accoutrements-An accessory item of equipment or dress
Most girls feel the need to add accoutrements to their everyday clothes.
apogee-the highest point in the development of something; the climax or culmination
Once I get to the apogee of a book, I can not put it down until I know what happens.
apropos-with reference to; concerning; to the purpose
bicker-argue about petty and trivial matters; to engage in petulant or peevish argument
Bickering over the best way to color is a waste of time.
coalesce-to grow together or into one body; come together and form one mass or whole
Their Patronus Charm coalesced into a beautiful flower.
contretemps-an embarrassing mischance; an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence
When I went to return a gift, I had a contemptuous encounter with the person who gave it to me.
convolution-a rolled up or coiled condition.
When the sting fell to the floor, it ended up in a convolution.
cull-select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources;to choose; select; pick.
Wizards who attend Hogwarts are culled from all over the world.
disparate-essentially different in kind; dissimilar
Muggles and Wizards are disparate in their abilities.
dogmatic-asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner
When the teacher said his opinion, he said it in a dogmatic way; making everyone else who disagree with him look wrong.
licentious-promiscuous; sexually unrestrained
Behaving in a licentious way in public can have harsh remarks from adults who are conservatives.
mete-dispense or allot justice, to distribute or apportion by measure
Packets of supplies were meted to the medical interns.
noxious-morally harmful
The noxious behavior displayed at the party stooped the nuns from going inside.
polemic-a controversial argument
Gay marriage is not a polemic topic anymore because it is more accepted now.
populous-having a large population
The city was populous during the spring break.
probity-integrity and uprightness; honesty and decency; having moral values
Her probity made her parents proud.
repartee-a quick, witty reply.
When an artist gets criticized, their fans make a quick repartee.
supervene-to take place or occur as something additional
After the play, a supervene scene was acted, making the play a family favorite.
truncate-detailed explanations.
His didactic lecture was truncated by the rude students talking.
unimpeachable-above suspicion; entirely trustworthy
In order to have an unimpeachable argument, make sure you have trustworthy sources.
Monday, August 26, 2013
BEOWULF QUESTIONS
I worked on the Beowulf Questions with Marisol, Erica, Elisia, and Vanessa. We split the questions up on Facebook, all receiving either 10 or 11 questions each. The questions took me quite a while to complete because since the English version was a bit confusing, I looked up the Spanish version. Even though the Spanish version was easier to understand, I needed to translate the words to English again.
Person 1: Erica Marquez
Questions: Prologue- The fight with Grendel (10Q)
[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation]
1)Realize that this prologue introduces the Danes, not Beowulf or his people the Geats. What was unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes? What was his funeral like? What relation is Hrothgar to Shield?
The unusual thing about Shield’s journey to become a ruler was that he came from humble beginning. He was not wanted by is parents. Despite all of the neglect in his early years he became a ruler. For his funeral he was put on a boat in which he had many treasures and material goods. The relation between Hrothgar and Shield is that they are family.
[Heorot is Attacked]
1)What magnificent work did Hrothgar undertake? Who attacked it, and with what result? How long did the attacks last? What was the response of the Danes?
Hrothgar built the Heorot hall. Grendel the monster attacked it and attacks/kills thirty men. The attacks last for 12 years. That is also the amount of year Danes residents are in fear.
[The Hero Comes to Heorot]
1)What does Beowulf do when he hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel?
Beowulf decides to take action and help. He takes 14 of his toughest men and they all sail to Danes to stop Grendel from doing more harm.
2)Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?
The Geats first met a guard whom questions them about their arrival and purpose to be in that town. They respond that they come to help kill Grendel.
3)They next meet Hrothgar's herald. Who is he? What does he tell them? What does he tell Hrothgar? What does Hrothgar respond? Are you surprised that Hrothgar knows Beowulf so well?
Herald (Wiglaf) is a kind of watchman/messanger. He interrogates the Geats, and after he knows there purpose for being there he tells Hrothgar about them. Hrothgar is pleased to have them help.
4)What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?
Beowulf brags about himself and say he will be able to kill Grendel very easily. Hrothgar helps Beowulf’s dad with some issues.
[Feast at Heorot]
1)What does Unferth accuse Beowulf of? How does Beowulf answer him? How is this episode relevant to the poem as a whole? What does Beowulf accuse Unferth of?
