Category: Grade 10

Tell Tale Heart – Isabella B.

  1. Would the story have worked if it had been written in the third- person? Rewrite the part with the police officers from a different point of view (omniscient, limited omniscient, objective).

The point of view I used is limited omniscient

The three police were exhausted when they had been called to find out what the shriek heard on the street had been.  They went knocking at the door in anticipation to find out what the shriek the neighbors heard had come from.  As a man opened the door, they introduced themselves and explained what had happened during the night.  Foul play? one of the officers thought to himself.  The man with a smirk across his face explained how it had only been himself during his own dream.  He also explained how the owner of the house was out of the country.  The officers followed his into his house as they proceeded to his chamber to speak.  They started to notice though, that the man was beginning to look uneasy.  As they began to question what was wrong, he confessed.

Brunch served with a side of memories at my Grandparents’ house

When I was a little girl, at least one day of each week would be dedicated to going to my grandparent’s house. Today that tradition remains the same. Each time I walk through the doors I can’t help but feel anything but safe and content.  It feels like home.  

In that house, we spend the most time in the kitchen.  When I walk in, I hear the same thing almost every time.  On the radio, the French music of Celine Dion plays loud to diminish the noise of the fan cooling down whatever my grandmother may be cooking.  In front of the stove is where she is.  Apron on and humming to the music playing, she always makes sure to welcome me with a warm embrace and a gentle smile. 

All around her kitchen I see portraits of relatives.  Some of my cousins from a couple hours away, some of my grandparents themselves, some of me when I was younger.  Seeing those photos can’t help but make me feel nostalgic. It’s got me feeling as though I’m still that same age and that since then, nothing has changed. Even if a lot has changed.  The sight of the Fall colored walls always stay the same as I remember them.  When I inhale, I smell maple as sweet as the memories that I’ve made in this kitchen.   

As my cousins and I would help place the cold, shiny silverware on the table, my grandmother would announce that she’s finished.   On a plate, a stack of crêpes sit, still too hot to touch.  Since every meal means variety for my grandmother, another plate of the French-Canadian dish, ‘ploye’ is on the table.  Along with bacon and eggs of course.  This is there to provide the option of savory compared to the sugared taste of the crêpes.  I usually take a seat on the leather booth.  The heat of the heater underneath the booth warms up my feet on a cold autumn day.  All the food is spread out onto the table, now it’s just up to us to decide what we want to eat.   The food, as well as the smiles, are priceless. 

I run my knife through the melted butter assimilating just enough to spread over the delicious-looking crêpes.  They appear almost as thin as paper, although only a few have the capacity of having me full.  I drizzle some bittersweet blueberries onto the crêpes, topping it off perfectly.   

Slowly more and more of my family enters the small kitchen.  We save a special place in the booth for my grandfather.  It’s been his spot for as long as I can remember.  No matter how many times we tell my grandmother to sit down, she always makes sure that we’re absolutely satisfied with what we have before taking a seat.  And we always are.  The dishes themselves are great, but my favourite thing on the menu that has everyone satisfied?  Love. And that’s not something that’s served at many other restaurants.

First They Came For…

Adapted from the poem by Martin Nienoller “First They Came for the Jews” in response to the poem “Danger of Silence”.

I decided to give my take on the poem a voice to victims of rape and/or domestic abuse.

First they came for those under the influence

and i did not speak out

because that wasn’t me

Then they came for girls who wear less clothes

and i did not speak out

because that wasnt me

Then they came for children who never met innocents

and i did not speak out

because that wasn’t me

Now when will they come for me

because i was too busy or too apathetic

to defend my sisters and brothers

 

 

 

 

 

 

How does one resist injustice?

No matter what, we all experience injustice.   Whether it’s on a personal level, or a social one, at one point in our lives, we may be a victim of it.  One thing I learned is that there are many different ways to resist.  One way would be to stand up to the oppression that you’re facing.  Take Rosa Parks as an example.  She faced racial injustice and resisted by standing up for herself and every other African-American, whether it was those on the bus with her, or strangers she didn’t know.  Her resistance fought for many.  In my opinion, change doesn’t come easy in this world.  As unfair as it seems, everyone has privileges based on their country, race, gender, religion, sexuality, and class.  And sometimes that can make your voice less powerful than those with more privileges than you.  Throughout history, people have always fought for rights that they think they deserve.  In the beginning of the book The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, the main character is afraid to resist, but with the help of others, she finds her voice and gains bravery.  With courage, alliances, and an influential voice, anything can be possible.

 

What it means to be human

Humans want to communicate

Humans have/need a dream

Humans have a desire to help others

Humans seek happiness

Humans need friends/ Humans need companions

Humans want to learn/seek knowledge

Humans need to express their emotions

Humans can be ignorant and should be more aware

Humans are violent

Humans fight for what they believe in

Humans have conflict/war

Humans prevail despite conflict

Humans may abuse power

Humans evolve

Humans want to be remembered because most like recognition

Humans disagree

Humans may be discriminatory/racist

Humans like to make our lives easier and better

Humans like to help and fight against perceived injustice

Humans are curious and seek knowledge

In the book The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, I learned that if we truly want something to change, we have the ability to change it.  In this book, a sixteen year old African American girl witnesses her friend get shot by police officers.  Not only does she feel distraught, but she also feels powerless because of her gender, race and age.  This book taught me that no matter how little we think we are, we can still create a movement.  As long as one person listens, at least we’ll leave a mark on them.