Because the upcoming seniors taking Advanced Placement English will be as nervous as we were at the year’s beginning, I thought we could create a post giving advice to the current juniors. What would we have done differently if we were to take this class again?
If I were to take this class again I would not procrastinate in the way that I did this year. I found once I missed a night of reading, I was behind until it was time for the novel to be finished. I also waited until the last minute to write papers. My best effort was probably not put forth when I waited to write a paper on the day it was due. Another problem was blogs. I would wait until I was last able to create ten posts. Overall, I would like to tell the upcoming seniors to spread out the time during which they complete their assignments. Do not procrastinate.
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I second the anti-procrasinating motion. But along with that I would also like to add a few suggestions for the newbies: Sure you can go online and read someone else's anaylsis about the novel/poem/whatever, but if you want to really contribute to the discussion, say something you came up with yourself. Everyone reacts while they read and notices different things, so bring it up! The oddest comments can spark a great discussion. Second, do all the recommended drafts of papers, not only because you'll probably have a portfolio to do at the end of the year, but also so you will actually edit your papers!! Take out the silly mistakes!! Reorganize your thoughts so they are most cohesive!
ReplyDeleteI knew when I signed up for the class that I hated reading. I did it because I wanted to expand on my reading skills and hopefully learn things to benefit my writing skills (becuase I love to write). If I could go back, I would have read more books over the summer; ones that were not even on the list. I think it's always good to expand ones reading so it's easier to connect different works of literature to create a point. I feel like we had to do that a lot during the course of the class. Also, procrastination is a beast. It's so easy to give in and I definitely did so. I wish I had gotten stuff done ahead of time so then I would have freetime later on. I turned things on time, but last minute never feels like on time. As far as the seminars go, definitely read. Yes, if you miss a reading, your peers can help you, but in the end, you will have to know the material in order to write the essays or even be involved in the discussion during class. Pay attention to detail and do your best! :)
ReplyDeleteMy advice is to simply keep an open mind about the class. Don't be afraid to grow in the development of interpretting Literature. A lot of the times I didn't keep an open mind about things, at first I completely hated the blog idea and didn't get the point of it. It wasn't until I actually went to the blog started reading the posts and commenting on them that I realized that these weren't bad at all and I actually started to like doing them. Especially since it allows everyone to share their opinions when we run out of time in class and furthers our understandings so come essay time, we were not completely lost, well at least me anyway. Definitely the don't procrastinate and stay focused on the assignment at hand. Good luck and don't be as stubborn as I was at times and you'll enjoy the class a whole lot more.
ReplyDeleteI took this class for a challenge. I wasn't looking for college credit or anything of the sort. So I will be the first to say go to college if you are going to work this hard in a class.
ReplyDeleteYeah, not procrastinating is a big one in this class. That should actually apply to all classes, but that's not the point.
ReplyDeleteAnother piece of advice: even if you think you're wrong, voice your answer/thought. You could be right, or you could get an explaination as to why you're /not/ right, but either way, you walk away with more knowledge than before. And that's really the point of this class, to learn something. Well that and to become a mega awesome writer for the AP test.
be prepared to read more books and write more essays than you ever have before. do not be like me and procrastinate til the very last minute. it will catch up to you very quickly and it is hard to recover. i also advise not getting cyst that explode inside of you and make you sick for 5 months cause it kind of sucks and makes it hard to get all the work done :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Portia. Definitely speak your mind, it helps bunches when you go back to write papers. Talking with other people helps you figure out if your idea has enough substance or if it's a dead end. Plus, you learn a lot better when you're invested in the class discussion.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, procrastination is a B. Don't let it get ya.
Yes procrastination, but also I noticed that I should have taken more advantage of the class. REMEMBER: This is practically a college level class; therefore do not expect Mr. Bruno to tell you to take notes and get you pencils out all the time. Trust me, if you take notes during the lecture time, group time, answering time activity time, and most of all seminar time it will help you so much. During tests I would have done so well on the essays and question if I took notes and look over them. Another thing to keep in mind is to STUDY FOR YOUR AP TEST THROUGHOUT THE COURSE! Yes this falls under procrastination don’t wait until the last week not even the last month. How do you study? You study by READING (extra) and TAKING NOTES in class.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I would do if I had to go back in time.
If I were to take this class over, I definitely would read everything as soon as it was assigned, procrasinating the reading is something that had me behind all year, it was also hard to keep up with discussions if you were behind in the book.
ReplyDeleteI think all the reading can be overwhelming if it isn't done right away! Like as soon as you get home from school, read read read!!!
You guys are unbelievably smart. Here I went and made a post (that I had to delete) asking for advice and Heather Brown (with her "shifty eyes" [the List]) put one up here.
ReplyDeleteBravo,
Mr. B
I would suggest to the upcoming juniors to use time wisely and not procrastinate. If you leave everything until the last minute the quality of the work will not be as good and you will be more stressed. Also, if you miss an assignment it will be very hard to catch up.
ReplyDeletei agree 100% with heather. do not procrastinate..as i am doing at this very moment with the blogs. are you using this same blog next year for those seniors? you should! and yes when you procrastinate you tend to not care what the end result is, but only that you get it done. which is one of the main reasons why many of my essays were not very good. so use your time wisely!..even though you have many other classes..you will definitely learn the most in this class especially if you apply yourself!
ReplyDeleteoh and i am going to miss you mr. bruno. heather and i will definitely come to visit you when we come back for winter break..maybe we'll even have a new list. kidding.
ReplyDeleteI would avidly hope that they have an interest in reading hoards of books one after the other. While being bombarded with them, I found that I was slightly put off by that much literature at one time. I would also say that I'm guilty of judging a book by its cover and not reading the lackluster titled books..I heavily regret that. I missed out on some good discussion and banter.
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely approach the reading differently. For starters, I would begin reading the day the books were assigned. I always found myself trying to start the books a few days before they were supposed to be read. Generally, the books didn't really appeal to me so I would read slow, and then be behind for the discussions in class. Also, I'm sure having a more thorough understanding of the books would have helped me with my essays...
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to not only take this class seriously,but to stay quiet while others are talking(because what they say might surprise you), and no procrastinating. I know that I, especially at the beginning of the year, would talk, but as I listened in on others opinions I felt that my views (which I didn't think I had any) were strengthened.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't procrastinate as much too! And, I won't lie, I didn't read all the material and I wish I had! But I'm so grateful that the class provided detailed descriptions of the books/poems/short stories! hahahahaha I really loved the discussions though.
ReplyDelete