Social Awareness Project
   *write an original literacy piece responding to a specific social problem/issue
~covered~
Every word they say is like a knife stabbed into my heart.
"Terrorist,terrorist,terrorist" they screamed.
Why me?
Just because i'm covered from head to toe?
I smile at them with confidence
But inside i'm dyeing little by little
But I know it doesn't matter
Because, I am a Muslim and i'm proud to be one.

The process in writing this poem mostly reflects on my personal life. I have been called a terrorist and this was exactly how I felt. This is a specific memory at a specific time. I have been called names for covering my hair and showing no skin. But I smile away the tears and my confidence is my strength in life.
   The poem is about bullying and how I felt when I got bullied. Bullying can lead to many things and most them are not positive. This poem is about my life and how I felt when I got bullied. But the confidence I had never let me down.

*Write a reading response on a social issue in a literary work
Mean Girls by, Rachel Crow
   This song is about bullying and how people feel when they get bullied. Getting bullied is not funny or even close to cool. The person who is being bullied gets hurt even if the person doesn't show it one bit. In the end of the song lyrics tell you that the person who is getting bullied, don't care what people have to say and have more confidence than ever. Also the person who is bullied made new friends and isn't getting bullied anymore. Getting bullied hurts a lot even if you can't show it.
   The song "Mean Girls" by, Rachel Crow is very deep about people who gets bullied and how they feel when they get bulled. For example, in the song when it says " How would you feel if you running home crying lock yourself in your room, don't want anyone to see ya." This means a lot. This quotation shows that the person who is getting bullied can't hold anymore emotions so, when they go home they let their emotions out. Crying leads to bleeding, then injures, and finally death. Bullying is a serious problem. Another example is, "someone's looking at you weird calling you a loser." This quotation means more than it sounds. How would you feel if someone called you a loser? I would feel hurt but I wouldn't show it one bit. My confidence is stronger than my tears.
   In conclusion, I can relate to this song so much. I have been in these situations and felt the pain of what others felt too. The song is about bullying and bullying is no joke. Bullying can cause serious problems such as death. Be careful with your words.
*Observe your surroundings and write 2-3 para about it
   On Friday November 16, 2012 there was a group of kids that were walking in front of me after school ended. They came across a stop sign; but they all ran while a car was coming. The car stopped, it almost hit one of those kids but the kid barely noticed. My heart literary stopped when I saw the group of kids running and the car almost hitting one of them.
   The problem with that scene was when, the group of kids ran when there was a stop sign, and a car was coming their way. Someone could have been seriously hurt.

The truth about forever

   I am currently reading the book "The truth about forever" by Sarah Dessen. The book is mostly about things that happen to Macy; who is the main character. Macy's father died about a year ago, and she was there when he passed away. Macy's boyfriend broke up with her over e-mail, while he was away at Brain camp. Jason told her that they needed a break in their relationship. She started this new catering job that she loved, and she is making new friends and seeing life in a different way.
   Macy is the kind of girl who doesn't really hang out with friends, and she doesn't go out a lot. She usually stays home and studies for the SAT test. But once she started her new catering job, she felt more alive and was seeing life differently through her eyes all of a sudden. For example Kristy one of the workers in her job said "finally, your getting out and enjoying life for once." That was on page 115. Usually when Macy goes home her house is quiet. Her mom always seem to be working and her older sister move out of the house. Macy is tired of being alone, she needs to go out and make some friends!
   I think Macy and I have some connections. I used to be just like her! From school I used to go to the train and home. Once I got home nobody is in my house because, everyone is at work. But now since 8th grade started I made new friends and hang out with them. Me and Macy have some common things.
   Even though I just started this book I can tell, that it's going to be a wonderful book and I can't wait to finish it!

Hurricane Sandy Response

   Diane Zoller Ciatto, the author of "Hurricane Sandy and nor'easter", wants the reader to know that after the storm Sandy, the U.S Northeast with floods, fire and ice. 1.4 million homes and businesses face near freezing temperatures without electricity and heat. Drivers are in line desperate to receive their ration of fuel before the service stations or their cars run out of gas. At least 113 were killed when the storm came in New Jersey cutting a wide swath that left about 8 million, mostly in New Jersey and New York, without power. People are suffering from the hurricane and have no where to go.
   According to Ciatto, "New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Sunday that an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people in New York City were in need of shelter." This makes me feel bad for all those people out there without any electricity or even a house to be safe in. And to make matters worse, there is a strong "Nor'easter" by Wednesday that will bring below freezing temperatures, wind and heavy rain fall. Also in New Jersey 143,000 voters voted by email. People couldn't vote by the machines because, there was barley any electricity! The author is telling the readers how people are suffering and wanting them to feel guilty; so they can do something about the people who are suffering from the damage of the hurricane.
   After reading this article, I have realized that I have a house that I am sleeping in; and I also have electricity. While people in New Jersey and Lower Manhattan have no electricity at all and no shelter. And on top of all that, winter is settling in. So people who don't have electricity are also going to suffer from the cold. I hope that people who have lost their homes will stay save somewhere and get electricity back. We all are one big family in America.