Understanding Paul Part Two

Identify each of the sections in which Paul describes Keller. Note the use of language. Describe Paul as you see him, using language as effectively as you can. Try choosing a scene and imagining what Paul looks like in this situation. 

   - "Red glow of his face - a boozer's incandescent glow. The pitted, sun-coarsened skin - a cheap, ruined leather. And the eyes: an old man's moist, wobbling jellies. (p.3)

   - "Keller's red face also glistened with a fine varnish of sweat - but the linen suit still seemed crisp and freshly laundered." (p.5)

   - "He was short: migrant height, European height. Wop-height. The hair above that flaming face was white, sparse, downy." (p.5)

   - "Small and podgy like inflated gloves, they narrowed delicately, fastidiously, towards the tips of the fingers. The nails were manicured; the skin pale and soft and clean. If his face was coarse leather his hands were fashioned from the finest calf: each wrinkle, each dimple carefully hand tooled." (p.5) 

Understanding Paul

What are your first impressions of Paul as an adolescent?
   - Whiney
   - Doesn't like piano lesson
   - Intrigued by Keller
   - From the south
   - Rides bike to school instead of catching bus to avoid people from school 
   - He is a relatable character through his relationships and his changes 
   - He just wants to fit in - very common in adolescents 
   - People think his weird 
   - He wants to please his parents by being a great pianist, however, by playing this instrument he is bullied
   - He is a judgmental character - also a little bit arrogant 
   - He likes the outrageous and climate side to Darwin (flowers a huge, insects are huge) 

What is his relationship with his parents like? 
   - Very close with parents as he is always with them 
   - Mostly connect through playing the piano - all they talk about
   - Understands them quite well 

What aspects of Paul's life are affecting his development to adulthood? 
   - No friends
   - Gets bullied
   - Plays Piano
   - He has wet dreams of Meagan Murray
   - A weird girl is obsessed with him
   - At lunch and morning tea he is always by himself in the music room

Growing Up Edited Edition

Dear Sally,

So its my first week at the new school! I thought it would be a daunting experience being the new girl, but it really isn't! The thing I have learnt about school and growing up is that it doesn't matter where your from, or if your new or old, it's easy to make friends and build life long connections. I think thats what I like most about being a teenager. It doesn't matter about your political view or religion, its about the way you interact and respect people. Its about your interests and hobbies, and even if you don't have the same hobbies as someone else you can still be friends. The relationships that can form in a single minute are both exhilarating and profound. I am excited for school and the people I meet, unlike the first day when I was a complete wreck; nervously sweating when first walking through the gates, scared if anyone would actually like me. It gets me excited for the real world, and the people I will meet. You see on the news stories about teenagers being bad and doing the mischievous things, but its not all true. They are experimenting, finding out where they belong and sometimes it can go wrong, but how can we learn if no one ever makes a mistake?  Growing up is a time to find yourself, what your good at and what you like and what your not good at. Want to know the best thing though? Its the fact that as a teenager you can disagree with something or not have the same views and it doesn't mean much, it doesn't define you or your personality. But I know when we grow up, our decisions and views will define us and who we are friends with. Its a scary thought, and thats why I never really want to grow up! I love being a teenager because friendships and connections with people can form from a simple smile!

Miss you lots,
Katie

Representation of Growing Up - Connections

Dear Sally,

So its my first week at the new school! I thought it would be a daunting experience being the new girl, but it really isn't! The thing I have learnt about school and growing up is that it doesn't matter where your from, or if your new or old, its easy to make friends and connections. I think thats what I like about being a teenager. It doesn't matter about your political view or religion, its about the way you interact and respect people. Its about your interests and hobbies, and even if you don't have the same hobbies as someone else you can still be best friends. The relationships that can form in a single minute are exhilarating and profound. I am excited for school and the people i meet, unlike the first day when I was a complete reck; nervously sweating when first walking through the gates scared if anyone would actually like me. It gets me excited for the real world, the people I will meet. You see on the news stories about teenagers being bad and doing the wrong things, but its not all true. They are experimenting, finding out where they belong and sometimes it can go wrong, but how can we learn if no one ever makes a mistake?  Growing up is a time to find yourself, what your good at and what you like and what your not good at. Want to know the best thing though? Its the fact that as a teenager you can disagree with something or not have the same views and it doesn't mean much, it doesn't define you or your personality. But I know when we grow up, our decisions and views will define us and who we are friends with. Its a scary thought, and thats why I never really want to grow up! I love being a teenager because friendships and connections with people can form from a simple smile!

Miss you lots,
Katie

“Senior Year of High School” Advertisement

The advertisement “Senior Year of High School” strongly presents the reader to view the concept of growing up a vulnerable time for adolescence and that it is a time for parents to assert their authority. This representation is reached through the target audience being parents of teenagers and also the elements of language and visual. By this advertisement being written for the purpose of educating parents instead of educating teenagers is due to the writer believing that teenagers will not respond and will not affect their overall decision making. However, my targeting it at parents it allows them to see methods that could work in preventing the temptations their child may face without controlling their lives completely. The advertisement through its use of language dramatically expresses that teenagers are susceptible to dangerous things such as drugs and alcohol and that if parents don’t step in and help that they could ruin their lives forever. Through the connection of language and visuals the advertisement presents to the reader that there are many pathways in every persons life and that it is okay that we help guide our loved ones onto the write path. This advertisement stresses its point clearly and precisely through its dot point guide to helping the child and highlighting that although their child may be in the final staging on schooling, you still have a right to set your rules and boundaries. This advertisement presents the reader to strongly see that senior year of high school is a year that kids will push boundaries and fall for temptations, but it is an even bigger time for parents to make sure they have control and help their kids choose the right pathway that they wont regret when they get older.