Nai’s English Blog

  Prompt Response :  I used to think sushi was always raw fish because that’s how it was shown on TV. One day, I tried sushi at a Japanese restaurant and realized it includes cooked rolls and a lot of flavors I actually liked. Summary :  I learned that sushi isn’t just raw fish and can be really tasty. Reflection :  It taught me not to judge a food before trying it and to be open to different cultures.

  Prompt Response :  The New Orleans episode of Street Food: USA shows that food is more than just something to eat because it represents culture and community. Yakamein, is important in New Orleans because it’s linked to local traditions and late night gatherings. It reflects the city’s mix of cultures and how food brings people together. Summary : Yakamein  shows how food represents culture and community in New Orleans. Reflection :  It shows that food can connect people and reflect a city’s unique identity.

  Prompt Response :  One dish from my culture is tamales. They are made with corn dough and filled with meat or cheese, then wrapped and steamed. They are important because families make them together during holidays. Summary :  Tamales represent Mexican culture and family traditions. Reflection :  This shows how food connects people and keeps traditions alive.

  Prompt Response :  I remember making tamales with my family during the holidays. Everyone helped, and we talked and laughed while we worked. Eating them after felt special because we made them together. Summary :  It shows how food unites families together. Reflection :  It made me feel more connected to both my family and my culture.

  Prompt Response :  Drafting helps you get your ideas down before making them perfect. When I drafted my essay, I noticed some of my points were unclear and needed more explanation. It helped me see what I needed to fix. Summary :  Drafting helps you find problems and improve your writing. Reflection : I  learned I need to make my ideas clearer and add more detail.

  Prompt Response :  The writing process helped my essay get better over time. Brainstorming helped me figure out my main idea, and drafting helped me get everything written down. When I revised, I made my argument clearer and added more details. Proofreading helped fix small mistakes, and finalizing made everything come together. Summary : Each  step helped improve the essay and make it clearer. Reflection : I  learned that I’m good at coming up with ideas, but I need to spend more time revising and adding more detail.

  Prompt Response :  The part of essay writing I struggle with the most is organizing my ideas. I usually know what I want to say, but it’s hard to figure out what order everything should go in. Summary :  Overall, organizing my ideas and starting the essay are the hardest parts for me. Sometimes I have good points but I’m not sure where they should go in the essay or how to connect them. The part I feel most confident about is explaining my analysis because once I have a point, I can usually explain what I mean and support it with evidence. Reflection :  To get better at writing essays, I want to start making outlines before I begin so my ideas are easier to organize. 

  Prompt Response :  The strongest idea I came up with for my essay was about Cheryl on the Pacific Crest Trail. This part stood out to me because the trail is where she changed the most. While hiking, she had a lot of time to think about her life and everything she lost, and it helped her start to heal. Summary :  My chart was about how loss shapes identity. Cheryl went through a lot of loss, and hiking the PCT helped her reflect on it and grow as a person. Reflection : I  chose this idea because it shows the biggest change in her. The PCT is where she really started to understand herself and move forward.

  Prompt Response :  One thing I learned is that the price you see for college is not always the amount you actually pay. Colleges can give financial aid, scholarships, and grants that lower the cost. Summary :  The assignments showed how students can compare colleges and find ones that fit them best. They also explained that financial aid can make college more affordable. Reflection :  This is important for seniors to understand because some students might think college is too expensive and not apply. Knowing about financial aid can help them see that college might be more affordable than they thought.

Prompt Response :  After revising my paragraph, I added a sentence about how I’ve felt unsafe as an isolated woman to better connect to the theme of isolation. I also replaced one of my quotes with a stronger one that shows how isolation affected Cheryl Strayed more clearly. Summary :  I added a short personal detail about feeling unsafe when isolated and changed one of my quotes to a stronger one that better shows how isolation impacted Cheryl Strayed and supports my point. Reflection :  These changes helped make my argument clearer and stronger.

  Prompt Response :  It is important for students to write essays in their own words because schoolwork is supposed to show what the student knows and understands. Summary :  We talked about why academic writing needs to be original and come from the student instead of artificial intelligence. We learned that teachers expect honest work that shows real learning. Reflection :  Writing in your own words helps you actually understand the topic better. It also lets teachers see your effort and give fair feedback. When students do their own writing, they learn how to think for themselves and explain their ideas more clearly, which is important in school and beyond.

  Prompt Response :  The most challenging part of the paragraph for me was the analysis. Making an arguable claim was easier because I already knew what I wanted to argue. Moving beyond summary was harder because I had to explain why the evidence mattered, not just what happened in Wild. Summary :  We worked on writing a literary argument paragraph using the claim, evidence, and analysis structure. The focus was on whether discomfort is necessary for personal growth in Wild. Reflection :  I realized that I need to work on my analysis more. I tend to summarize the story instead of explaining how the evidence supports my claim. With more practice, I think I will get better at explaining my ideas clearly.

  Prompt Response:  Essay writing is enjoyable and sometimes challenging for me. Summary:  I have written many essays in school, which has helped me practice sharing my ideas clearly. Reflection:  I enjoy coming up with ideas and examples, especially when I understand the topic. One of my strengths is explaining my thoughts clearly. However, I struggle with organizing my paragraphs and writing strong introductions and conclusions. I want to improve my organization and flow.