This is it! Your final blog for the year. In this blog, I would like for you to give the incoming class of AP Lang students a some helpful advice. Now that you have been through it, what approaches or attitudes do you think will help them be successful in the class? I will be compiling a list of suggestions to send to the incoming students this summer.
PS. Don't scare them off. (Just kidding)
The bell rings. A brief walk through the hall. Sit. Listen to how the year will go, and grant myself permission to feel confident despite how daunting it may seem. Realize over the week how arrogant I had been. Hit the major works data sheet over the weekend, and have the first mental breakdown of the year. Slowly get over the initial feeling of drowning, and accept that there will be little sleep or pleasure activities for the remainder of the year. I don't know how it was for my classmates, but this was how AP Lang began for me. I vividly remember feeling there was no way I could make it one day more let alone one year more.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of advice I could give to those taking AP Lang next year. I'll start with what is most likely the simplest. Keep calm. If you are particularly overwhelmed step away, take a deep breath, and relax for ten minutes or so. Letting the amount of work inundate you is an easily made step in the wrong direction, and while you don't want to let yourself drown in the amount of work you have, you also need to be aware of the amount of work you have. Time management is very important. Being able to recognize the time required for an assignment is essential. Don't try to write a five page paper in one hour. If you manage to finish it AND get a good grade with one hour of work you will be up there with Einstein and Shakespeare in my book. Sometimes the time needed is not acquirable within regular hours. That means you may be up until three in the morning or, horrifying enough, all night.
My next suggestion is that you commiserate with your fellow AP Lang students. It is an undeniable fact, at least no one will convince me otherwise, that while the class is a good experience, it can be indescribably miserable. Talk with the others in your class. Work together to find out the best way to approach an assignment. Give moral support to those who don't think they can do it. Bond over the crazy class that despite the agonies you'll come to love. And don't forget to indulge in the hysterical laughter that will squeeze the air from your lungs every time the other English classes complain about their two page papers. You'll get many chances.
Try to make the work fun. Work? Fun? Can those even make it into the same sentence without the universe imploding? But seriously, making assignments interesting is a lifesaver. I admit it won't be as fun as chilling with your friends or doing whatever it is you did to pass your free hours. When you have the option to pick what you're writing on choose something you're interested in. It's exciting to find out even more about a topic you already love. On that note, if you end up doing the literary expert project do not, I repeat, DO NOT wait until the last minute. You will curse yourself as a fool for the remainder of the quarter if not year. That can apply to the rest of your assignments too.
CONTINUED BELOW
Now, take all of your expectations for what the class will be like. Now tie them to a paper lantern and watch them slowly dwindle into nothingness. The bottom line is all of your expectations are probably wrong. Walk into that classroom on the first day of school with an open mind, and remember in the weeks to follow that the beginning is the worst. The workload will never lighten, but as the year goes by you'll find yourself strong enough to carry more and more. Finally, like junior year in general, the year will fly. One minute you'll be begging for it to end, the next moment you're already standing at the exit with one week ahead of you. I won't deny there's a sort of thrill that the struggle is over and that you've won. And yet it's melancholic. Pushing myself to the limit, striving endlessly to do better, feeling frustration as I failed yet again, narrowly avoiding tears when I finally did well, and reveling in the fact that for the first time English was not easy for me. These were all new experiences for me. Throughout the year I questioned my decision to take AP Language, wondering if my Hyde (which you'll probably understand by the end) signed me up for this. But at the end of it all, there is nothing I would have rather done. AP Lang changed my life and how I viewed the world, and I will be forever grateful.
DeleteP. S. Thanks, Mrs. Messineo, for always pushing us farther than even we thought we could go and not excepting our half-baked attempts at writing; if it was bad you clearly said it. I'd like to think our entire class made it up the ladder.
Meaghan, this was an excellent blog full of advice that is definitely good for next years students. Certainly, many of their preconceived ideas about his class are wrong, and they will soon find out the truth. I too mentioned the fun that will come out of this class, and believe that this was probably the class that had me laughing the most this year. Great job!
DeleteHahaha paper lantern! It's so true. We had no idea what we were in for. And I'm glad you got that "thrill", too. What I agree with most is the talking to other AP Lang students. Seriously, first period when we would all compare our progress or speculate about what was in store for class that day. AP Lang is a community.
DeleteMeaghan, I literally laughed so hard at your reference to Mr. Hyde; the future AP Language students will understand someday! This was an excellent post. My favorite part of this post was how honest you were. There are many frustrations and at times this class seems overwhelming; however, I, too, have learned so much! This class was great even for just the experience. I second the fact that AP Language is a community; we all need to rely on one another and support each other. I believe that this class changed me also, and for the better. I guarantee that the future students will be thankful for your advice. Nice work, as always, Meaghan! WE DID IT!
