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Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Year 10 Writing Portfolio


On The Sidewalk Bleeding -Written Text Essay

The story ‘On The Sidewalk Bleeding’, written by Evan Hunter. The story is about a 16 year old boy,Andy, who is in a gang that's been stabbed in an alleyway, where no one can see him.  A memorable idea from this text is that some people want to be known as an individual. You should never lose hope even when you are in a bad situation, you should also never assume anything about anyone because of what you see.  

One reason this idea of people wanting to be known as an individual was memorable to me is because sometimes no matter how hard you try to be in a group, but not be known because of the group, some people won’t know you because you're you. But because of the group you're in. We see this in the text when the couple, Angela and Freddie, walk into the alley. For example, when the couple find Andy, they say. "I don't know. I don't know. I don't want to get mixed up in this. He's a Royal. We help him, and the Guardians will  be down on our necks. I don't want to get mixed up in this, Angela.". This made the reader feel sad and disappointed because this shows us that some people won’t do what is right, even when they know that they should. The message I take away from this is, never expect everyone to help you, even when you need it the most. 

Another reason why this idea is memorable to me is because he never lost hope. He did near the end, but majority of the time he always had hope.  We see this in the text when Andy said “Someday he would marry Laura. Someday he would marry her, and they would have a lot of kids, and then they would get out of the neighborhood.“ We can see that, even in, probably the worst moment of his life, he never lost hope. Andy probably genuinely thought he was going to marry Laura, when he made it out of this. But he never got the chance to. This made the audience feel sympathetic or sorrowful. Reading how Andy thought about and wanted to marry Laura, shows us how much he loved her.  This reminds me of another time in the story, when Andy thought “Andy lay and thought: Laura, Laura. Are you dancing:?”, it once again shows that he never lost hope or thought about what was going on. In the real world, this happens, some people do lose hope, but it's better not to, you will always get out of whatever you are struggling with. 

The last reason why this idea is memorable to me, is because you shouldn’t assume you know something, just by looking at it. This happens a lot in the text. For example when the narrator said “If he had not been wearing the jacket, he wouldn't have been stabbed. The knife had not been plunged in hatred of Andy. The knife hated only the purple jacket.”  This shows that the people that stabbed him, probably assumed he deserved to be stabbed; just because he's wearing the purple jacket. This made the reader feel displeased, upset and slightly enraged. No one deserves to be treated like that just because of a jacket they are wearing.  This reminds me of another part of the text, when the narrator said“ He was very close to dying, and when they found him, he did not want them to say, "Oh, it's a Royal." With great effort, he rolled over onto his back. He felt the pain tearing at his stomach when he moved. If he never did another thing, he wanted to take off the jacket. The jacket had only one meaning now, and that was a very simple meaning.” This shows that even though he is dying, he wanted to get rid of the jacket, because no one wanted to help him because he was wearing it. People saw the jacket before they saw him, they assumed that they would get in trouble with the other gang if they helped him. So they left him. 

In conclusion, in the text “On The Sidewalk Bleeding” a memorable idea was never assume, never lose hope and to always treat people as individuals and never treat them differently because of a group they are in. These ideas were memorable to me because it showed me that there will always be people who assume things about you, and will never treat you as an individual. 


Power Of One

When Apartheid started near 1948, it was a horrific time for the black people in Africa. In the movie The Power Of One, directed by John Avidsen, the scene where Pk and Gideon are running through Alexandria to Johannesburg. It shows the difference between the cities that the black people and the white people lived in. The Techniques used in this scene were dialogue, setting, mise en scene and music.  There were a lot of techniques used in this scene but I picked the most important ones. These techniques helped the director by showing us what the real world was like back in those days. 

In The Power Of One, the director used mise en scene almost all the time. For example, in the scene where Pk and Gideon are running through Alexandria and Johnnesburg, you can see a large majority of the inhabitants of Alexandria lining up to use the one bathroom that the government has allocated them. The director used this example of the people lining up to show how unfair the living conditions were and how the black people were treated. This helps us understand that it was inhumane to make them live like that.

