annalyzing SAT practice essays:

After reading other peoples practice essays, I realizes how important it is to have a main idea and back it up with solid examples. Despite given only 25 minutes to complete the essay, that doesn't neccessarily mean that you can't write a well organized piece that flows from one point to the next. I think most people kind of spoke what was on their mind and didn't really think it through with accuracy and precision. In fact, my essay mainly consisted of my thoughts and not reliable examples. Organization is another important aspect of writing. A good writer will have examples from two ends of the spectrum but can incorporate them together to make it flow well. In addition to organizations, grammar and sentence pattern is good to have. With impressive vocabulary and different types of sentences, you can keep the reader interested in what you have to say. As for me, I honestly think that there is much room for improvement in essay writing. With practice, it will become easier and hopefully when the real SAT's come around, I will be completely prepared. :]

this i believe podcast:

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practice SAT essay:

In life, people are influenced by other people. Whether at school, in the tabloids, on a sports team, or in a movie, we are constantly surrounded by influences. Usually, people determine what is important to them based on its popularity. If alot of people are doing it, then it probably means that it's fun or good. However, if not alot of people are doing it, then it's probably boring or not a good thing to do. One of the biggest influences on peopl are celebrities. Dur to their popularity and fame, many people want to be just like Chris Brown, Beyonce, or Tom Hanks. All of them are rich, successful, and have the stereo type of a "perfect life." The things that they find important is what we find important. For example, one of the most influencial person in the world is Oprah Winfrey. She has so much power but channels it towards doing the right think. Because being a good person is somthing that is expressed through actions, regular people want to help out a poor family, build a strong community, or donate money to a 3rd world country.
These celebrities can't be seen merely by spotting them at a local cofee shop or park. That's why the media is there to capture these moments. The media is the publics eyes and without them, we wouldn't know the things that celebrities find important.
Although celebrities determine what is important to a certain extent, the media doesn't have such a powerful influence on people living in 3rd world countries. In these places, they are not developed enough to have television, magazines, radios, movies, or the internet. In fact, they might not even know what those things are. With this lack of development, the things that these people find important are passed down from thier elders. For young kids, its the granparents, anties, uncles, and parents that raise their kids according to how they think is the right way. EAch culture has different things that they hold valuable. For instance, Japanese people believe that honnor and respect is the most important factor of life. Americans believe in freedom. Africans believe in the survival of daily life. Hawaiians believe in the spirit of aloha. Every culture is different and can think that the other cultures are wrong. But the truth is, no culture is wrong. Just because Americans don't think that honnor is something worth dying for, doesn't mean that the Japanese have wrong thinking. These different values all work together because without them, we wouldn't be unique as a whole. Influences are always around us whether you realize it or not. Ultimately, we decide what's important to us, not others. We arn't forced to do what others do but we tend to do it anyway.

lit circle [moderator]

Leah Price:

1. Why is the Price family bringing so many cooking things? Is there some kind
of symbolism that represents the comfort of food?
2. What does the father mean when he said "Where we are headed, to make things
perfectly clear, not so much a piggly wiggly?"
3. Why didn't the airlines wiegh the passengers?
4. How does religion play a key role in this book?
5. Why did the Underdowns ditch the Price family?
6. What is this families main goal in Africa? What are they trying to accomplish?

Ruth May Price:
7. According to the quote "God says the Africans are the tribes of Ham." does
that mean they are bad people since Ham was the worst son of Noah?
8. Does this author seem racist?

Rachel Price:
9. Why would the Price family be "calling the shots" in Africa?
10. Why does Rachel have a contumacious attitude?
11. Why does Rachel seem to criticize everything she sees?
12. What kind of deadly weapons would the father have on him?
13. Is there a purpose for the father's prayer's to be so dramatic?
14. What did Rachel mean by "I wept for the sins of all who had brought my family
to this dread dark shore?"

Adah Price:
15. Why doesn't Adah speak when her thoughts are so brilliantly intellectual?
16. How did the family nearly come to the ends of the earth?
17. What did Adah mean by "Leah cannabalized me?"

Leah:
18. According to the father, "God created a world of work and rewards." What do
you think the Price family should be rewarded with?
19. Who is Mama Tataba?
20. What does the Poisonwood tree represent?

Rachel:
21. Why did they organize a pageant on Easter Sunday for the men?
22. Why don't the Africans want to be baptized?
23. Why does Rachel feel that it's her parents responsibility to tell the
Africans to stop touching her hair?

Ruth May:
24. How is it possible for the Africans to have big bellies when they have a
limited amount of food?
25. In this situation, do you think that it is bad for the Africans to steal from
the Price family?
26. Should a missionary father be dieciplining his children in such a way
that "the razor strop burns so bad?"

Adah:
27. Why does the father punish his kids so oddly?
28. Why is the dad so mean to the mother? Do you think he abuses her?

descriptive writing:

