TOW #30: Letter to New APELC Student

Dear incoming AP English student,

         First, I'm going to be honest. Those who have told you that AP English is hard, they weren't exaggerating. However, I am aware that you have most likely heard that AP English is absolutely impossible, which is most definitely an overstatement. You are capable of working your way through the course and managing the work. AP English is a college level course that is going to prepare you for the AP exam and your future years ahead, whether it's in college, for your career, or even helping your child when it's their turn to write a paper. There will be some days and nights that lie ahead when you wish you never would've taken the course, but I'm telling you, every second, every minute, every hour; it's all worth it.
       If you're reading this and have decided to take AP English, I'm sure you are a very diligent, hard-working student who is striving for success. Whatever you do, don't change. This college level course requires the mind set of a student like you. Even if your best ability only earns you a B, that is still incredible. You must keep in mind throughout the year and the tough grades that you will receive, that this course is meant for college students. You are a junior in high school! In the beginning, try not to beat yourself up about a poor grade that you get. I know you're not used to it, trust me, neither was I. I spent several hours on my summer assignment paper, and received a 3 out of 8 on the AP scale. I wasn't used to getting such low grades on my writing, and I couldn't think of anything I did wrong. Looking back on that, I realize how much I've improved as a student and a writer, thanks to AP English. Throughout the course of the year, you will write an overwhelming amount of essays and read a ridiculous amount writings that you barely understand. What's the point of all this? To prepare you for the AP exam in June. In my opinion, Mr. Yost and Ms. Pronko do an absolute fantastic job in preparing me for the exam. In fact, the exam actually seemed less difficult in contrast to all the work I did throughout the year.
      As I stated before, you will write A LOT in this class. In prior years, I'm sure you have gotten away with waiting until last minute to write a paper for English or Social Studies class. You probably even did pretty well on it too. Please, take my advice, and don't procrastinate in this class. Specifically for take home essays, make sure you conference with Mr. Yost or Ms. Pronko to go over each draft you write. You have absolutely nothing to lose in conferencing with them, except maybe another poor grade. Mr. Yost & Ms. Pronko are here to help you prepare for the exam in June. The two of them want the best for you and are willing to help you in whatever way possible. Don't be afraid to ask questions, ask for edits on your papers, or conference with them after you received a low grade. It can only help you. After I conferenced with Mr. Yost or had Ms. Pronko edit my paper, it improved my writing a great amount. Throughout the year, I was consistently scoring 4's and 5's on my essays, which aren't great scores. Finally, I began scoring 6's, which isn't even an A. But I was improving and that is what mattered. I actually regret not conferencing more with either of them, so I suggest you take advantage of any free time you have whether it's study hall, lunch, before school or after school. Conferencing with them is a large advantage they give you so you shouldn't let it go to waste!
       To wrap things up, try and have fun with this class. Some of the reading you do is actually fairly interesting, and if you keep yourself engaged the class isn't so bad. Junior year is the year to prove to yourself that you are the student you've always been and the student you've always wanted to be. Always keep in mind that this course isn't necessarily easy for anyone, and it's an accomplishment alone that you're deciding to dedicate your time in improving your knowledge and capabilities through the course. If you have absolutely any questions about anything dealing with the course or junior year, do not hesitate to ask me, or any senior! It's going to be really tough sometimes, but keep pushing. The year goes by incredibly fast and before you know it, you'll be me, writing a letter for the next years students, explaining to them that AP English isn't the worst thing in the world like everyone has told them. Good luck with everything, future APELC student, and remember to always try your best and work hard. Every single second of work and studying will be worth it in the end.

Sincerely,
Anna Chiodo Ortiz

TOW #29: Documentary

Recently I watched the documentary Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive, which is about the fastest sprinter in the world. Usain Bolt has won several world championship and olympic titles and is planning to continue his legacy. Bolt has made history, and holds the World Records in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. In the documentary, the director focuses on Bolt's journey with his family, training, and competing leading up until the 2012 London Olympic Games. Throughout the documentary, many claims are made, but the biggest one is obviously that Usain Bolt is and remains to be the fastest man alive. I, as a huge fan of Bolt, agree with this statement. If one were to look at all of Bolt's successes, the evidence is there. Beginning from his teenage years, he won the Junior World Championships in the 200m and set a new record! From 2002-2012, Bolt has set records and won gold medals. More specifically, according to usainbolt.com, in 2002, Usain set the world junior record in the 200m while also snatching the gold medal. After a harsh hamstring injury in 2006, Bolt finally bounced back in 2008 Olympic Games winning the 100m and 200m dashes and the 4x100m relay. With the fire lit, Bolt went on to set two new world records (the old ones being his own) in 2009 in the 100 and 200m dash. Finally, in London of 2012, he won gold for the second olympics in a row in the 100, 200, and 4x100, setting a new world record with his relay team. It's very clear that Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world, although some argue that he may not be. Perhaps a man who has never thought to run track is faster than Bolt, but that is very difficult to determine and therefore makes Usain Bolt the fastest man alive. Maybe one day he won't be, but as long as he's alive and those records stand, Bolt will continue to be the great legacy of the fastest man in the world.