The director also uses dialogue. We hear dialogue in the whole movie. For example, when Pk and Gideon are running past the line of people waiting to use the bathroom, Gideon says “ the law says only 2% of us can go to school.” Only 2% of the people in Alexandria were able to access education because the government made it a law. Gideon tries to convince Pk to teach his people how to speak English. The director uses dialogue to tell what is going on instead of showing us. This helped us understand how Gideon felt because he was speaking about it. 

Finally the last technique, settings. Settings are really important in all movies. It shows you where the characters are located so you can see where they are and what the place around them looks like. For example, you can see the setting change while Pk and Gideon are running through Alexandria and Johnnesburg. In Alexandria all the buildings are dull and boring. They are quite small and dirty. And in Johannesburg the buildings are clean, bright and big. It shows the difference between the two of them. The director did this to show the audience that the government only really cared about Johannesburg and not Alexandria. This made the Audience feel a range of emotions. Anger, sadness, disappointment, ect. Because it was unfair how the white people got to live in nice fancy places and the black people had to live in old,cold and dark places. 

In conclusion, the use of these techniques are put in the film for a reason. Either to show or tell us how they live, they are all important in almost every movie. Even though it was just one of the many  scenes in The Power Of One, the director showed us a lot about how the black people were treated with injustice by the white people. 


Creative Writing

As she was walking out of her apartment that she shared with her newly ex-fiance, with tears streaming down her face. Her make-up ruined. But that wasn’t the biggest problem to her right now. She was walking down the stairs of her apartment with her bag in one hand and her phone in the other. She tried to walk straight but she couldn’t see anything through her bright green eyes which had tears flowing out of them. She walked down the stairs that had green bushes with light pink flowers growing out of them. 

She was trying to call her mother, as she was waving her hand, trying to get the attention of a taxi driver. Which is nearly impossible because she lived on the most hectic and dangerous road in downtown Brooklyn in New York. The road turned into a steep hill. There are trams and cars trying to leave the street, while trying to avoid getting into a car wreck. There are people trying to get to work. Children skipping along the sidewalk while their parents are walking them to school. She was just trying to get a taxi to go to her childhood home to see her mum. She saw a taxi on the side of the road. She started running as best as she could without falling over. she stumbled across the street tripping over a stone that was perfectly placed right in front of her on the island in the middle of the road. She tripped, but she caught herself and started tumbling to the taxi once again. She banged on the taxi’s window, then she grabbed the door handle and flung the back door open. When she realized who was in the taxi she slammed the door shut and jogged away. 

She looked down at her phone which was ringing, she answered it. She felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She started sobbing, trying to tell her mother what had happened. But it all came out as gibberish. Her mother was trying to calm her down but it didn’t work, so she got in her car and drove to her daughter to help her. 10 minutes later, she arrived, running up to her daughter giving her a big hug. They drove back to her house. 

6 years later, she was walking down the same street with her new family. Her fiance, their 4 year old and newborn baby. She had forgotten about what had happened that day. The memories started to come back but she looked at her new family and she thought she had finally found true happiness. 

Friday, 5 November 2021

Sewing

 In sewing we have been making bucket hats. I haven't started sewing yet. I have pinned some of it together. 



Friday, 29 October 2021

Wananga - Passion Projects

The past 4 weeks we have been doing Passion Projects in wananga. I chose to do Sewing. I made a quilted blanket. I did it with Talia and Mya. We got fleece from spotlight and scrap fabric from the textiles room. With the scrap material we cut them into squares and sewed them together. 


I haven't got a photo of mine. But it is similar to this - 


 

Thursday, 21 October 2021

Textiles

In textiles we have been learning more about patterns. We have to do a activity that was about different sewing"symbols". 

Monday, 27 September 2021

Passion Project

 In passion projects i have been cutting my material that i got from the scrap box in the textiles. I cut them into little squares. 

Monday, 20 September 2021

Passion projects

 For Passion Projects, I am doing textiles. I am planning on making a blanket. I am making the blanket for myself.

Thursday, 9 September 2021

English - Yellow Brick Road.

