In Advanced English, we were tasked with creating a personal narrative and paragraphs analyzing other narratives, which can be found below. Although I try hard to produce quality work, writing about myself is not something that comes easily to me, so when it came to writing a narrative, I found it challenging. There were definitely areas in my narrative where I felt I could have improved such as using imagery or including more dialogue. Analyzing other narratives, however, was much easier for me to do. I did not find it very challenging in finding themes and evidence throughout the stories that we read.

In creating the narratives, I found it helpful to have an outline of the plot and characters such as the one included in checkpoint five. It certainly helped to complete a cohesive story. As for the analytical paragraphs, analyzing a story with the class helped me to better analyze stories on my own. Completing the template in checkpoint 1 helped me to get the needed evidence and themes for my paragraphs. The template for the paragraphs also helped to create a well structured paragraph.

Throughout the project, we used the skills collaborate, communicate, and investigate in preparing for and writing our paragraphs and narratives. For example, in analyzing stories, we investigated said stories in search for theme and evidence. After completing our paragraphs and narratives, we peer edited with others, displaying the theme of collaboration. Not only did people help me with editing my stories and paragraphs, I also edited the stories of my peers. Obviously, we created a narrative and two analytical paragraphs.

Analytical Paragraphs

 In “Nightwalker”, the author Brent Staples displays a theme about race: the prejudice of others affects the way they perceive you. The story follows a young black man who walks the streets of New York, alone, at night, scaring those who take it upon themselves to cross the street or lock their doors as he passes by. They, however, don’t know that he has no intention of hurting anyone he walks by, he just enjoys the scenery. The author writes, “She cast back a worried glance. To her, the youngish black man-a broad six feet two inches with a beard and billowing hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a bulky military jacket-seemed menacingly close. She picked up her pace and was soon running in earnest. ”The author describes how his appearance, along with the fact that he was alone at night, affected this women’s impression of him, enough to make her run away from this man, because she was worried of his intentions. Throughout the story, the author explains ways in which he had scared those around him. After noticing the behavior towards him, the narrator changes qualities about his appearance and how he moves, even singing classical music as he walks the streets. After this change, people see him as less threatening. The author writes, “I whistle melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi and the more popular classical composers. Even steely New Yorkers hunching toward nighttime destinations seem to relax, and occasionally they even join in the tune. ”The author explains a way in which he would make himself appear less threatening. After doing so, others around him stopped perceiving him as dangerous or menacing, but instead as calming. The story explains the ways in which people can react towards people they have a prejudice to, especially when dealing with race. The text reminds us of the everlasting problems of racism which are still prevalent in America today.

 In “How It Feels To Be Colored Me”, by Zora Hurston, the author displays a theme about race: our perspective of ourselves can be changed by who or what we are surrounded with. Zora, a colored girl, lived in a primarily colored area of Florida. Her exposure to white people consisted mostly of tourists that passed by. The text reads, “I remember the very day that I became colored. Up to my thirteenth year I lived in the little Negro town of Eatonville, Florida.”The author explains that she only became colored when she was surrounded by those who weren’t, showing that our perspective of ourselves is ever-changing depending on what we surround ourselves with. Later, the author explains where she felt as if she had no race. The author explains an instance with a white friend in which she got up and danced to music, whereas he sat motionless, showing, to her, her race. She goes on to explain when she feels as though she has no race. The author writes, “AT CERTAIN TIMES I have no race, I am me. When I set my hat at a certain angle and saunter down Seventh Avenue, Harlem City, feeling as snooty as the lions in front of the Forty.” The author explains how walking down certain areas, known for their dominant African- American heritage, she does not feel her race. This reveals that your environment can make you feel differently about yourself. The story explains how a change in your environment can change the way you perceive yourself. This text reminds us of the power that our environment can have over ourselves.