Photo Essay

My photo essay will be about memories in the USA. I stayed in America for a year when I was in fourth grade. I lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Now let me introduce my memories in in USA by explaining seven photos.

Eagles VS. Tar Heels (girl's basketball game)

Take a look at my first photo. What do you see? Some girls gathered up in two groups, right? Actually, that's my basketball team. I was in the "Tar Heels", which was our team name. We had tournaments with other teams in North Carolina, and guess what? We won the first prize! Well, I wish I could have said that, but actually, we were on the fourth place. We could have won the third place if we had two or more goals. It was sad. I mean, it's obvious! My team lost. But anyway, by joining the basketball team, I could learn the spirit of sports, friendships, basketball skills, and most importantly, I made good memories. Actually, the tournament began in winter, so I had to wear our team T-Shirt and short pants with thick jumper. Many good friends, coaches...

A panel of CNN

What do you see in my second photo? Yes!! A panel of CNN! During the Thanksgiving holiday, I went to Atlanta, where my friend lived. There, we went to Coca-Cola factory(original), and CNN. At CNN, I looked around how they broadcast news worldwide. My mother saw a picture of Anderson Cooper, an anchor whom she likes. CNN was pretty interesting. Also, there was the original factory of Coca-Cola right next to CNN. So we also looked around the Coca-Cola factory. It was fantastic. The factory was huge, actually I would say "charming". In the factory, there was lots of, no, tons of coca-colas from around the world. Chines and Egypt's was the worst. Spanish and Korea's was the best. I can still remember the factory design. Oh! I also took a picture with Polar Bear!

Trick-or-Treating

What can you see? Yes, somebody giving out candies and children getting candies. They are all trick-or-treating. When I was in America, I was invited to a Halloween Party that was held in my friend's house. At there, I saw a picture of finger sandwich, and other Halloween foods! It looked really weird, but it was delicious. I wore Cleopatra costume, and went to trick-or-treat with my friends. It was really fun. I hope I can have a Halloween Party one day.

Duke's Blue Devil cheering the audience up

My father's Professor, Professor Bejan gave our family basketball tickets. But there were only two tickets for two games, so we split up in two. My father and I watched first. It was Coastal Carolina VS. Duke. I watched first. I supported Duke, my father's university. The Blue Devils! Duke won!! Hooray! It was really fun, but Duke was so good at basketball, so the score differences were big. Actually, it was my first time to watch a basketball game.

the Cinderella Castle

During the winter break, my family went to Florida, where my friend live. We decided to go to the Diseny World since my friend's house was very near the Disney World. There were four "Parks" in the Disney. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingom, and Hollywood Studio. I liked the Hollywood Studio the most because it had all the fun stuffs that teens or young adults can enjoy. Other "Parks" were for the families, not the specific age group, but Hollywood Studio was for teens and young adults. I remember the "Tower of Terror" because it was the most scariest. But the Disney World was really good.

my sister smiling in front of the symbol of
 Universal Studio

We also went to the Universal Studio the next day we finished enjoying ourselves in the Disney World. If we say that Diseny World is for the families, the Universal Studio is for the teens and young adults. The rides that were in the Universal Studio, were fantastic. I liked the Mummy Ride the most, which is the roallercoaster that actually moves inside a room. I can't explain the feeling and how it worked at what part was good, but I can tell you this: It was perfect. I really want to go back and enjoy that moment again!

my friend, my sister and I before my
orchestra  concert

When I was in America, I joined an orchestra which named "DUSS". "DUSS" means Duke University String School. Anyway, I joined the orchestra, and had the placement test, and I got to the intermediate 1, a level for elementary student. I played violin and my position was first violin. I was the second leader of my orchestra. The musics that our orchestra played were the OSTs of movies. Like Lullaby, ect. I can't remeber the names, but they were really great. I cannot forget the harmony that we made. I hope I can play in that orchestra again.



This was my photo essay on my memories of America. I hope I can go back and enjoy the every single moments in my life at America.

Persuasive Writing

Dear historians,

Hello, I'm a middle school student who thinks Benedict Arnold is a hero, not a traitor. I want you to read my article about Benedict Arnold and change your thoughts about him.

Benedict Arnold was on of the infamous traitors in American history, but at the time, a hero, because he played several important roles in the American Revolution. He worked for the American cause, and he did some military activities and some political activities. This work and activities will be shown in the three paragraphs that are the below. My first paragraph will be about work for an American cause, the second paragraph will be about some military activities that Benedict Arnold did.

At first, Benedict Arnold worked for the American cause. When he was a young adult, he was eager to join the French and Indian War, so he ran away from his home and joined army for French and Indian War. In 1775, he was the captain of the captain of the New Heaven Company. He also became a Captain in the Governor's second company of Guards. Then he joined the American Revolutionary War. From these events, at first, Benedict Arnold tried to support America.