 Witi Ihimaera - Wikipedia

Where is he from?

 - Gisborne


How many of his book have turned into films?

- Five


What does " Yellow brick road" mean to you? 

- The only thing that comes to my mind when reading/hearing that is The Wizard Of Oz. 


What do you predict this story will be about, based on the title?

- I think it will be about a pathway to a better life. 



Why does the narrator believe they are moving to Wellington?

- He thinks its because they don't have enough money. But it's so the kids can have a good life. 

 

On page 1, what big difference between Waituhi and Wellington does the narrator mention?

- Wellington has a lot more pakehas. 


On page 3, we found out that Dad told Uncle Sam they were moving to wellington because..?

- That there is  lot of work there. A lot of factories. 


How does the narrator's attitude towards moving change once they draw nearer to the city? 

- Matiu is happy at the start of the story but then when they get closer he becomes more nervous. 


Emerald city, Yellow Brick Road, Flying Monkeys, Scarecrow, Tin man and cowardly lion, are all allusions to what famous book? Why do you think the author made this comparison?

- They are from The Wizard Of Oz. They are starting a new journey.  




Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Art - Street art

In art we had to pick a piece of street art work that is on the buildings in Christchurch. I chose this one because it is done very well and the lines are basically perfect. The colors all go together, and it makes the painting look better since they go together. 


Tuesday, 15 June 2021

The Real One

 In English we had to make a short film about the Merchant To Venice. Our short film is about catfishing. The main characters in the film are Sam, Jack, Lia and Amy. Our film is about Lia and jack being together and jacks bestfriends ( Sam and Amy) not liking that they are together, so they set up a plan to try to get them to break up. Their plan didn't work out and Jack and Lia are still together. Our story is like The Merchant To Venice because there is a love triangle. Is The Merchant To Venice the love triangle is Antonio, Bassanio and Portia. In our film the love triangle is Jack, Sam and Lia. Daisy was filming and she used heaps of different techniques. We had a hard times figuring out who was going to be who. No one wanted to be in the film. Next time I would like to make our own ideas for the film. 

Thursday, 3 June 2021

Social Studies.

In a historic ruling, a Dutch court has order oil company Shell to cut it CO2 emissions by 45%. A precedent for cases against polluting multinationals.  


Scotland, home of 90,000 species of animals and plants, has announced plan to protect 30% of its land to boost biodiversity and tackle climate change. - Climate change is a big problem so its good they are protecting the earth. 


Goodbye gas, Norway has become the first country in the world to see the sales of electric cars overtake sales of those powered by fossil fuels. - This one is good because electric cars are better because they don't run on gas. 

Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Science - Corrosion

 Aim - To investigate the factors that cause rusting in iron. 

Equipment - Four test tubes, test tube rack, a bung, four iron nails, boiled water, tap water, salty water, cooking oil, calcium and chloride. 

Method - 

1: Label four test tubes A-D and place in a test tube rack.

2: Test tube contents: 

A= Iron nail and tap water.

B=Iron nail and salty water.

C=Iron nail, boiled water, oil. 

D=Iron nail and calcium chloride. sealed with a bung.

3 - Leave the test tubes undisturbed for at least three days. 



Aim - To investigate a number of techniques that may prevent rusting.

Equipment - Four test tubes, test tube rack, a bung, four iron nails, tap water, Vaseline gel, nail polish or paint, zinc pellets or magnesium ribbon. 

Method - 

1: Label four test tubes A-D and place in a test tube rack. 

2: Fill all test tubes with equal volumes of water - enough to cover nails. 

3: Test tube contents:

A=Iron nail

B= Iron nail cover in Vaseline

C=Iron nail painted with nail polish or paint.

D= Iron nail with a small piece of magnesium ribbon wrapped around it, or with zinc pellets added to the test tubes. 





Friday, 16 April 2021

Textiles - Screen Printing

In textiles we were doing screen printing. First you had to draw a picture or logo that you like.  Then you had to get craft knife and cut it out. Then you got a screen and put it on top of your cut out and material. You put paint on the top of the screen the drag it down with a squegy. Then you let it dry. I did HS for Harry Styles.