DeleteAP Language! What an experience! First of all, I would like to thank Mrs. Messineo for making us work hard for the entire year, and pushing us to become better students and better individuals. I am happy that I took this course during my junior year in high school, but I know that it was beneficial asking upperclassmen who already took the class what to expect. I will not lie to anyone who is signed up to take this class, it is very difficult but being prepared at the beginning of the year will help a lot. This class keeps you so busy that before you know it, you will be typing your last blog too!
ReplyDeleteThe first piece of advice that I will tell anyone is that they should avoid procrastination. Most of you are probably thinking well no crap. It is obvious that it is not good to procrastinate in any class that you are taking, but this class is an exception. There is so much work that is done is such a short amount of time for AP Language that if a student procrastinates, they simply will struggle all year long. Time management is something that you will learn throughout the year. It is essential that a person is able to space out everything that they need to get done before the day is over. In this English class it is very important to stay on track with the assignments that are due because when you fall behind, the assignments just keep piling up higher and higher.
There will be multiple times during the school year that you feel that you are not going to make it. You must communicate with your other classmates to make sure that you are on the right track, and that you are keeping up. It also doesn’t hurt to help each other every once and a while. If you are able to collaborate with your other classmates during some challenging times during the school year, you will be much more successful. Another good thing to do is to take breaks. You shouldn’t work on your English homework for six hours straight. If you start the homework early in the day you can work for a few hours, take a break, and then finish the assignment in a couple more hours. This will allow your brain to rest for a little bit, and you will also feel refreshed.
Anything is possible with confidence and a positive attitude! If a person could have one good quality it should be confidence. It is remarkable how a person’s performance can be affected whether they are confident or not. A person who is confident is able to do things that they normally are not capable of doing. They are not afraid to make important decisions or to complete difficult tasks. Students who are confident are mentally tough.
Finally, you should not be stressing yourself out the entire year. It sounds crazy, but it is important that you enjoy the experience. You will definitely learn a lot during your time in AP Language, but you will also learn a lot about yourself. You will learn what you are truly made of. AP Language is a class that allows you to grow as a student and a person. There is no doubt about it that this class prepares you for college! I can guarantee you that in the end you will be glad that you took the class because you will be a better person than you were before you took the class. Good luck!
Drew, it was smart of you to add classmate collaboration. Honestly, without you guys I would not have made it through this class. Together we did a lot more than what we could have accomplished by secluding ourselves from everyone else. Our class pulled together and made it up the ladder. Great advice!
DeleteDear Future APLangers,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Jungle! Here you will learn how to survive AP Language class, and hopefully you will do it with excellent marks. Right about now you are probably kicking yourself for signing up for this class because of all the stories you've heard. Twelve page papers?! Right about now the biggest one you've written is probably about five pages and even that seemed like it was going to put you in an asylum. You've also never read a book for school in one week and done questions and written an essay all before Friday. How are you ever going to create time with all of the other homework and activities you will have going on? Trust me, the struggle is real and completely understandable. You are going to feel discouraged and you will want to quit and just lay in your bed dropping into a coma for the rest of the year. We've all felt it at some point.
Here's one thing I will tell you for sure though. This class is not like any other class you have taken. While the work load may be nearly unbearable from your viewpoint sometimes, the payoff is one hundred times more than you will get from any other class. I cannot tell you on how many occasions I have been commended by friends, families, teachers, and college representatives, for taking this class while doing the rest of my activities. I am sure the rest of my classmates will agree. You will struggle but it is undeniable worth it.
So, since you will inevitably be taking this course, take some advice for your time here. Firstly, learn to focus. You may think you already know how to do this, but AP Lang requires a whole new level of it. Sometimes distractions can cause you to lose the whole gist of a paragraph until you sit there for an hour trying to remember the exact way you wanted it to go. Don't get distracted on your iPad or other things. Trust me, I know how easy it is. When you find yourself getting too distracted by games or other apps, I suggest deleting them. Most of your games will save your progress and you can re download them after you finish the project. If you do not have the courage to go this far, then move all of your games onto a separate screen page and move Pages, the internet, and only other apps necessary to your project onto this page. It will help you avoid getting distracted by whatever game you're obsessed with at the time.
If you're going to procrastinate, do it right. Dreading that English paper? Get the rest of your homework done, get a shower, eat dinner, get a quick workout in, and then get back down to business on your paper or project. Junior year, any wasted time normally means losing some sleep, and even if you are productive with all of your time one night, you may still end up going to bed at two in the morning. Which brings me to another point. If you are good at procrastinating unproductively, learn to live without sleep. Me, I can function with only four hours of sleep, six makes me normal, and eight gives me an extra bounce of energy, but everyone is different. Know your specific need for sleep and try to meet it as often as you can. Aim for the most each night, and after you finish everything, head straight up to bed. Don't check Facebook or Pinterest quick and end up staying awake until two with nothing to show for it except huge eye rings.
