Welcome to part two, of my Eric Walters Response.
Assignment #16.
In this post, Ms.Pollock has us doing a short story, or one small chapter about an issue we think is important, and base the character on our self.
Here is alittle summary of my short story;
Claire Garcia is a thirteen year old girl, who has a passion for basketball. She decides to join the 'Ottawa Jaguars' basketball team, for boys and girls, 13-14. Only to discover the standards are really high, and she's the ONLY girl on the team! But being on a team with mostly guys, has advantages. She makes new friends like Jayson, Philip, and the cute, but vauge Mikey; who she's totally crushing on. Being the only girl on the team; Claire feels out of their league, and doesn't think she fulfills their expectations... or Mikey's. Often, she always feels like giving up. Through hard work and sweat, Claire strives to prove herself to the team, and to her shady crush. But is it possible for her to catch the eyes of her teammates and Mikey, at the same time? Or will getting the attention of one, be more important than the other.
There's just one thing for sure;
it's not going to be easy.
***
CHAPTER 1.
'My first practice..' stated Claire. 'I'm so excited!' She changed into her new, pink, basketball shorts from Nike, a baggy white shirt that said 'Yes, I'm a girl who plays ball,' and her fresh, purple Nike's. She put on her purple gym bag stuffed with water bottles, and modeled infront of the mirror. 'Ok, I'm ready.' she told herself confidently.
'Mom! Let's go! We're going to be late for my first basketball practice!' hollered Claire from downstairs.
'I'm coming, calm down Claire,' replied Mrs.Garcia. 'We're going to be there on time.'
Claire recently joined the Ottawa Jaguar's basketball team, which she is super excited to play for. All she could think about was making new friends, getting her own jersey, and just playing basketball.
'Ok, I'll wait for you in the car!' cried Claire with a smile on her face. She grabbed the Toyota car keys, her orange basketball, and headed outside.
She swung the car door open, inserted the keys in the ignition, and tried to sit still patiently while waiting for her mother to come out. Five minutes turned into ten, when finally her mom walked out, and locked the door. 'Thanks for making me wait Mom. I appreciate it.' she said in a sarcastic tone.
'Next time would you like to bus there?' remarked Mrs.Garcia. 'No Mom. Your just trying to jack my swag,' joked Claire. 'What's swag?' questioned Mrs.Garcia. 'is that a clothing brand?' Claire couldn't help herself from laughing in her mother's face.
After an awkward fifteen minute car ride, with Claire trying to explain the slang word 'swag,' to her mom;
they finally reached the gym. Claire jumped out of the car, and sprinted inside the building. The first thing she heard were the melody of bouncing basketballs in sync. She walked down several hallways until she found the gym where they were practicing in. Claire pushed the doors to let herself through. Her smile dropped.
On the court, was 7-10 guys, doing lay-ups. Absolutely no girls. Just her.
Her mom caught up with Claire, patted her on the back and said; 'Ok Hun, go practice with them.'
'Uhm.. Mom. I kind of don't want to do it anymore.'
'What? Why?'
'Because, they're all guys..'
'So?'
'And they're really, really good!'
Claire started to observe them. They would sprint full speed, jump atleast one metre in the air, and sink the ball in the net.
'See mom!' pointed Claire. 'I'm not as good as them..'
'Claire, it's just a practice. Get your basketball and join them. I didn't drive all the way here for nothing.'
'But Mom-'
'GO!'
Claire rolled her eyes and turned away to set her bag down. She took out her basketball, and dribbled to the fellas, who were lining up to take some lay-ups. 'Claire, honey!' yelped her Mom. 'Your shoe laces are untied!' Claire couldn't hear her. 'What is it Mom?'
'Your shoe laces!' Claire gave up on trying to listen in, so she ignored her. 'CLAIRE!'
'What!?' She turned away for a second, and walked backwards while dribbling the ball. 'Yes?'
'No, wait. Look where your going!!'
'What-'
In an instant, Claire was on the floor, with a huge headache.
'Hey, I'm so sorry,' apologized a boy, about her age, helping her up. 'I bumped into you by accident while making a lay-up, and you sorta wiped out.'
'Oh,' was the only thing that came out of Claire's mouth.
'You.. ok?' asked the boy. Claire nodded slowly, still wondering what happened.
