Journal Entry 19: Do the Right Thing

One definition of a hero is a person who does the right thing even though he or she might have to act alone. Many of the people we most admire and think of as heroes have had to stand up for their beliefs. Could these definitions apply to Barbara Frietchie or to Harriet Tubman? How about Stonewall Jackson? Describe what beliefs they stood up for, if any. How about the heroes you cited in your last journal entry? How about you? Have you ever had to “do the right thing” by yourself?

Barbara Fretchie and Harriet Tubman are both heroes, no doubt. They both risked their lives just to stand up for what they believe in. Barbara Fretchie told the soldier to shoot HER instead of the flag, just because she really belives in uniting her country and that was really brave. Harriet Tubman was willing to risk her own life too by helping the slaves escape to Canada, because according to the law, anyone who helps the slaves will also be killed or punished. Stone wall Jackson wasn't a hero at first, but he eventually became a hero too himself because he was influenced by Barbara Fretchie. He also told his sodiers to leave Barbara alone even though she was waving the flag, because he stood up for his own beliefs that were buried deep within him before Barbara made him realize it and stand up for it. I have did the right thing before too! There was once when my friends asked me to help them cheat on a exam, and I told them not to cheat, or else the teacher will find out, even though I knew I would probably fail if I didn't cheat.

Journal Entry 18: Setting

Think about settings that have had a strong effect on you. Where were you once very hot or very cold or very scared? What place made you feel especially safe and happy? Pick a setting that had an effect on you and describe it using your five senses. What did you see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Touch?

The stage. Any stage. Any stage in front of a lot of people staring at me. Standing on the stage makes me feel super nervous and uncomfortable. I really hate going onstage, especially going onstage alone. I hate the feeling of all the eyes on me. When I face the audiences, I can see everyone staring at me, and it totally freaks me out. I've tried all of the tricks such as imagining the audiences naked and all that, but it never worked for me, and it only made me even more nervous. I can't hear anything at all and it's like I'm in a trance or something, and all I can hear is my blood pumping trough my ears and feeling like my brain will explode and my heart will stop beating from all the pressure. I can pratically taste the food I ate for the last meal. Once, I made the mistake of eating a huge cake before a speech, and I felt so sick I threw up after I finished my speech! When I'm onstage, I feel really cold one second and shiver all over, but also feel very hot the other second and feel my whole face burn. I really hate stages.

Journal Entry 17: My Hero?

Describe someone who is a hero to you. First describe them in terms of their physical, social, and historical context (what does he/she look like, what are his/her qualities, where and when does/did he/she live). Then explain your relationship to him/her. Is it someone you know personally? Someone you have heard of or seen (such as a historical figure, fictional character, or famous person in the news). How did you find out about this person? Finally, explain why you consider this person a hero. Keep in mind the qualities of a hero that we talked about in class, as well as what you wrote about in your last journal entry.

My hero is my mom! My mom is tall and has no super powers (except making me be more confident of myself or want to kill myself or runaway...), and she's just like a normal mom with a little "higher than usual" expectations. She is a nice woman and is very friendly to all her friends and other parents. I remember there was once when she was yelling at me and I was on the brink of crying and the phone rang, my mom picked up the phone, and said, in a super friendly and cheerful voice, "Hello? Oh, hey! Yeah, I know. Oh! Ha ha ha...", and I was so shocked, thinking, wow, how can she change so fast!? Even though my mom can sometimes be quite scary and expect me to do magnificent things, she is still a nice woman and has helped me through a lot of things. She was the one that introduced me to a swimming, a sport I used to be frightened of, but is now my favorite. She also helped me get rid of my stage-fright. I remember competing in a speech contest, and she made me prepare the speech by saying every single word perfectly and standing in front of the mirror saying my speech again and again until I get everything right or else I can't even go to bed. She also sacrificed a lot of her time trying to teach me math and driving me from one place to another for my classes. She is my hero, and I really hope that I will work this hard for my own kids in the future!

Journal Entry 16: What is a hero?

What is a hero? Describe the characteristics that make a person a hero. Try to think of several people (fictional or real) that are considered heroes and describe them. What do they have in common? Do you know anyone personally that you would consider a hero? Do you think you could be a hero? Explain.