Imagine a place where majestic beauty is disturbed by ruin and choas but still lives in harmony. We depend on it for survival and yet abuse it for a thanks in return. First, think of the its power. It roars like thunder in a storm then calms its waters with a soothing, melodic song. The waves rock the soft sand back and forth while green sea kelp dance in sync. A thin layer of white foam flows onto the the shoreline, reaching for higher ground but gets pulled back by the seas hand. A cool breeze drifts through your hair and fingers. You can taste the bitter salt crystals flowing in between the corners of your lips. It causes the green palm trees to shimmy and shake until a plump coconut has been released from its mother. After performing a welcoming hula, a pure seagull perches ontop of the leaves to rests his wings. Under the busy surface is a vibrant colony of life. Coral that are dyed by the colors of the rainbow glistened under the warm rays of the golden sun. Flounders burrow themselves under the soft bed of grains. Orange crabs walk among the ocean floor, looking for things to do. Grungy eels poke their heads in and out of dark crevaces to spook its neighbors. Tropical fish swim in unison searching for a comforatable place to eat algae. Dolphins backflip in happiness and screech for the joy of life.
Life at sea is a beatiful one; one that provides us with eveything we need. Sadly, we abuse it after all its done for us. You can't tell by just looking at the surface of its beauty, but look a little deeper. Its heart is pure but we have polluted it with intoxicating debris that gradually suffocates every breath that it takes. Greasy oil clogs its vessels while chunks of garbage have to be broken down into cleaner substances. The ocean has be sustaining itself since the beggining of times but its tired and worn out. It can't do it alone so we need to help. It has supplied us with wonderful activities, a place to stay, and food. We have to take care of it for a thanks in return. If not, the ocean will die.

reflection:

As I look back and read through my previous posts, I noticed that I related every one to my experience in how I'm trying to cope with my injury. Perhaps my writing reflects this certain experience because it means the most to me and is always on my mind. Average girls would probably be more concerned about their boyfriends, or the way they look, or other social clicks. But thats what I used to be. I used to be so hung up on the things that aren't that important and didn't realize that life by itself should be the main concern to everyone. The little things that give us happiness for a few seconds mean nothing compared to the big stuff. Going to a school like Punahou, we take it our life for granted because we have the money, facilities, and the "best" of the "best." I never really realized how much I had until I lost it. My posts express how much volleyball meant to me and how God is teaching me things through the experience. I can't tell you how hard it is when you are told that you can do something because of a physical reason. I hated being told that I was short and had no chance of being an outside hitter for college. I hated being told that I wasn't good enough. I hated not being the best. That's why I constantly spent most of my life around this sport; I wanted to be the best. I really hope that other people will never have to go through what I had to go through. Ultimately, I'm trying to tell people to put God first in your life because that is how to be sucessful in life. By succesful I don't nessicarily mean rich or popular, but satisfied because you did your best and God will always love you. No matter how bad you think you performed in your life, if you gave it your best shot, then you are successful in God's eyes. I always thought sucess meant being the best, but it's not.

sadness:

This whole week has been so sad. On top of my personal depressing issues, my chemistry teacher's son was in the hospital, and Mr. Johnson died. I found all of this out on teusday and was shocked. I couldn't believe any of it. I mean, I just saw Mr. Johnson last friday all happy and alive. He was such a great Biology teacher, I really liked him. All this tragic news has really got my thinking about life; it's just not fair. My chemistry teacher's son didn't deserve to be sick and Mr. Johnson didn't deserve to die. I just don't know why these things happen to good people. It's just no fair. :[

having patience:

Yesterday, I went to go watch my friends volleyball tournament at Manoa. I knew that it would be a bitter-sweet situation because even if I would be around the awesome volleyball atmosphere, I would have to resist temptation. It wasn't too bad in the begginning but when it came to the championship game, I think God was REALLY testing my temptation. I couldn't stand sitting down and watching because the intensity was so hify and contagious. Well, contagious for me because when I play, I get super intense and loud; I just love being it those situations. I love game pressure, most people don't like it because it lowers their self confidence. But for me, I feed off of it, but I can't even play! Other than having awesome entertainment, I got to see my really good friends that were on my club team last year. I miss then so much and they kept telling me how much they miss our old team. Ultimately, I really do believe that God is trying to teach me how to be patient so, I just have to trust him.

this i believe draft:

I believe that God has a purpose for everything that happens in your life, even the bad ones. About 1/2 a year ago, I was enduring the most nerve-racking try-outs for the varsity volleyball team. I didn't make it the year before, and after the heart breaking new I cried for days. There was nothing in the world that I wanted more than to be a freshman varsity player, but sometimes you can't get what you want. I trained very hard the next season and was determined to make vars as a sophomore. A year had past and the coaches needed to cut two more outside hitters from the team. I felt pressure from every inch of my body and constantly thought that in order to prove myself worthy enough, I had to play perfect volleyball; no errors, all kills. That's how I felt for every suicide, weight lifting session, practice, and game. It was all-out perfection or failure. One mistake and I started to break down mentally. But luckily, I pulled through and made the team; it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Things seemed to turn around and go great; I had an awesome team, great teammates, we all got along well, and I got good playing time (something that I honestly thought that I wouldn't get as a sophomore.) September 8th came around and we were having a hitting competition. The next day was going to be our first season game against UH lab. I couldn't wait and gave everything I had in practice. I was winning the competition, went up for a kill, and got it. Unfortunately, when I came down, my right leg went left while my body leaned right. I heard a "pop" and my whole right leg felt numb. After all the trainers tested for if I tore my ACL, I came out negative. It was a relief because ACL's are the worst ligament to tear. Even though the trainers said that turning out negative for the ACL test was good news, I knew that I would be out for some time and was immidiately sad. Two weeks later, I took an MRi to confirm that I did something to my MCL which took about three weeks to heal. Then a month later, I got my MRi results and found out that I COMPLETELY tore my ACL. I couldn't believe it, all these trainers and people told me there was no way in hell that my ACL could have even be slightly sprained and there it was in black and white. That was the worst day of my life. I couldn't keep it together, not even at school because all my friends and teammates were going to ask me what it was. Life wasn't fair, I hated life, I hated God. But in the end, all of this was my fault because I didn't put God first. Volleyball was my God and I didn't let anything interfere with my passion, not even family. I just wish that I learned the easy way than going through this whole experience. Although I regret having torn my ACL, I am learning alot through this experience. I'm sorry God, I hope you can forgive me.