'Ok, good. I'm Mikey by the way.'
'Uhm, I'm.. Claire.'
'It's nice to meet you. And by the way, you better watch where your going next time,' Mikey applied. He smiled at her. 'Are you going to join us or what?'
'Uhm, yeah. Just let me.. tie my shoe laces.' she implied.
'That's a good idea. We don't want another accident, do we?' grinned Mikey.
Claire giggled. 'We sure don't.' Mikey got back to the line-up. Claire started tying her shoes.
Something that Claire didn't understand, is why she has butterflies in her stomach, and she can't stop smiling like a manic. And something else she didn't understand is how she got that floor burn on her knee. Whatever, it's another collection to the hundreds she already has, she thought to herself. But the thing that really scarred her wasn't the floor burn, it was Mikey's smile engraved in her memory.
Right off the bat, Claire knew this was going to be one heck of a basketball team.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Eric Walters Response - Part 1.
Hello Fellow Peers!
Welcome to assignment #16!
A few weeks back, we had such an amazing author come in, named Eric Walters.
He wrote ALOT of books, based on teenagers, and about realistic issues.
Here are some books I researched, and found interesting. With also, intriguing messages behind them;
***
I think the message in this story is to stand up for what you think is right, not what everyone says is right.
(Listen to your heart. Don't go with the flow.)
The moral in this book, is that your own opinion matters, and you should do it for yourself, and not hold back just because of what others think.
The message in this novel is; never let anyone pressure you into something you know is wrong.
So that's it for this post!
Part 2 will be posted up shortly.
-Claire
Welcome to assignment #16!
A few weeks back, we had such an amazing author come in, named Eric Walters.
He wrote ALOT of books, based on teenagers, and about realistic issues.
Here are some books I researched, and found interesting. With also, intriguing messages behind them;
***
I think the message in this story is to stand up for what you think is right, not what everyone says is right.
(Listen to your heart. Don't go with the flow.)
The moral in this book, is that your own opinion matters, and you should do it for yourself, and not hold back just because of what others think.
The message in this novel is; never let anyone pressure you into something you know is wrong.
So that's it for this post!
Part 2 will be posted up shortly.
-Claire
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Awesome #1001
Hello awesome readers!
Welcome to assignment #12.
This is probably one of my favourite blog post I've written so far.
So Ms.Pollock has us going to 1000awesomethings.com, and write a post about it.
Make our very own awesome post, and link back to 3 other awesome post we really enjoyed.
Here's my 1001, awesome thing;
#1001 A refreshing cold shower, on a hot day.
During the summer time, it gets really hot. (No duh.) We get all sweaty, and gross, and we just need to cool down. I love to take nice cold showers just to cool off. It's also refreshing and that's an awesome feeling.
***
#348 That moment near the holidays when there’s suddenly cookies, chocolate, and candy everywhere
I think this post is so true, and everyone can relate to! Decorative sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, packs of chocolate for gifts. There's sugar everywhere!
Awesome!!
#356 Wearing your boyfriend's sweater
This has to be the awesomest thing. Also cute. Even if you don't have a boyfriend, it's always nice to be given a sweatshirt from your friend, who's a boy (get it? boy-friend). I also love the smell of it. (When they wear cologne of course, it's delightful.) It's nice to know that someone cares about you, and your lack of warmth. Ha.
How,
awesome.
#364 When you get caught in the rain and you just don't care
I love when this happens! Usually, my parents get mad when I get soaking wet in the rain. But one time, when we went to Busch Gardens, it was raining. Not awesome. But when we were at the parking lot, our parents gave us permission to jump in the puddles, and get wet. They weren't mad!
Bonus.
Now that's awesome.
So anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed reading this awesome post. Cause trust me, it was fun writing it!
Catch you later, awesome alligator.
Yeah, that was sort of a fail.
-Claire
Welcome to assignment #12.
This is probably one of my favourite blog post I've written so far.
So Ms.Pollock has us going to 1000awesomethings.com, and write a post about it.
Make our very own awesome post, and link back to 3 other awesome post we really enjoyed.
Here's my 1001, awesome thing;
#1001 A refreshing cold shower, on a hot day.
