Thursday, January 24, 2013
SMART GOAL
My goal is to pass the AP english exam. Out of the 4 AP classes I am taking, this is the only one that is within reach of me passing. The test is in May, so i still have a few months to prepare. My plan is to study once a week, every week until April. When April rolls around, then i will bump my study time up to three times a week. Hopefully that is enough to get me a 3 on the AP. exam.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
LIT TERMS 6-30
Analogy: a comparison made between two things
to show the similarities.
Analysis: a method in which a worker or idea is separated into its parts, and those parts are given rigorous and detailed scrutiny.
Anaphora: a device or repetition in which a word or words are repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Anecdote: a short story used to illustrate a point.
Antagonist: a person or force opposing the protagonist in a drama or narrative.
Antithesis: a balancing of one
term against another for emphasis or stylistic effectiveness.
Aphorism: a terse, pointed statement expressing some wise or clever observation about life.
Apologia: a defense or justification for some doctrine , piece of writing, or action; also apology.
Apostrophe: a figure of speech in which an absent or dead person, an abstract quality, or something inanimate or nonhuman is addressed directly.
Argument: the process of convincing a reader by either the truth or falsity of an idea or proposition; also, the thesis or proposition itself.
Assumption: the act of supposing, or taking for granted a thing one does.
Audience: the intended listener or listeners.
Characterization: the means by which a writer reveals a character's personality.
Chiasmus: a reversal in the order of words so that the second half or the statement balances the first half in reverse order.
Circumlocution: a roundabout or
evasive speech or writing, in which many words are used but a few would have
sufficed.
Classicism: art, literature, and music reflecting the principles of ancient Greece and Rome; tradition, reason, clarity, order, and balance.
Cliche: a phrase or situation overused within society.
Climax: the decisive point in a narrative or drama; the point of greatest intensity or interest at which plot question is answered or resolved.
Colloquialism: folksy speech, slang words, or phrases usually used in informal conversation.
Comedy: originally a nondramatic literary piece of work that was marked by a happy ending now a term to describe a ludicrous, farcical, or amusing event designed to provide enjoyment or produce smiles and laughter.
Conflict: struggle or problem in a story causing tension.
Connotation: implicit meaning, going beyond dictionary definition.
Contrast: a rhetorical device by which one element (idea or object) is thrown into opposition to another for the sake of emphasis or clarity.
Denotation: plain dictionary definition.
Denouement:
loose ends tied up in the story after the climax, closure, conclusion.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
POETRY ANALYSIS
Found this while searching, seems like a good poetry analysis worksheet.
http://uwc.utexas.edu/handouts/poetry-analysis
1. The grey beards wag, the bald heads nod,
And gather thick as bees,
To talk electrons, gases, God,
Old nebulae, new fleas.
Each specialist, each dry-as-dust
And professional oaf,
Holds up his little crumb of crust
And cries, "Behold the loaf!"
Eden Phillpotts - The Learned
2.
William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
http://uwc.utexas.edu/handouts/poetry-analysis
1. The grey beards wag, the bald heads nod,
And gather thick as bees,
To talk electrons, gases, God,
Old nebulae, new fleas.
Each specialist, each dry-as-dust
And professional oaf,
Holds up his little crumb of crust
And cries, "Behold the loaf!"
Eden Phillpotts - The Learned
2.
Surprised by joy — impatient as the wind
I turned to share the transport — O! with whom
But Thee, deep buried in the silent tomb,
That spot which no vicissitude can find?
Love, faithful love, recalled thee to my mind —
But how could I forget thee? Through what power,
Even for the least division of an hour,
Have I been so beguiled as to be blind
To my most grievous loss? — That thought’s return
Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,
Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,
Knowing my heart’s best treasure was no more;
That neither present time, nor years unborn
Could to my sight that heavenly face restore.
William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
“Surprised by joy — impatient as the wind”
3. Dramatic Monologue
If only she truly spent time
with me, if only she had the
chance to know me! Oh, how
those round tables would turn,
and turn, and soon enough, it'd
be much like the wheel of fortune!
Oh yes! No more long nights in
front of the microwave, waiting on
my single serve Hungry Man Meal,
I'd be cooking from the cookbooks,
were it her I called my lady, and oh, she is.
We'd be two peas in a pod,
dancing under the willows and getting
our pictures taken by the roses. How
lovely companionship will be, (yet I still
must meet her.)
If only she truly spent time
with me, if only she had the
chance to know me! Oh, how
those round tables would turn,
and turn, and soon enough, it'd
be much like the wheel of fortune!
Oh yes! No more long nights in
front of the microwave, waiting on
my single serve Hungry Man Meal,
I'd be cooking from the cookbooks,
were it her I called my lady, and oh, she is.
