AP English Literature and Composition

Explanation- The assignment above is a Google Slides presentation summarizing the characterization in the novel "The Kite Runner". I worked collaboratively with my classmates David G, Jean, and Guerson to complete the assignment. The objective of the assignment was to demonstrate our understanding of characters in "The Kite Runner" and their development throughout the story. By creating this presentation, we wanted to showcase our knowledge and analysis of the characters' traits, motivations, and relationships. The assignment fits into the overall unit of  our AP English Lit class, as "The Kite Runner" was the first book required for our course. It served as a basis for our literary journey through understanding the literal and figurative meanings of every book, poem, essay, etc. handed to us. The presentation allowed us to dig deeper into the characters' complexes and help better understand the character and what makes them significant to the story as a whole.

Reflection- One of my strengths, which really helped during this assignment, is organization and being able to deliver high-quality content. While I might not have did excellent in the physical aspect of presenting, I knew that the depth and quality of the content I provided would cover it. I also discovered that I was good at getting people to collaborate effectively. By furthering teamwork and making sure of everyone's involvement, I was able to bring out great collaboration techniques in my group members. This assignment was valuable as it allowed me to show my strengths and contribute to the project's outcome. My organizational skills helped me to structure the presentation. My emphasis on quality content helped ensure that the audience received a good understanding of the characters in "The Kite Runner". The assignment represented important themes in our course, such as the power of redemption, the complexities of human relationships, and the consequences of personal choices. Through our analysis of the characters' traits, motivations, and development, we were able to explore these themes in depth. This assignment not only helped us better understand the novel but also allowed for critical thinking and literary analysis.

Explanation- The assignment was to create a Google Doc for the novel "Sing, Unburied, Sing" quotations journal. We had to choose two quotes from each chapter of the book. The format of the journal involved organizing the quotes in three columns: the quote itself in the left column, a summarization of the quote in the middle column, and an explanation of why the quote was chosen and how it connected to the student in the right column. The objective of the assignment was to encourage us to connect deeply with the novel "Sing, Unburied, Sing" by Jesmyn Ward. By analyzing quotes from each chapter, I had the opportunity to explore the themes, character development, and figurative elements present in the book. Through completing this assignment, I learned more about the book and gained a deeper understanding of its themes and messages.

Reflection- Reflecting on my assignment of creating a "Sing, Unburied, Sing" quotation journal, I found that it allowed me to show my strength in analyzing quotes. By digging deeper into my selected quotes from each chapter, I was able to provide thoughtful interpretations. I found a weakness in finding good quotes and summarizing them to its best. It was challenging to identify quotes that really captured the essence of each chapter and their meaning into an accurate summary. This aspect of the assignment highlighted an area for improvement for me. The assignment represented important themes in the course by emphasizing the importance of critical analysis and personal reflection. By carefully selecting quotes that sat with me and explaining why they connected to me, I deepened my understanding of the book's true meaning and their relevance to my own life. 

Explanation- The assignment was a history research paper on Parchman Prison. By completing this assignment, it showed my ability to find information from various sources and present it in a organized way. The fact that I wrote thoroughly showed my capacity to dig deep into a topic, analyze it, and articulate my thoughts effectively. The assignment aligned with important themes in this course by emphasizing the importance of research, critical thinking, and effective writing. It helped prepare me for the hardships of writing lengthy essays, which is certainly valuable for the AP Lit exam. Through this assignment, I gained valuable experience in constructing a well-researched argument and supporting it with evidence and analysis. I enjoyed this assignment because it allowed me to go deep into a topic that was both interesting and important. Learning about the history of Parchman Prison opened my eyes to the injustices and challenges faced by incarcerated individuals. It was rewarding to uncover new information, develop a deeper understanding of the topic, and then share my knowledge through my writing.

Reflection- Reflecting on this assignment, the history of Parchman Prison research paper, it contributed to effectively showcasing my strengths as a writer and researcher. The assignment allowed me to lose myself in extensive research, and demonstrate my ability to organize and present information in a effective way. I found joy in learning new things about Parchman Prison and was able to effectively communicate my newfound knowledge in the document. I thoroughly enjoyed the assignment for several reasons. Firstly, it allowed me to explore a topic of great historical significance and engage in a deep dive of research. Learning about Parchman Prison provided valuable insights into a dark chapter of our nation's history, and I appreciated the opportunity to shed light on this important topic. Secondly, the assignment challenged me to stretch my writing abilities by producing a great piece of work. Although it was difficult to write at such length, I understand the value in closing in on my ability to write a successful argument in a long essay.

Explanation- The assignment was for each poetic term, we had to find a poem that used the term and write a reflection on it. The objective of the assignment was to deepen our understanding of poetic terms by engaging with real-world examples. By finding poems that used certain terms, we got to see how these terms were used in actual poetry. It allowed me to explore techniques used by poets, adding to my overall understanding of poetry in literature. By looking for poems that specifically used these terms, I started to comprehend how these terms influence the meaning, structure, and flow of a poem. By doing this assignment, I learned more about the poetic terms themselves and how they were used in poetry.