During the summer time, it gets really hot. (No duh.) We get all sweaty, and gross, and we just need to cool down. I love to take nice cold showers just to cool off. It's also refreshing and that's an awesome feeling.
***
#348 That moment near the holidays when there’s suddenly cookies, chocolate, and candy everywhere
I think this post is so true, and everyone can relate to! Decorative sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, packs of chocolate for gifts. There's sugar everywhere!
Awesome!!
#356 Wearing your boyfriend's sweater
This has to be the awesomest thing. Also cute. Even if you don't have a boyfriend, it's always nice to be given a sweatshirt from your friend, who's a boy (get it? boy-friend). I also love the smell of it. (When they wear cologne of course, it's delightful.) It's nice to know that someone cares about you, and your lack of warmth. Ha.
How,
awesome.
#364 When you get caught in the rain and you just don't care
I love when this happens! Usually, my parents get mad when I get soaking wet in the rain. But one time, when we went to Busch Gardens, it was raining. Not awesome. But when we were at the parking lot, our parents gave us permission to jump in the puddles, and get wet. They weren't mad!
Bonus.
Now that's awesome.
So anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed reading this awesome post. Cause trust me, it was fun writing it!
Catch you later, awesome alligator.
Yeah, that was sort of a fail.
-Claire
Thursday, December 16, 2010
'Memories'
This poem was completely written by me, dedicated to a friend of mine.
Here it goes...
***
'Memories'
Claire Garcia
Do you know what would be cool?
Do you know what I wish for?
I wish, that our memories came, with a play, save, rewind, fastforward, and delete button.
To look at all the good memories,
and have 'em on re-run.
Or, replay, I should say.
Kinda like the time, when we went outside to the park, before dark.
The sun's about to set, it was getting really cold, and you gave me your jacket.
Grabbed my hand, said you cared 'bout me.
And you know,
I can never forget that feeling.
Butterflies in my stomach,
intestines all knotted.
And how,
I will never forget it.
And yet, I wish memories came with a play, save, rewind, fastforward, and delete button.
To delete all the bad times,
and leave them behind.
Like a revision,
or incision in my brain, to delete bad memories...
completely.
Like a white eraser,
defacing the led,
on a piece of paper.
Leaving behind the time,
when I was up half the night.
Brokenhearted,
wondering how this fight even started.
Feeling guilty,
wearing misery.
No forgiveness at that moment.
Saying 'I hate you,' to your face.
I hope you know,
I never meant it.
I meant the opposite.
I wish, our memories came with a play, save, rewind, fastforward, and delete button.
I'd take all the memories,
from good to bad.
And have 'em on re-run.
Here it goes...
***
'Memories'
Claire Garcia
Do you know what would be cool?
Do you know what I wish for?
I wish, that our memories came, with a play, save, rewind, fastforward, and delete button.
To look at all the good memories,
and have 'em on re-run.
Or, replay, I should say.
Kinda like the time, when we went outside to the park, before dark.
The sun's about to set, it was getting really cold, and you gave me your jacket.
Grabbed my hand, said you cared 'bout me.
And you know,
I can never forget that feeling.
Butterflies in my stomach,
intestines all knotted.
And how,
I will never forget it.
And yet, I wish memories came with a play, save, rewind, fastforward, and delete button.
To delete all the bad times,
and leave them behind.
Like a revision,
or incision in my brain, to delete bad memories...
completely.
Like a white eraser,
defacing the led,
on a piece of paper.
Leaving behind the time,
when I was up half the night.
Brokenhearted,
wondering how this fight even started.
Feeling guilty,
wearing misery.
No forgiveness at that moment.
Saying 'I hate you,' to your face.
I hope you know,
I never meant it.
I meant the opposite.
I wish, our memories came with a play, save, rewind, fastforward, and delete button.
I'd take all the memories,
from good to bad.
And have 'em on re-run.
The Slam!
Hello Bloggers!
So today, was our last session with the awesome, and talented Greg & Beth Ann. We all preformed our own written poems this morning.
Anyway, the point is, Ms.Pollock has us doing assignment #17 about today.
a) What did you learn from Greg and Beth Ann? (at least 2 things)
>Something I learned from Greg and Beth Ann, is something called cadence. When there's a flow, and a variety of tones in your poem.
>I also learned a new chant, to help encourage others to go up and feel comfortable preforming. To let them know that we, as an audience, is there to listen and support.