A hero is someone that always does the right thing or sacrifices themselves for people, even the people they don't know. Heroes also fights monsters and save innocent people. Some of the girly and childish heroes I know of are probably: Powerpuff Girls and Kim Possible. Also the guy from transformers and X-men and Superman! They all have super power, Powerpuff Girls were a mistake at first, but they can fly, Kim Possible can transform into a super spy (i think so), and all the transformers can transform into different machines and X-Men are mutants and all have different super powers, and Superman... well, everyone knows superman. He's SUPERMAN. They also all sacrifices their own safety to fight against the evil and they all like to save the innocents from the big bad guy. I think I don't really know anyone that is a complete hero, because I don't know anyone that has super powers. Maybe, my teachers, because they can control the time I go to bed by the amount of homework they give me, and they give me lots of homework and tests to "help" me be smarter. Also, maybe my parents, because they support me (sometimes) and help me trough tough times. They also yell at me and make me a better person by telling me what I'm doing wrong and correcting my mistakes.

Journal Entry 15: Leaving Everything Behind

Think about another period in history when people were forced to leave behind everything they knew and loved. How would their experience compare with the experiences of Harriet Tubman and her eleven fugitives? What about you? Have you ever had to move to a new place? If so, did you have to leave anything behind? How did it make you feel? If you’ve never moved, have you ever known someone else who has? How do you think that made him or her feel?

In the past, there was a civil war in China between the republic and communists. A lot of people were forced to fled the mainland to Taiwan and islands close to China, or else they'd be killed or worse. The people that were left behind were either too poor to travel on the boat or just not important enough so they were left out. They traveled across the sea and many died during the trip to Taiwan. Even the ones that successfully arrived in Taiwan were mostly broke because many of them met pirates on the sea and were robbed. It was very sad, and that's why nowadays, Taiwanese still hate China people so much (most of them). Their experience was kind of similar to Harriet Tubman and her eleven fugitives' experience, because they all had to leave things behind. But for the Chinese, it was a llittle different, because a lot of them were free and had a lot of money, food, and family, and many of them were rich, but they had to leave a LOT behind so they can run for their lives. Harriet and her eleven fugitives had nothing to lose, because they were already slaves and didn't have much going for them, unlike the Chinese which probably includes many educated and successful people.

I've moved before, and I had to leave some of my childhood memories behind. My family moved and had to leave behind my toys and swing and slides. I was very sad and I still miss them a lot, because they were like my childhood and it's hard to leave them behind.

Journal Entry 14: Why Risk Your Life?

Why might someone like Harriet Tubman, who was already free, risk her life to lead other people to freedom? What could she hope to gain from this? Have you ever taken a risk when you had a lot to lose but little to gain for yourself? If so, describe the circumstance. If not, why do you think you have not? Do you think you ever would take a big risk just to help someone else? Under what circumstances might you do so?

Harriet Tubman probably wanted to let others enjoy freedom too, like her, and thought that it's unfair and felt guilty that she gets to taste the sweetness of freedom, but others don't. She probably just hopes to end the slavery and see everyone being treated equally and be proud of what she has done. I don't think I've ever take any risks when I had more to lose than how much I gain. Probably studying, because I have to waste my time just to get a good grade when I could be watching a movie or something (just kidding). I haven't risked too much, because I don't think there's really anything worth risking when I don't have much to gain, because then, what's the point of risking anything!? I think I will probably take a big risk to help someone I know, but not someone I don't know (only if they're dying or something).

Journal Entry 13: Freedom Fighter

Imagine that you are a fairly wealthy and comfortable citizen of a country. Everything is going well for you personally, but there is one problem with the place you live: slavery is widely practiced and is sanctioned by the state. You, as a freedom loving person, are bothered by this. Unfortunately, it is illegal for you to help slaves escape, or even to openly question the practice of slavery. You find out that some people you know are secretly helping slaves escape, and they want you to join them. It is very dangerous, because if you are caught you could be killed. Describe how you feel about the situation and what you would do.

I'm not really the kind of person who likes to go around risking my own life for some people I don't know, but I'd still help a little. Even though I believe that it's wrong to enslave people, I wouldn't have courage to help them escape. I would probably employ them myself, and be really nice to them and still pay them. Even though that is not effective enough, at least I am helping some of them. I would probably also help my friends help the slaves and not interact with them directly myself, but through my friends instead, because that would be a little bit safer. If there were enough people who wants to end slavery, I might even consider joining a rebel group or something, and that might help more. I guess I wouldn't risk my own life too much, because I have quite a lot to lose, unlike that slaves who really doesn't have much to lose.

