Author Archives

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Being Dauntless: Approaching Difficult Tasks

At this time last year, when many of you signed up to take the AP Language and Composition class, many of you had very little idea of the amount of challenge and work that lie in store.    At some points during this process, I am certain many of you felt like Frodo attempting to destroy the one ring, being slowed by obstacles such as new terminology, difficult reading passages, and formal writing. Yet despite the difficulties you all have faced, we have almost reached Mount Doom and on May 9th, many of you in fact will destroy (meaning successfully completing) the AP Language Exam.   While you all have been challenged, I am reminded of a quote from Winston Churchill about painting:

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will
stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving
path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from
discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

Winston Churchill’s description of the process of painting suits anyone approaching a
daunting task. Take a position on the value of attempting difficult tasks, particularly when
there is a possibility that “you will never get to the end.” Support your position with personal
experiences, observations, readings, and history.

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The Value of Popular Culture

The following prompt was taken from the College Board website.

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.

Our culture puts entirely too much emphasis on popular entertainment. Of course, we all need to be distracted occasionally, but if we spend a lot of time browsing our favorite websites, watching television, playing video games, or updating our social networking accounts, we are merely avoiding life’s more important realities. Moreover, none of these activities helps us develop any of the skills or acquire any of the knowledge we need to succeed in the real world.

Assignment: Can popular entertainment offer us anything of value, or is it just a worthless distraction? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.  Compose your argument using the Toulmin style.  You may use your notes and your AP argument packet.

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Photo Blog: Symbols and The Grapes of Wrath

Like text, photos can tell a distinct story.  The old aphorism, “A picture paints a thousand words,” was not an idle performance of the tongue, but rather a statement of truth in how the brain interprets pictures.

After reading Dr. Matthew Spangler’s adaptation of Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums,” we viewed an example of how a photograph can be symbolic of a story.  The example showed a single flower blooming.  The photographer connected the photo to the story through Elisa’s dreams of rising above the people and places of her life.  However, like the flower Elisa is also inevitably rooted firmly in her place on the farm.

Like the example, create a photo symbol from The Grapes of Wrath.  You can choose characters or themes to represent with a photo.  For your photo, choose a quote from The Grapes of Wrath that helps illustrate your point.  Then provide commentary that explains your symbol.

Photo Blog Rubric:

Written Visual Element: 13 points

Image 2/13 points

2-clear, recognizable  1-blurry, indecipherable

Text quote 2/13 points

1-text listed    1-page of source referenced

Description of image/text connection-9/13 points

9-stunningly insightful   6-appropriate   3-confusing/unclear

Presentation-7 points

Preparation 2/7 points

2-displayed prepared blog to guide in-class comments

0-failed to prepare blog to guide in-class comments

Presentation basics 5/7 points

1- loud enough to hear

1-proper pacing–not too fast or slow

3-attitude

3-contagiously enthusiastic

2-calm but prepared

1-unengaged, boring

 

 

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Argument and Current Events

Recently we have looked at op-eds which are in fact arguments made by others concerning positions, issues, and events in society.  Using one of formats discussed in class (Classical, Rogerian, or Toulmin), take a current event and address an issue that arises from that event.  For example, you may choose to discuss the Olympics in Sochi.  Some issues have arisen during the games, such as how unprepared Russia seemed for the games, the danger of the slope-style course, what should the Olympic Committee consider when choosing a host city. Your post does not have to be about the Olympics; it’s just a suggestion.

In your post, you must take a position, make a claim, and back up your claim using evidence.  Be sure to look at what others say about your position (on both sides) and address them in your post.  You must cite your resources at the bottom of your post.

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California’s History

In Chapter 19 of The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck recounts California’s history and discusses the relationship between its history and the present-day situation in the novel.   In a well-organized post, discuss the rhetorical strategies Steinbeck uses to establish his claim/thesis.

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Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection.  It’s a time to stop and think about all the wonderful gifts we’ve been given throughout the year.  After losing my father last year, I had a difficult time this year looking forward to the holidays. However, after examining what I enjoy most about the holidays, I was able to recall some of the greatest lessons he taught me.  It’s often easy to look at what we don’t have but looking at what we still have can often escape our thoughts.  While it is certain that I miss my father and always will, I am grateful for the legacy he has left for me and my children.

Reflect on what you are grateful for most this year.

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Accept. Act. Accelerate.

Many of you have written that you desire to make a difference–that you truly want to change your world.  In her article, “People Know They Matter When” by Angela Maiers, she offers suggestions using “Accept. Act. Accelerate.”  Read the article, and  write about how our school or community might be different everyone–staff, students, and teachers–“[chose] everyday to offer, thank, encourage, inspire, and let others know you notice and believe in them.”  Maybe our school already does this, then how can we take what we’ve accomplished in school into our community.  Remember to use good descriptive details–figurative and concrete language.  

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Cultural Shifts

Last week and this week, we studied an article about Stella Liebeck and her extremely hot cup of coffee. We viewed a video via The New York Times and read the accompanying article that discussed the shift in American culture.  Instead of fearing the heat of a cup, we tote around steaming hot cups of coffee as if it were nothing despite the very real danger of scalding ourselves or a loved one.  The height of the coffee culture is a shift that has occurred during my lifetime.   When I was younger, coffee shops were few and far between.  Most coffee was consumed in the morning by adults at breakfast, but now coffee seems to be everywhere.  Like the article points out, there is a Starbucks in a one-mile radius in just about every major city.  Despite so many shops, they seem to always be packed to the brim and busy.

Discuss either a current culture shift that you have observed during your lifetime OR predict a possible trend/culture shift in the future.  Some ideas to get you started may include music, technology, food trends, fashion, or social networking.

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World of Color

Reflect upon color.  Write a brief but purposeful essay on the subject.  Your responses may vary. You can talk about the science of color; its association with art, clothing, or nature; its ability to cover; your personal connection to color; and much more