Year 10 Writing Portfolio

Throughout this whole year in English, we have written three types of essays. Creative writing, close viewing and written text (short story). During this unit, I found it quite difficult and stressful, as I am not very confident in writing. But once I started writing and slowly got the hang out of it, it became easier each lesson and less pressured. Out of these essays, I enjoyed the close viewing the most. Overall, they were all great writings. Here are my written essays: 

Creative Writing:

Strands of thin light came from the sky. Goosebumps no longer show as warm air lingers around. A carnival of scents sways beyond my face, while flowers surrounding me flourish sky-high; Yellow daffodils, Orange Gerbera, Pink roses - All showing off their bright colours, like sparks of fireworks. The fields were parsley-green, rubbing softly between my toes, my ears were ringing louder and louder every second, like a ton of bees attacking me. Big dark shadows hovering above me, standing tall with lengthy branches, sheltered with golden brown leaves with a hint of lime green and sunlight yellow.

The sun glows bright red, and yellow as everything around me starts gleaming. A sudden sweat emerges on my skin, never running out of heat. The everyday skies were cock-tail blue like the fresh water in the ocean, a beaked chorus of birds flying in the unending sky while the puffy white clouds were latched, resting in their place. Families gather at beaches smiling and having a good time- sunbathing, munching on snacks and roasting a bbq. Dogs run around, breathing heavily, their tongues hanging out from their mouths, and a gust of wind gently blowing against their fur. The balmy, relaxing sound of the waves lapping over each other from the distance, echoing wave to wave.

Autumn days fall by as fast as the leaves fall from the trees. Though the sun is still bright, still brilliant in the sky, but is cooler even on the days that lack clouds. There is a chill overnight, frost on the ground in the morning, mist and fog floating in the air. Dry, dead leaves piling up among each other, creating piles, crunched beneath your feet giving you the feeling of roughness and prickliness. Children dressed in their warm, comfy coats and their leather secure boots, cheerfully leaping into clumps of leaves and throwing them in the air like confetti.  

The empty skies were silent. The ground was icy and slippery, covered with pale white snow. The trees were solid and frosty. The air was bleak and chilly, biting on my skin, causing goosebumps. The winter season has arrived. Snowflakes fall from the sky like crystal raindrops. My feet were buried under snow, moving in steady motions, making crunching sounds. Misty fog levitating around forming pitch-black clouds like a ghostly graveyard. Chimneys on homes running, ashes of wood fading into thin air producing dingy smoke, as people yearn for warm air.

Close Viewing:

In the film “The Power Of One,” directed by John Avildsen, which is based on the Apartheid that happened in South Africa, many film techniques like camera angles and shots are used effectively. Included in the film, was a variety of conflicts between the White people and Black. (English, Afrikaner and black Afrikans) (those in power and those who weren’t, which were the black Afrikans). In the “hang him up” scene, the characters displayed, P.K - an English boy, and Jaapie botha - A Afrikaner teen - are shown in different shots and angles to outline the confrontation they are about to have, surrounded by Afrikaner students. In the scene, P.K is framed as he is an English boy, these aspects help us understand the quarrels and hatred, not only between the white and black but between the English and Afrikaners. Techniques used were low-key lighting, close-up and low angle. These film techniques gave us an idea of what might go on in the confrontation and will create different effects on the audience.

In the “Power of one” movie, the “Hang Him Up” scene is a clear example of showing the mood in the scene. The mood expressed was intensity. The director uses the technique of low-key lighting. We see this when the scene switched up from bright lighting to darker lighting. This is where Jaapie Botha is waiting for his carved tattoo to be done, but only his face is shown in lighting that could be seen, while around him dingy light is used. The purpose of this was to show how much hatred Jaapie Botha has against English people. It also gives away how fervid the scene is and giving the scene an atmosphere that would fit with the confrontations happening between the students, Jaapie and P.K. This helps us understand how small things can be created into something bigger, causing an impact. The way the lighting was used gave us an understanding of how quickly our emotions can change just by the changes of lighting. This also helps us understand how much P.K has suffered throughout his stay at the Afrikaners school. The struggles he faced while having to tolerate the pain from bullying by not only Jaapie, as well as the students. This aspect can be compared to when P.K was teaching the black Africans English in a church but had to do so without getting caught by the Afrikaners - who were in power at the time. This can be contrasted when he was in a room with just only Afrikaners around him, having the emotions of fear and anger. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with those emotions, he began to feel confident and stood up for himself and spoke without cowering fear and interference.

Furthermore, with the “hang him up” scene where P.K is held in enforcement into the room, the director uses a close-up shot to show through his expression filled with mixed emotions as he was being carried blindfolded Jaapie Bothe; to the point where he has no idea what is about to happen. For instance, the director (John Avildsen) used a close-up shot to show how both Jaapie and P.K look at each other throughout their confrontation. It also gives us an idea of how severe Jaapie is towards P.K. This was done to display how instantly P.K’s facial expressions changed. From fear to anger as he struggled to escape from the student’s arms (carrying him), he was also suffering from the slap by Jaapie Bothe. In addition to when the Afrikaners hung up his chicken, he was yelling with irritation and then suddenly to anger. This makes us audience have in mind how much power was radiating from Jaapie, as he spits insults at P.K for doing things he was not responsible for. As for this act, it made us feel more hatred towards Jaapie and the Afrikaners. I can relate this to one of the scenes in the film, where Geel Piet-a (black African) was held hostile to the wall by an Africkner prison guard (Sergeant Borman), as he stares back in fear. This is giving us obvious shots of who had the most power and had the upper hand in the situation.