Journal Entry 12: To Be A Slave

Imagine you wake up tomorrow morning and find that you and your family have been captured and sold into slavery. You are separated from your family and sent to a distant country where everyone who looks like you is a slave. Even if you escape, you are easily identified as a runaway. The only chance for freedom is to travel thousands of miles to the nearest neighboring country, but to do so you have to go on foot. You don’t even know the way. If you are caught, you will be killed in a terrible way as a warning to other slaves. Then one day someone comes to you and offers to be your guide in escaping. All the dangers are still there, but this person knows the way. Write a short story about what decision you will make and why, as well as what happens after you make your decision.


  "Wake up! You worthless pieces of trash!" a voice said. Huh? I thought to myself. Am I still dreaming? What's wrong with my alarm clock, or is this some kind of joke? I opened my eyes and found myself in some kind of humid, dark, and dirty room, and I was sleeping on the floor with a bunch of other dirty looking people ! What the...? Am I still dreaming?


  "Hey, kid. You wanna get whipped or something? Get movin'!" a tall middle-aged and mean-looking guy yelled at me, and I realized that he was the one that called me and the people around me "worthless pieces of trash". I stood up and followed his orders, all the while thinking to myself, this is obviously just another one of my crazy dreams, I probably wake up soon.


  After a few days of the same orders everyday (they don't even give us decent food!), I found out that I was captured and I also realized that the ones who captured me has taken me to another planet and they've put tracking devices into all of us who have been captured. They were very mean and worked us until we're worn out. I really hate them, but there are really no way to escape, since they've planted some kind of tracking device into our forearms.


  One day, while I was working, another slave said to me, "hey, kid, wanna get outta here?"
  "Of course! You think I'm crazy?"
  "Well, lemme tell ya something. The tracking device you've heard of, it's total BS, and if you wanna get outta here, you better follow me." he said it with a wink and an evil little smile.


  I didn't trust him at all, so I told on him. The next day, my so called "boss" promoted me, because he thought I was loyal, and I then started enjoying a way more luxurious life than the one I had on Earth. So I never went back and I really love it there.

Journal Entry 11: More Freedom

Describe all the things you get to do because you live in a free society. Then describe all the things you don't get to do because the society isn't really all that free.

I can wear whatever I want, I do what I want and I can say what I want. I can't smoke or drink alcohol or vote though, because I'm under 18. And, even though the law doesn't say that teenagers are forbidden to swear, I still can't swear. I can't really wear whatever I like (like flip-flops) to school, even though the law doesn't say I can't. Even though this is a free society, I'm not all that free at all. The already made my life not so free, because people can't kill, steal, and many other things. But, for teenagers like me, the law isn't the only thing that takes away a lot of my freedom. School, for one thing, is something that takes away my freedom. I can't wear whatever I like to school, can't swear, can't ditch, and can't even speak Chinese. Another MAJOR reason I'm not really all that free is my parents. They make me go to school, do choirs, take classes, tutor my sister, and many MANY other things. So, honestly, I'm not all that free. THIS IS NOT A FREE SOCIETY!!!

Journal Entry 10: For the Sake of Freedom

What does the word freedom mean to you? In your own life, how free do you think you are? If you have ever felt that your freedom was taken away, what were the circumstances and what did you do about it? What have people over the centuries endured for the sake of freedom? What have people endured because their freedom was taken away? What would you be willing to do to protect your freedom?

  To me, freedom means the right to do and say whatever you want (as long as it's legal, of course). In my own life, I think I just have a little freedom. I can say what I want, but no swearing or any insulting words anywhere, and no Chinese at school. I can't really do whatever I want, in fact there are lot and LOTS of things that are legal, but I'm not allowed to do. If I had my freedom taken away, I think I'd just complain about it and act like a little brat about it, but I don't really think I'd do much about it. I think my mom did take away my iPod once, and I just used my mp3 instead, and she never knew (shh!), so problem solved! People over the centuries have protested, rebelled, fought, and even died for the sake of freedom. Some people just waits for others to help and save them when their freedom is taken away from them, but there are also others that are willing to fight and to sacrifice anything in order to get their freedom back. I think I would be the kind of person that would fight to get my freedom back. I'll do anything that's necessary (as long as it doesn't includes risking my or my family's life) to get my freedom back. I think freedom is very important and no one has the right to take anyone's freedom away (as long as the other person didn't do anything illegal).

Journal Entry 9: If You Were Billy

  Imagine that you are Billy. What do you think you would have done differently when you arrived in Bath? Would you rather stay at the pub, or the bed and breakfast? Why? Consider that you don't know anything about the landlady and her unusual habits. Do you think you would have suspected her? If so, at what point do you think you would have become suspicious? Do you think you would have escaped, or would you have joined her "permanent" guests?