Unferth doubts Beowulf’s accomplishments. Beowulf says his accomplishments loud and proud. He also accuses Unferth of killing his brothers. This episode is relevant to the poem as a whole because Beowulf’s confident and honor is present. Beowulf is ready to protect his reputation through out the whole poem.
2)What is Queen Wealhtheow doing during the feasting?
She is being flirty welcoming to the Geats.
[The Fight with Grendel]
1)Heroic poetry normally has a scene in which the hero arms for battle. What is different about Beowulf's preparations for his fight with Grendel?
Beowulf is actually very nervous before the battle yet he refuses to wear armor.
2)What happens when Grendel enters Heorot? How does Beowulf fight with him? What happens when Grendel tries to leave? Does Grendel escape? What does he leave behind?
When Grendel enters Heorot the hall shakes and rings. Beowulf and Grendal fight in the hall. They battle across the floor and in every direction. When Grendal tries to escape he is powerless. He manages to escape wounded, and expected to die soon. Grendal leaves his arm, claw and shoulder behind.
Person 2: Marisol Duarte
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL
[Celebration at Heorot]
1. When the Danes and Geats return from following Grendel's tracks to the mere, someone sings in Beowulf's presence, comparing him to Sigemund and saying that he was not like Heremod (lines 883-914). How is Beowulf like Sigemund? How is he not like Heremod? (Be alert for inserted stories such as this one. Beowulf contains many of them, most much more complex that this one.)
- Beowulf is like Sigemund because they are both considered heroes, who became known for their good deeds. Beowulf is not like Heremond because Beowulf does things out of kindness. Heremond, on the other hand, does things for the glory that comes with them.
2. How does Hrothgar respond to Beowulf's deed? What does he offer to do for him? What does Unferth have to say now?
- Hrothgar is extremely happy due to Beowulf's deed. Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and even announces Beowulf as his son. Unferth has absolutely nothing to say and remains quiet.
3. The singer sings of Finn during the feasting (lines 1070-1158). The exact details of the Finn story are not clear, but in general, what happens? What does it suggest about the wisdom of using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes?
- Finn gets married with Hildeburgh in order heal the hatred between the two tribes. Using a woman as a bride can ultimately bring enemies together and unite the tribes.
4. When the feasting resumes, what does Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to do?
- When the feasting resumes Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar to not give the throne to Beowulf, but to their son instead.
5. Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a large, broad necklace. What later happens to it? What does Wealhtheow ask Beowulf to do?
- Beowulf gives the necklace to Hygelac. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to help and take care of her sons.
6. Why do so many men remain in the beer hall to sleep? Why is it a mistake?
- So many men remain in the beer hall to sleep because they believe that it's safe now that Grendel is dead. Sleeping in the hall is a mistake because Grendel's mother arrives at the hall that night seeking revenge.
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER
[Another Attack]
1. Why has Grendel's mother come to Heorot? Is it the same reason Grendel had?
- Grendel's mother has come to Heorot in order to seek revenge. No, Grendel only went to the hall to kill men for no reason whatsoever, while Grendel's mother went to the hall to seek revenge on the men who ended her son's life.
2. What is Hrothgar's response? Whom has Grendel's mother killed?
- Hrothgar is devastated and asks Beowulf for help. Grendel's mother killed Aeschere, Hrothgar's very close friend.
3. What sort of place is the mere?
- The mere is where Grendel and his mother live. It's a long stretch of water under the shadow of a very large, ugly, grey rock.
BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON
[Beowulf's Funeral]
6. What did the Geats say about Beowulf in the last three lines of the poem? Are these the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero?
- The Geats said that Beowulf was the most kind and gentle lord in the world. No, these are not the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero because military heroes kill their enemies and killing is neither 'kind' nor a 'gentle' thing to do.
Person 3: Maria
[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother] (lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)
1.How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond?
he tells him that is better to avenge a friend than to mourn him.
2.What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it?
the water boils
3.How does Beowulf prepare for the battle? What sword does he take with him?
he puts on his best armor and tells Hrothgar what should be done if he dies. The sword he takes belongs to Unferths, the sword's name is Hrunting
4.What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere?
When Beowulf enters the mere, creatures in the water attack him but they are unable to hurt him. The thing that was surprising was that it took Beowulf half a day to get to the mere.
5.What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth?
When Beowulf tries to hit Grendel's mother with Unferth's sword, the sword breaks without hurting her.
