Read..Think..Live!

As part of an in-class assignment, our AP English teacher gave us magazines in which we were to look for an ad to analyze. Since part of the AP English test involves being able to analyze visuals, our task was to closely look for rhetorical devices. My group picked an ad from Dove for its Campaign For Real Beauty that used Wilma Flintstone. Although at a glance the ad looked simple, it was filled with various rhetorical strategies. After completely analyzing the ad, we created a presentation in PowerPoint and later presented it to the rest of the class.

To view the Ad Presentation, Click here.

Standards Used:

Near the end of our AP English Language’s first semester, our teacher began to think of ways to review everyone for the semester exam and make studying a little more interesting. We were divided into groups of three or four and chose a topic from our studies that we would demonstrate in a home-made video. My group chose the topic of Schemes and decided to make a humorous video, which would review common rhetorical devices classified as schemes. Trying to come up with a way to combine our ideas resulted in us troubleshooting problems such as editing out certain parts of voice overs and applying the new voice overs to the video. Not only did this project allow us to experiment with different technology, but it helped us and our classmates to be better prepared for our semester exam.

To view our group’s video, click here.

Standards Used:

• Creativity and Innovation A-apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
• Creativity and Innovation B-create original works as a means of personal or group expression
• Creativity and Innovation C-use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
• Communication and Collaboration A-interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
• Communication and Collaboration D-contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making B-plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
  Technology Operations and Concepts A-understand and use technology systems

After periodically posting blogs over different subjects of our own choice each week, our teacher allowed us to take a break from writing our own posts. Our new task for the week was to comment on at least six other blog posts related to subjects we wrote about. Three of the six comments had to be on posts written by people we did not even know and the other three could be on people from our class. By commenting on other blogs, I was able to start a discussion with the writer and gain knowledge on other peoples’ viewpoints on a particular topic.

To view the post containing links to the different blogsites I commented on, click here.

Standards Covered:

• Communication and Collaboration -interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
• Digital Citizenship B-exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
• Technology Operations and Concepts A-understand and use technology systems
• Media Literacy:  Students shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media as a mode of communication

After reading a book as a class, my AP English teacher divides everyone into a literature circle with around five people in each group. We are to come to class with notes over the reading assignment and questions to ask each other. During the lit circle, we discuss many aspects of the text such as rhetorical devices and their purposes and the author’s tone. Through these group discussions, I am able to learn my classmates’ ideas about the text and why the think certain phrases or devices are placed where they are. The picture below shows my recent lit circle group discussing The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

Standards Used:

• Speaking—Students shall demonstrate effective oral communication skills to express ideas and to present information.
• Listening—Students shall demonstrate effective listening skills in formal and informal settings to facilitate communication.
• Comprehension—Students shall apply a variety of strategies to read and comprehend printed material.
• Variety of Text—Students shall read, examine, and respond to a wide range of texts for a variety of purposes.
  

While reading a book, we must take notes on the context of the text. After searching for strong diction, vocabulary, and rhetorical devices, the notes are combined to form a RRJ or Reading Response Journal. This particular journal is from a book I read towards the beginning of the year. The journal has four separate columns, the first containing a particular quote, the second paraphrases the quote, the third lists rhetorical devices found, and the last provides one's own commentary. This helps to develop reading comprehension skills. Standards Covered:

 This is the AP Language Vocabulary sheet for the first quarter of the school year. In this class, vocabulary is very important. Learning a variety of words helped to develop my reading, writing, and thinking skills. Many of these are words that just might appear on the AP test. Throughout the year we define the words and discuss each word. At the end of the week we take a test to test our knowledge of the meanings of words in context. The lists give us an insight into the importance of vocabulary in the AP Language test.

Learning Standards Used:

Reading: Vocabulary, Word Study, Fluency - Students shall acquire and apply skills in vocabulary development and word analusis to be able to read fluently.

At the first of the year, Mrs. Huff introduced our class to blogging. Each student created his or her own blog site complete with its own name and look. Not knowing a thing about blogging, I figured this would not help much with AP English. I was wrong. Through blogging I have become a better writer, thinker, and listener. After blogging over one specific topic for awhile, we were able to decide what to write about for a periodic blog. One example of a topic I wrote about was Seatbelt Safety. To read this blog post, click here.

