Here's your last blog before the break. Enjoy the easy 20 points!
The topic is simple: tell me what you learned this semester in AP English.
Discuss what you struggled with, what you really enjoyed, what stuck with you the most, what you still need to work on, etc.
Enjoy your time off, and I'll see you when we get back!!!!!
I have to turn in grades on Friday, so you must post BEFORE Friday. Thursday night at the latest.
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59 comments:
My major accomplishment this semester has been that I feel I am better at analyzing literature. I have basically found the way that is easiest for me to read a book for class.
I also think that I have become a better writer; however, timed writes are still difficult for me because the time crunch is still hard for me, and I am also still trying to break from last years rhetorical essays and their format.
I think I have gotten better at actually "reading" a book. I have also gotten much better at the major works data sheets.
The thing i enjoyed most about this class was being able to read choice novels. It gave me a chance to read something that I would like to read, like Huckleberry Finn and Catch-22.
What I still need to improve on is timed writes and poetry. For timed writes, it takes me a long time to get started on actually writing. As for poetry, I still need to familiarize myself with it and be able to analyze it better.
This is Ashley...
The way I approach literature now is much more analytically. I've improved my timed-writing skills, especially with writing my theme and thesis statements. I've really enjoyed most of the novels we've read, and am excited to finish my dystopia novel--I actually think I'll end up reading two of them, one just for fun.
I definitely need to improve my understanding of some poetry and learn how to read certain types better. Also, I should probably try to do my MWDS sooner than I have been.
I feel much more comfortable with analyzing poetry and literature, and, for the first time, I feel as if it is okay to insert my own opinion in my writing as well as my analysis.
I really enjoy the classroom discussions, and the fact that we are able to read choice novels at times. :)
One of the things I really need to improve on, though, is timed writes. Although I've gotten much better since the beginning of the year, the change from English language to literature is still one that I need to work on.
I agree with Chris that it is now much easier to read and analyze at the same time. I have started to notice similar themes in novels i read this year as well as years previous and think of ways to tie them together. Writing this year was a hard adjustment from last year, when i was used to receiving 7's, 8's, and even 9's on a regular basis. However, I do notice gradual improvement and feel that I am continuing to become a better writer.
I have really become much better at analyzing poetry. It is a big accomplishment for me to be able to actually write a full page for my weekly poetry assignments.
I think i need to work on my timed writing because I do not make very high scores on any of them.
I have really enjoyed the class discussions when we share about the novels. they have helped me to learn to analyze a book better and look past the surface of what i read!
Like many people already said, I have also improved my ability to read a book and notice the key events, terms, metaphors, etc. while I read. My understanding poetry has also improved a bit, but i still have a long way to go.
I still struggle with organization of thoughts in timed writes and trying to clearly convey my message in my essays. Overall, my writing is improving;however,, i still make some careless mistakes that
This semester I definitely feel like I have improved with my writing skills. I have learned the strusture of the essay and the usual form of the thesis and themes. I do find it difficult on timed writes to think that fast, but I can tell that I have improved. I have also really enjoyed most of the books we have had to read. I love the seminars and the discussions. They make me see things that I didn't notice when I read and sometimes it helps me to see the novel in a whole new light.
Hopefully next semester I will improve on my timed writes further and become more skilled in poetry!
I did struggle with timed writes, but I feel that I am much better at knowing what to write for them. I still need to learn how to better organize my papers and shorten my conclusions, but I am working on it. It was nice to hear other people's views while in small groups; it helped me understand some readings I had trouble with. I really enjoyed the class discussions; I think they helped me better understand the novels and everyone else's interpretations of them. They really helped me come up with analysis on the timed writes. I also think I'll remember the novels better for the AP test because of the discussions and Major Works Data Sheets. Overall, I think I've improved a lot when it comes to analyzing novels and poems. I am a better and more confident writer than I was in August. I just hope I'll continue to improve for the AP test.
I think that this semester I have learned how to actually analyze literature. I'm still terrible at it, but at least I know how to do it now. The things I struggled with the most were the timed writes and poetry. Being able to choose novels occasionally is my favorite part of the class. I stil need to work on timed writes, but I think that this class has made me a better reader and writer so far.