6.At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape?
he scapes because his armor stoped the knife.
7.How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her?
Beowulf kills GRendel's mother by cutting her neck with a sword he found in the cave that was made by gigants. When she dies, the mere is filled with light, since the light reaches the top, Beowulf's men assume that he died in battle. Beowulf takes her head to land as prove. The sword he used to kill her melted after she died.
8.What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return?
When Beowulf returns, he finds that his men are gone because they thought the blood in the water was his.
[Further Celebration at Heorot] (lines 1651-1798, pp. 68-71)
1.What does Beowulf give to Hrothgar?
Beowulf gives Hrothgar the head of Grendels's mom and what's left of his sword.
2.What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example?
Hrothgar tells beowulf to be a fair king and not to be mislead by pride with the Heremod example.
3.What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves?
he give him his sword
Person 1: Erica Marquez
Questions: Prologue- The fight with Grendel (10Q)
[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation]
1)Realize that this prologue introduces the Danes, not Beowulf or his people the Geats. What was unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes? What was his funeral like? What relation is Hrothgar to Shield?
The unusual thing about Shield’s journey to become a ruler was that he came from humble beginning. He was not wanted by is parents. Despite all of the neglect in his early years he became a ruler. For his funeral he was put on a boat in which he had many treasures and material goods. The relation between Hrothgar and Shield is that they are family.
[Heorot is Attacked]
1)What magnificent work did Hrothgar undertake? Who attacked it, and with what result? How long did the attacks last? What was the response of the Danes?
Hrothgar built the Heorot hall. Grendel the monster attacked it and attacks/kills thirty men. The attacks last for 12 years. That is also the amount of year Danes residents are in fear.
[The Hero Comes to Heorot]
1)What does Beowulf do when he hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel?
Beowulf decides to take action and help. He takes 14 of his toughest men and they all sail to Danes to stop Grendel from doing more harm.
2)Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?
The Geats first met a guard whom questions them about their arrival and purpose to be in that town. They respond that they come to help kill Grendel.
3)They next meet Hrothgar's herald. Who is he? What does he tell them? What does he tell Hrothgar? What does Hrothgar respond? Are you surprised that Hrothgar knows Beowulf so well?
Herald (Wiglaf) is a kind of watchman/messanger. He interrogates the Geats, and after he knows there purpose for being there he tells Hrothgar about them. Hrothgar is pleased to have them help.
4)What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?
Beowulf brags about himself and say he will be able to kill Grendel very easily. Hrothgar helps Beowulf’s dad with some issues.
[Feast at Heorot]
1)What does Unferth accuse Beowulf of? How does Beowulf answer him? How is this episode relevant to the poem as a whole? What does Beowulf accuse Unferth of?
Unferth doubts Beowulf’s accomplishments. Beowulf says his accomplishments loud and proud. He also accuses Unferth of killing his brothers. This episode is relevant to the poem as a whole because Beowulf’s confident and honor is present. Beowulf is ready to protect his reputation through out the whole poem.
2)What is Queen Wealhtheow doing during the feasting?
She is being flirty welcoming to the Geats.
[The Fight with Grendel]
1)Heroic poetry normally has a scene in which the hero arms for battle. What is different about Beowulf's preparations for his fight with Grendel?
Beowulf is actually very nervous before the battle yet he refuses to wear armor.
2)What happens when Grendel enters Heorot? How does Beowulf fight with him? What happens when Grendel tries to leave? Does Grendel escape? What does he leave behind?
When Grendel enters Heorot the hall shakes and rings. Beowulf and Grendal fight in the hall. They battle across the floor and in every direction. When Grendal tries to escape he is powerless. He manages to escape wounded, and expected to die soon. Grendal leaves his arm, claw and shoulder behind.
Person 2: Marisol Duarte
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL
[Celebration at Heorot]
1. When the Danes and Geats return from following Grendel's tracks to the mere, someone sings in Beowulf's presence, comparing him to Sigemund and saying that he was not like Heremod (lines 883-914). How is Beowulf like Sigemund? How is he not like Heremod? (Be alert for inserted stories such as this one. Beowulf contains many of them, most much more complex that this one.)
- Beowulf is like Sigemund because they are both considered heroes, who became known for their good deeds. Beowulf is not like Heremond because Beowulf does things out of kindness. Heremond, on the other hand, does things for the glory that comes with them.
