Read the following piece carefully. Then write a well organized and insightful essay analyzing how the writer uses rhetorical elements and strategies to develop his/her argument.  Avoid mere plot summary; make sure that you articulate what the author’s argument/position is and how he or she uses specific rhetorical elements/strategies to develop their argument. You may wish to consider the devices we studied this semester, including but not limited to the following:

Tone/Mood

Imagery

Allusions

Organization and Structure

Syntactical Patterns (parallel structure, repetition, antithesis, sentence length and style/arrangement)

Diction (word choice)

Figurative Language (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, understatement)

Selection of details

Rhetorical Appeals (ethos, logos, pathos)

Learning Target: Prepare for semester exam.

Hand in revision projects.

Exam prep: For the exam, you will write one essay (but you will be given two options to choose from).  The prompt for each essay will be the following, or something close to this:

Read the piece carefully. Then write a well organized essay analyze how the writer ____________crafts his/her argument. You may wish to consider such devices as those in the box provided. Avoid mere plot summary.

Tone/Mood

Imagery

Allusions

Organization and Structure

Syntactical Patterns (parallel structure, repetition, antithesis, sentence length and style/arrangement)

Diction (word choice)

Figurative Language (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, understatement)

Selection of details

Rhetorical Appeals (ethos, logos, pathos)

Skill-Building Revision Assignment

Points: If you earned anything less than an A, you can earn eight (8) points added to your essay grade. I will add the points tonight, and they will stay in your grade if I receive a satisfactory revision assignment by Monday.  If I do not receive a satisfactory assignment by Monday, I will remove the points from your essay score.

Due date: December 15, 2014

Chose one of the following revision assignments.

1) Writing clear, concise prose

You might want to choose this if your major problems are related to wordiness/language clutter, filler words, vague or empty words, misplaced modifiers, awkward diction or syntax, excessive use of the passive voice and verbs of being.

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/style/

2) Avoiding comma splices (do not join independent clauses with only a comma)

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/1/34/

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/5/26/5

3) Writing a focused, detailed and meaningful thesis statement and clearly connected topic sentences for each body paragraph

Improving Your Focus: Creating Continuity between your Thesis Statement and Body Paragraphs  (pp 14-15 of your AP Language and Composition Writing Sourcebook)

4) Properly punctuating citations and avoiding floating quotes (according to MLA guidelines)

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/quotations/

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/quotations/

5) Other problems with punctuation (e.g. proper use of commas, colons, semicolons, apostrophes, etc)

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/GramPunct.html

6) All other problems (e.g. redundancy, poor word choices, poor choice of supporting evidence, misinterpretation of the text, etc.)

Assignment Parts:

a.      Write a rationale statement explaining why you feel you most need to work on this particular skill.  Generally speaking, I want you to explain why – based on past experience, comments on this essay and others, etc. – you feel this is a writing skill you most need to work on.

b.      Find a good source in print or on the internet which provides guidance on this writing skill. Copy/print a reasonable length (5 or less pages) for the purpose of annotating.  Read it and annotate it for important advice and tips, especially advice that pertains directly to your struggles.

c.       Next, choose the portion(s) of your paper which need from revisions/improvements in this area, and rewrite it according to the guidance provided. Using the cross-out functions in Word or Google Docs and/or highlighting/underlining functions, show the edits you made to improve your writing. Use text boxes/comments to explain in the margins why you made your changes and/or how they made your writing better.

d.      Write a strong reflection paragraph describing what you learned from doing this assignment and how it will help you in future essay writing.

Wesley

Skill-Building Revision Assignment

Points: If you had anything less than an A, you can earn eight (8) points added to your essay grade. I will add the points tonight, and they will stay in your grade if I receive a satisfactory revision assignment by Monday.  If I do not receive a satisfactory assignment by Monday, I will remove the points from your essay score.

Due date: December 15, 2014

Chose one of the following revision revision assignments.

1) Writing clear, concise prose

You might want to choose this if your major problems are related to wordiness/language clutter, filler words, vague or empty words, misplaced modifiers, awkward diction or syntax, excessive use of the passive voice and verbs of being.

2) Avoiding comma splices (do not join independent clauses with only a comma)

3) Writing a focused, detailed and meaningful thesis statement and clearly connected topic sentences for each body paragraph

4) Properly punctuating citations and avoiding floating quotes (according to MLA guidelines)

5) Other problems with punctuation (e.g. proper use of commas, colons, semicolons, apostrophes, etc)

6) All other problems (e.g. redundancy, poor word choices, poor choice of supporting evidence, misinterpretation of the text, etc.)

Assignment Parts:

a.      Write a rationale statement explaining why you feel you most need to work on this particular skill.  Generally speaking, I want you to explain why – based on past experience, comments on this essay and others, etc. – you feel this is a writing skill you most need to work on.

b.      Find a good source in print or on the internet which provides guidance on this writing skill. Copy/print a reasonable length (5 or less pages) for the purpose of annotating.  Read it and annotate it for important advice and tips, especially advice that pertains directly to your struggles.

c.       Next, choose the portion(s) of your paper which need from revisions/improvements in this area, and rewrite it according to the guidance provided. Using the cross-out functions in Word or Google Docs and/or highlighting/underlining functions, show the edits you made to improve your writing. Use text boxes/comments to explain in the margins why you made your changes and/or how they made your writing better.

d.      Write a strong reflection paragraph describing what you learned from doing this assignment and how it will help you in future essay writing.