Don't let this class drag you down. At some point during this class, you will have experienced multiple mental breakdowns, cried a little, and screamed into your pillow in utter defeat while informing your parents quite melodramatically that you are dropping the class because it is impossible and that all of your teachers are going to bury you under homework if you don't. Well, get over it. Suck it up and finish your homework because if you finish this class, you can do pretty much anything. If you feel like you are in a place where it can only go downhill, go in and talk to the teacher whenever their weekend hours are. Be open to the conversation, take criticism in a respectful way, and say thank you because it will be helpful despite the fact that it might not be what you want to hear.
DeleteTake the test. "Which test?" Is what you're probably thinking now, but by the end of the year, an English classmate will ask if you are taking it and you will know. The dreaded three hour test that chews kids up and spits them back out without any recollection of their own name. And while this pretty much is true, though not quite so dramatic, it is important that you honestly consider it. An average course in college costs about three thousand dollars. The test costs about ninety. And if you have worked hard and diligently this year, you can save yourself the difference between these two amounts of money. Plus, it's an excellent experience.
Finally, find your passion in this class. You will end up having to write a research paper that will, consume your time, and you don't want to write it on something that you don't understand or don't like. Choose something that infuriates you. You can write epics about issues that make you mad, and trust me, it will make it easier. But also know by what approach you are writing your paper. If it's expository, write it that way. And have fun! You will have plenty of opportunities to laugh at yourself and make fun of the other classes who feel like a five page paper is the end of the world. You will know better, and you can chuckle about it when you hear it. Plus, you know, bragging rights are always fun. Find joy in this class, because it's there no matter what you think. It may not be your favorite class but it will forever be an experience that has changed you for the better if you let it.
To Mrs. Messineo, I would like to say thanks. You cared about us, kicked us in our butts, and gave us many a laugh at our own expense. Plus, you taught me to be passionate about unjust situations. I will carry the Rwandan Genocide and everything that I learned from it and from you with me for the rest of my life. And for that I am greatly thankful.
Hannah, this was very well-written advice! When I started to read this, that song popped into my head. So thank you for that! The most important piece of this blog, that I failed to mention in my own post, was to take the AP exam. I also agree that time management is important as well as getting a good night sleep. I, too, enjoy the bragging rights; WE DID IT! Nice job, Hannah!
DeleteHannah, I like how you talked about knowing how many hours of sleep you require to be able to function the next day. I think that it is very important to know this because you can operate on your own schedule. I also enjoyed how you talked about mental breakdowns. There is no doubt about it, you are going to have a few of these during the year. It is not how many breakdowns you have, but how you handle each and every one. Good work!
DeleteHan, this was great advice that I feel like the next years class will definitely be able to use! I love that you left a side not for Mrs.Messineo because I think we are all really grateful for the lessons we have learned from her. Great job girl!
DeleteFrom the moment you get your summer reading to the last day of school you are going to ask yourself "what possessed me? Why did I ever take this class?" It is a ton of work and not just taking notes or writing definitions; AP Language will make you think and change the way you think. However, there are a few things that can make it a bit easier for you.
ReplyDelete1. Just do the work. You gain nothing by pushing it off or neglecting it. If you invest yourself entirely in the class then you will get an incredible amount out of it. That leads to number two:
2. Read the books! If you're forced to read the same books as us I'll clue you in; Endurance is harder to read than every other book in the world excluding Canterbury Tales (which we still think is in a different language.) Frankenstein is the most life changing book if you really pay attention and analyze it. You will relate everything to it, it's incredible. This also connects to number three:
3. Do not DO NOT procrastinate! Whether it's with reading the books or writing the papers, you will crash and burn or pull an all-nighter if you put it off too long. The worst thing to procrastinate on is the literary specialist project.
4. Don't try to outsmart the teacher. There is a reason the teacher is leading the class.
5. Keep an open mind. You're going to be introduced to a lot of different ideas. You might not like all of them, but if you are open to them you can learn from them.
6. Go onto the Purdue Owl website and learn how to use in text citations. If you come into the class knowing how to do that you will already be a step ahead.
7. Destroy any idea you ever had about how to construct an essay. You will learn to write real papers in this class, not the five paragraph persuasion stuff we've all been making up as we go. And remember quality over quantity. That doesn't mean that you can slack, but say what should be said, don't add frills.
8. Incorporate everything you know into your writing. That means use your rhetorical skills which you will develop in the class. What I have found to be most useful is literary allusions, or references to other works.
9. Really think during the seminars. Our first seminar started off slow and awkward but we soon learned how to build off of each other's ideas and discover incredible things about the pieces we had studied.
10. This is the most important of all. Respect the fish. Seeing as she has already survived one assassination attempt (curtesy of the middle schoolers) I bet she would appreciate it you let her play dead all day, that's what we do. Hopefully she'll make it through the summer.
