English 9: Review of High School Level Reading & Thinking
Given everything that we’ve discussed and practiced together in class, evaluate (which means to judge, to asses) each of the Ongoing English Journals below. (Note…these were all created by me; they are not excerpts of any student’s journal.)
Sample #1: Ongoing English 9 Journal
- Tyrone’s dad was killed. He is sad.
- I wonder why Tyrone hates all white people?
- Tyrone rarely does homework.
- Why are Wesley and Tyrone friends?
- Wesley has more hope than Tyrone.
- Tyrone decides to share his raps in class.
- Chankara is hit by her boyfriend and kicks him out.
Sample #2: Ongoing English 9 Journal
- It’s clear that Tyrone lives in a rough neighborhood which makes his life more difficult. Why doesn’t he just move? He has freedom just like all of the rest of us. I think he’s being stupid. If I really think I’m going to die, I’m not going to say in my neighborhood. I think it’s so stupid for people to complain when they’re choosing to live there.
- I think Tyrone is a racist. So what that his dad was killed by a white man? Why doesn’t he play basketball or football? We all know that if he goes to college, he will probably be good enough to play in the NBA or the NFL. And there are a lot of athletes making really good money in the NBA and NFL. He needs to do something.
- Wesley and Tyrone are friends and that is one of the reasons why Tyrone stays in school. I think Wesley is stupid to waste his time trying to help Tyrone when it’s clear that Tyrone is going to drop out. And of course, if Tyrone drops out he will blame his teacher for that, not himself. Tyrone doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
Sample #3: Ongoing English 9 Journal
- Tyrone is not growing up in a good neighborhood and since he is young and still in high school, he has little control over where he lives. To an extent, it’s not his fault that he has no hope. There aren’t many people/events in his life that create hope for him. If he wants to break out of the Bronx, he’s going to have to create hope for himself.
- When T. says “These white folk” and “Those white folk” it’s clear that he sees himself as separate from them. My guess is he looks at white people who probably have easier lives than he does, and he’s jealous of their easier life. How can a white person understand what it is to grow up black in the inner city unless they have also lived this situation? We can read about it, but even we don’t really understand unless we live it. He’s not racist, just hopeless.
- His father died early which of course impacts his chance of success in life. That’s just statistics. If any of us are growing up without a parent, we’re going to be negatively impacted by that, too. We might have other people who step in to help our family. It doesn’t sound like T.’s family is getting much support or help.
- It’s ironic that both Tyrone and Wesley talk about how much they don’t do in school, but yet they seem to really understand how life works. Maybe school isn’t the best place to learn about the realities of life.