This Boy’s Life Review

This Boy’s Life was a great memoir. I was a big fan of the book. It was an easy read and it drew my attention fast. I never struggled to read it. How much truth was behind it is a good question. I’m not sure, but for the most part it seemed like it all happened. I don’t feel like he twisted it too much. Jack reminds me a little bit of my younger brother, Adam. He tries to be something he is not. Adam also has a “bad” side to him he gets caught in trouble as well. Whether its in school or at home. He always finds his way to get in trouble. I made that connection early on in my reading. I feel like Jacks heart is in the right place but the social aspect takes over. Overall I think it was a great book and I recommend it to everyone.

My essay

I had a little trouble writing my essay. I had many ideas in my first draft but there wasn’t a clear idea. I had decided to go in a new direction on my other draft. I used some of my first draft but I picked one thing to write about, and how it had an affect on my life. I feel like with my final draft it has a main theme and idea, I was able to prove and overall point. Tell a story. It felt good to get my first college essay over with. 

This Boy’s Life Review

This Boy’s Life is an easy book, and I find myself intersted in it. There hasn’t been a point where I’ve found myself struggling to get through it. I enjoy the book and it’s an easy read. Jack is and intersting character. He is really agressive and he can manipulate his mom very easily. There was a moment in the book when they were packing up their belongings getting ready to move and Jack wanted to pack his rifle. His mother said no, there is no room for it. Jack being his normal self, told her no. He showed her that he could break down the rifle and it would fit easily in the suitcase. Jack likes to go against his authorites. With the exception of Dwight. Dwight seems to push Jack around. I think Dwight is a bad influence for Jack. I predict that Jack will end up doing something outrageous that he wouldn’t neccessarily have done if he had never met Dwight. So far I am enjoying the book.

essay

Pat Thomson

Mr. Boyd

9/14/12

English 101

My Least Favorite Subject

            English and Language Arts has always been my least favorite subject through grade school. I always dreaded going to English class. I always thought I knew everything about it. I’m from America I know how to speak and write. Why take English class every single year? I never understood why it was a requirement for all students. We started to learn a lot of different ways to write, it wasn’t just essays. Poetry, journals, articles, research papers, you name it I’ve written it. Whether I enjoyed it or not is a whole different question. Learning different types and styles of writing has given me an open mind to English class.

            Reading and writing never came easy to me. I have always been a math kind of guy. The numbers just always clicked for me. As early as freshman year I started to like writing. My English teacher started a poetry unit and I fell in love with the art of poetry. There was just something about it. It got me. I could write about y feelings in a short, vague way. From there on out I began to like English class and what it had to offer me. Reading on the other hand was still not my favorite thing. I feel like the reason for that is because we were forced to read something that may or may not interest us. When I read, I like to have the freedom to choose what I want to read about. That way I am able to pick and choose something that I find an interest in. Throughout high school we were given a book and forced to read it. Sometimes we were given an opportunity to choose something of our own choice but with some guidelines. Either way reading has never been my cup of tea.

            I have started to grow a liking to writing. After my sister came home from college and told me about all the papers she had to write and that college was very writing intensive. I learned that all those years of English meant something. That we were not just taking those courses for the sake of it, there was an actual purpose behind it. To strengthen our writing abilities and get used to all the papers and essays we will experience in college. Clearly there will be a transition from high school writing to college, but if we didn’t have all those papers and essays it would be that much harder for us freshman in college. I always thought that there was no point to our English classes but they were preparing us for college. I learned to like and respect my English classes and teachers.

            Writing and reading are a part of many people’s lives. Whether it’s through their job or a hobby, what have you. It’s a part of everyday life. As simple as reading a cereal box and as complex as to writing a story, book, or article. It’s a common tool that everyone needs and should be taught. For me I started it at a very young age reading picture books with my parents. Eventually I moved on and started to read magic tree house books on my own. When I got through that series I started to read books about sports cause what’s every young kids dream? To grow up and be a professional athlete. My reading progressed but I started to get bored of reading. I never found an interest in reading for school. The books bored me and I got tired of reading books I had no intend to read. That’s when I started love poetry and writing. At one point in my life I wanted to work for the Philadelphia Inquirer in the Sports section. I wanted to write articles on the Eagles, and the Phillies. I realized all those years of English class actually had a meaning. I started to take my writing a lot more serious and noticed that I could actually write well. For instance, my college essay. I was able to put my own touch on it. Almost as if I was speaking to the reader, like they could hear my voice through the words on the paper. I wrote about two men dear to my heart and it came easy to me. I was able to speak my mind and talk about how I felt. There was no writer’s block. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I learned how important reading and writing is and it changed me in a good way.

 

 

 

 

Does my essay have an overall point or theme?

Why?

Indians are known to have swiss cheese brains. Many of them are intelligent young people but they decide to hide it. Intelligence and book smart is not accepted in their culture. Why would one act like somebody they are not? Is that what our world has come too? Hiding our reputation. My father always told me to “do you”. Be yourself and don’t hide  or put on a mask.

In Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie he doesn’t let the nonsense get to him. He knows he has the smarts, and the brains for a big career. He doesn’t let people get to him or bother him. This attitude is something that I myself admire. He knows he’s smart so what does he do? He takes advantage of his talent. Sherman Alexie doesn’t let his culture and race get the best of him. 

Many People now a days feel bad for themselves. They don’t see the point in trying. Why be the one success story? It’s just much easier to go with the crowd and do what they do. The people who turn the crowd and go on by themselves are stronger people. They make the decision for themselves and turn out to do something great with their life.

 

The Tiller

My grandfather was a huge sailor. He loved being on the water and having the freedom of being alone. My grandfather got me interested in sailing. At first I thought it was weird and not something cool to do. But once I gave it a chance I fell in love with it. Its one of my hobbies that I love to do. I feel at peace when I’m on the water sailing. Its a great way to get away from everything and be yourself. Sailing came easy to me. I picked it up very fast and it now it’s one of my favorite things to do. A few summers ago I was a sailing instructor and it was my favorite job I’ve had yet. I was able to do something I loved and get paid. Thats what we call a win-win situation. You should never rule something out until you try it. I know from experience. I found another part of my life I never had until then. Don’t pass up on opportunities that come by because you’ll end up regretting it. 

About Myself

Hello everyone, my name is Patrick Shane Thomson. I go by Pat. I love being active and exercising. I go on runs, play lacrosse, and any pickup games. My favorite color is orange. I am a die heart Philadelphia Eagles fan. I have season tickets to their games. A little bit more about me is that I want to study psychology and business during my years at Washington College. One goal of mine is to maintain a 3.0 throughout college. I want to stay focused on my school work and have it all pay off when I get a job out of college. Another goal of mine is too stay healthy and active. Sometimes I tend to get lazy and not work out. I need to self motivate myself so I can stay fit and healthy. For this english class I would greatly like to improve my writing skills and habits. Id like to become a better writer. It would help me a lot throughout school. Because were always writing during college. I’m ready to work hard at WAC!

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