What I have gotten better with this year is that I can finish my major works data sheets in about 30 minutes to an hour compared to the almost 3 hours I began with. Also reading and analyzing poetry has become alot easier. :)
What I need to improve on is my time writes; they have become a major struggle for me this year.
One accomplishment for me this year is that I am getting better scores on my timed writes. comparing this year and lasst year, I can tell that I am better at analysing the content of a novel than at analysing the word choice. I've really enjoyed the books we've read this semester, particularly Invisible Man, but what I really need to improve on is not procrastinating on reading the novels, they aren't nearly as interesting when you're reading them in a time crunch.
I really enjoy the in class discussions because they help me see other points about the novels that I don't always see at first glance.
The Hamlet project was also interesting because I really enjoyed looking through my one scene for the information I needed, it really helped me to appreciate the novel more.
I learned how to write a theme!! I'm still not very good at it, but I understand it and can grasp the meaning of things now. I could definitely use some help/extra practice with the poetry analysis. That was not fun. The things I enjoyed the most were the group work assignments and the games we played at the end of last nine weeks (with your music).
It's been a good first semester! Merry Christmas!
This semester I learned how to read faster, annotate literary works, and how to complete a MWDS.
What I still struggle with but have gotten better at would be transitions in paragraphs, and that is thanks to mrs. charbonnet and my wonderful peer editors.
I think my major accomplishment this semester was calming down when I do timed writes. I learned that it isn't that amount that you write, it's what you write. I take as much time as I need to analyze what I am reading because I know I won't get a good score if I don't know what's going on.
I think my most difficult subject in English will always be poetry. I simply don't understand why poets can't just write what they feel in plain English. It bothers me, and it makes me dread poetry timed writes. I guess I will have to learn to not freak out whenever I see poetry.
I have gotten a whole lot better analyzing literature. Last year I was horrible at it. I still stink at writing as you can prpbley tell from my researh paper and essays... But hopefully I will become stronger in that area. I really enjoy this class.
Ive learnedcthat mwds's help a lot.
I hope I can become better at writing as the year progresses.
Oh and I finally know how to write a thesis and theme yessssss
This semester, the thing that I have truly learned is the importance of theme. Without theme, literature would have no purpose. I have learned a lot about paying attention to what the author is really trying to say and not just taking literature literally.
The one thing that i still struggle with is poetry. I don't know what the problem is, but there is just something about the format and style of poetry that blows my mind. However, I do enjoy poetry when I can actually understand it becayse it perfectly explains many things that would be otherwise unexplainable.
This Semester I think I learned a great deal on how to improve my writing. In-class essays were something I always hated, but I think I gradually got better at them. I enjoyed our class discussions because I always came away with a greater understanding of the novel. My new improvements on Theme for our Major Works Date Sheets will be something to stick with me, but I will continue to need to work on my topic sentences for each body paragraph. Also, I need to make sure to include plenty of analysis for every detail.
The research paper really helped me grasp the concept of analysis. Even though I don't know my grade yet, I feel as if I have improved with analysis on the in-class-essays. My grades on the essays have even gotten higher since the beginning of the semester.
I love the circle days when we discuss books or poems or something. Definitely my favorite part of the class so far.
I think I need to work on understanding theme still. I can't always grasp it or find it in a poem or novel. But that is why I really like the circle days or group days.
Coming into this year, I dreaded timed writes! They are still not my favorite things to do, but I can tell they are getting easier to write! I really need to work on my time management, but I am getting faster as I get used to the format of each essay. All the practice will really help us have a better idea of what to expect on the exam.
It has been a challenge to change from the type of essays we wrote last year to the ones we write this year. However, I am learning not to address the reader or organize my paper around literary devices. I have also gotten a lot better at discovering the themes of works.
I hope to improve my reading speed especially on the multiple choice tests, and I think all the practice will help!
I guess prior to this class I had a bad compulsion to summarize plot before analyzing. Writing that ginormous research paper cured me of that bad habit. This is the biggest thing I learned: Theme is a complete sentence! That was news to me. I enjoyed most of the books we read (except Mayor of Casterbridge for choice novel) but it feels like we rushed through them all so quickly that we didn't really get to savor them (except Invisible Man, felt like we spent forever on it). Generally on timed writes I struggle with getting started, knowing how the essay will be structured, and remembering important details to support the theme. Coming up with a thesis/claim and topic sentences can be a challenge also because sometimes an argument may sound more like fact because it's rather obvious.