Learning Standards used included:

• Purpose, Topics, Forms, Audiences—Students shall demonstrate competency in writing for a variety of purposes, topics and audiences employing a wide range of forms.
• Conventions—Students shall apply knowledge of Standard English conventions in written work.
• Craftsmanship—Students shall develop personal style and voice as they approach the craftsmanship of writing.
• Comprehension—Students shall apply a variety of strategies to read and comprehend printed material.
• Variety of Text—Students shall read, examine, and respond to a wide range of texts for a variety of purposes.
• Research/Inquiry Process—Students shall engage in inquiry and research to address questions, to make judgments about credibility, and to communicate ideas in ways that suit the purpose and audience.
• Communication and Collaboration—Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
• Research and Information Fluency—locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media; evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks; process data and report results.
• Digital Citizenship—Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology; exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.

Throughout the year in AP English Language, we have constantly been preparing for the AP exam in May. Much time has been spent learning vocabulary, marking up texts, and taking practice tests over challenging multiple choice questions and the four types of essays that are found on the AP test. At the beginning of the project we were divided into groups based on our chosen topic. My group’s topic was abortion. Each group member made weekly posts on the topic, including a summary of a related article and a personal reflection on that article. Near the end of the semester, we then combined our sources used and personal commentary to form a research paper. The paper involved tons of research, of course, and required basic skills such as the use of MLA formatted citations.

To read my paper, click here.

Standards Used:

Research and Information Fluency

• Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
• Locate, organize, analyze, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
• Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.

I took a break from blogging for the week and visited other sites related to my blog topics… The following are links to the sites I have visited!

1.) http://www.yourcarwreckblog.com/2008/03/06/seatbelt-safety/#comment-13!

2.) http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/consumerblog/2008/02/hannah-montana.html

3.) http://shorewood5.learnerblogs .org/2008/02/27/truth-about-beauty/#respond

4.) http://justread.wordpress.com/2008/03/02/managing-student-blogging-a-teacher%e2%80%99s-perspective/#comment-61

5.) http://chasingmyvoice.learnerblogs.org/2008/02/06/indecent-exposure%e2%80%a6aisle-two/

6.) http://mythoughts.learnerblogs.org/2008/02/20/sleep-deprived/#comment-34

  What exactly is “Plan B?” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines it as an emergency contraceptive also known as the “morning-after” pill. The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy after a contraceptive fails or unprotected sex occurs. Basically, it is a backup method of birth control. But how does it prevent pregnancy? Well, Plan B may either prevent fertilization of an egg or prevent attachment of the egg to the uterus. According to the FDA, Plan B is usually administered as soon as possible in order to be effective.

   Recently, the FDA approved Plan B as an over-the-counter drug for women over 18 years old. Many people argue as to whether or not this is the right thing to do. Some of these people believe that although the drug is not a direct form of killing an unborn child, also known as abortion, it is still a form of the cruel crime. I would have to say, I agree. The pill prevents a fertilized egg from attching to the mother’s uterus. Since the egg was already fertilized, a new life had already begun. By taking the pill, a mother is preventing that life from continuing to grow and develop.

   According to an online dictionary, abortion is “the removal of an embryo or  fetus from the uterus to end pregnancy.” Abortion is wrong in every way. Period. A fetus is a living, growing human being just like anyone else, other than the fact that he or she is still in the womb. Just like any ordinary abortion, taking the Pill terminates a pregnancy and takes away the right every unborn child has to live. Why would a mother choose to take this pill, knowing that it would end the life of her child? How on Earth is this the “right thing to do?” The answer is simple. Its not.  Women who the pill is adminstered to obviously take it to ensure that pregnancy will not be a problem.  Why is this? Because they are not ready to take responsibility for their own actions? Because it is so much easier to take a tiny pill and end a pregnancy than to go through with it and give the child a chance to live?

   The FDA seriously needs to rethink the decision of making Plan B available over-the-counter. If a woman does not want to become pregnant, she should not have unprotected sex. It is not right that women these days can go to the drug store, get morning-after pills without a hassle, and then “fix” the little mistake from last night’s mishap.  Instead of promoting such drugs that aid in abortion, the FDA should be promoting safe sex and taking responsibility for your own actions. Maybe if laws prohibited the administration of drugs such as emergency contraception, women would learn to become more responsible and prevent unwanted pregnancies the right way!