AbdulQader Al Afifi

I am a 14-yrs old teenager in school. I was born in Abu-Dhabi. My favourite hobbies are programming and skiing. I like to nickname my self Abood, however, my friends call me another name. "When you think about quitting something, think of why you started it." I really like this quote and I apply it in many situations in life.

[alafifi10c]

This picture symbolizes what I have learned throughout this unit about justice. It broke almost everything I understood into four words. My point of view is that justice is important and should be applied on everything. Without justice, the world would not be fair. How could the world have peace when it's not fair? Peace would not be applied if justice is not applied. Absolute justice would result in no bad since it does not affect badly. To summarize my opinion, people should apply justice in their lives so they could be fair to everyone!

[shaq-10-c]

"Money can’t buy you what that piano cost. You can’t sell your soul for money." - Berniece

What Berniece is trying to tell Boy Willie is that the piano he is trying to sell is priceless, just like one’s soul. This is because the piano holds a lot of precious memories within it as well as descriptions of her parents’ past like carvings. Berniece insists that the piano is too valuable to be sold. She considers it as a symbol that represents all the hardships that her mother has gone through. She says that her mother spent 17 years polishing and rubbing that piano until her hands bled. Bernice makes it obvious to Boy Willie that she is not going to sell the piano no matter what. She compares it to the soul that cannot be sold for money.  (via shaq-10-c)

Indeed, I find out what you said is interesting to me. I surely agree to your point of view as it is the same as mine. The comparison is neat, and the piano is considered priceless due to its history. Memories are easily forgotten and so, they should be preserved and sealed. Moreover, the piano is a piece of art that represents Berniece's mom! It is correct to value it as symbols. Yes, Berniece uses a bold statement to make her point clear. I think your point of view makes sense and you had good points that you proved. You also used evidence to prove your points!

[alafifi10c]

Social media -- Wk.7

My opinion on social media hasn't change. It remained the same. My points are all the same and no changes have occurred  to them. I would argue with the people by making an article that is unbiased. However, it would contain a lot of facts and theories based on the pros of Social Media. I would add some cons but I will make sure to back them up with proof that are convincing the cons are not actually effectively bad. For example, I could say: "The Social Media could distract students from learning but on the other hand, students can learn vocabulary words from what they read in their messages!" I would not judge and criticise those with a different opinion, I would persuade them with a variety of tricks that I learnt in my english class this year. To even persuade them into believing me stronger, I'm going to gather different resources and references whom agree with my opinion.

[alafifi10c]

At the very first part of the play, I would not write who the characters are but I would introduce them in a mysterious way. I'd add this sound to the beginning of the play to make it creepy and make the reader wanna know who is really knocking on the door and what's going to happen next. Then when the door opens, Doaker opens it and starts worrying as if something bad happened. After that, Boy Willie comes in the house laughing at the prank he just did on Doaker. Doaker says: "Noisy and crazy as always! Ahh- you didn't change a bit even after three long years!" I think this sound/music would fit since it would thrill the reader a bit then make him feel surprised when he reads that its only a prank. I find it a hilarious way of introducing Boy Willie's character. It shows the reader how he acts and what he says which gives the reader an idea of Boy Willie's personality. As a guy who hates reading a-lot of dialogue, I think adding action is delightful and impressive. Adding on to that, the action of a character allows the reader to understand how a character's mind work.

[alafifi10c]

Opinions for a "survey?". [Incomplete]

Do you like tumblr? Why/why not?

I do like tumblr. It is very useful for posting my assignments. I like it because I find it an easy social media website to use. I also think it's the best for assignments. It might have off-topic posts but that makes it even more interesting for teenagers! Memes actually give people a chuckle, I as a student would love to have chuckle while doing an assignment for homework!

Do you prefer a different social media website?

I do not prefer another website other than tumblr. I find tumblr a suitable website that is amusing and epic. 

What website could also be used to do this type of school assignment?

Personally as a teenager I love websites that have funny posts, another website could possibly be Instagrams since we can comment and post pictures. I find it appropriate for doing a school assignment since it could be interesting to students.

Was this tumblr assignment good, or would you have preferred writing your responses in a journal in class time? Why/why not?