TOW #28: Documentary

Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive


Usain Bolt, arguably one of the best athletes of all time, grew up in Jamaica, where he still lives and trains intensely pursuing his career as a world class sprinter. Usain Bolt stood out from the start, his lean, towering 6'5 body was unusual for a sprinter. He showed his strength and potential during the 2002 World Junior Championships and won the 200m dash setting a new junior world record. As his fame began to increase, he moved to Kingston, Jamaica, away from his family to get the ultimate training from Jamaican Olympic Coach, Glen Mills. As time and training went on, Usain Bolt became the fastest man in the world. This documentary films Usain Bolt's journey up until the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Beijing, China, is where Usain Bolt began his Olympic gold medal streak. He won the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m, and continued to win most of those events throughout world class events and continuing on into the 2012 Olympic Games. However, the World Championships in 2011 was a little different. Usain Bolt false started in the 100m, immediately disqualifying him  from the race and any contention in medaling. His teammate and biggest rival, Yohan Blake, went on to become the 100m World Champion that year. Frustrated, Bolt came back to win the 200m dash and set the world record with his 4x100m relay team. Usain Bolt will forever go down in history as one of the greatest athletes that have ever lived, and his career isn't even over.

Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive was created to show and describe the intense journey of the fastest sprinter alive. The documentary uses many different strategies to add effect, including the cinematography and sound of the film. Starting with the cinematography, the camera placement throughout the documentary adds emphasis on the more important points making them more interesting. For instance, while Bolt was training, the camera angle up close on his face and body watching his every breath was very effecting because it showed the audience how hard Bolt's training is and how hard he really works. Every part of cinematography plays a role in this documentary, the different lighting during one of Bolt's races adds intensity and the brighter colors change the tone as well. Overall, cinematography helps show and describe Usain Bolt's journey of being the fastest man alive.

In addition to cinematography, the movie's sound plays a key role in the effect of the film. Throughout the documentary, the sound is changing with volume and music. The music that plays throughout the film matches each scene accurately adding an exciting effect in order to keep the audience engaged. The sound, specifically, adds the most effect. For example, while showing Bolt's 100m dash, the entire film goes silent, until he crosses the finish line and the crowd roars as Bolt wins. It adds a really awesome and emphasized intensity to the race and documentary, and helps the audience really feel the emotions and atmosphere of that moment.

In a documentary, or any type of film, the elements, devices, and strategies are very important for delivering a purpose and keeping the audience engaged. Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive successfully uses many, including sound and cinematography. Both devices and strategies helped show and describe Bolt's intense journey leading up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

TOW #27: TOW Reflection

         Looking back on my very first TOW response reminds me how much my writing has improved over the course of the year. I thoroughly recall not even knowing what a rhetorical device was when I was composing my first TOW. My analysis consisted of a quote and a few words trying to define the significance of my evidence. As I have re read a lot of my TOWS, I realize my progress lies in my analysis of each TOW and devices I chose to use. In the beginning, I really struggled with finding the author's purpose of a certain essay or writing piece. As the year went on though, I challenged myself with harder readings and began to improve my adequateness. My TOWS became more sophisticated throughout the year and I began to sound like a student trying to master the rigorous AP English course and its criteria. I mastered analyzing difficult texts and finding their real meaning. In the beginning of the year, I would stare at an essay or excerpt for hours and not be able to analyze it. Now I am more confident and have more patience to define key words and terms and find the author's purpose. Of course, just because I have improved and mastered certain things doesn't mean there aren't others I still need to improve. Although I have been more adequate, it still isn't 100%. I think the analysis essays will always be my weakness because even though finding the purpose has gotten easier, it's still hard. In addition, I would like to continue to improve my vocabulary. Every AP English test I've gotten there is at least 3 words I am unfamiliar with, and I believe that it would really help me with finding answers and analyzing texts if my vocabulary was varied. Overall, TOWS helped me practice analyzing different forms of literary elements; books, essays, poems, pictures, videos, etc. I personally think that if an essay were assigned to us for each TOW it would be different. Part of my problems with TOWS was finding the write piece of writing to analyze. Also, if the class had the same TOW I could help get more feedback from classmates because they're familiar with the same texts. I like being able to analyze commercials and pictures so I think a few "free choice TOWS" is still good, but it would've helped to have certain essays assigned to us to analyze. I guess overall I did benefit from TOWS because without them I wouldn't have the weeks of practice under my belt before the AP exam. 