So good luck. You have no idea what you signed up for and you will never be the same after this class. You will scoff at two page papers and every other English class that complains about reading Gatsby while you're doing a huge project plus some. Oh and just take the AP test. You have nothing to lose but your sanity.
Poor Midna, she's been through so much. I think we should give her to Danielle as a graduation present from our creative writing class! Also, your blog is wonderfully written, as always. Good job, Ann!
DeleteI had three favorite points. Actually read the books, do not procrastinate, and get rid of ideas on how you should write essays. The second was definitely the most difficult for me. Sadly I don't think I'll ever get over it; I'm better under pressure anyways. And that fish! Loved the blog, Ann.
DeleteGood job, Ann! You covered just about everything. I also mentioned the Purdue Owl because at times it was my best friend and helped me correct my papers. The books were very good. As for Cantebery Tala, mine was definitely in Spanish! There is no way all that information was actual English haha. It was a good year to be a part of!
DeleteDear AP Language and Composition class of 2014-2015,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Chances are, if you're reading this you survived your summer books and are officially a member of the best and worst class you will ever take. AP Lang is a love/ hate relationship. You'll soon realize this, but you'll soon learn to love it, too. Honestly, this class is worth every assignment. You'll also realize that this class is absolutely nothing like you thought it would be. Forget everything you know about writing, analyzing, and arguing. Chances are what you already know isn't exactly wrong, but it's most likely not right.
First I'll say something that is often said but often overlooked, timing is everything. Literally. If you are given a week to do an assignment, that means that you will need a week to do that assignment. Don't think that you can do a week long assignment in two days and get a good grade, because chances are you can't and you won't. You need to use your time wisely. Take advantage of any study hall or free time that you have. Also, you will learn to appreciate those early morning moments in the schools hallway before school has technically began. This is the perfect time for crunch time. Last minute editing and printing after a late, late night of work. However, it is crucial that you do not rely too heavily on mornings and making this an everyday occurrence. As I'm sure everyone already knows, the printers at school often have problems. Keep in mind that this is a college course and excuses aren't often accepted.
AP Lang and Comp is a lot of work. Time consuming work. I remember one time in the beginning of the year when Mrs. Messineo emailed the class a cute little picture of a student hard at work, clearly frustrated, with wording above reading "want to hang out after homework?" And a line on the bottom, "what is "after homework"?". Teachers know what you're going through and how much work they actually give you. they know it's hard, they know it's a lot, but they also know it's worth it. Not going to lie, I had multiple breakdowns and may have even cried a bit doing some of my work, the only thing really to do is let it happen. Give yourself ten minutes, relax, and then you just need to pound that homework out.
Everyone knows that whole thing, "oh read for homework? No homework!" But not in this class. If you are told to read something, well you better read it. There's not really any way around it, just do it. It sounds harsh, but trust me. When everyone is participating in a seminar about homework the night before or an a project, you do not want to sit there with nothing to say. The days that we did seminars were some of my best days in AP lang. It is nice to be open and honest about what your thoughts were while reading. Be as honest and open as possible, because that just makes the seminar more and more interesting.
I could probably write an entire book of tips to get you through your year
of AP Language and Composition, but where's the fun in that? It's rough at first, but you get the hang of things. And this time next year, you will be sitting down with a cup of coffee writing your last blog. Typing it slowly and probably putting too much thought into it because you can't believe you are really done and writing your last blog ever for this class. Pausing and staring at nothing, thinking about how far you have come since the first poorly written paper, anxiously handed in. You'll finally submit your blog, and think to yourself, "wow. I'm actually done." Some of you might feel ecstatic, or nostalgic. Maybe some you will be like me, and you won't know what you feel.
Good luck to the AP Language and Composition class of 2014-2015.
Felicia, I think that you give some great advice in your blog. AP Language is definitely a love/hate relationship because just when you think you are on top of everything, you get a new set of homework assignments. I like how you talk about taking advantage of study hall time. I believe that if you use all of your free time doing your English homework instead of playing games that you will make the class much less stressful. Good effort!
DeleteI cannot believe that this is my last blog of the year! Mrs. Messineo, thank you for pushing us so hard and getting us to work to our fullest potential! I had no idea of what my mind was truly capable of until this year. This class was a totally different experience; after all, it was my first AP class. So what's my advice?
ReplyDelete1. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! Procrastination is one of my worst habits, but in order to be successful in this class, I had to stay motivated and focused in order to get my work done. If you do not stay on task, you will fall quickly behind. The assignments seem impossible in the beginning of the year, but near the end you will look back at them and laugh at yourself. So how do I stay focused during that killer essay? Well, I provide incentives for myself. For example, my weakness is starbursts. After every paragraph, I allow myself to eat only one.