I prefer using electronics as much as I could. They are fun to use and extremely simple. I'd rather use Tumblr than any other way of writing my responses. The reason behind my opinion is that Tumblr offers users many types of posting styles which meets the standards of what is required from students and also surpasses the standard if the student uses creativity in his posts like adding pictures and connecting his point to the picture.

What changes would you make to this assignment for next time?

In my opinion, no change is required for such an assignment. It's already at its best and I don't think it could be improved. The assignment is easy and fun at the same time making it the best way for me to study and improve my writing skills and English language.

[alafifi10c]

All this thieving and killing and thieving and killing. And what it ever lead to? More killing and more thieving. (p. 52) -Berniece

I like this quote and find it interesting. I think that the meaning of the quote is that violence is spreading in Berniece's community. However, the purpose of saying this is to awaken those who do not recognise the pattern of violence and crime. I can tell this is the purpose since Berniece seems to be frustrated saying the quote, she tells the result of crimes. As a conclusion, Berniece's job is to make her community realise what's going on wrong and support them by warning.

[alafifi10c]

Two Mediums

The Piano Lesson is represented on more than just one medium; the book. It was also represented in a movie which made an impact on the story. It impacted the story by letting it easier to realize characters and how they feel by their facial expressions and actions. In the book, its harder to realize someone's feelings since you have to figure it out by what he says, in a movie its how he says it. I read "Maniac Magee"  that was turned into a movie. The book had extra scenes and characters but the movie was easier to comprehend what was happening throughout the story.

The book and the movie were both good but none of them was perfect. For example, the book would've been better if it included pictures to describe things. The movie also could be better if you had the chance to read which is fun to some people. I think what makes a book different is that it includes figurative language, description. However, the movie has sounds and pictures.

[shaq-10-c]

I own just as much of it as she does.-Boy Willie

Boy Willie said that when he was mad that Berniece wouldn’t sell the piano while he owns just as much of it as she does. During this incident, justice was not achieved. Even though Boy Willie felt that it was unfair that Berniece wouldn’t allow him to sell the piano although he owns half of it, it is still unjust for Boy Willie to sell it. This is because Boy Willie has not cared once about the piano and has left the house for three consecutive years but suddenly came back with the thought to sell the piano only for his own benefit. If Berniece insists not to sell the piano, then Boy Willie shouldn’t, even though he might split the profit in half with her. He has no right to sell the inherited piano if Berniece does not approve, especially if he is being so inconsiderate and selfish. (via shaq-10-c)

I agree with what you said because justice should be achieved at that situation. Boy Willie and Bernice both should own the piano and not only Bernice. I also think that Boy Willie does not value something special to his family and race. He neglects and is careless about his family's precious properties. He said the piano is for both of them meaning they have to both agree on something so that they could do it. For example, if Boy Willie wants to sell the piano, Bernice needs to agree. Yes, he can cut the piano in half, which is extremely irrational since probably no one would buy half a piano..

[alafifi10c]

Berniece / Halle Berry: I think Halle Berry would suit Berniece since Halle is a strong character in many of her movies. She is a determined and independent woman chasing her dreams. Especially in the Wolverine movie, she showed her skill in acting a tough character, Storm. Like Berniece's character, she can be wise and strong.

Boy Willie / Eddie Murphy: I think Eddie would suit Boy Willy since Eddie is always doing crazy things in his movies that are hilarious. He proved to the world he can do crazy things that are droll! Eddie Murphy is always determined and does the dumbest things ever, and gets the weirdest immature ideas. Like Boy Willie when he came up with cutting the piano into halves.

Doaker / Samuel L. Jackson: I think Samuel would fit for being Doaker because Samuel is a mature character in his movies. He is wise, intelligent and understanding. So is Doaker, he does not interfere with Boy Willie's plan because he knows it could cause trouble to the family. He does not choose a side(Berniece or Boy W)  over the other at the beginning. He stayed neutral cause he was wise.

[alafifi10c]

This picture represents my view on justice/injustice. It is not fair for the boy since he needs more cupboards for his property(clothes, shoes, papers and etc..) The girl might need more than the boy by a bit but he still needs more cupboards so it could be more fair. He has ONE while she has FOUR. It could be just for both of them if the boy gets two and the girl gets three since she is more in need of the cupboards. The picture is represented in the book since both Boy Willie and Berniece require parts of the piano. Berniece has a bigger part of the piano while Boy Willie has none. 