One great thing about this semester has been the in-class discussion. Skimming a novel, slightly grasping the plot, and having a teacher breakdown the theme for me has never been fulfilling. I notice a dramatic change in the manner in which my friends and I digest and argue the topics of these books.
The research paper has been by far the most bittersweet thing this semester. My first day at the public library a friend commented on the joy we would have upon completing such a daunting paper. I had nights when I thought so hard about the themes of the books that I had to take breaks to avoid mental breakdown. I learned many great things, but I am so happy to be on the other side of that monstrosity.
This semester I really enjoyed the circle. I felt like it helped me understand the novels more by getting other peoples point of views.
I really struggled with my essays and research paper and my writing definately needs to be worked on. I don't know what to do, I am just not a good paper writer.
I enjoyed my class and felt like I learned alot.
The main thing that I think really helped me out a lot in AP were the major works data sheets. Although, they are a huge pain, it's a condensed version of almost everything we need to know for that book & it's a convenient way to study.
I also like the flexibility we have in choosing what novels we read. In most English classes were assigned novels to read, but in this one, we have a choice.
I need to improve on timed writes, because I always stress about time, and then get done fairly early, & I should use that time to review my work and make changes.
I think that this semesterI have learned that analyzing poetry is not as hard as I have always thought. Also, I have learned to look for the deeper meaning in all of the novels that we have read.
Writing essays is getting easier, but the time crunch still gets me every time. It has been hard trying to analyze some literature and then put in down on paper without it sounding like a rhetoricel essay.But, it is getting easier.
Like many others, I have noticed how much easier analyzing literature is for me; however, I still struggle with analyzing poetry. I really enjoyed the discussion that the class had over all the major novels. I also enjoyed my choice novel, Pride and Prejudice, which became my favorite novel. I am still struggling with the timed writes, which I will need to work on next semester.
This semester has really helped me analyze poetry better. I was never really "scared" of it, but now I feel comfortable given a page long poem and an blank page to write about it.
I've also gotten a lot better at timed writes. There's still a lot to improve, but at least I'm finishing! Mr. Campbell would be impressed.
I enjoyed being able to choose what to read. It gave me a chance to reread one of my favorite novels, Pride and Prejudice. I also enjoyed hearing others' perspectives in discussions. I hope that's something to look forward to in college.
Overall, like almost everyone else has said, I feel that I analytically comprehend the things that I read. For the most part, I can grasp a theme much better than I could have at the beginning of the year. The difference between thesis and theme have also become more apparent to me. The number one thing that I have gotten very good at is Major Works Data Sheets. I barely have to put a effort into filling them out, although it still takes a grueling amount of time to complete. This is not to say that I do not appreciate them. I actually think about what certain characters and events mean instead of skimming the book.
This year I feel like I have gotten alot better at actually reading the books on a deeper level. Sometimes I even find myself analyzing little details of magazines or other things I'm reading just for fun.
The class being based on the discussion of the novels is also something that has helped me. It is much easier to learn through the ideas of peers and differing opinions than through the lecture of one teacher.
I'm going to go ahead and agree with the majority of the other posts that timed writes are always a struggle. I need to focus on how to make my essays from decent to great. The poetry essays are just scary! I'm always afraid that I will totally miss the point!
So far this year has been one of the best learning experiences of high school and I feel that we've learned alot that can be used outside of the classroom, whether it be in college or the workplace.
:)
I am finally able to analyze a book that I am reading and pick out information in which i would normally not see. I am reading a book for A.P. psychology right now and all i want to do is underline stuff and write comments out to the side.
I do need to improve on my timed write skills though. I am just not that good at analyzing in an essay.
I really do enjoy class discussions and playing games like the song games.
I learned more about analyzing poems. The paraphrasing really helps. I struggle with finding deeper meaning in some parts of books, just because I don't always see a hidden meaning in works. The difference in essays of last year and this year is hard on me. I was really good at rhetorical essays but I'm not so good at these.
