I've spent much of my time recently reflecting on the past school year and my teaching practice, considering what worked well and what didn't, which strategies were useful and which weren't. I've been recollecting my students' performance this past year and the ways I've tried to affirm their strengths and bolster their weaknesses. As always, I'm looking for new ways and resources to help me be a more effective teacher and to help my students become better readers, thinkers, and writers.
One area that comprises a large part of English class is writing essays. Though it's a pleasure to some and a bane to others, everyone knows that writing is important and necessary to convey one's thoughts. But many students struggle with writing for a variety of reasons, which I'll touch on in a bit, and don't see it as the serious and organized business it is. (Sorry kids, sometimes we need to be serious and organized!) Now, I don't mean to get all "gloom and doom" with the serious part, but for most people, writing well takes effort and attention. Many can't remember the rules about writing they learned years ago. Some didn't learn the rules. Some haven't had much practice writing. Quite a few think that the only writing necessary is texted or tweeted. But writing is a skill that can be improved if one cares to do it well. And I'll be the first to say that if you are going to do something, you might as well do it the best way you can.
Most students can't "wing" a well-crafted essay on the first try. It takes work--some knowledge of essay structure and format, grammar, style--and lots of revision. And the cool thing is that with practice, like any other skill, writing will improve!! All it takes is knowing what problems need fixing, getting the information or help necessary to fix the problems, and fixing them on the work at hand, and on every subsequent occasion. That last phrase is VERY IMPORTANT. It means that it's not enough to fix mistakes on the essay one happens to be writing and revising right now, only to forget all about those errors once the paper is turned in so that those same errors appear on the next essay! One must learn the rule or procedure or correct usage--internalize it so that one KNOWS the way to do it--and try not to make the same mistakes over and over again. Just imagine if early in his basketball career, say middle or high school, when LeBron James began making a name for himself, his coach gave him a tip to correct or improve a specific move, which ultimately led to James scoring more points in the game. But in the game after than, James reverted to his old way again. He wasn't careful enough to remember that correction and apply it to the next game and the next. Would he score as well in those games? Probably not. Now, you might be thinking--hey, its LeBron James--he could be playing basketball blindfolded and still score a lot of points. But I'm telling you that even with innate talent, skill is developed through practice that corrects previous mistakes and that repeats the correct action every time after. EVEN SKILL IN WRITING ESSAYS!!
So, when you write a draft of an essay, always remember that there are all sorts of resources out there to help you hone your craft. YOU SHOULD USE THEM. Even your first draft of an essay would benefit from you checking on a few things and correcting them. Of course, you always will have access to your textbook (online or borrowed) which, in several sections or handbooks, gives you information to help you write correctly. But there are lots of places on the Internet that you can access independently on your computer or phone. I've provided some links below which I think are good resources to use when writing.
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): Purdue OWL
This site has information on all areas of writing: grammar, sentencing, style, MLA
formatting, using citations, etc.
Guide to Grammar and Style: Guide to Grammar and Style
This guide arranges the definitions, explanations and examples of grammar terms and
rules alphabetically.
Grammarly: Grammarly
This tool will review your written work for grammar errors and suggest corrections
for free. It's like Spell-Check on steroids!
Grammarly Handbook: Grammarly Handbook
A reference to all areas of writing.
Woodward English: Grammar Notes
Gives basic, intermediate, and advanced grammar rules.
Easy Writer: Easy Writer - Companion to Reference Book
This is the online reference companion to the Easy Writer book we will use
occasionally in class.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
AP English Literature and Composition 2016 Summer Reading Assignments
Hello, AP Lit students for the 2016-2017 school year!!!
Click below to access all the information and assignments you'll need for your summer reading. There are several pages, so be sure to get them all. If you have not yet picked up the books from me, you may obtain them over the summer in the Main Office of BHS. Otherwise, you will have to borrow them from the Worcester Public Library or purchase them yourself.
Remember that all assignments are due the first full week of class, so complete them during the summer. If you have any questions or problems, see me before the end of the school year or contact me at henrionl@worc.k12.ma.us
While I'm on the subject of your summer reading, I want to take a few minutes to explain my rationale for selecting the books you are required to read. To some of you, reading might be a chore and to others it might be a pleasure. I'm of the latter category. To me, books are, as former Harvard president Charles Eliot said, "the quietest and most constant of friends." I'm never without a book nearby, and I never feel bored as long as I have something to read. Have I loved every book I've read? Of course not! But I usually try to stick with it until the end, though there's nothing wrong with putting a book aside if it's completely not to one's taste. I'm partial to historical fiction and historical romance with a little biography and mystery thrown in. I've read some dystopian fiction, too, which is pretty interesting and popular, especially with young adults.
When it comes to reading for academic purposes (though I and many people I know read them for pleasure), however, I can't say enough about the classics. By classics I mean those works which have withstood the test of time in terms of creativity, innovation, and/or relevance and honest portrayal of human emotion and interaction. In AP class, you'll hear me call them "works of literary merit" or "the literary canon." Not every book or poem written before 1900 has become a "classic" though I know for certain that you've read some Sophocles, Shakespeare, Dickens, or Twain before. Those are just a few of the "classic" authors and playwrights. And some more modern books, like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison have gained "merit" in the last decade or two.