2. TEAMWORK MAKES A DREAM WORK! First of all, it is important to not use clichés. I constantly struggle with this, but it is crucial to use your own words. Secondly, this phrase does carry a deep message. Your classmates can help you with assignments. If you are confused, ask questions; after all, you are all in this together. Talk through your ideas for projects and ask for feedback.
3. IN-TEXT CITATE! Use Purdue Owl to learn about citations. If it is not your own thoughts, cite it! No plagiarizers allowed in the AP Language classroom!
4. READ! SparkNotes will not cut it for this class. The teacher assigns things for a reason!
5. STAY CALM! It is very easy to get overwhelmed. At those moments, take a deep breathe and relax. Everything will be fine if you do your work and try your hardest. When you are stressed out, let Christ in. Pray to God for guidance and keep pushing forward.
6. TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM THIS CLASS! Time will pass quickly; surprisingly one year went a lot faster than I imagined. Therefore, it is important to try to absorb as much new information as possible. This class will prepare you for college and the future itself when you try your hardest. Never give up; finish strong even during the last week of school.
7. THINK! God gave you a brain for a reason, use it! Thinking seems simple, but I mean critically thinking. It is also important to let your creative side show through your writing. Do not act like a robot; this class will certainly get you out of your normal comfort zone. Once again I will sound cliché, but think outside of the box.
8. STAY POSITIVE! You may not be able to control the weather, but you can certainly control your attitude. In this class, attitude is everything. If you are positive and believe in yourself, you will be able to achieve more than you can possibly imagine! Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the experience.
GOOD LUCK FUTURE AP LANGUAGE STUDENTS!
Sam, you had a great last blog. I agree with everything you said, especially the bit about sparknotes not cutting it. It really is crucial to read the actual piece, though sparknotes can be useful as a guide. I too have a HUGE problem with procrastinating, so I learned that lesson the hard way this year. What I agree with the most is staying calm and positive. It was so easy to feel overwhelmed this year, and sometimes I just had to walk away for a bit and look at it again with a fresh pair of eyes. Fabulous blog and fantastic year!!!
DeleteSam, you said basically everything I felt too! My favorite was your teamwork paragraph. I also wrote about teamwork, but you're right you do have a problem using cliches :)! Good advice Sam!
DeleteSam, I loved your blog it is probably the most honest thing ever. Teamwork is the way to get through this class and it is important to utilize classmates and bounce ideas off them.
DeleteSam, I really liked your blog. Your tips were great. Great year of blogs!
DeleteSam, you provided some great tips and tricks for surviving the AP Language class. I agree that it is vital to read the book, it will show in your papers if spark notes was used. Great Job!
DeleteWow! It's hard to believe that this is my last blog! It has been such a long, hard, stressful,but fun year. Junior year was by no means easy, but I definitely think I have learned more this year than any year before. AP Language was the main reason for all of my new knowledge. I would like to thank Mrs. Messineo and all of my classmates for everything we have done this year and the whole AP experience. To all of the new AP students, get ready because this is a class like no other.
ReplyDeleteThere are several strategies that will help you get through the year and here is my advice:
First, learn to like all of your fellow classmates and be friends with all of them. You never know when you are going to end up calling them at midnight to discuss a homework assignment you are clueless on how to do! There were many nights when I would call Sam or Drew or Ian and they would help explain something to me or I would help them. Every classmate becomes part of a big team trying to win by making it through with each assignment.
Second, do not procrastinate! We all are guilty at some point waiting till the last possible minute to get something done. Well, do not try that for AP Language. If Mrs. Messineo,gives you a week for an assignment, work on it every night until it is done! Use your time wisely and it will all go much smoother and easier.
Third, do not "BS". It is so easy to just write down random stuff on papers and turn it in without thinking. Mrs. Messineo knows when you BS and she will tell you straight up! Work hard on each of your assignments and think about your work.
Fourth, sleep when you can! There will be many nights when you are up till 2 in the morning or later! So if there is a night when your homework is all done, go to bed! Don't stay up doing useless stuff because by the end of the year you will be exhausted and worn out! Sleep is important so try and get as much of it as you can. Towards the end when you are reaching the breaking point just keep pushing and say summer is almost here.
Fifth, the Purdue Owl will become your best friend. By the end of the year that website will inform you about everything! If you aren't sure how to do so,etching look on the website, don't just guess. This class also teaches you responsibility and learning how to do some things on your own and to be creative and smart.
This class will most likely the hardest class you will every take. You will get hard homework assignments, late nights, complicated novels, challenging essays, and a boat load of knowledge. When it comes to taking the AP test, take it! You learn more than you think and it'll be worth it to know you went through the whole process! You should be proud of yourself for signing up for AP so make the most out of it! It has been a good year and I'm sure you will feel the same! Good luck and remember if you have a mental breakdown, it's norma most of us have, just keep working and know you can do it!
