To the future English AP student,
If you happen to be the sort that likes to push the deadlines (a.k.a. --you procrastinate), I suggest that you start buying coffee right now. Or some other type of legal stimulant that will achieve a similar response. English AP will turn out just fine if you do your readings on time, start your essays on time, and avoid 90% of your procrastination tendencies. However, since this is the same advice that goes out every year and since it is a fact that these type of advice are generally ignored by teens (who are, of course, notorious for their procrastination skills in term of academics), I suggest stocking up on supplies that will enable you to stay up all night with a clear head. Don't type up your essay when your mind is bleeping for sleep--Mrs. Stebbins can tell and such a blatant declaration of your procrastination abilities will result in no positive changes for your grade.
As for the class itself…it's mainly analysis. Analysis in the form of essays, in the form of "ways to check if you've read your book" (we don't call them quizzes here), analysis in the forms of projects and, of course, analysis in the forms of essays. The level of analysis will, of course, be a step up. It'd feel like you're analyzing your analysis most of the time, and trying to support them with all the details that you can drag out. However, at the end of the year you will realize that the hardest essay of the AP test is the one that you're most prepared for, so it works out logically. The discussions (take up most of the class time in this course) are fun. You'd have to concentrate a bit at times to follow the logic, but the ideas that show up at the end are generally worth it.
Oh, and the books we read (since this is AP) can be gritty so, unless you are an extremely good speed-reader, breezing through the book is definitely NOT recommended. However, re-reads are, but that doesn't appeal to people much. Another note--pay special attention to quotes: if there's a strange quote somewhere with references and allusions that you don't really understand, either spend some times pondering it or bring it up in the discussions because those sort of things show up quite frequently in the tests and "reading checks."
If you have any other questions, Mrs. Stebbins is quite open to tutorial and after school help. (And yes, you will probably be asked to write a letter to the future students, offering "candid advice" at the end of your year too.) There is not much else about this class that you'll need to know that won't become obvious within the first week, so --'luck!
If you happen to be the sort that likes to push the deadlines (a.k.a. --you procrastinate), I suggest that you start buying coffee right now. Or some other type of legal stimulant that will achieve a similar response. English AP will turn out just fine if you do your readings on time, start your essays on time, and avoid 90% of your procrastination tendencies. However, since this is the same advice that goes out every year and since it is a fact that these type of advice are generally ignored by teens (who are, of course, notorious for their procrastination skills in term of academics), I suggest stocking up on supplies that will enable you to stay up all night with a clear head. Don't type up your essay when your mind is bleeping for sleep--Mrs. Stebbins can tell and such a blatant declaration of your procrastination abilities will result in no positive changes for your grade.
As for the class itself…it's mainly analysis. Analysis in the form of essays, in the form of "ways to check if you've read your book" (we don't call them quizzes here), analysis in the forms of projects and, of course, analysis in the forms of essays. The level of analysis will, of course, be a step up. It'd feel like you're analyzing your analysis most of the time, and trying to support them with all the details that you can drag out. However, at the end of the year you will realize that the hardest essay of the AP test is the one that you're most prepared for, so it works out logically. The discussions (take up most of the class time in this course) are fun. You'd have to concentrate a bit at times to follow the logic, but the ideas that show up at the end are generally worth it.
Oh, and the books we read (since this is AP) can be gritty so, unless you are an extremely good speed-reader, breezing through the book is definitely NOT recommended. However, re-reads are, but that doesn't appeal to people much. Another note--pay special attention to quotes: if there's a strange quote somewhere with references and allusions that you don't really understand, either spend some times pondering it or bring it up in the discussions because those sort of things show up quite frequently in the tests and "reading checks."
If you have any other questions, Mrs. Stebbins is quite open to tutorial and after school help. (And yes, you will probably be asked to write a letter to the future students, offering "candid advice" at the end of your year too.) There is not much else about this class that you'll need to know that won't become obvious within the first week, so --'luck!
1 comment:
I still have to write that :(
Question: in the anthology, are we allowed to use "I" anywhere in our reflections/intro/conclusion?
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