I’ll get through it But I’m only human And I bleed when I fall down I’m only human And I crash and I break down Your words in my head, knives in my heart You build me up and then I fall apart ‘Cause I’m only human I’m only human I’m only human Just a little human I can take so much ‘Til I’ve had enough
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Section A: Exploring through writing
In my ELA class we watched a movie called I am Sam. We got to choose a assignment to do I chose to choose one character you liked from the film and create sentences based on the alphabet that demonstrates your knowledge of the character’s attributes and experiences.
A is for the abuse of Sam by other people in society who don’t value the mentally challenged.
B is for the bravery Sam has in the courtroom while he testifies to get Lucy back.
C is for the care Sam had for everyone no matter what happens.
D is for the Dad Sam tried to be for Lucy.
E is for the effort Sam puts in to get Lucy back from Randy.
F is for the fear Sam had knowing he might never get his daughter back.
G is for the gorgeous daughter Sam has in Lucy because of her kind heart.
H is for the hope Sam has no matter what happens in life.
I is for the incredible amount of help Sam got from everyone including Rita.
J is for the joy Sam gives Lucy in the harder times that life throws at them.
K is for the kindness Sam gives anyone no matter what.
L is for the love Sam gave to everyone no matter what was happening.
M is for the money Sam tries to raise to buy a new house and be stable for Lucy.
N is for the nights Sam takes Lucy back to Randy when Lucy sneaks out to Sam’s apartment.
O is for the outstanding effort Sam puts in to get Lucy back as his own.
P is for the perfect life Sam tries to give Lucy even in rough times.
Q is for the queen Sam tries to treat Lucy like even when he isn’t there.
R is for the responsibility’s Sam had taking care of Lucy for seven years.
S is for the strength Sam has throughout everything that happens.
T is for the truth Sam always tells and tries to get Lucy to tell.
U is for the unique way Sam remembered things in different circumstances.
V is for the various people Sam commented when they ordered a drink.
W is for the work Sam did to make money to create a better life for him and Lucy.
X is for the xylophone when it got crazy in the scenes.
Y is for the young mind Sam had because of his mental abilities.
Z is for the zigs and zags Sam had to deal with for everything.
I am Sam reflection
I am Sam is a very good and emotional movie but it also has a very good meaning to me. What I got from it was that people will almost always do what they think will make them more liked. For instants Sam showed up at a party where all the other lawyers were asking for help getting Lucy back. All the other lawyers started to question who he was knowing that he had a disability. Everyone knew that Rita was very tempered and the chances of her helping anyone was very slim. Rita seen everyone laugh when she replied “hes my client”. To me this is a big stand out because its proving that she decided to do something helpful when she seen all her co-workers reactions.
A question I have from watching this movie is what did Rita mean when she said to Sam “I think I got more out of this then you did.” To me this means that she started to develop feelings for Sam. Another way I can see it going is just because he kind of helped her manage her stress throughout the movie, towards the end of it she stopped yelling at her son and calmed down. Rita also got out of her relationship with her husband. Sam started to turn things towards the end as well for himself. He got a new job at pizza hut and walked dogs around to make more money to buy a new apartment closer too Lucy. People tried to testify saying that Sam couldn’t understand love but in my opinion he could. He tried everything to make her happy and be there for her. He never forgot her and tried to visit as much as possible. Which is another meaning that I got from the movie. No matter who a person is or any problems they have you should never underestimate them. Everyone is capable of love.
Assess and reflect
this is my first found poem I had ever done. A found poem is where you read a story and then pick small pieces and words from it and add them all together to make a poem or small story explaining what the story’s about in a short form
Welcome to blogging, Julia!
Hey there!
You might be surprised to learn you have a blog. And you’ll soon have some of your work on it already. That’s how simple it is to blog! Excited like these two?
You’re starting with me in Grade 9, so over the next four years as you continue to add work and examples of your writing / speaking to this blog, you’ll have quite a collection to reflect back on at the end of Grade 12. That’s how you’ll recognize how much you’ve grown in your communication abilities, by comparing the early work to what you’re capable of before graduation.
I hope you embrace this blogging task and experiment with developing a writer’s voice for yourself and enjoy the feedback you can give and receive from your peers. Who knows where this will take us, right?
Cheers!
Ms. Waldner