Jolene, this is a good blog! I completely forgot about Purdue Owl and how much it helped, especially for in-text citations! Also, good thinking about mentioning the BS. Although I'm sure we are all guilty of doing it all least once, it is not a good idea. Wonderful job!
DeleteMy advice for the incoming class of AP Lang students is do not be afraid and get discouraged within the first quarter of the school year. In the first quarter you find out what the class is all about and start to discover your writing style. You take in a lot of information and it can at times be overwhelming but to succeed you need to fight through it and work it out, I promise it will be okay. Remember if all else fails cry, it gets it all out and after you are done you can get down to business and get it through. Sometimes it is the easiest just to sit down and power through the assignment.
ReplyDeleteP.S. It is not about the length of the assignment but your ability to answer the prompt fully and properly. Remember that.
Erin, this is perfect. I love you're P.S. Note to the next Ap Lang students. This was great advice, I know we all can relate to it. Awesome job!
DeleteErin, let me just say that your P.S. was on key! I remember how we would always ask Mrs. Messineo how long something had to be and she would never tell us. Instead she's always say that. Good work!
DeleteErin, your tips were absolutely on point. I, like Erin and Jessica, loved your "P.S". I feel once you get to the point where you are just trying to make the assignment longer, you have already failed if that makes any sense. You just get to the point where you are, for lack of a better word, "BSing" and not making much sense. I also enjoyed your tip about crying it out. It might sound ridiculous, but sometimes crying is the best option, because once you cry it all out, you start to see that maybe the assignments are not so bad after all.
DeleteNice job Erin!
I can not believe that we become seniors within a week. This year gone by extremely fast. Junior year was just as horribly stressful as it is made out to be and Ap Language was by far my most difficult class, but Ap Language was definitely worth taking. This class has improved my writing immensely. It seemed like an impossible class, but really it was not. I am actually a little sad that my days of second period spend in Ap Language will be over after a week. Well, herein some advice for next year's Ap Language students:
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, take this class with an open mind, because if you do not, this class will be near impossible for you. Also come into everyday of class with an open mind because you honestly have no idea what is planned for the day. This class has taught me more about English and life than all of my previous English classes combined.
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Yes, there is a lot of work that comes along with this class, but it really is worth it in the end. You will be amazed at how much this class will help you in the long run.
Think. I know this won't really make sense right away, but my class learned quickly that we did not enjoy thinking. It is human nature to not want to think, but once you do, your papers, homework, or just conversation in general will be on a whole new level.
Finally, get to know your fellow Ap Lang students, you sort of become a "family".
Erin, I enjoy your advice to the incoming class. It is true our class did become a family and we bonded over the shared experience. This year was definitely difficult but we made it through.
DeleteErin, an open mind; why didn't I think of that?! That is perfect advice! As well as not procrastinating.. We all learned that one really fast. And I can only imagine what next year's class in going to see when they see the one about thinking. Great work!
DeleteErin, you provided some great tips for surviving AP Lang. And with Jessica I completely agree: why didn't I think of having an open mind??! Having an open mind going into the class is perfect advice, you have to stay positive or you are going to beat yourself down.
DeleteOverall, awesome job!
Oh my gosh, I can't believe it is the last blog of the year! I can remember the first blog of the year on Labor Day and how nervous/scared I was to write it! Over the course of the year, I have learned my tips and tricks for surviving the AP Language course. I am honored to share them with the upcoming class!
ReplyDelete1. Don't turn in anything late. I never committed this myself, but one can never afford to lose points by turning in a late assignment. Every point counts!
2. ALWAYS do weekly vocabulary and the weekend blog. These two assignments are both very easy points that can boost and save your grades from the more challenging assignments!
3. NEVER procrastinate! This is probably the worst sin to commit in an AP class. It is never pleasant to be up in the wee hours of the morning trying to crank out the last three pages of a paper or finishing up a project. Plus, you will probably find yourself behind in other assignments as well. It is very stressful to try and finish a big project last minute and it wears you down. Therefore, time management is key! I, myself, never had to stay up that late to finish an assignment, but there were many nights were I would cry and spaz-out because of the amount of homework I had to do.
4. Prioritize. It is vital that you learn how to manage your time and use it wisely. When you have a free minute, read and work on your assignments for the day, do not waste your time! When you are overwhelmed and bombarded with a bunch of homework, you have to sit down and realize which assignments are the most important and go from there.
5. Use the iPad wisely. The iPads are great, they are so convenient for typing up papers and working on keynotes on the go, but they also have their place. It is so easy to become distracted by using them to check Facebook, look on Pinterest, and play games. When you are trying to get reading done, it is better to just leave the iPad in a different room.
6. Help each other out. Not many students are brave enough to enroll in the AP Language. That is why you as a class have to stick together and help each other. You will become more like a family and create special bonds. It is something that is truly special.
