10/8/11
In class we have been mostly doing continuous practice with thesis, and AP essay practice. Writing introductions has gotten easier due to the practice but i still struggle with organizing the essay based of the thesis. I think that i finally understand how to apply all three parts of the intro (TEM) but structuring the essay still causes difficulties. Especially since time is limited and ideas for structuring do not come to mind nearly as fast as it needs to. One of my major issues is that i fear that with closed prompts, i will not have enough time to analyze the piece given appropriately. It usually takes me a very long time with help to completely analyze poems and such, which i know will not leave me enough time to actually write my actual essay.
We have also been learning about the American Dream, and theater of the absurd. It seems that most authors view the American Dream with a sarcastic, unrealistic tone, making this dream seems ridiculous and unachievable. The theater of the absurd still confuses me greatly, more specifically Albee's American Dream was a very different piece of literature, unlike anything I've ever read before. I think that the multiple reading of this piece will reveal a lot more than the first reading did.
Overall, things are slowly starting to make sense, but continual ap essay practice would probably be beneficial.
The intro I just read was great so I can tell the practice helped you! I think, with the more practice we get, being able to analyze and write the essay in the time given will become easier. We certainly have a lot of time left until the AP. I agree, we need much more practice. I hope the Theater of the Absurd it making more sense to you now. It was confusing at first for me, too, but the more we looked at Albee's play and the absurdist elements of it, the more it seems to make sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing a great job so far George! I agree with your fear that we wont have time to analyze the piece properly. But I think with practice, we will all get there and do well on our exams. Great job describing how the class is going for you!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about worrying about structure slowing you down, I feel that way too, and the way closed prompts are going to work I feel that I will take too much time to analyze too, but I'm sure we will write lots of practice essays and will have timing down well before the AP. The Theater of the Absurd part is confusing to me too, but the way Albee uses it is helping to clarify some parts of that for me, I hope it is for you too.
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