Bose-+Journals

I chose this journal because I fealt I truly understood the author. I fealt I had a connection with my dissapointing moment also. Bozo Revisited

Gerrard had a very eye opening discovery in this piece. His defining moment was realizing that Bozo the clown, and his show, was fake. He thought it was a real show and was heartbroken to see it was in a gym sized studio. It also hurt him to see that many acts in the so called “circus” were pre-recorded and the contests were rigged from the beginning. His defining moment taught him that everything isn’t as it seems. A defining moment in my life was being told Santa was not real. I believed so much that he was. I would make cookies for him and sprinkle oats on my yard for his reindeer, to ensure that he would make to my house. A few days from Christmas one year, my mom laid the truth upon me. I was devastated. I was only eight. I refused to believe my mom. But when I had to help her with the presents and write “from: Santa” on the label, I realized she was telling the truth. I felt deceived and hurt, but also gained appreciation of my mother and all that she does to make me happy.

I chose this journal because of the adulthood Anne was forced to show at such a young age. I also chose this because I enjoyed how the piece showed her transition as a person. Finally, I chose this journal because I admire the strength and bravery Anne showed.

Anne Frank Journal Anne has become much more mature through the year. She realizes that her friends really weren’t close friends; they were actually more of followers. She says that they only liked her smile, not her actual personality. She says she has become more serious and has outgrown the joking and prinking she used to participate in. She has also become more optimistic and focused on “the beauty that still remains.” It seems as if she is trying to be happy to try and be an example and spread happiness. Anne reflects on her changes by speaking of how she used to be, and then stating how she has become a better, stronger person. I greatly admire Anne’s strength and bravery during her very adverse time.

I chose to include this journal because I thoroughly enjoyed Safire's piece. I liked how the piece was about a bland subject but the author made it enjoyable to read. I also chose this journal because I feel Safire's journal was a great help on when to use paragraphs. The Perfect Paragraph

William Safire’s insight on paragraph was very helpful and made paragraphs much easier to understand. According to Safire, the purpose of the paragraph is to “give the reader a breather.” He says it is to break up a large piece of writing to make the reading easier for the reader to read. He compares it to a singer and a breath of air. It refreshes the piece. Safire gives four ways to determine when to start a paragraph. The first is if a piece is simply too long. He uses newspaper articles as an example by saying if it was all one huge piece of writing it would not be approachable by the reader. He says the reader would need “page-to-page resuscitation” if this were to occur. The second way to determine when a paragraph is needed is if there is a changing of subject even if only small. The third way is if there is a very important sentence that the author wants to stand out, simply make it a paragraph by itself. He refers to this technique as “banking.” The final way, Safire gives, to determine a paragraphs location is if there is a contrasting argument. If a word such as, however, but, on the other hand, is needed, then a paragraph should be used.