7. HAVE FUN!! Even though Junior year can be very stressful and demanding at times, always take some time to relax and have fun. Whether it be spending time with your family, hanging out with friends, or just relaxing at home, treat yourself each week to a little 'me' time. Trust me, you deserve it.
I hope these tips help the next and incoming class of AP Language. It has truly been a hard but rewarding year!
On a side note, I would like to give a shout out to graduating class of 2014, as they are graduating today, and also to all the girls that went to track states! It was a great experience!! :)
Tori, I really enjoyed reading your tips for the next AP Lang students! It is hard to believe that we are almost done with this class, and honestly it makes me sad to think about despite the frustrations. You are completely right when you said that we become a family. Great blog!
DeleteAlso, great job at states, Tori! You deserved it!
Going into AP Language at the beginning of this year, I didn't really no what to expect. I don't think any one did to be honest. We knew we were getting a new teacher and weren't quite sure how things were going to pan out. Let's just say that the first few weeks in that class were a little rough to say the least. We were told we were going to run a marathon that year.
ReplyDeleteLooking back at the monument paper we had to write, I remember how stressed out and confused I was. However, now I realize that Mrs. Messineo giving us that assignment helped us all in the end. So my first piece of advice to the future AP Lang class is to remember that although the assignments seem pointless and like they have no relevance at times, she knows what she's doing.
I know myself, along with a good amount of my classmates found out that it is a horrible idea to procrastinate. So this is my second piece of advice. Do not wait until the last minute to finish, or dare I say it, start an assignment. Most of the time you don't realize just how much work is needed to do the assignment right. Thinking takes time. Also remember, due dates are closer than they appear.
English this year taught me many things. One of them being how to use online sites to help with whatever you are doing. One of these sites is Purdue Owl. It is awesome when needing to know how to do in-cite citations; which you will need to do a lot. That would be my third section of advice; when in doubt, cite it out.
My all time favorite thing about AP Lang this year was learning how to and getting to seminar. Besides liking to talk, seminaring helped put some things in perspective for me while also making me think harder and consider other possibilities I hadn't before. At the beginning of the hear, Mrs. Messineo also said how well out class seminared but how it didn't show in our writing. She then proceeded to tell us we should write like we talked in seminar. This is advice #4. Let your true self come out in your writing, but don't let it be informal.
Bonding is a good thing. Having a small class of 14 students was very beneficial because we all bonded together and I firmly believe that is one of the ways we got through the class. I know almost everyday, there was a group of AP Langers in trig that would discuss what went on in English that day and make sure we were all on the same page. Since not everyone was in that class, my lunch table even seminared during lunch sometimes. Advice #5: it is important to get things out. If you have questions ask and don't be afraid to hash things out any time you see someone in the class. They're thoughts could make your thinking even better.
We were told from day one how we should all take the AP test in May of that school year. In fact, we did practice tests and learned rhetorical strategies all year in preparation for it. Because of this, my last piece of advice is to spend the money and take the test. Even if you don't do well on the test, you feel accomplished and it really makes you feel like all the hard work you put in that year was worth it. Don't get discouraged, Mrs. Messineo is always willing to help you finish the marathon.
Hi AP Lang of 2014!
ReplyDeleteThis class has been such a wonderful experience. It was full of smiles, tears, and joy. I really hope you take advantage of every opportunity thrown at you during this class. To help you get through your junior year, I have a few tips that I think will help you a lot.
1. Don't procrastinate. Don't do it, not even for the blog. At the beginning of the school year, I finished my homework either during my study hall later in the day or as soon as I got home. But as the year went on, I struggled to being myself to do it. I needed up writing English papers at midnight, and it showed. Try to get your AP Lang done as soon as possible. You will thank me later.
2. Be creative. Whenever you get the chance to make a presentation, don't be afraid to go beyond a simply Keynote or Prezi. It is definitely a lot more interesting for your audience, and it is fun to create.
3. Don't use cliches! You will find that you use a lot of cliches in your papers, and although they are a part of your everyday vernacular, they do make your paper less impressive.
4. Never complain in class. The more you complain, the more homework you receive.
5. Always print at home. As you probably know, our school's printer is not the best, so try and print your English homework out at home so you aren't struggling with the printer in the morning.
6. Read all of the books. Please don't be that person who Spark-notes everything. The books you will read in AP Lang are incredible, and you will miss out on a lot if you just use Google. Also, answer questions as you read. Don't try to read the book and then go back to the questions; you may find yourself having trouble recalling everything.
7. Don't act like you know everything. AP Lang is a class where you learn everything all over again, but in a scholarly way. You might think you know how to read a book, but you most likely don't own that book afterwards. AP Lang will teach that and much more.
8. Take the AP test. I have to admit, I kind of regret not taking the AP test. Sure, our class took a practice test, but I heard from those who took it, that the real test was much harder. So, branch out and take the test.
