These past few weeks we have started to begin class with analyzing the mood and atmosphere of a picture. We begin by picking an image and a single word that describes it and then writing a paragraph that makes the reader feel the word without stating it. I do think that this has been helpful although I haven't had any immediate way to use this and see what I have learned from this.
My least favorite, but probably the most vital, thing that we have done is practicing writing introductions in short amounts of time. I definitely need more practice with this because I can't seem to understand what answers the question and does not acknowledge the question has been asked. The only other essays I have had to write have been for AP World and APUSH, and the introductions followed a strict format for those. We also did some multiple choice practice. I'm not sure if the section was easier, but the most recent time we did it I did much better than the previous one.
In class we discussed Death of a Salesman more and read some essays about what defines a tragedy and whether Death of a Salesman counts as one. I think this idea of words meaning different things to different people applies in so much of life and I am always so shocked by how offended people can get by a single word. So what if Death of a Salesman is a tragedy? Why does this word hold such intense meaning?
The most recent thing we have done is read Hamlet out loud as a class. I don't think any of us could read it on our own at this point so having the whole class do it is helpful.
Alice,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that writing the introductions for the essays in the worst part, but we need to learn how to do it! For the AP World essays there was a very specific formula that you could follow to guarantee exactly what you needed to do for each essay. It isn't quite that specific in Lit but there is a general formula that we went over in class one day that might help you. I think that the most important part right now is making sure you answer every part of the prompt because if you don't I think the most you can get is a 3.
As far as the tragedy thing I don't think I can give you much insight there since to me it seems trivial but I guess that tragedies and comedies are looked at in very different ways so it matters which one it is.
How do you like Hamlet so far? Do you think that reading it out loud is helpful or would you rather read it quietly then discuss.
Nice job!
Aice,
ReplyDeleteYou provided a good summary of which we did over the past few weeks, but I would recommend putting more connections and more of a personal response to the material. You did a good job connecting AP Lit to APUSH and WHAP, but you should continue these personal connections throughout your post.
I do agree that reading Hamlet out loud is helpful, though it isn't my favorite play (not a a huge Shakespeare fan). How do you think it compares to the other plays that we have read?
Overall a good post, but if you add more personal responses to the material, it can be a great post!
Alice,
ReplyDeleteI like your summary it covered all of the things we have done in class. Also I agree entirely about the practice work, it is very boring but all in all really necessary for the AP exam. What would help would be for you to add more of your actual personal response to what we've been doing in class, your response seems to be missing a little of that.
I like your post but as scott mentioned more personal response would make it even better.