December 9, 2014

4AP Language and Composition

1.     Hazlitt Comedy and Tragedy prompt

·        Take out the essay you wrote last night.

·        Write down the rhetorical strategies/elements you addressed.

__________________________________________________________________

·        Read the example essays (high scoring and medium) and the analysis of each.

·        Write down two sentences which you really liked from the high scoring essay and explain why you found each to be effective.  What made them effective? Address content and clarity - diction and/or syntax - of the sentence

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.     Face of Steel break!

3.     Queen Elizabeth at Tilbury prompt

·        Take out the essay you wrote last week.

·        Write down the rhetorical strategies/elements you addressed.

__________________________________________________________________

·        Read the example essays (high scoring, above average, and average)

.

·        Write down two sentences which you really liked from the high scoring or above average essay and explain why you found each to be effective.  What made them effective? Address content and clarity - diction and/or syntax - of the sentence

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Early Dismissal
1st: 7:45 to 8:12
2nd: 8:18 to 8:45
3rd:8:51-9:18

9th :10:30 to 10:57
10th: 11:03 to 11:30

Notes: 

I will hand back your 1984 essays tomorrow; thank so, so much for your patience!

I will also provide you with a focused revision assignment, so that if you received anything less than an A, you will have an opportunity to raise your essay score by nearly a letter grade, and improve your writing in a specific area of need.

In-class activities:
Read the packet on the rhetorical strategies essay (29-32) for the AP Language and Composition class.

Homework: 
Tonight, take 30 minutes and write an essay (handwritten or typed) in response to the example AP rhetorical analysis prompt found on the bottom half of page 31  The questions and guiding thoughts at the top of pages 31 and 32, respectively, provide some insights to help you if you are stuck.

Tomorrow, you will look at two example responses - a high scoring and a medium scoring essay - to the prompt on page 31.  You can compare your essay to those to assess where you are at and what you need to work on.

What is the mood and purpose of the first scenes? How does the director use images, the changes,contrasts, and juxtaposition of images, overall structure/arrangement/order of scenes, and music to create the mood and achieve his purposes in the initial scene(s)?  

Learning Targets:  I can find words (from Siddhartha) and arrange them to convey ideas and feelings inspired by the words and the text (Siddhartha) from where they came.

·        Found poems

Arrange your words to capture/convey/suggest the essence of some idea or feeling inspired from the words you found in your chosen Siddhartha passages.

You do not need to use all 50 words;
You may repeat words for the sake of emphasis or rhythm;
You may add two words of your own (e.g., is, the) but you may not repeat those words.
Give it a title (using your own words and/or words from Siddhartha)
It doesn't have to make sense!
You may add illustrations/drawings to your poem if you wish.
 

·        Revisiting Rhetoric

Now that you have a better idea of what rhetorical analysis looks like,

…let’s take a second look at some of the texts in our Language of Composition book.

Review the following while in class:

·        Glossary of Rhetorical Terms 36-37

·        Glossary of Style Elements 78-80

Read about diction and syntax on page 40. 

Read Queen Elizabeth’s speech on page 40-41

·        Homework…

Type and print your Siddhartha Found Poem

Tomorrow in-class: Do the activity on page 41…Don’t write an essay; create a chart like the one on pages 54-55.  Work individually and then with a partner.

Write an informal analysis of the diction and structure of your Siddhartha inspired poem.  Think about adjectives to describe the connotations of the words in your poem.  Also, think about how the words/details/images and the arrangement of your words/details/images contribute to the tone and mood of the poem. What adjectives from your list of tone and mood words in your gold AP Language and Composition Writing Sourcebook.

Siddhartha

Monday, December 1, 2014

Siddhartha

Bellringer: Who is Vasudeva? What makes him special? Does he remind you of anyone?136-137

On page 142, Siddhartha says, "Wisdom is not communicable.  The wisdom which a wise man tries to communicate always sounds foolish". Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? - Lindsey

What is the difference between Buddha and Siddhartha by the end of the book? Would Siddhartha seek knowledge or the urge to teach if he encountered Buddha again? Blake

Why does Siddhartha realize he loves his son after he steals from Siddhartha?

It seems to me Govinda, that love is the most important thing in the world. (147)

Do you see any connections between images, words, and ideas in this song and in the last several chapters of the book?

One Of Us Lyrics

"This I understand," spoke Govinda. "But this very thing was discovered by the exalted one to be a deception. He commands benevolence, clemency, sympathy, tolerance, but not love; he forbade us to tie ourheart in love to earthly things."

"I know it," said Siddhartha; his smile shone golden. "I know it, Govinda. And behold, with this we are right in the middle of the thicket of opinions, in the dispute about words. For I cannot deny, my words of love are in a contradiction, a seeming contradiction with Gotama's words. For this very reason, I distrust in words so much, for I know, this contradiction is a deception. I know that I am in agreement with Gotama. 

Small group discussions

Siddhartha e-text

HW: 

Siddhartha Found Poem Journal, December 1, 2014...Find two or three passages which contain thoughts which you connect with at some level.  Circle the 50 best words you can find in those passages: words which capture your attention due to their sound, their meaning, their power, their subtlety. 

Also...Bring The Language of Composition for the rest of this week