9. Don't give up. No matter how late you are up finishing an assignment or how many days left of school giving up is not the answer. Take a deep breath, grab a snack, and walk around a little bit if you are having trouble writing that paper. Stepping away from the work already done will also help you come up with new ideas, so it is a win-win situation.
10. When it comes to debates, get out of your comfort zone, and take charge at the podium. State what you need to say with power and certainty. The same goes for seminars. Do not be afraid to speak up and get your opinion out there.
11. Ask questions. Anytime you are unsure of what to do or how to something, ask either the teacher, a classmate, or even a past AP Lang student. Please don't try to do an assignment when you don't know what to do.
12. Enjoy it. You will become pretty close with your fellow AP Lang students, so cherish that class. It may be one of the hardest classes you will ever take, but you need to enjoy it or you will not get everything out of the class that you should.
Writing this blog, I realized that I am really going to miss AP Language. It was an experience that I'm glad I had, and I really hope you will have the same love/hate relationship that I did. Also, it really helps if most of you share a class afterwards that you can let out your frustration and confusion in because that certainly helped me and few others. Anyway, good luck and have fun!
Natalie, I loved your tips and I can definitely say I probably experienced most of them. I always used cliches and towards the end of the year, I too was struggling to keep motivated. I think the most important tip you gave was the tip about taking the AP test. I also think all students should take the AP test. It is hard and maybe you will not get a four or a five, but it is an experience that is worth living and something that will provide a challenge that will only prove to help you later on.
DeleteNice job Natalie!
We made it, last blog of the year! I want to thank all my fellow AP Language students and Mrs. Messineo for pushing me hard to succeed. I can confidently say to any incoming student that this class will boost your ACT and SAT scores significantly. My English scores, even though I consider myself a math person, were my highest scores, and that is in no doubt thanks to this class and all that it has taught me. I can also say that this class helps you figure out what you might be interested in for the rest of your life. Sure it is an English class, but you cover such a broad range of topics through all the units and books you read that you just might discover something. I am assuming now that we have already covered some basic tips, those being do not procrastinate, in-text citate, and stay positive. Thus, I will try and offer three tips and a couple metaphors that maybe have not been talked about yet. I hope at least one student finds these helpful.
ReplyDelete1. MAKE SOME MISTAKES: It might sound like a weird first tip, but making mistakes is probably more important than anything you will ever do in this class. For instance, maybe you do procrastinate, or maybe you just slack off on one assignment. In this class, you will probably get nailed for that, but hey, at least you learned something; at least you learned that to be able to do well in this class you are going to have to put your best effort forward on every assignment.
2. TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT: To go with this idea of “making mistakes” and failing every once in a while, it is important to embrace the cliché and “take it with a grain of salt”. Do not stress out about this class to the point where you are absolutely a horrible mess and horrible person to be around. But also, do not slack in the class to the point where there was no point in taking the class. The best way I can explain this is by relating it to a lecture about stress and a glass of water. A lecturer asked his class, while holding a glass of water, “How much does this weigh?” The class responded with specific answers in grams, but the lecturer noted that the exact weight did not matter. He explained that the longer he held the glass the heavier it became. If he held it for an hour, his arm would be mighty tired, and if he held it for a day, he would need an ambulance. Thus, if you carry the burdens of AP Language class all the time, sooner or later it will be too much for you and you will not be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to set aside your burdens once in a while, let the glass rest. Then, when you are refreshed and ready, return to the demands of the class and keep on moving.
3. ANALYZE YOUR PREDICAMENTS: If you are swamped with assignments yelling and complaining about them will not make them go away, trust me I have tried . Instead, think of your assignments like a rock on your chest. It probably feels heavy when you are complaining about them. Perhaps you think you can even lift the rock up, or begin the assignments. However, take the time to look at the rock, analyze it, and feel its texture. You will definitely find out that the rock feels just a bit lighter than before and maybe it is not so bad after all.
My time in this class is just about over, and I wish any incoming student the best of luck striving and thriving in this class. One last thing. I can 100% iron-clad guarantee that by the end of their year, every new student will be glad they took this class. Have fun!
Ian, your tips were great and your last blog was just excellent. Great finish to your blogging!
DeleteDear Future AP Lang students,
ReplyDeleteYour first thought will be why am I doing this. Is it really worth this. Well the answer is that it is worth it. In the first few months well throughout the whole year it will be tough. I myself was never an ambitious student, but this AP Lang class has changed me a bit. Through hard work and learning my writing has changed and improved, and my English knowledge has reached a much higher level. Taking the class was definitely worth it.
P. S. The best tip I could give to you is not to procrastinate. It just makes the work load harder and gets you behind. Eventually if you stay ahead you will find yourself completing the work better and have a sense of accomplishment. Just stick to your guns and push through! Good luck!