Response to Course Material Blog

Response 12/11/11.

In class we have been doing a second reading of Ceremony. Reading this book could not of come at a better time because of our recent school controversy about the logo. The logo debate and Ceremony has really opened to my eyes on a culture I previously neglected. To help myself understand this book and all points of view on the logo controversy I have spent a couple of hours researching native American culture, particularly the Laguna Pueblo. It has been an extremely fascinating research process for me.

Ceremony is an extremely complicated book, for me at least. The class discussion has certainly helped me wrap my mind around a small portion of the book; but beyond that I am still largely confused. That being said, it is still a very interesting book to read and I look forward to having more class discussions about Ceremony.



Response 11/20/11.

Recently in class we have been focusing on using Prezi to make a short presentation about specific eras in literature history. I am very glad that Ms. Holmes showed us Prezi because Power Points often get boring and mind numbing. While it can be hard to add excitement to text, Prezi accomplishes that by its fasinating capability to fly across the screen to the next bit of information that awaits. I will be definitely be using Prezi for my presentations.

It has been very interesting to learn about the history of literature. Last year we delved into the history, but did not connect the time periods and how the effected each other. It has been very interesting to do that this year.


Response #3:  This has been my first time ever really delving into a book and breaking down what every single sentence could possibly mean. It is eye opening how much you can miss just by reading something through one time. Sure, you most likely understand the plot, the characters and their personality, but there is so much more in the story. For example, when Albee sets up the scene in the American Dream, I would have never thought that the two chairs seated far away from each other had any sort of significance. It may be because I am rather inexperienced in this field, but it is border line mind-blowing how much information is within the plot itself. One thing I do question, however, is how much the authors actually intended. Like one of my fellow classmates brought up during 2nd hour, did the author intend for his/her story to be picked apart line by line; are we as students possibly looking too far into a sentence or word choice; is the author so brilliant he/she did this subconsciously? Personally, I think it would be very interesting to have an author be in the room with us while we are doing a close read. That way we could consult him about whether he met for something to be taken that way.
We also did another Eros prompt. I was glad that Ms. Holmes gave us the same exact prompt and poems because it allowed me to learn from my mistakes last time and easily fix them, rather then trying to decipher yet another literary work and then trying to fix my mistakes. 
Overall I have really enjoyed doing to close read in the class the past week or so because it has really opened my eyes to a lot of new things in texts that are hidden beneath the surface or words on the page.



Response #2: In the recent weeks we have been working an incredible amount with syntax and practicing open prompts. Focusing so much on these two areas has helped me an incredible amount (I hope), since these two areas are my weakest points. This is my first year really looking and dissecting the syntax of literature. It is fascinating how such simple things I used to take for granted such as punctuation can be inspected and actually have an effect on a essay.   I am also still struggling a considerable amount with writing essays in this class. The essay style is very different compared to other AP classes I have taken. Learning how to write these essays perfectaly is going to be a year long processes.

     We have also read the American Dream in class. This was my first introduction to the Theater of the Absurd. The American Dream was certainly absurd. I do not think I still understand the play even after practicing writing open prompts in our groups. Understanding this theater and play may be another year long task I have to tackle before the exam in May.




     Since school has started, I have learned a lot of useful information in class to continue the growth of my writing and reading. I have never really been an avid reader, and when I did read I never did more than once and I did not dissect the text. In class I have learned how to do a close reading (using DIDLS) to get a deeper more meaningful feeling from the text. This new reading strategy has allowed me to understand more texts and even have a conversation with them instead of just reading the words. I have also learned in more detail about diction and imagery so far.
     Prior to taking AP Lit, I always struggled writing opening and concluding paragraphs. However, we have learned a few techniques so far that has helped me write better introductions. TAP has also helped me be 100% positive that my thesis is answering the prompt and I am not swaying from the question.
     Overall, AP Lit has helped me an extraordinary amount so far. I cannot even imagine what is to come...