  If I were Billy, I'd probably have already researched all the hotels in Bath, because I like to be prepared. I wouldn't have went to the hotel I was going to stay by walking, since according to the text, it was a very cold and windy night. I would've called a taxi or something. Even if I did walk to the hotel I was going to stay in, and saw the sign saying "Bed and Breakfast", I wouldn't have gone inside. I don't really like to go to places I've never heard of or never have been recommended to go to, and I don't trust cheap places or cheap things, because their qualities are usually not so great (like things mad in China, no offense). So, I never would've join the landlady's "permanent guests, because I'm just too smart to fall for her stupid trick! Billy should've noticed earlier that the landlady is weird and not right in her mind. he actually did, but too bad he dismissed the thought. And in the end I hope he realizes soon, and call the police and have the landlady arrested and try to find an antidote for himself. He is so stupid! He shouldn't have drank that tea. It's obviously poisoned. Stupid Billy, I wouldn't trust anything before I've checked it out on the internet or something.

Journal Entry 8: After the End?

At end of “The Landlady,” we don't really know what happens to Billy (but we can make a good guess). What do you think happens just after the story ends? Does Billy realize the danger he faces? If he does, is it too late, or does he escape? Write your own ending to the story that describes Billy's (and the landlady's) fate.
   "Thank you, the tea was quite nice," Billy said, " but can you please show me where the two other gentlemen who, from what you told me, are still living here?"
   "I would love to," she said, "but unfortunately, they told me they don't want to be disturbed. I'm so sorry." She smiled apologetically, and stared at Billy with a weird glint of malice and hunger in her eyes.
   "Thank you so much. Well, I'm going to go to bed now, good night!" Billy said in a shaking voice. This woman is definitely a murderer of some kind! Did she murder the previous guests, because she must have! I must tell someone about this, Billy thought to himself.
   Billy went upstairs and tried to find a phone in his room, and he found one on his nightstand. He dialed 911 again and again, but he can't here anything on the other side. This phone must be fake, he thought to himself. He decided to look for the other two guys that were here before him and were supposedly mummified. He went to the third floor and found a dust and old looking door and peeked inside. "Those are the two guys!" he whispered to himself.
  "Hello, My dear, couldn't sleep either?" a creepy voice said from behind him.
  "Ah!" Billed yelled, " No, no, no... I was... yeah, I couldn't sleep either, so I just took a walk."
  "You think I'm stupid?" the landlady said with a sweet and poisonous smile, "well, let me give you something that'll help you sleep."
  She stabbed a needle into his arm, and the last thing Billy felt was a second of pain and peacefulness, and he fell asleep.
  And he never woke up.

Journal Entry 7: Three Pigs

Retelling is an important reading skill. It helps you to communicate clearly to others, as well as to understand a story better for yourself. To practice re-telling, think of the story of the three little pigs. You’ve probably heard or seen different versions, but the main parts are almost always the same. Try retelling the story of the big, bad wolf and the three little pigs in your own words. It is okay to change the details, but make sure that the most important parts conform to the original story (you can change the ending if you like).

  Once upon a time, there were three little pigs, and they were all about to graduate from high school. Their dad told them, "Hey, kids! Since you are now all grown up, why don't you guys each build a house of your own?" The three little pigs then went and each built their own houses. Pig 1 built his house out of straws, pig 2 built his house out of straws, and pig 3 built his house out of bricks. While the three little pigs were building, the wolf was watching them hungrily. He thought to himself, "This time, instead of being all rude and eating them right away, I'll act nicer and blow down their houses first."


  When the pigs finished building their houses, the wolf went to Pig 1's house. He said, "Let me in, Let me in, little pig or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!"
  "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin." said Pig 1. But of course the wolf blew down Pig 1's house and ate him.


  "Let me in ,Let me in little pig or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," the wolf said.
  "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin," said pig 2. But the wolf blew that house in too, and ate the second little pig.


  The wolf then came to the house of bricks. " Let me in , let me in," cried the wolf, "or I'll huff and I'll puff till I blow your house in" 
  "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!" said Pig 3. The wolf huffed and puffed but couldn't blow Pig 3's house in. So, he climbed down the chimney of Pig 3's house, hoping to get inside his house that way, but he didn't know Pig 3 already has a pot of boiling hot water waiting for the wolf there. He fell into the pot and Pig 3 just found himself some free dinner.