TOW #5: iPhone or Android: Which Smartphone Should You Buy?

iPhone or Android: Which Smartphone Should You Buy?
By: Sam Costello


            The controversy between the iPhone and the Android is a popular one in today's society. Each phone has their strengths and their weaknesses, so audience members ask, which phone is truly the better phone to purchase? Sam Costello, author of iPhone or Android: Which Smartphone Should You Buy? develops 13 different arguments involving an Android and iPhone, but supports each one with different evidence and a different standpoint for each phone. Majority of his arguments for why the iPhone is the better phone, but he does develop a perspective for androids as well. For instance, argument one is considering the phone's hardware. Costello goes into detail how Apple has tight control over software managing of an iPhone, while Androids tend to freeze up and overheat more often. On the other hand, argument number twelve, "User Maintenance: Storage and Battery", supports the Android. Many of his arguments also develop a tie between the two phones, making it complicated for the audience to develop a really strong choice on which phone to choose. Costello's choice in listing arguments for each phone I believe is ineffective, because there is no solidified answer Costello delivers to his audience on which phone to buy.

           Although including arguments for each phone gives the audience a larger perspective on the matter, it doesn't help an argument. On the other hand, some people do prefer to make decisions on their own after the negatives and positives are given and Costello's open argument helps some readers base their choice on their own opinion rather than just Costello's.  I believe as a reader, Costello effectively delivers strengths and weaknesses of each phone helping a reader decide which phone would be best suited for them.

 It's important to take note that when an essay is written about an argument such as this one, it's crucial that one takes into consideration other sources and opinions from other people. Both phones can be argued as great, and both phones can be argued as bad. Sam Costello's opinion is just one of many, and by delivering both perspectives, it's important a reader looks into other sources as well to confirm his decision.          

TOW #24: Rosie the Riveter

          The famous Rosie the Riveter picture, is a cultural icon of the United States. It was made to represent the American women who worked in factories during World War II. During World War II, many women took upon new jobs in order to replace the men serving in the military. Rosie the Riveter represents a women's power and strength, and promotes feminism. During World War II, campaigns used Rosie to convince and recruit females for working in munition and industry. According to history.com,  it stressed the patriotic need for women to enter the work force. Rhetorically, the picture is makes a powerful statement to the audience whether it's women during World War II, or women living in today's society. The arrangement of the picture helps portray the message. The big words "We Can Do It!" draw the audiences attention and also promotes a feeling of hope and encouragement. Rosie is dressed in patriotic colors, therefore defending the fact that the picture was made to stress the "patriotic need" for women to work in factories and industry during the war. Not only is Rosie wearing read white and blue, but she is also holding up her arm to show her muscle. That is very important in the way this picture is arranged, for it exemplifies a women's strength and appeals to other women's emotions giving them pride and determination. The War World II time period was a large step in feminism due to new employment opportunities that weren't originally available to women prior to the war. As well as the arrangement, there is a demanding yet tone of determination that the picture portrays. It's demanding because it is trying to recruit women into the work force, yet determining because its saying "We Can Do It!" and the muscle shows that women are strong and enough and powerful enough. Rosie the Riveter has been an influential icon throughout the years strongly portrays feminism and the growth of women's rights.

Marking Period 4: IRB Intro Post

The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch

        The Last Lecture is about  a man named Randy Pausch, who was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He had a family at home, specifically a wife and three children. Randy was unfortunately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has a very low survival rate. Throughout the book he wanted to give a "last lecture" to his audience because it may very well be, his last lecture. The book is broken up into 6 different sections, some telling about his dreams as a child and, some how he met his wife, and others telling about his lessons he has learned throughout his life and dealing with cancer. My brother recently read this book, and I also saw a talk he hosted. Reading this book will inspire me to live my life to the fullest, for there may not always be tomorrow. I'm excited to read Randy Pausch's last lecture and I'm excited for the inspiration it's going to give me.