We'd be two peas in a pod,
dancing under the willows and getting
our pictures taken by the roses. How
lovely companionship will be, (yet I still
must meet her.)
4. "I am two fools, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining poetry ;
But where's that wise man, that would not be I,
If she would not deny ?
Then as th' earth's inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea water's fretful salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my pains
Through rhyme's vexation, I should them allay.
Grief brought to numbers cannot be so fierce,
For he tames it, that fetters it in verse.
For loving, and for saying so
In whining poetry ;
But where's that wise man, that would not be I,
If she would not deny ?
Then as th' earth's inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea water's fretful salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my pains
Through rhyme's vexation, I should them allay.
Grief brought to numbers cannot be so fierce,
For he tames it, that fetters it in verse.
But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth set and sing my pain ;
And, by delighting many, frees again
Grief, which verse did restrain.
To love and grief tribute of verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when 'tis read.
Both are increasèd by such songs,
For both their triumphs so are published,
And I, which was two fools, do so grow three.
Who are a little wise, the best fools be."
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth set and sing my pain ;
And, by delighting many, frees again
Grief, which verse did restrain.
To love and grief tribute of verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when 'tis read.
Both are increasèd by such songs,
For both their triumphs so are published,
And I, which was two fools, do so grow three.
Who are a little wise, the best fools be."
THE TRIPLE FOOL.
by John Donne
by John Donne
5.
Snow
The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was
Spawning snow and pink roses against it
Soundlessly collateral and incompatible:
World is suddener than we fancy it.
World is crazier and more of it than we think,
Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion
A tangerine and spit the pips and feel
The drunkenness of things being various.
And the fire flames with a bubbling sound for world
Is more spiteful and gay than one supposes–
On the tongue on the eyes on the ears in the palms of your hands–
There is more than glass between the snow and the huge roses.
by Louis MacNeiceSpawning snow and pink roses against it
Soundlessly collateral and incompatible:
World is suddener than we fancy it.
World is crazier and more of it than we think,
Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion
A tangerine and spit the pips and feel
The drunkenness of things being various.
And the fire flames with a bubbling sound for world
Is more spiteful and gay than one supposes–
On the tongue on the eyes on the ears in the palms of your hands–
There is more than glass between the snow and the huge roses.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Saint Crispian's Day Speech Recital
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
LIT TERMS 1-5
Here are the five terms I decided to remix. I gave an example of each term. I hope its helpful :)
ALLEGORY- Allegory of the Cave: Socrates. http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/allegory.html
CLICHE- 'Beggars cant be choosers'
COMEDY- Elf
DENOTATION- plain dictionary definition (definition found on : http://drprestonsrhsenglitcomp12.blogspot.com/p/lit-terms.html)
ELEGY- Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard: Thomas Gray
ALLEGORY- Allegory of the Cave: Socrates. http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/allegory.html
CLICHE- 'Beggars cant be choosers'
COMEDY- Elf
DENOTATION- plain dictionary definition (definition found on : http://drprestonsrhsenglitcomp12.blogspot.com/p/lit-terms.html)
ELEGY- Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard: Thomas Gray
Sunday, January 13, 2013
SPRING SEMESTER PLAN 1
My plan for the spring semester is to stay focused on school. I know that it is very easy for seniors to get off track because our spring grades don't matter, but they really do. If they didn't matter then we would graduate in December rather than in June. This semester is a test to all of us to see how bad we want it... To see if we have the dedication and the diligence to keep our grades up despite the ever lingering "senior-it is."
Personally, I would like to focus on passing my AP tests. They mean a lot. They mean saving money on classes in college and graduating that much quicker. I need to buckle down and start studying now. I am planning on taking 5 AP tests in May. That is a huge work load. I am soon going to start to make a calendar of all the steps I need to take in order to study for all these tests. My first step is going to be NO PROCRASTINATION. It haunts every person on this planet and I need to find a way to beat it. (If anyone has any suggestions to help me out, I will gladly take them.)
Above all, I want to maintain my 4.0 or greater GPA. My goal at the beginning of my freshman year was to maintain a 4.0 GPA all throughout high school. I have 7/8 semesters down. I can't blow it on my final semester.
I hope that... no, I KNOW that I can achieve my goals. I just have to take it one step at a time.
Personally, I would like to focus on passing my AP tests. They mean a lot. They mean saving money on classes in college and graduating that much quicker. I need to buckle down and start studying now. I am planning on taking 5 AP tests in May. That is a huge work load. I am soon going to start to make a calendar of all the steps I need to take in order to study for all these tests. My first step is going to be NO PROCRASTINATION. It haunts every person on this planet and I need to find a way to beat it. (If anyone has any suggestions to help me out, I will gladly take them.)
