Reading and Writing Assignments for 5/26/15 12th class

Shirley's Response:

In the story Sarah, plain and tall, Sarah returns home from her journey a picture of the sea. The picture shows the sea with a beautiful sea, blue sea, and yellow beach. Have some sea gull, coconut tree sway in the wind, Thick tropical flavor, I love it very much! In the picture I see people lie on the beach, everybody is so relax. Boys and girls are in the sea, they play with water, some are swim in the sea, oh so cool! On left there is a stalls, kids like there. The children are very happy when they see the picture because Sarah and Caleb haven’t see sea before, some building make Sarah and Caleb so envious, the life are make Sarah and Caleb yearn.

Hi Shirley, Well you have certainly described a lovely vacation scene, and I very much like the phrase "thick, tropical flavor" along with the image of the coconut tree swaying in the wind.  I think that  in the end, though, you were talking about Anna because Sarah has definitely seen the sea. 

Sarah is from Maine. Her old house is by the sea, so she loves the sea very much. Her new home is not close to ocean, so her homesickness becomes worse. Even there is a haystack just like the sand dune at her hometown, she always loves the things around her old home. When she returns, she has a picture of sea with her. Sarah is missing her old home very much, but she brings the sea to her new house, so she will not get homesick. It means Sarah will remain, and the children will get their wish, too.

I think moving to a new place with no friend or family is a courageous thing. For example, transferring to a new school is very scary. You don’t know anyone there, and you don’t know if you can make new friends. Maybe I will go to Canada for senior high school. Although I will probably go with my cousins, I will also like to make new friends.

Well  done Alfonso! Although the entire passage is excellent, this is my favorite sentence "Sarah is missing her old home very much, but she brings the sea to her new house, so she will  not get homesick." That is exactly right. I particularly like the part "she brings the sea to her new house."

I think you will make new friends even if you go with your cousins. I think you will always make new friends, with or without your cousins, wherever you go. See you tomorrow.  Laraine

Here is Jackie's response

Jackie, I really like the detail in your response. I can immediately visualize (see in my imagination) the picture that Sarah brought home. That's what specific details do. They make the reader see (and understand) what the writer is talking about.  And you are so right about the cause of the children's happiness. Sarah has brought the sea with her and never needs to leave in order to see it again. I notice, too, that you are working on your use of tense. Very well done! I am impressed. 

Here is Elsa's response:

In the story ‘Sarah, Plain and Tall’, Sarah returns home from her journey, carrying a picture of the sea. The picture shows the sea with the evening glow, the mysterious and wide sea. In the middle of the picture , there are a sun, which is red like a large fireball .Around it , the sky are

colorful ——some pink , a little bit black ,wonderful gold, a lot of red and orange etc .In the sky , there are groups of sea gulls , which body are white .The sea is peaceful, there are small waves .We know the sea always green , blue and gray. But maybe as the sunshine or other things, the sea which are orange , red , brown and a little bit purple , like a big palette. It makes me warm !In the sea , some poor fishermen who row their old ,rusty boat are so tired that can’t think any trouble in the life. On the beach , there are a lot of buildings which are made by hay and stones. Some travelers who  want to have some great time are lying under the umbrella to relax. It is beautiful , wasn’t it?

  I think when they see the picture the clildren are very happy! First , the children get their wish seeing the sea before . But now Sarah takes a picture ,which is depict the sea so beautiful . Second, they think  Sarah just miss the sea and the color of the sea . They think Sarah will not go bake her old house ——when she wants to see the sea , she just need see the picture.

Wow, Elsa! This is just a beautiful piece of work. I think the details you picked to make the picture come alive are just spectacular.  I can see it in my mind's eye down to the very last detail, especially the gorgeous colors. And you are very right about the cause of the children's happiness. I think you are a novelist in the making. (That means you will become famous one day for writing novels)