2. How does Hrothgar respond to Beowulf's deed? What does he offer to do for him? What does Unferth have to say now?
- Hrothgar is extremely happy due to Beowulf's deed. Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and even announces Beowulf as his son. Unferth has absolutely nothing to say and remains quiet.
3. The singer sings of Finn during the feasting (lines 1070-1158). The exact details of the Finn story are not clear, but in general, what happens? What does it suggest about the wisdom of using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes?
- Finn gets married with Hildeburgh in order heal the hatred between the two tribes. Using a woman as a bride can ultimately bring enemies together and unite the tribes.
4. When the feasting resumes, what does Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to do?
- When the feasting resumes Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar to not give the throne to Beowulf, but to their son instead.
5. Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a large, broad necklace. What later happens to it? What does Wealhtheow ask Beowulf to do?
- Beowulf gives the necklace to Hygelac. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to help and take care of her sons.
6. Why do so many men remain in the beer hall to sleep? Why is it a mistake?
- So many men remain in the beer hall to sleep because they believe that it's safe now that Grendel is dead. Sleeping in the hall is a mistake because Grendel's mother arrives at the hall that night seeking revenge.
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER
[Another Attack]
1. Why has Grendel's mother come to Heorot? Is it the same reason Grendel had?
- Grendel's mother has come to Heorot in order to seek revenge. No, Grendel only went to the hall to kill men for no reason whatsoever, while Grendel's mother went to the hall to seek revenge on the men who ended her son's life.
2. What is Hrothgar's response? Whom has Grendel's mother killed?
- Hrothgar is devastated and asks Beowulf for help. Grendel's mother killed Aeschere, Hrothgar's very close friend.
3. What sort of place is the mere?
- The mere is where Grendel and his mother live. It's a long stretch of water under the shadow of a very large, ugly, grey rock.
BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON
[Beowulf's Funeral]
6. What did the Geats say about Beowulf in the last three lines of the poem? Are these the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero?
- The Geats said that Beowulf was the most kind and gentle lord in the world. No, these are not the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero because military heroes kill their enemies and killing is neither 'kind' nor a 'gentle' thing to do.
Person 3: Maria
[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother] (lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)
1.How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond?
he tells him that is better to avenge a friend than to mourn him.
2.What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it?
the water boils
3.How does Beowulf prepare for the battle? What sword does he take with him?
he puts on his best armor and tells Hrothgar what should be done if he dies. The sword he takes belongs to Unferths, the sword's name is Hrunting
4.What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere?
When Beowulf enters the mere, creatures in the water attack him but they are unable to hurt him. The thing that was surprising was that it took Beowulf half a day to get to the mere.
5.What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth?
When Beowulf tries to hit Grendel's mother with Unferth's sword, the sword breaks without hurting her.
6.At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape?
he scapes because his armor stoped the knife.
7.How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her?
Beowulf kills GRendel's mother by cutting her neck with a sword he found in the cave that was made by gigants. When she dies, the mere is filled with light, since the light reaches the top, Beowulf's men assume that he died in battle. Beowulf takes her head to land as prove. The sword he used to kill her melted after she died.
8.What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return?
When Beowulf returns, he finds that his men are gone because they thought the blood in the water was his.
[Further Celebration at Heorot] (lines 1651-1798, pp. 68-71)
1.What does Beowulf give to Hrothgar?
Beowulf gives Hrothgar the head of Grendels's mom and what's left of his sword.
2.What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example?
Hrothgar tells beowulf to be a fair king and not to be mislead by pride with the Heremod example.
3.What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves?
he give him his sword
Friday, August 23, 2013
1987 AP TEST EVALUATION
1987 essay Evaluations
Essay 1:
-gives examples of devices used to convey the author's views
-quotes the text
-the analysis is superficial
-I would give this a 4-5 because it can be understood but it does not analyze the text deeply
Essay 2:
-does not specify what change is being promoted
-gives examples of changes, but they were not included in the introductory paragraph
-does not analyze the text deeply
-the essay does not show deep understanding of the message the book was portraying
-I would give this essay a 4.
The essays I analyzed belonged to Marisol Duarte.