 

Friday, 9 April 2021

Art

In art we have been learning about Michael mew. We have also been learning about focus points and leading lines. 
 



Live Aid

Midge Ure and Bob Geldof



Midge Ure was in bands such as Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids and Visage, and as the frontman of Ultralow. Midge Ure helped organize Live Aid and he also preformed there. Bob Geldof was in a band called The Boomtown rats. He went from being a rock star to being an international celebrity for raising awareness of humanitarian charities. He helped raise money by bring heaps of his fans to help him.


 





Thursday, 1 April 2021

Social Studies - Vietnam war.

Vietnam War | Facts, Summary, Years, Timeline, Casualties, Combatants, &  Facts | Britannica

 The Vietnam War was an extremely tragic time. A lot of people didn't want it to continue, some famous artists wrote songs about it. Edwin Starr wrote a song called " War, what is it good for?". This song talks about how war is never the answer to anything and how innocent people lost their lives. 





Lyrics:

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, why'all
War, huh, good god
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
Oh, war, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives
I said, war, huh good god, why'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing say it again
War, whoa, lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
it ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
(War) friend only to the undertaker
Oh, war it's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die, ah, war-huh, good god why'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing listen to me
it ain't nothing but a heart breaker
(War) it's got one friend that's the undertaker
Oh, war, has shattered many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away
Oh, war, huh good god why'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing say it again
whoa, lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing listen to me
it ain't nothing but a heart breaker
(War) friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But lord knows there's got to be a better way
Oh, war, huh good god why'all
What is it good for you tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it
huh good god why'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it nothing

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Science - Making salts

Aim - To produce sodium chloride salt by carrying out a neutralisation reaction.

Equipment - 50mL and 200 mL beakers, dilute HCI, dilute NaOH, 25mL measuring cylinder, a glass stirring rod, spotting tile, Universal indicator solution, tripod, gauze mat, Bunsen burner, evaporating basin.

Method - 

1. Using the measuring cylinder measure 10mL of HCI and pour it into your 50mL beaker. Add dilute naOH a few drops at a time while stirring with a glass rod. 

2. Every 10-15 drops start adding the naOH and use the glass stirring rod to transfer a drop of the solution to a spotting tile. Test its pH  using Universal indicator. 

3. Keep adding naOH and testing the solution by repeating step 2. As you get closer to neutral you may need to test the solution after every drop.

4. Pour the neutral solution into an evaporating basin and evaporate the water out of the solution using the equipment set up shown above. 

Monday, 29 March 2021

Reflection - My week

On Saturday night Talia stayed over. I was babysitting my mum's friend's son, so we couldn't really do anything. Brody ( The kid I was baby sitting) and I went to Mc Donald's for dinner, then Talia came over after that. We played 2 board games, The game of life and clue do. We were messaging people from school and annoying them because we were bored. Then on Sunday morning Talia went home and I did nothing all day. 

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Social Studies - Beatlemania

Perspective for the Beatles tour in New Zealand 1964 - were the youth of New Zealand. This was because  of course, looking back at the images of throngs of hysterical girls with faces pressed hard against wire fences, screaming themselves hoarse as they caught a glimpse of their musical idols, it all seems a bit ridiculous, a bit excessive ... The songs of the Beatles and their contemporaries (including the local Beatles pastiche?, Ray Columbus and the Invaders, with their huge hit “She's a Mod”) were listened to by a generation of youths who felt that they were suddenly liberated from many of the inhibitions of their parents, and who believed that only they knew how to enjoy themselves properly.Beatles invade New Zealand, 1964 - Scene | AudioCulture


Perspective against. The Beatles tour were the older generations because there were all fine young men, but there was no civic or mayoral reception for them. If we are going to pander to the hysteria, antics, adulation, rioting, screaming, and roaring and all the things these bewigged musicians engender, then I think we should make a point of honoring any youths with a sporting background who are at least endeavoring to act in the best traditions of the young men of this nation.
The Beatles New Zealand Tour 1964