Secondly, Benedict Arnold also did really important military activities. During the American Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen and Green Mountain Boys gt Fort Ticonderoga on My 10th 1775, and it was really big advantage for America. Benedict Arnold also planned the Canadian Invasion. However, he came back with the feeling the lack of a plan, because a rainstorm blew hard for three days, so he lost a lot of his men. From these events, during the American Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold did really important military activities for America.

Thirdly, Benedict Arnold also did political activity. During the American Revolutionary War, he became a traitor and went to the British side. He was about to hand some information about eh West Point, which was very important for America. If the information of the West Point gets revealed, the America could lose. However, Benedict Arnold didn't send the information about the West Point. But think about this question; Why did he go over to the side that he fought against so eagerly?

First, he was treated unfairly. Many soldiers ignored him. Even though he had made lots of significant effects on the American Revolutionary War, he was always rejected to promote because his ancestors came from England. The soldiers in America treated Benedict Arnold as English, not American. Therefore he was always rejected to promote.

Second, he needed some money. He spent too much money on the American Revolutionary War to support America. It was his own money, not the from the supporters. So he lost all of his money by using for the War, but he wasn't treated in a good way. As a result, he went to the British side.

In conclusion, I think Benedict Arnold is not a bad guy. Of course, he became a traitor in the end, but he had the reasons; 1.treated unfairly, 2. Needed money. He also did many jobs in military, political parts in America. As a result, I think Benedict Arnold is a good guy.

How was it? Most of people say that Benedict Arnold is a traitor, and a bad guy, but actually, he had reasons to go over to the British. If America had been more kind and fair to Benedict Arnold, he wouldn't have done that. I hope you changed  your thoughts about Benedict Arnold. Thank you for reading this long letter.

Sincerely, Minji Kang

Creative Writing: Crysline

Crysline

Ugly. Different. Freak. These three words are the words that best describes me. I am ugly. I am different. I am a freak. Living with an ugly face and a special ability is not very happy thing to do. Actually, the life of mine is miserable. I hate my face and my ability. I want to be pretty and normal. 

I am Savanna Whitsel, and I live in the "World of Uglies." I don't know if your planet has this world, but in our planet, Crysline, the two worlds exist. The World of Uglies(W.U. for short) and the World of Pretties and Handsomes(W.P.H. for short). I'm ugly, so of course, I belong to the W.U. 

I also have this ability that can read and control other's thoughts. Everyone envies me for having the ability, but I really want to get rid of this. By having the ability, I can read everybody whom I meet and I always get to read their thoughts and to change the thoughts in a good way for me. 

What I mean by this is, that my ability is uncontrollable. There's no choice for me. I have to read thoughts and change them into good ways for me even if I don't want to. Do you think this is good? No, totally not. By having this ability, I get no change to find out who really likes the actual me. 

There's no way to solve this problem, are there? Oh, there's one. I can get rid of this ability by finding my true love. Who sees me as myself. I should find the person. I should go and look for him right now.

Now I'm here in the middle of the W.U. and I can't find anybody. Wait, what's this hole? I'll go down and see what's this hole is for.

Aghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! 

What is this? I jumped into a hole, I suddenly fell, and now I'm in the middle of  a road!!! What's all this neon signs? Why are cars beeping at me? Why are people staring at me? Why? Why?? WHY??? 

Oh my gosh. Yes, I was in the middle of a road. I quickly moved to the side of the road. Why is this place so loud? There's now place in W.U. that can be loud as this place. Look at the people. They are all pretty and handsome. They are good-looking.

They are PRETTY? They are HANDSOME? Am I in the W.P.H.? O.M.G.! This can never happen! 

W.U. and W.P.H. are totally isolated. Wow, this is amazing. How in the world can this happen! What am I net being sent to jail? There's this law, and it says that Uglies should go to jail if they're in the W.P.H. What's happening? Oh, yes. I have the ability. I got it. 

"What is this ugly doing here?"

My movements stopped. I freezed. My heart was pounding as if it will gonna explode. Who said it? I was a boy, who looked like he was seventeen, which is my age. Hes was handsome. He had long sharp eyes, very sharp nose, and red lips. He looked very sharp. He came to me and said, 

"What are you doing here? I'm going to call the police."

"Oh no! Wait! Look at my eyes for a second", I said.

He looked at my eyes, but I couldn't read any of his thoughts. Who is this boy? Why can't I read his thoughts?

"Why did I have to look at your eyes? I wasted my precious time. I'll call the police."

"No! Please! I didn't mean to be here. I'm accidentally in here. I was wandering around in W.U., then I found a big hole. I was curious, so I went in the hole, then now I'm here! In the middle of W.P.H.! "

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