Essay 1:
-gives examples of devices used to convey the author's views
-quotes the text
-the analysis is superficial
-I would give this a 4-5 because it can be understood but it does not analyze the text deeply
Essay 2:
-does not specify what change is being promoted
-gives examples of changes, but they were not included in the introductory paragraph
-does not analyze the text deeply
-the essay does not show deep understanding of the message the book was portraying
-I would give this essay a 4.
The essays I analyzed belonged to Marisol Duarte.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
VOCABULARY #1 (AP English)
adumbrate -indicate faintly,report in outline, to foreshadow
-When I read a book, I like to adumbrate the story line in order to make the book more exciting.
apotheosis - glorification to a divine level, elevation of a person to the rank of a god or the ideal example.
- In ancient times, most kings were thought to be a type of apotheosis
ascetic -one who renounces comforts in pursuit of self-discipline, often for religious purposes.
-Islam is seen as an ascetic religion by many people in the western culture.
bauble -a showing ornament of little value
-Sometimes decorating in a simple way is better than using a lot of bauble things.
beguile -to influence by trickery or flattery, to charm or divert, or to take away from by cheating
-Scammers have a beguile ability to scam people of their money.
burgeon -flourish, rapidly increase
-If students focused during class, their grades would burgeon.
complement -completes or brings to perfection
-When choosing their outfits, models have to complement their cloths and their shoes.
contumacious-stubbornly disobedient, rebellious or willfully disobedient
-The bad thing of working with middle school kids is that sometimes they behave contumaciously.
curmudgeon -a bad tempered or surly person
-Curmudgeon teachers are often not well-liked.
didactic- intended to convey instruction as well as pleasure and entertainment
-The teacher's lecture was didactic, that's why all the students were paying attention.
disingenuous- insincere, usually by pretending one knows less than they actually do; hypocritical
-When people are trying to make a good impression, they often make disingenuous comments.
exculpate -declare one as not guilty of wrongdoing.
-After a very long conversation, the principal decided to exculpate the student.
faux pas-a social blunder; slip in manners, an embarrassing blunder
-When they were at the restaurant, little David had a faux pas after he burped loudly.
fulminate -express intense (passionate) protest.
-When the driver was given the parking ticket, he said, "This is so unfair!" in a fulminative voice.
fustian-Pompous or pretentious speech or writing
-The scammer gave a fustian speech in order to convince people that he knew what he was doing.
hauteur-pride, haughtiness, arrogance
-At the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, Darcy was full of hauteur.
inhibit-hinder, restrain, or prevent, to prohibit
-When someone is kidnapped, they are inhibited of their basic rights.
jeremiad -a prolonged lamentation
-After writing 4 essays, the teacher expected the students to be in a jeremiad state.
opportunist -one who takes advantage of opportunities often at the expense of ethics.
-Golddiggers are a form of opportunist people.
unconscionable-not reasonable, excessive
-To the students, suspencion was an unconscionable punishment for chewing gum.
-When I read a book, I like to adumbrate the story line in order to make the book more exciting.
apotheosis - glorification to a divine level, elevation of a person to the rank of a god or the ideal example.
- In ancient times, most kings were thought to be a type of apotheosis
ascetic -one who renounces comforts in pursuit of self-discipline, often for religious purposes.
-Islam is seen as an ascetic religion by many people in the western culture.
bauble -a showing ornament of little value
-Sometimes decorating in a simple way is better than using a lot of bauble things.
beguile -to influence by trickery or flattery, to charm or divert, or to take away from by cheating
-Scammers have a beguile ability to scam people of their money.
burgeon -flourish, rapidly increase
-If students focused during class, their grades would burgeon.
complement -completes or brings to perfection
-When choosing their outfits, models have to complement their cloths and their shoes.
contumacious-stubbornly disobedient, rebellious or willfully disobedient
-The bad thing of working with middle school kids is that sometimes they behave contumaciously.
curmudgeon -a bad tempered or surly person
-Curmudgeon teachers are often not well-liked.
didactic- intended to convey instruction as well as pleasure and entertainment
-The teacher's lecture was didactic, that's why all the students were paying attention.
disingenuous- insincere, usually by pretending one knows less than they actually do; hypocritical
-When people are trying to make a good impression, they often make disingenuous comments.
exculpate -declare one as not guilty of wrongdoing.
-After a very long conversation, the principal decided to exculpate the student.
faux pas-a social blunder; slip in manners, an embarrassing blunder
-When they were at the restaurant, little David had a faux pas after he burped loudly.
fulminate -express intense (passionate) protest.
