Metacognition: Kite Runner Essay

When I first took a serious look at the essay prompts on our google site, my first thought was to narrow my choices down to around three or four. I looked for one thing first. I wanted to write about something I had already thought about while reading Kite Runner rather than going back through the entire book and searching for answers to questions I had not previously considered. I then made sure I had enough ideas and pieces of evidence to write a complete essay about the topic. Nothing is worse to read than an essay that is mostly filler and not enough insight. That helped me narrow it down to three choices. That was when I conferenced with Mr. Allen/you (?) and decided that my idea about how fiction allows Hossieni to add symbolism to the story was my most original one. After our meeting, I began looking for evidence to support my thesis. So far, I've come up with a few good ones that I believe really show how his use of symbolism really strengthens the story.

One thing that I liked about my thought process while deciding on the focus of this essay was how I developed some of my own criteria for a good essay topic. I also liked how I was able to come up with many good ideas and examine them to determine which one was best using that criteria and with the assistance of Mr. Allen/you (?). I should probably improve on keeping my topic specific because before our meeting, my first thesis was way too broad. Now, I continue searching for evidence and create my evidence plan.

Best of the Week: The Kite Runner (Tea)

In my opinion, the best idea/observation of the week in our English class was when Margot made her comment about Kite Runner on Thurday. In it, she stated that tea was used as a metaphor for the different mentalities of Rahim Khan and Amir. Rahim Khan always takeshis tea black while Amir adds three cubes of sugar to his. The sugar Amir puts in his tea represents his attempts to forget and cover up his past mistakes rather than confronting them. Rahim Khan's tea has no sugar. Throughout the story he has tried to help Amir tackle his problems throughout the story but Amir has always turned away.
But, on page 225, Amir says "...I stooped and tightened it, I wished my life could be fixed as easily. I took a gulp of the blackest tea I'd had in years and tried to think...of the novel that needed finishing." This is right before he decides to go out and find Sohrab, Hassan's son. As he begins his search for redemption, he is getting rid of the "sugar" and facing his bitter past head-on. Finishing the novel of his life.
Margot first told us about this observation after Wednesday's class because she wasn't called on that class. It seemed like a stretch at first but after a little bit I realized that it was a perfect metaphor for the story. I then began to wonder if the author did this on purpose. He must have. I don't think he could have done this by accident which makes me admire him even more. I hope this will be discussed in Artful Sentences because I think it is really cool and I'd like to learn how to include it in my own writing. Good work Margot!

Carry It Forward: The Kite Runner

To most high school students, me included, the idea of "being yourself" and having other people accept you for who you really are, is just that, an idea. With the media and your peers setting the standard for what is socially acceptable, staying true to yourself all of the time is extremely difficult. I empathize with Amir's fear that no one would accept him if they knew what he had done. Although on a different scale, I feel compelled to lie about my true opinions of teachers, music, other kids, etc., if I think that my actual opinions will be disagreed with and/or made fun of.

If I was in Amir's positon, I think I would have told someone without waiting twenty-five years. But who knows? Maybe I wouldn't have. Thinking about this idea of being open and honest, I realize that the friends that I like the best are those who hang out with whomever they want - popular or not. They say the things other people are afraid to say. And more often than not, I find myself agreeing with them. After reading this book and reflecting on this concept, I think that staying true to your beliefs, opinions and ideas is probably one of the most important keys to leading a happy life. I am now going to make a more serious attempt to say and do what I enjoy and not worry what others might think about it.

My Music

Hip Hop Playlist: http://view.playlist.com/12026997515/standalone

Ill get around to making other genres when I have time