I can relate this to one of the scenes in the film, where Geel Piet-a (black African) was held hostile to the wall by an Africkner prison guard (Sergeant Borman), as he stares back in fear. This is giving us obvious shots of who had the most power and had the upper hand in the situation. This is demonstrated when he is shown from a low angle while chanting “Hail Hitler” to the crowd. This shows how much power he has. Another demonstration would be when P.K pushed him, making him fall onto a flag and causing him to feel angrier. The low angle shot is used then to show that Jaapie is displeased and wants to hang P.K up. The director did this to give the effect of the difference of power in which each Afrikaner student had. As every student respected and obeyed every instruction given by Jaapie. This can also show that there is an imbalance of power. This gave the audience the feeling of being threatened. We can see a vast difference in power, but we know that power can create problems and change. This is obviously what Jaapie believes in. This can also make the audience picture and feel whats it’s like to be overpowered by someone. This aspect can be linked to when the Headmaster was giving a speech, standing up on the podium, talking about how they will rule the English and gain the power they once lost, back. This also put us in a mood of feeling threatened, by the amount of power he had. During that moment, no one had the intention or audacity to speak, but only to listen.

In conclusion “The Power Of One” movie by John Avildsen, created an expansive effect on the audience. The director uses the techniques of low-key lighting, close-up shot and low angle logically throughout the scene. These techniques gave the audience an impact on the way they interpret the story or characters and affected the audience emotions. At the end of the day and movie, they all sincerely are great, engaging characters.

Written Text (short story)

Question: Describe the beginning and the ending of the text. Explain how the beginning and ending were connected.

In “A Game of Cards ” by Witi Ihimaera, I will be describing the beginning and the ending of the story, and how they are connected. This will include the importance of family, friends and relationships. A game of cards is a story about family and friends reconnecting, spending their last moments together and forming new precious memories.

At the beginning of the story, a young man who was away in Wellington returns home and visits his grandmother named Nani Miro. His grandmother loves to play card games and is currently living in a homestead, sick. They spend a good amount of time catching up and having quality time. From the very beginning, the young man was telling us all about his grandmother (Nani Miro) and how she is the best at playing card games--five hundred, poker, canasta, pontoon--anything. He also talks about all the women, focusing on Nani Miro’s good friend Mrs Heta, in the homestead gathering and playing cards as well. They have a warm bond with each other and always compete in card games, which is what made their friendship strong. This illustrates the importance of family and friends. For example, a great quote to show this statement is true would be, “Eeee! You cheat,” Nani would say, “Eeee! Miro!” Mrs Heta would reply. At the beginning of the text, the author wants us to think about how we should appreciate and spend the time we have with our loved ones.

At the end of the story, after hearing that Nani Miro was at her deadline, all her friends and family gathered around playing card games, creating countless memories. They all kept her company as Nani was to spend the rest of her journey peacefully. As for the grandson, he cherishes his last moments with his grandmother by having a good long catch up with her. Treasuring the moment when he played her favourite song “Me he manu rere”, on the piano, singing along, happily. This shows the importance of love and relationships. A quote from the story that would be a really good example for this would be “She held my hands tightly in hers, she didn’t want to let go.” This shows the readers that family is the dignity in our lives and that the small things we have with them are what life is all about.

The beginning and ending were compatible through the idea of relationships and what it means to be a family. A connection between a relationship from the beginning and end would be Mrs Heta and Nani Miro. This is by their strong connection when playing card games. Here are two quotes to prove this is true: “All of Nani Miro’s mates were crowded close to her bed. Among them was Nani’s rival, Mrs Heta. Nani was lying very still. Then she looked up, saw Mrs Heta and whispered to her: Maka . . . Maka tiko bum, I want a game of cards.”---“Later in the year, Mrs Heta, she died too. She was buried right next to Nani so that they could keep on playing cards.” A change I noticed throughout the story would be the moods from the beginning to the end. The start began warm and cheerful as all the families and friends were bonding. Mainly focused between Nani and the grandson reconnecting. Later getting close to the end, while Nani was slowly dying, the whole mood changed. This portrayed concern, misery and grief. Everyone had dull faces. This made the readers understand how strong Nani Miros relationships are with her family. The author’s purpose for this text was to show how important it is to cherish and spend the last moments you have with your whanau.

In conclusion, in the text, “A Game of Cards”, the beginning and end of the story are connected. Through the relationships and what it means to be a family. A significant relationship that had a connection between the two was Nani Miro and Mrs Heta. Of all these reasons, the most important is the importance of family and friends. This is because they are the key part of our lives. Therefore, as time passes, we will miss the valuable time we have with them. For example, the narrator (grandson) in “A Game of Cards” doesn’t go home often, returns to visit Nani Miro, who is about to pass on. Overall, I have learnt that how family and friends are crucial. They both impact peoples lives; love, comfort, understanding, hope, values and faith. Something we cannot forget. On top of that, the story left me with love and peace.