[alafifi10c]

Hey, Doaker… if Berniece don’t want to sell that piano … I’m gonna cut it in half and go on and sell my half.

At this time, Boy Willie had to make a bold decision since he was not getting what he owned. He and Berniece both owned the piano and it was unfair to him since she did not share it with him. I think this shows injustice since she denied to hand over Boy Willie's piece, obviously for a good reason however, he still owned that piano piece of his and he had the rights to take his part. She probably needed that piano for her own reasons; memory and valuing her mother's item as a precious but Boy Willie still had to get a part from the piano so it could be fair.

[alafifi10c]

USC shooter's 40-year prison sentence: Don't call it justice

Brandon Spencer, the 21-year-old former gang member sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for attempted murder, may have sobbed like a toddler Friday after learning that the next several decades of his life will be spent behind bars, but he deserves little sympathy,  wrote Times columnist Sandy Bank on Monday.

In my opinion, I think this is unfair for Brandon. It is true he actually attempted to murder. Not only that, but he also has a bad reputation; being a former gang member. Even though, the purpose of prisoning itself is to punish and to teach a lesson. 40-year prison sentence will teach Brandon but it won't affect him throughout his future. The idea of a lesson is that it should be applied. How would Brandon apply the lesson he learnt from prison when he's prevented from leaving the cell for the coming 40 years? 

[alwheibi10c]

I choose this quote because it perfectly explain to us that Justice is the key to establish peace in every situation. We could also conclude from this quote that there is no peace without justice and there is no justice without peace.

[alafifi10c]

I strongly agree with your point of view! It makes sense to me. Moreover, it is true that justice is the key for peace. How can the world be peaceful and unfair. There would be a ton of conflicts between people and thus, no peace or justice. Justice means to be fair. To establish peace, requirements are needed such as people being fair to each other and everybody gets what he needs, not what he wants. To accomplish that, justice is the key.

- WK3

[alafifi10c]

Social Networking

Sharing files easier.

Social Network is an easier way of interacting with people. It makes it simpler to talk or share files with others that could be important for work. E.g: Sending a file for homework via Email instead of buying a USB and transferring the file to the USB.

Saving time.

It allows you to use your time wiser giving you much more time than delivering a written paper. It gives you a chance to meet someone online for a meeting instead of booking a long flight that costs a huge amount of money just for one day. E.g: You hav

Meeting new people and making friends.

Social Networking also gives you a better chance of meeting new friends and different cultures of the world especially through voice chats; Skype. It was more difficult to know more people before Social Networks. E.g: Meeting people through clubs, school and cousins. It's easier to meet them from one place; the internet.

-WK 3

[alafifi10c]

Piano Lesson Themes Prediction

I predict that the theme Justice will apply through the story when Boy Willie decides to cut the piano in half so he can have his part. Assuming it's a full part owned by both, it's unfair since they cannot share it properly. However, I predict Boy Willie will actually cut the piano in half so he can have his part and it's all fair for both of the siblings. Although, to make it even more fair, Berniece would require more than half since she has a daughter.

I also predict that the theme Reputation could be applied if Berniece gets the piano for herself since it's obvious she's wiser, the characters know that she can keep it safe and not damaged. Since it's a valuable to them and their mother, she won't sell it like Boy Willie would. To me this applies reputation because Berniece is wiser than Boy Willie and she might get it due to her personality and how she's known to other people; her family.

[alafifi10c]

Weekly assignment sheet, wk2. A cover that could be used for The Piano Lesson. "Gimme dat piano or this gonna happen. I'm gon' take my part."

[alafifi10c]

This quote represents my opinion on justice since it expresses how I feel when more laws are made. This quote means to me that the more laws there are, the more crimes and rules to break; less safe. The world can become a disaster, the exact opposite of a utopia. For example, if the law says, for instance, that a person should be fined 10% of his income for a certain crime, what it really means is that you are allowing rich people to commit crimes. What if a poor person earns a hundred Dirhams a week, he'd barely be able to buy his family food with Ninety Dirhams if he did a crime. On the other side, if that law wasn't created, the judge could have decided on case by case basis. This makes it more fair.