-When the driver was given the parking ticket, he said, "This is so unfair!" in a fulminative voice.
fustian-Pompous or pretentious speech or writing
-The scammer gave a fustian speech in order to convince people that he knew what he was doing.
hauteur-pride, haughtiness, arrogance
-At the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, Darcy was full of hauteur.
inhibit-hinder, restrain, or prevent, to prohibit
-When someone is kidnapped, they are inhibited of their basic rights.
jeremiad -a prolonged lamentation
-After writing 4 essays, the teacher expected the students to be in a jeremiad state.
opportunist -one who takes advantage of opportunities often at the expense of ethics.
-Golddiggers are a form of opportunist people.
unconscionable-not reasonable, excessive
-To the students, suspencion was an unconscionable punishment for chewing gum.
Monday, August 19, 2013
REFLECTIONS ON WEEK 1 (AP English)
- Are there any factors that you think are going to affect your participation or experience in this class? Access to a computer? Since I have access to a computer at home, turning in stuff is not going to be a problem. The problem would be finding the time to do it. I believe this is going to be the biggest problem with this course. However, I knew this class was going to be time-consuming so I guess I shouldn't complain about it now. Just go through it.
- an awesome learning experience that changed you. Throughout my school life, the best way I have learned is by doing something physical after the teacher have given a lecture. I find the lecture helpful because most of the time the key concepts are explained and when I do the activity, I understand it better.
- What are you most [excited/concerned] about in this class? What do you look forward to in learning? The thing that I’m most excited about in this class is learning how to present myself through the internet. I also want to experience the freedom that this course gives me.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
1987 AP exam notes (AP English)
*Multiple Choice
-the first selection wasn't that difficult to understand if you read carefully. Like any other selection on other AP tests.
-Both poems were really hard for me to understand. I feel like if I knew the poetry terms better, I could've have gotten more questions right.
-Since the poems required me to REALLY understand the poem in order to answer the questions correctly, I had to re-read the poems again and that was time consuming. Since I was timing myself, I had to guess in the last few questions which I didn't really do well in.
*Essays
-even though I did not fully understand the first selection, I used Pathos and dialogue as the techniques Eliot used and since I am comfortable with these two, I was able to make a coherent essay in the 35 minutes the prompt said.
-For the second essay, I choose The Grapes of Wrath. I read this book last year and the details weren't that clear to me. Even though I managed to write a 4 paragraph essay on this one, I feel like I could improve it.
-for both essays I have more than enough time to finish. That’s why I feel like I did a poor job on them.
The essays I analyzed belong to Marisol Duarte.
1987 essay Evaluations
Essay 1:
-gives examples of devices used to convey the author's views
-quotes the text
-the analysis is superficial
-I would give this a 4-5 because it can be understood but it does not analyze the text deeply
Essay 2:
-does not specify what change is being promoted
-gives examples of changes, but they were not included in the introductory paragraph
-does not analyze the text deeply
-the essay does not show deep understanding of the message the book was portraying
-I would give this essay a 4.
-the first selection wasn't that difficult to understand if you read carefully. Like any other selection on other AP tests.
-Both poems were really hard for me to understand. I feel like if I knew the poetry terms better, I could've have gotten more questions right.
-Since the poems required me to REALLY understand the poem in order to answer the questions correctly, I had to re-read the poems again and that was time consuming. Since I was timing myself, I had to guess in the last few questions which I didn't really do well in.
*Essays
-even though I did not fully understand the first selection, I used Pathos and dialogue as the techniques Eliot used and since I am comfortable with these two, I was able to make a coherent essay in the 35 minutes the prompt said.
-For the second essay, I choose The Grapes of Wrath. I read this book last year and the details weren't that clear to me. Even though I managed to write a 4 paragraph essay on this one, I feel like I could improve it.
-for both essays I have more than enough time to finish. That’s why I feel like I did a poor job on them.
The essays I analyzed belong to Marisol Duarte.
1987 essay Evaluations
Essay 1:
-gives examples of devices used to convey the author's views
-quotes the text
-the analysis is superficial
-I would give this a 4-5 because it can be understood but it does not analyze the text deeply
Essay 2:
-does not specify what change is being promoted
-gives examples of changes, but they were not included in the introductory paragraph
-does not analyze the text deeply
-the essay does not show deep understanding of the message the book was portraying
-I would give this essay a 4.