So why am I asking you to read How to Read Literature Like a Professor? Well, in my opinion, this book is an extremely reader-friendly way to get to know what the classics are all about--what they bring to the reader beyond just a story. Probably everyone has heard that to really understand literature, one must "read between the lines." Well, that's what English professors (and teachers) do all the time, and what you'll be asked to do in AP Lit. Works of literary merit invite the reader to look deeper for meaning, to examine and investigate the words, phrases, and images they contain to find ideas and themes that are beneath the surface. The Professor book helps you learn what to look for in literature and clues you in to how to look for it and what it means. I'm sure you'll pick up several pointers from this book.
Next, the only thing I can say about the Mythology book is YOU NEED TO KNOW MYTHOLOGY IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND LITERATURE BETTER!!! Back in the day when everyone studied Latin and/or Greek (yes, they really did), everyone knew their Greek and Roman mythology, and writers used it allusively to convey ideas to their readers, who quickly got the message because they knew the mythological story to which the writer alluded. But now that mythology studies has gone by the wayside somewhat, readers no longer recognize the time-honored stories of gods, goddesses, and heroes. Hamilton's Mythology is one of the most comprehensive and popular compilations of all the Greek/Roman mythological characters and tales. So, I hope this book increases your recognition of those characters and tales because, trust me, it will help you as we study and analyze a wide array of literary pieces. And the stories are quirky and unbelievable and fun, too!!
So, happy reading, students! Keep an open mind and try to absorb as much as you can from both books. They have a lot to offer.
How to Read Literature Like a Professor Assignment
Professor Assignment Moment Sheet
Mythology Assignment
Mythology Assignment Learning Tasks
Click below to access all the information and assignments you'll need for your summer reading. There are several pages, so be sure to get them all. If you have not yet picked up the books from me, you may obtain them over the summer in the Main Office of BHS. Otherwise, you will have to borrow them from the Worcester Public Library or purchase them yourself.
Remember that all assignments are due the first full week of class, so complete them during the summer. If you have any questions or problems, see me before the end of the school year or contact me at henrionl@worc.k12.ma.us
While I'm on the subject of your summer reading, I want to take a few minutes to explain my rationale for selecting the books you are required to read. To some of you, reading might be a chore and to others it might be a pleasure. I'm of the latter category. To me, books are, as former Harvard president Charles Eliot said, "the quietest and most constant of friends." I'm never without a book nearby, and I never feel bored as long as I have something to read. Have I loved every book I've read? Of course not! But I usually try to stick with it until the end, though there's nothing wrong with putting a book aside if it's completely not to one's taste. I'm partial to historical fiction and historical romance with a little biography and mystery thrown in. I've read some dystopian fiction, too, which is pretty interesting and popular, especially with young adults.
When it comes to reading for academic purposes (though I and many people I know read them for pleasure), however, I can't say enough about the classics. By classics I mean those works which have withstood the test of time in terms of creativity, innovation, and/or relevance and honest portrayal of human emotion and interaction. In AP class, you'll hear me call them "works of literary merit" or "the literary canon." Not every book or poem written before 1900 has become a "classic" though I know for certain that you've read some Sophocles, Shakespeare, Dickens, or Twain before. Those are just a few of the "classic" authors and playwrights. And some more modern books, like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison have gained "merit" in the last decade or two.
So why am I asking you to read How to Read Literature Like a Professor? Well, in my opinion, this book is an extremely reader-friendly way to get to know what the classics are all about--what they bring to the reader beyond just a story. Probably everyone has heard that to really understand literature, one must "read between the lines." Well, that's what English professors (and teachers) do all the time, and what you'll be asked to do in AP Lit. Works of literary merit invite the reader to look deeper for meaning, to examine and investigate the words, phrases, and images they contain to find ideas and themes that are beneath the surface. The Professor book helps you learn what to look for in literature and clues you in to how to look for it and what it means. I'm sure you'll pick up several pointers from this book.
Next, the only thing I can say about the Mythology book is YOU NEED TO KNOW MYTHOLOGY IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND LITERATURE BETTER!!! Back in the day when everyone studied Latin and/or Greek (yes, they really did), everyone knew their Greek and Roman mythology, and writers used it allusively to convey ideas to their readers, who quickly got the message because they knew the mythological story to which the writer alluded. But now that mythology studies has gone by the wayside somewhat, readers no longer recognize the time-honored stories of gods, goddesses, and heroes. Hamilton's Mythology is one of the most comprehensive and popular compilations of all the Greek/Roman mythological characters and tales. So, I hope this book increases your recognition of those characters and tales because, trust me, it will help you as we study and analyze a wide array of literary pieces. And the stories are quirky and unbelievable and fun, too!!
So, happy reading, students! Keep an open mind and try to absorb as much as you can from both books. They have a lot to offer.
Professor Assignment Moment Sheet
Mythology Assignment
Mythology Assignment Learning Tasks
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