I learned how to analyze what an author is trying to say by writing a novel. My main epiphany was when I finally realized the difference between a theme and thesis.
I still need to work on the in class essays for the novels; usually I believe I have an idea for what to write about but somehow I always miss some crucial thing while writing.
I have definately learned a lot during this semester, but I think forming a thesis and discovering a theme have been the two primary aspects of AP English that have stuck with me. Don't get me wrong, I still have much to learn concerning essays and timed writes, but this semester has really helped me evolve as a writer. I think one thing that I have struggled with, other than finding an author's meaning in a novel, is discovering the underlying purpose of a poem. TPCAST... ugh
I think I'm getting better at analyzing what the author is actually saying versus last year's goal of what devices are used to get across what the author is saying. The biggest things that have helped are definitely small groups and circle time. Also timed writes, though daunting, really measure how much you've delved into the novel. I think what stuck with me the most was Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead because the perspectives were so off the wall yet made perfect sense. I like reading things that make you feel changed.
I think I have gotten much faster at reading the novels that were assigned, and I also am beginning to read them more thoroughly.
I have also become a much better writer especially because of all the timed writes. But I still have a lot to work on, especially organizing my thoughts and getting them onto paper.
I struggled most with the timed writes. I have a hard time finishing for some reason. Coming up with a good theme is tough for me still. I'm just not a very good analytical kinda writer. The things that helped me the most were the big circle discussions and small groups, they help me see things i missed in the reading.
I have learned a lot in this semester. My in class essays have gotten so much better and I truly understand what i am doing. I still need to work on making them better but I have improved. I need to especially work on the poetry response ones. I hope to continue to learn as much as I did in the first semester!
I have learned a lot in this semester. My in class essays have gotten so much better and I truly understand what i am doing. I still need to work on making them better but I have improved. I need to especially work on the poetry response ones. I hope to continue to learn as much as I did in the first semester!
Well, I believe my major accomplishment this semester in literature has been discerning theme more. Instead of just reading a story for the plot line at first, I find myself starting to connect it to life and what it could be telling us about life immediately. I enjoyed our round discussions over our reading selections. That's definitely my favorite part. I still struggle with putting this abstract on paper in my essays, but I can tell I am improving.
My major accomplishment is being able to read a book for more than entertainment. This doesn't necessarily stay with the in-class novels, either; I could give you several essays on the themes behind the Chuck Palahniuk novels I've read over the semester. I can't get through my own books without saying, "oh, wait, the overall theme here is x," and it's really starting to tick me off that I can't read my favorite author just for fun anymore.
I was proud that I could spell "Dostoevsky" off the top of my head in class today. It made me feel smart, like fifth-grader-winning-the-spelling-bee-by-default-because-the-other-guys-misspelled-their-words-and-got-eliminated smart.
Struggles: the timed essays, especially the poetry one. I have trouble coming up with a good thesis in fifty minutes and developing a paper from that. There have been assignments where, had I sat down and thought about it, I could have written a killer essay and got something above a four. I've usually got the ideas in my head, but getting them out cohesively in that time frame is hard for me. So yeah, I need to work on that. Other times, I've just flat out missed the point of the work; this is bad.
so this semester I would have to agree that I've much better at reading and picking up on key events, symbols, etc. I also am able to finish my mwds's in about an hour no, compared to the c&p one this summer that took forever. I liked working in small groups and having choice books too. But I know that I still need to work on my timed writes, mainly conclusions and organizations.
I'm much better at close-reading and analyzing, I can get the whole picture of a work now. I also remember a few literary terms that have helped me.
I really really need to improve on timed writes because I'm used to last year's format and the time is a big factor. And analyzing a lot of poetry is still beyond me.
I think everyone has already covered this, but I love our class discussions. It always puts a smile on my face when I walk in and see the desks arranged for a circle. The circle is a great forum for everyone to share their ideas.