MONTAIGNE/AUSTEN ESSAY (AP English)
In his story, "Good Old Neon", David Foster Wallace says, “What goes on inside is just too fast and huge and all interconnected for words to do more than barely sketch the outlines of at most one tiny little part of it at any given instant.” Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice supports this statement through her writing style while the Essays of Michel De Montaigne by Michel De Montaigne somewhat contradicts them. Even though Pride and Prejudice and Essays of Michel De Montaigne both have some things in common, both of them do not support Wallace’s saying.
In his quote, Wallace is saying that the thoughts and opinions of someone are not represented in any of their works because their minds are too complex to be put down into writing. In Essays of Michel De Montaigne, the reader can read exactly what Montaigne thinks about a subject, like thumbs, liars, memorization, sorrow, fear, and cowardice because his writing is done through a first person point of view. Even though Montaigne’s thoughts are not organized in a way that is easily followed, the reader can pinpoint his ideas on a given subject.
In Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, the reader can only speculate what Austen thinks about a subject. Even though her novel has an organized structure, her thoughts are implied through the third person narration of the novel. Since Pride and Prejudice is a work of fiction, Jane Austin has the ability to presents themes that the reader can have an opinion on without stating her views directly. By writing this way, Austen supports Wallace’s saying.
Even though both works do not support Wallace’s statement, Austen and Montaigne have some similarities. The biggest similarity between them is that they show similar messages. A message that both of them portray is that “the profit of one man is the damage of another.” (Montaigne Ch. XXI) In Pride and Prejudice this is shown when Mr. Collins entailment leaves the Bennet women financially unprotected once Mr. Bennet dies. Another common massage is that “our mind hinders itself.” (Montaigne Ch. XIV) This is showed in Pride and Prejudice when Darcy’s “mind” (prejudice) prevents Elizabeth to accept his proposal.
In the story “Good Old Neon”, David Foster Wallace says that people cannot write down their thoughts and opinions because their minds are too complex. However, The Essays of Michel De Montaigne contradicts this because in his writing, Montaigne states his opinions on diverse topics such as cowardice, thumbs, liars, memorization, sorrow, and fear. On the other hand, Pride and Prejudice supports this because the author does not state her opinion directly through the novel.
In his quote, Wallace is saying that the thoughts and opinions of someone are not represented in any of their works because their minds are too complex to be put down into writing. In Essays of Michel De Montaigne, the reader can read exactly what Montaigne thinks about a subject, like thumbs, liars, memorization, sorrow, fear, and cowardice because his writing is done through a first person point of view. Even though Montaigne’s thoughts are not organized in a way that is easily followed, the reader can pinpoint his ideas on a given subject.
In Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, the reader can only speculate what Austen thinks about a subject. Even though her novel has an organized structure, her thoughts are implied through the third person narration of the novel. Since Pride and Prejudice is a work of fiction, Jane Austin has the ability to presents themes that the reader can have an opinion on without stating her views directly. By writing this way, Austen supports Wallace’s saying.
Even though both works do not support Wallace’s statement, Austen and Montaigne have some similarities. The biggest similarity between them is that they show similar messages. A message that both of them portray is that “the profit of one man is the damage of another.” (Montaigne Ch. XXI) In Pride and Prejudice this is shown when Mr. Collins entailment leaves the Bennet women financially unprotected once Mr. Bennet dies. Another common massage is that “our mind hinders itself.” (Montaigne Ch. XIV) This is showed in Pride and Prejudice when Darcy’s “mind” (prejudice) prevents Elizabeth to accept his proposal.
In the story “Good Old Neon”, David Foster Wallace says that people cannot write down their thoughts and opinions because their minds are too complex. However, The Essays of Michel De Montaigne contradicts this because in his writing, Montaigne states his opinions on diverse topics such as cowardice, thumbs, liars, memorization, sorrow, and fear. On the other hand, Pride and Prejudice supports this because the author does not state her opinion directly through the novel.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
POETRY #1 (AP English)
1. From what poem/author does this commercial borrow (without credit)?
2. Why might the use of this poem by a corporation be considered ironic?
3. Does the poem reflect the reputation of the author? Why/why not?
4. How did you find the answers to #1 & #3? Describe your research process and your sources in detail.
1. The poem used here is called “The Laughing Heart” by Charles Bukowski
2. This might be considered ironic because the poem is telling the reader that it’s their life and that no one can tell them what to do; however, the point of this ad is to get the viewers to buy their product.
