This is a wide open question that allows you to consider anything we've discussed in class this year. Absolutely anything.
All of you are extremely bright and have figured out a remarkable range of ideas along the way.
Sometimes the realizations -- or 'epiphanies' -- may have been purely based on the plot or text. Other times they may have been about something that is in the real world. Whatever it is, I'm curious about one 'big idea' or realization you've had this year (that continues to stick with you) because of anything that was discussed in class. Sometimes they've been a mixture of both plot and real world.
Challenge:
Tell us about one thing that really made an impact on you as a person (and student).It is up to you how long the response is.
My guess? The more important it was, the longer your response. Just a guess. I'm funny that way.
A small impact that happened to me and affected me as a student was actually not to long ago. The small impact was this week when we were talking about in-class essays. You [Mr. Long] were saying that an essay did not have to have a certain structure that I have been used to writing for most of my life. You were saying that it is better to write 2 sentences that are straight to the point then 10 sentences that start out strong then end out terrible. The way that I had been used to writing in-class essays is: The thesis is always the last sentence in the 1st paragraph. There must be 5-7 paragraphs containing at least 6 quotes [2 in each paragraph]. Also, you must have 8+ sentences with each paragraph and they have to have a beginning statement, and end statement. As you know, I am not a fast writer. I always rush on my in class essay’s because I was focused on doing everything in the guide lines. I would always frustrate and over-analyze the situation. I would never do an outline because I knew that I would never finish on time. I know what I’m trying to say, but there would be so many things I would have to go through to say it. With you saying that 1 paragraph does not have be about 1 topic, and an in-class essay does not have be necessarily “right” helps me think a little more. Now that I know that an in-class essay is not just a bunch of facts and details but facts and your opinions. I am not saying that I will become a better writer after this, but it will cause me to slow down and think more.
Posted by: Student #1 | April 24, 2008 at 01:09 PM
I think that every conversation and discussion we discuss in class is interesting and all have an important point to them. I always leave English class first period thinking about what we just talked about all through the day. I think that the discussions we have about life and general things that happen everyday are the conversations that I remember the most.
Posted by: Student #2 | April 27, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Well the one thing that has really stood out for me this year is how we get so much more into a Novel in our discussions and I find it really fascinating. Its just kind of new to me and we never really got to talk that much last year or at my old school. I just feel like I am getting so much out of class.
Posted by: Student #5 | April 28, 2008 at 06:06 PM