Above all, I want to maintain my 4.0 or greater GPA. My goal at the beginning of my freshman year was to maintain a 4.0 GPA all throughout high school. I have 7/8 semesters down. I can't blow it on my final semester.
I hope that... no, I KNOW that I can achieve my goals. I just have to take it one step at a time.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
AP PREP POST 1: SIDDARTHA
Essay Topics
1. Siddhartha explores the quest for spiritual enlightenment, and by the end of the novel four characters have achieved this goal: Govinda, Gotama, Vasudeva, and Siddhartha. Is the enlightenment achieved by each of these characters the same? Why or why not? What distinctions and similarities exist between the paths these characters use to reach their final goal?
http://www.amphi.com/schools/irhs/teacher-staff/jeen/english12/siddhartha-essay.aspx
In the passage we are only introduced to Govinda. We are unaware of the characters Gotama and Vasudeva, so we do not know anything about their enlightenment or the similarities it may have to Govinda's and Siddarthda's. In order to answer this question, one would need to read the entire novel.
2. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/siddhartha/study.html
In the passage, we are only revealed to the internal world of Siddartha. We are not exposed to any interaction with other characters. But Govinda's name is mentioned so we do know that Siddartha does have some kind of human contact beside the inside of his own mind.
4. Discuss the role of the mystic utterance Om in Siddhartha. In what ways does it foreshadow Siddhartha’s spiritual progression? Is his relationship with it proactive, or reactive?
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/siddhartha/study.html
I have absolutely no idea how this question would be answered, but I would love to hear someone's opinion on how they would answer the question.
5. Explain which person has the greatest influence on Siddhartha and why?http://www.gradesaver.com/siddhartha/q-and-a/explain-which-person-has-the-greatest-influence-on-siddhartha-and-why-94151/
This question is very simple and could be answered simply in two sentences, but due to the simplicity of it, the question becomes very hard. To me it is the same thing as having very structured guidelines for a project or very general guidelines. The general guidelines are always more difficult because it forces you to really think outside the box and get creative, but they are more fun because they are a more accurate representation of you. This question would be an awesome question to see on the AP exam. The room would sigh in relief. I would not be able to answer the question at the time because Siddartha has not been revealed to any other characters yet, to my knowledge. And I would also need examples to back up my points, which I do not have access to in just the one passage.
These questions have showed me that I really need to learn how to deeply analyze a novel and remember specific facts about it in order to succeed on the writing portion of the AP test in the spring. It also shows me that I need to know how to identify critical literary elements so I can give my essays more depth.
1. Siddhartha explores the quest for spiritual enlightenment, and by the end of the novel four characters have achieved this goal: Govinda, Gotama, Vasudeva, and Siddhartha. Is the enlightenment achieved by each of these characters the same? Why or why not? What distinctions and similarities exist between the paths these characters use to reach their final goal?
http://www.amphi.com/schools/irhs/teacher-staff/jeen/english12/siddhartha-essay.aspx
In the passage we are only introduced to Govinda. We are unaware of the characters Gotama and Vasudeva, so we do not know anything about their enlightenment or the similarities it may have to Govinda's and Siddarthda's. In order to answer this question, one would need to read the entire novel.
2. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
In the passage, we are only revealed to the internal world of Siddartha. We are not exposed to any interaction with other characters. But Govinda's name is mentioned so we do know that Siddartha does have some kind of human contact beside the inside of his own mind.
4. Discuss the role of the mystic utterance Om in Siddhartha. In what ways does it foreshadow Siddhartha’s spiritual progression? Is his relationship with it proactive, or reactive?
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/siddhartha/study.html
I have absolutely no idea how this question would be answered, but I would love to hear someone's opinion on how they would answer the question.
5. Explain which person has the greatest influence on Siddhartha and why?http://www.gradesaver.com/siddhartha/q-and-a/explain-which-person-has-the-greatest-influence-on-siddhartha-and-why-94151/
This question is very simple and could be answered simply in two sentences, but due to the simplicity of it, the question becomes very hard. To me it is the same thing as having very structured guidelines for a project or very general guidelines. The general guidelines are always more difficult because it forces you to really think outside the box and get creative, but they are more fun because they are a more accurate representation of you. This question would be an awesome question to see on the AP exam. The room would sigh in relief. I would not be able to answer the question at the time because Siddartha has not been revealed to any other characters yet, to my knowledge. And I would also need examples to back up my points, which I do not have access to in just the one passage.
These questions have showed me that I really need to learn how to deeply analyze a novel and remember specific facts about it in order to succeed on the writing portion of the AP test in the spring. It also shows me that I need to know how to identify critical literary elements so I can give my essays more depth.
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