1st M.P. of Junior Year

Independent reading book, themes, To Kill a Mockingbird book, and blogs... The 1st marking period of the junior year had a tough beginning compared to the last year's. Last year, the expectations were pretty low, that I did not have to study or try hard to get A or B, but junior year required more time and more efforts. When I put same amount of time and effort with sophomore year, I could not satisfy with my grade.
To make improvements for myself, few things has to be changed. First, I need to organize myself. Get organized then everything gets easier. For example, I can make a little calender or agenda that lists the series of events or schedules for the class. If I know when I have test or quiz, I get to prepare for it and study. Also when I read a book, I can jot down some notes that will remind what the story was about. Secondly, time management is important. Wait until last day and do it at night does not work. I had to manage my time to schedule myself. For example, "Choose independent reading book and start reading it by late September" "Finish half of the book by October 10th" "Finish reading book by October 24th." Once I was waiting until the last day to read To Kill a Mockingbird. But on that day, unexpected tests / quizzes was planned on other class and I had to stay up late to finish all that. Good time managment leads to the better grade.

Musical Relation

In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise Finch(Scout) stresses in between a tomboy and a girl. She like to hang out with Jem and Dill. Playing with Jem and Dill is fun, and she often told to 'do not act like a girl' by Jem. "Scout I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home-i declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl every day"(52). Because of that she always has to join them without any her own opinion. But later, when Aunt Alexandra comes to Finch Family and stay at their house for awhile, Aunt Alexandra tells Scout to behave more gently, wear dresses, and acts like a girl. Scout always gets to told what to do, even though she has her own opinion and her own characteristics. And the song, 'I'm just a girl' by no doubt also states about how she(Gwen Stefani) doesn't want to become what people tell her, but rather to be herself.

Social Injustice

Emmett Till was a 14 years old African American boy who has been humiliated and murdered. Just because he whistled at a white female store clerk. Like Emmet Till case, Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird has similar case. Both Tom Robinson and Emmett Till was judged in negative ways just because of their race / color. If they were not African American their case would not be issued and gets bigger and bigger. AND There's still many social injustices can be found in small things. For example, the minorities in certain country is easily neglected and ignored by larger populations of races. Even though racism is getting better as the time pass, still it happens. (it is kind of personal but) When I first came to United States, there was some difficulties with buying all the stuff. My mom and I was shopping at some store, and we had buy pretty a lot off stuff, and it cost more than 400 dollars. At that time, we only had cash, but when we paid cash, the store clerk started to look at us suspiciously and called managers over to check if the cash was genuine. Well I did not realize that it was unfair treatment at that time, but like this case, social injustice is pretty common and it should be stopped.

Brown vs. Board of Education

The book, To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in early 1900s which is when the segregation in public life is usual. And the case The Brown vs. Board of Education also takes around mid 1900s in Topeka, Kansas. A girl named Linda Brown was forced to attend an  all black school, which is few miles away, even though there was an all white elementary school near. So Brown goes to court to against the Board of Education to gain rights of African American children to have equal treats and education. The Brown vs. Board of Education case states that the separation in public schools between black and white students and equal rights and opportunities for black children to learn and educate. Similarly, Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird fights against injustice to give rights to Tom Robinson. But even though there is no more slavery system, since slavery has officially ended in 1863, they still have less freedom, and unequal treatments and opinion against other races. For example, Mrs. Dubous and some Jem/Scout's school friends criticized and insulted to Atticus because of his decision to protect black. But differently, Finch family is opened to other race, Atticus hopes he could teach black children how to write and read, and has Cal as maid. Both Brown and Finch shows how the small thing can be so influential.

Gossip

The definition of gossip is the spread of personal affairs, rumours, half truths, and even lies about a person or organization. (http://www.expressyourselftosuccess.com/ten-articles-on-workplace-gossip-negative-effects-of-gossip/) Gossip can be both positive and negative, but usually in our life, it effects more in negative ways. People talk about someone behind their back, talking about bad news or criticisms to someone else. Most gossip comes from a little thing. Gossips always happens in our lives, and it usually starts out from little jealousy or anger that seeking for confirmation of their opinion when they gossip. They do not meant to put someone down, but as one person starts to gossip, people also start to agree with it, and gossip. They look forwards to hear agreements and validations from other people, and agrees with their gossips.
The negative effects of gossip are pretty well known. We all know it can damage people's feelings, relationships, and reputations, but it does not stop easily and people do not try to stop gossiping once they get started. This is partly because gossiping is so easy to do and offers instant opinions. It relieves their stresses or angers by put somebody down and talk about bad side of a person. They cannot express in any other way about the person they are gossiping about. Gossiping is not a correct way of expressing feelings towards another if that would bring negative results of someone or hurt particualr person. And sometimes when the "gossip" gets worse, it results with "bullying" someone. It is not right because it is not respecting that person's chracteristics. The gossip oftens portrays people in other way, so people who does not know about that person also can believe in those gossips. Whether the gossip is true or not, everyone would feel bad if people were talking about things that oneself did not know about, and oneself feels alone being not included and involved in certain group. The effort spent gossiping would be put to better use trying to build up their confidence and self esteem in constructive ways.
The gossip in the To Kill a Mockingbird takes huge part. For example, the gossip about Boo Radley is huge. Even though no one knows the truth about him, people talks and guess what was happened, who is he, etc. The gossip towards a person can be critical that person get hurt mentally. With going through this gossips, some people would struggle and stroy would be continued.

Who is Harper Lee

Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama, in April 26, 1926. She was the youngest of four children of Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Finch Lee. In High School, she was interested in English Literature and after graduating high school, she went to Huntingdon Academy in Montgomery. In 1945, she attended University of Alabama to study law, and attended at Oxford University as an exchange student for an year. In 1950, she went to New York to pursue her writing career and later in 1959, Lee works with Truman Capote as a research assistant. Her first novel, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', was awarded as the Pulitzer Prize, and now known as one of the best Amercian novels. She also wrote articles called "Love - In Other Words" and "Christmas to Me". In 1966, Harper Lee named as one of the National Council of Arts by President Johnson, but rarely gave interviews and decided to go back to Monroeville, where she lived with her sister Alice.

References:
http://kirjasto.sci.fi/harperle.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/who-is-harper-lee.htm
http://www.biography.com/articles/Harper-Lee-9377021