I still struggle with timed writes. It seems like I forget a lot of the rules under pressure. haha Hopefully we'll be doing a lot more of those. Yes, Mrs. Charbonnet? (I know everyone else reading this is screaming in pain! ha)
I have to agree with 90% of the comments on here; I can definitely analyze a piece of literature much better. I have gotten things out of books and poems that I never would have thought about if I had read it this summer. Also, when writing the poetry responses this summer, I had so much trouble trying to write about something that I felt that the author was portraying. However, when we wrote the last few poetry assignments, I filled up 2 scratch pages of ideas the first time I read the poem.
One of the major things I have learned this year is theme and the analyzation of it. I believe that I am becoming a better writer, especially in the area of timed writes. This was one of my weaker areas coming into this year.
I have actually enjoyed most of the books that I have read this year. I am also really excited about the dystopian novels, as it is one of my favorite genres.
I still need to improve on poetry, and the timed writes that include poetry.
Mrs. Charbonnet, even though we only read depressing, dark books that have depressing endings, I actually have learned alot so far!For one, I have really been able to understand why a certain novel has great literary value. In each book, we have been called to wrestle through difficult and challenging themes and ideas.Also, poetry is not as bad as I thought it would be! I have learned to break it down step by step.
At first I struggled with the transition from last year's writing format to this year's. With the completion of the first semester, I feel my writing has actually improved. Like several of my peers, I feel I need to work on my timed writes. I tend to spend too much time thinking, and towards the end I feel pressured for time. I also could get stonger in analysis of poetry. Often times the theme of a poem flies right over my head.
I have learned what it means to be a critical reader, which is going to be important, esp. throughout college. This class, through the MWDS, and other work (not just busy work like in other classes), has taught me more discipline. I think that I have also become a better writer, and hope that next semester I will continue to learn about analyzing literature and esp. with hard-to-understand poetry. I have also learned to enjoy reading because of what some novels have taught me. Next semester I hope to work on the speed of my reading, along with writing a better timed write quicker and better. Overall, this class has presented me with great novels and plays that I would otherwise not have read!
this semester i think i got better at timed writes. even though i'm not amazing i feel like i've improved a lot. and it doesn't take me 5 days now to do a mwds.
i've had a hard time with shakespeare, mostly just understanding what he's saying and the same problem with poetry.
i'm really enjoying reading the handmaid's tale, it's crazy. i think what i remeber most is working on invisible man, we talked so much about it.
The thing I have learned from AP this year would definitely be how to read critically. I have been taught that all my life but it has been pounded in my head more this year because of the novels and plays we have read. The thing I need to improve on would be my timed writes. I am horribly bad at those and hopefully my writing will increase in skill throughout the year... maybe. I hope to continue learning from this Lit class and possibly become a better writer.
I think that i've become better at analyzing books and understanding the deeper meaning (the theme). I understand literature better now that i've read more novels this past year.
At first, I think i had a hard time getting used to the new essay format; it was hard to transition from last year's essays to this year's. But i finally think i'm getting the hang of it, and i feel more comfortable writing in class.
This semester I learned alot about anayzing poetry which i previousy hated. Ironic, i m better at that then reading. I think we shoud play the game where you have to guess the songs because that was really fun =] uhm i like the book choices there not all about slavery like everything i read last year and i like how we get choices to pick from and circle time.
TO be honest this class is a lot easier than I thought it was gonna be. I really enjoy reading so, some of the stuf we do is entertaining to me. The things I struggle with most in the class are the times writes. Time restrictions have always freaked me out and they cause me to make errors when i begin to panic. I hope that all the practice we get willl help me learn to relax and work quick and efficiently.
LATE POST!! ):
Well, last semester in AP English, I pretty much learned not to procrastinate when it comes to reading. I loved the seminars, but hated the awkward silence!
Poetry is a big issue with me, because I can analyze the mess out of it, but I can't really interpret what it means until we have a group discussion on it.
Late! Whoops!
Well this (last) semester I think I became much better at analyzing literature and specifically, writing themes. Also the timed writes became much easier. One of the harder things is the topic sentences, I'm never sure if they are "claims". Also I am still pretty scratchy on poetry, but since we are starting that Monday again, I'm sure it'll improve. Overall, great semester!
I learned that writing a literature essay and a language essay are two totally different things. When I first started the class i had no idea what theme was or anything like that. I think I have become a much better writer this year but also a better reader. I have learned how to pick out the little meanings and also see the bigger picture.
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