3. This poem somewhat reflects the author’s reputation because he was known for writing poems that alludes to the use of sex, alcohol abuse, and violence. Even though this poem sounds hopeful and empowering, it does contain the violence factor.
4. First I saw the video and then I googled “Levis’s go forth 2011 ad” in the search result, I found the poem. Since I still didn't know the author, I googled the poem an d ii found out who wrote it. When I found out who wrote it, I googled his biography and I found this: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-bukowski this is where I found the answer to number 3.
2. Why might the use of this poem by a corporation be considered ironic?
3. Does the poem reflect the reputation of the author? Why/why not?
4. How did you find the answers to #1 & #3? Describe your research process and your sources in detail.
1. The poem used here is called “The Laughing Heart” by Charles Bukowski
2. This might be considered ironic because the poem is telling the reader that it’s their life and that no one can tell them what to do; however, the point of this ad is to get the viewers to buy their product.
3. This poem somewhat reflects the author’s reputation because he was known for writing poems that alludes to the use of sex, alcohol abuse, and violence. Even though this poem sounds hopeful and empowering, it does contain the violence factor.
4. First I saw the video and then I googled “Levis’s go forth 2011 ad” in the search result, I found the poem. Since I still didn't know the author, I googled the poem an d ii found out who wrote it. When I found out who wrote it, I googled his biography and I found this: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-bukowski this is where I found the answer to number 3.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
ESSAY #1 (AP English)
The Palestinian literary critic Edward Said wrote that "Exile is strangely compelling to think about but terrible to experience. It is the unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native place, between the self and its true home; its essential sadness can never be surmounted." He also said that exile can become a "potent, even enriching" experience. In the novel, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, a character that is both wounded and enriched from being exiled is Leah Price. At the beginning of the novel, Leah Price is always looking for an excuse or explanation for the things her father does, she is also impetuous and sometimes speaks or acts without thinking. At the beginning of the story, the reader can deduct that the exile in the Congo is not doing her any good; however, by the end of the novel, the reader can see that being in Africa has enriched her life.
In the novel, an example of how exile can alienate someone is when Leah starts to see who her father really is. At the beginning of the novel, none of the Price women wanted to be in the Congo, the only reason that Leah could possibly be happy was because her father was there. Leah idolized her father and believed that his father had a reason for being the way he was. To Leah, her father was sort of a home. As the novel went by, she began to see true colors of his father’s personality and began to despise him for it. Without her father to look up to, Leah’s “home” began to crumble.
An example that exile can be an opportunity to grow is that by the end of the novel Leah fights for the African Freedom, showing that she doesn’t only care about people close to her but for the whole country. When Leah fell in love with Anatole, they both joined the movement and even though Leah was no longer Christian, she is still the same idealistic girl that she was when she first got to the Congo.
In conclusion, in this novel, the reader can see that exile can be a hurtful experience but an opportunity to grow at the same time. When Leah first arrived at the Congo, she was an idealistic girl who viewed her father like her home because she only saw the best qualities on him. Due to her exile, by the end of the novel she saw the reality of her father. However, the exile also helped her find a cause worth fighting for, African Freedom.
In the novel, an example of how exile can alienate someone is when Leah starts to see who her father really is. At the beginning of the novel, none of the Price women wanted to be in the Congo, the only reason that Leah could possibly be happy was because her father was there. Leah idolized her father and believed that his father had a reason for being the way he was. To Leah, her father was sort of a home. As the novel went by, she began to see true colors of his father’s personality and began to despise him for it. Without her father to look up to, Leah’s “home” began to crumble.
An example that exile can be an opportunity to grow is that by the end of the novel Leah fights for the African Freedom, showing that she doesn’t only care about people close to her but for the whole country. When Leah fell in love with Anatole, they both joined the movement and even though Leah was no longer Christian, she is still the same idealistic girl that she was when she first got to the Congo.
In conclusion, in this novel, the reader can see that exile can be a hurtful experience but an opportunity to grow at the same time. When Leah first arrived at the Congo, she was an idealistic girl who viewed her father like her home because she only saw the best qualities on him. Due to her exile, by the end of the novel she saw the reality of her father. However, the exile also helped her find a cause worth fighting for, African Freedom.
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