We put our fist up, and say '3...2...1... RAISE IT!'
***
b.) When writing your own poem, what did you use as inspiration? (at least 3 things)
>When I was writing my poem, I had a dude 'friend' in mind, and how much I miss hanging out with him, and wish to go back to those days.
>Another inspiration in mind was Facebook. Yes, Facebook. There was a 'like' on Facebook that said 'I wish memories came with a play, save, and delete button.' It related to me so much that I put it as a repetition in my poem.
>My last inspiration was obviously the memories I had with my 'friend.' In my poem, I recall some of the good, and bad experiences with my friend.
***
c.) What are you most proud of from your poem or your presentation of it? (at least one thing)
>I am most proud of writing my poem in general! It was fun to do word plays, and find words that rhymed and worked together to sound good.
***
d.) How did you feel before you performed?
>Before I preformed, I was super nervous. I also felt alittle confident, because I was proud of my poem, yet anxious, because I wouldn't know how the audience would react to my poem. Questions like; 'Will they understand what I'm saying?' 'Will they like my poem?'
e.) How did you feel AFTER you performed?
>After I preformed, I felt good; to just let it out, and get it over with. I also felt alot more confident with myself and my poetry.
>And another thing, the truth is, after I preformed I felt alittle exposed. In a good way, I guess.
g.) What did you learn/like about someone else's poem?
>Something I really liked about Amy's poem, was the fact that it was totally relateable, and deep. Most girls, (even me), pick out every detail about themselves and hate on it.
But we have to except the fact we are all beautiful just the way we are.
>I also really liked Hannen's message in her poem about violence, and how it is never the awnser. She had good wordplay and repetition. But I can expect that from her, cause she's our class poet! A really good one too!
Anyway, I'll leave you with that.
I'll be posting my poem shortly after this post, it's called 'Memories.'
Until then,
Bye!
-Claire
So today, was our last session with the awesome, and talented Greg & Beth Ann. We all preformed our own written poems this morning.
Anyway, the point is, Ms.Pollock has us doing assignment #17 about today.
a) What did you learn from Greg and Beth Ann? (at least 2 things)
>Something I learned from Greg and Beth Ann, is something called cadence. When there's a flow, and a variety of tones in your poem.
>I also learned a new chant, to help encourage others to go up and feel comfortable preforming. To let them know that we, as an audience, is there to listen and support.
We put our fist up, and say '3...2...1... RAISE IT!'
***
b.) When writing your own poem, what did you use as inspiration? (at least 3 things)
>When I was writing my poem, I had a dude 'friend' in mind, and how much I miss hanging out with him, and wish to go back to those days.
>Another inspiration in mind was Facebook. Yes, Facebook. There was a 'like' on Facebook that said 'I wish memories came with a play, save, and delete button.' It related to me so much that I put it as a repetition in my poem.
>My last inspiration was obviously the memories I had with my 'friend.' In my poem, I recall some of the good, and bad experiences with my friend.
***
c.) What are you most proud of from your poem or your presentation of it? (at least one thing)
>I am most proud of writing my poem in general! It was fun to do word plays, and find words that rhymed and worked together to sound good.
***
d.) How did you feel before you performed?
>Before I preformed, I was super nervous. I also felt alittle confident, because I was proud of my poem, yet anxious, because I wouldn't know how the audience would react to my poem. Questions like; 'Will they understand what I'm saying?' 'Will they like my poem?'
e.) How did you feel AFTER you performed?
>After I preformed, I felt good; to just let it out, and get it over with. I also felt alot more confident with myself and my poetry.
>And another thing, the truth is, after I preformed I felt alittle exposed. In a good way, I guess.
g.) What did you learn/like about someone else's poem?
>Something I really liked about Amy's poem, was the fact that it was totally relateable, and deep. Most girls, (even me), pick out every detail about themselves and hate on it.
But we have to except the fact we are all beautiful just the way we are.
>I also really liked Hannen's message in her poem about violence, and how it is never the awnser. She had good wordplay and repetition. But I can expect that from her, cause she's our class poet! A really good one too!
Anyway, I'll leave you with that.
I'll be posting my poem shortly after this post, it's called 'Memories.'
Until then,
Bye!
-Claire
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