Tara Mekosh Periodic Table Story Board September 23, 2013 Poster board, Paper, Mixed Media

After much contemplation, I decided to create a Periodic Table Story Board to display my literacy history. I chose to use this genre for two reasons. One, being that in my free time I can be found studying for my Chemistry classes and two because of my literacy history, I have an abundance of negative experiences and a small amount of these experiences that impacted me in a positive way. The periodic table story board allowed me to incorporate these stories into my project in an organized manner. Within the periodic table there are specific columns that have charges. Certain columns are positive and others are negative while one stays neutral. The first two columns, Group 1A and 2A, both have positive charges. Inside these first columns, I have written out my positive experiences with literacy. One positive experience I had with literacy was reading the Harry Potter books with my Mom. Every night when I was younger we would curl up into bed, by ourselves, and read the Harry Potter series. We would take turns reading and she would take the time to make sure I comprehended what I was reading or hearing. After completing each book, we would take a trip to the movie theaters and have a movie date together. The effort my Mom put forth into my literacy in reading was greatly appreciated and has led me to love to read myself. Secondly, columns thirteen through seventeen, Group 3A to 7A, all have negative charges, and within them I have written the negative stories about my literacy history. One of the worst years of my life was fourth grade. I was so young and the teacher, Mr. White, ran his classroom like we were in the military. Every essay I turned in I would receive a low grade. Eventually, I began to think nothing I wrote was good enough. I dreaded going to class and for that reason I would make myself sick so that I could stay home. The effects of Mr. Whites downgrading of my work has traveled with me over the years. I still believe I need an immense amount of improvement in writing, and still fear writing for academic purposes. Finally, the last column, Group 8A, has no charge and for that reason I have written about things that I believe did not affect me in a positive or negative light. In tenth grade a student in North Carolina has to take the writing test, and tenth grade English is supposed to prepare you for the test. Sadly, my English teacher, Mrs. Carriker, did not take her job seriously. Instead of working on our literacy skills we would watch videos and have pot lucks every day. Since we did not spend time working on our literacy skills I found that my tenth grade year was more neutral than any other option. At the end of the year I neither improved, nor declined in my ability to read and write. My specific audience does not include everyone. Instead, it is geared to those who have a basic chemistry knowledge. Every person may not understand the format of the genre, due to the fact that my genre is a periodic table; however, I believe individuals will be able to comprehend the stories contained in my project. I wanted to convey my knowledge on chemistry, while also displaying my literacies in a creative way. Overall, I believe this project depicts my history with literacy accurately. Perhaps my project is not flawless, but the time and effort compensate for the imperfections, just as my literary history.

Commented [AP1]: Reword this part. A small amount of these experiences have impacted me in a positive way?

Commented [AP2]: I like this sentence because it explains to the audience about the periodic table. Commented [AP3]: Change wording

Commented [AP4]: Movie theater? Commented [AP5]: Into my reading literacy? Commented [AP6]: Im confused. It has made you love to read? Or love to read to yourself? I do not think you need the myself at the end

Commented [AP7]: Every student

Commented [AP8]: It is easy for us to understand because you explained it well Commented [AP9]: In chemistry?