Journal #25

“My Vocabulary History”

• Assess your own vocabulary. What are your strong points; what are your weak points when it comes to the trait of Word Choice in your writing and reading?
• I do not have many strong points in my vocabulary, but whenever I learn a new word I tend to use it in my writing. I have a lot of weak points in the word choice trait. I do not understand many words, but I intend on building up my vocabulary. I also have grammar problems whenever I try to write a paper.
  
• Describe how you have studied vocabulary in the past. What kinds of class activities and assignments have you experienced to work on your word choice?
• Ever since i was little, my dad would make me read at least once a day and write down any vocabulary words that I do not understand. He would tell me to write down all my vocabulary words in a journal, then he would test me. Since I do not see him as often anymore, I still try my best to keep finding vocabulary words so that i will benifit in the future. Some class activities that I have experienced and has helped me to work on my word choice, is whenever we write essays. Whenever I write an essay, my peers would correct it and tell me to make certain corrections. This helps me to improve on my essays and makes me realize my mistakes for next time.
• Describe how you, personally, learn new words. Give a specific example of how you have learned a new word recently.
• As I have said before, I still write down vocabulary words that I do not comprehend and then once i know what it means, it helps me to build a better understanding of what i am reading. I also try to study my words every once in a while.
  
• What are your specific vocabulary/word choice goals? How many new words would you like to learn this semester? What will be your evidence that you “own them” and can use them in your speaking and writing?
• A specific goal that I would like to achieve is being able to comprehend more words and studying my words more often. I would like to learn as many vocabulary words as possible, maybe 50+ by the end of the semester. My evidence would be improvement in my essays and a journal of vocbulary words that i have learned.

Journal #20- New Years

My friends and family gathered in the heart of Kalihi waiting eagerly for 2010. At 11:57pm multiple fireworks and aerials went off, each one louder than the next. We were all building up to the moment for the New Year. As I glanced down the streets, I noticed that they were being occupied by lots of people and fireworks, making it hard for cars to pass by. If I wanted to see, I had to squint through the thick smoke. Every time I needed to breathe in, I would have to inhale the acrid smell of gunpowder and all I could hear is the crackle of fireworks and the big explosions that rumbled in the night sky. Aerials were being launched from every single house nearby, especially the house I was at. As my uncles were getting ready to launch one, they noticed how much I was admiring the display of fireworks so they told me that I could fire up the aerial. I rushed through the fog with my burning taper in anticipation. Once I lit up the rocket shaped fire cracker, I rushed back to a safe position and watched the rocket shoot up in the air. It made whining screech as it was rising and then a big boom finale. I stared in amazement as the bright, neon lights exploded in the black sky. It was 11:59pm when everyone counted down “…5…4…3…2…1...” I began to have butterflies in my stomach as I anticipated for 2010. When the clock finally stroke midnight, everyone began cheering and screaming “Happy New Years” at the top of their lung, even louder and bigger fireworks were popping nonstop, and all of my family and friends were hugging one another. I was happy that I was surrounded by people who loved me and wouldn’t mind spending another year with me.