Reflection- Reflecting on my assignment of working with a classmate I wouldn't typically talk to, I experienced the benefits of teamwork and the exchange of ideas. Working together allowed us to approach the assignment from different perspectives, furthering the overall quality of our work. The assignment represented important themes in the importance of understanding and applying poetic terms. By finding poems that used these terms, we were able to see how these terms contributed to the overall meaning and impact of the poems. I enjoyed and appreciated the assignment for several reasons. First, it provided an opportunity to discover new poems. Finding a poem that used each specific term was a rewarding experience, when it was correct.

Explanation- The assignment was to analyze the literary terms used in the poem "My Papa's Waltz." I had to identify and describe the use of many literary devices, such as imagery and metaphors, throughout the poem. This allowed me to apply my knowledge of literary terms and devices to a real-world example. By closely examining "My Papa's Waltz," students engaged with the nuances of the poem's language and gained insights into the complex and ambivalent relationship depicted between the speaker and their father.

Reflection- Reflecting on my assignment of analyzing the literary terms used in the poem "My Papa's Waltz," I found that it helped showcase my strength in identifying and understanding imagery and metaphors. Through this assignment, I was able to go beyond the surface level of the poem and uncover the deeper meanings and symbolism hidden through these literary devices. By examining the imagery and metaphors in "My Papa's Waltz," I was able to explore the complicated yet loving relationship between the speaker and their father. It demonstrated my ability to analyze and interpret poetry on a more intense level.

Explanation- The assignment was to create a two-part teaching assignment focused on the poem "Ode to the Onion." The first part involved designing a creative opening activity that would engage the class and create a connection to the poem. The second part required writing a deep analysis essay of the chosen poem digging into its overall meaning. Through completing the assignment, I learned about the challenges in creating an engaging opening activity that connects with the work and captures the interest of the class. It required careful consideration of the poem's themes, as well as the appropriate level of difficulty to maintain the engagement of your classmates. 

Reflection- Reflecting on my assignment of teaching a poem to the class and writing a deep analysis essay on "Ode to the Onion," I feel that the task effectively showcased my strengths as a high school student. The assignment provided an opportunity for me to dive into the poem and uncover all of its layers of significance. I enjoyed and appreciated the assignment for several reasons. Firstly, it allowed me to go into the complexities of a single poem and witness the power of close reading. The process of unpacking the layers of meaning within "Ode to the Onion" was rewarding. It highlighted the magical nature of poetry and how a small, everyday object can carry significant weight when met with careful analysis.

Explanation- The assignment was to create a presentation and present it to the class as part of a two-part teaching poem assignment. The specific poem I chose to analyze and present was "Ode to the Onion." The objective of the assignment was to thoroughly analyze the chosen poem, identify its key themes, and effectively present our findings to the class.

Reflection- Reflecting on the assignment above, I found it to be enjoyable and valuable. The assignment provided an opportunity to collaborate with my classmates, getting us to communicate outside of the school setting and gain a better understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. It allowed us to work together to identify who was best suited for specific tasks and effectively divide the workload. By working closely with my peers, I was able to contribute to the group's efforts by sharing ideas, providing feedback, and utilizing my presentation skills to effectively convey our analysis of "Ode to the Onion." This experience expanded my ability to work in a team and leverage the diverse strengths of my classmates to create a clear and engaging presentation.

Explanation- The assignment was to answer the given open-book quiz for chapters 8 and 9 of "The Great Gatsby." The objective of the assignment was to better my understanding of the book by creating thoughtful questions that required deeper analysis and reflection. It encouraged me to engage in active reading and led me to ask questions I may not have considered otherwise. By completing the assignment, I learned the significance of going beyond simply reading a book. 

Reflection- Reflecting on my assignment of the open-book quiz for chapters 8 and 9 of "The Great Gatsby," I found it to be a valuable experience that highlighted my strengths as an observer of societal similarities and an analytical thinker. The assignment allowed me to appreciate the connections between the events of the 1920s depicted in the book and the present day, despite the 100 year time difference. It showed my ability to draw parallels and recognize the specific themes and issues explored in the novel.

Explanation- The assignment was to create a bio poem for the character Nick Carraway from "The Great Gatsby." The objective of the assignment was to collect and analyze information about Nick's character traits, fears, strengths, and other relevant aspects to gain a deeper understanding of his perspective. By creating a bio poem, I was able to collect all the information I already knew about Nick into one collective piece. This allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of his character and analyze his role within the novel. 

Reflection- In reflecting on the assignment above, which involved creating a bio poem for the character Nick Carraway from "The Great Gatsby," I found that it did not go well with my strengths and personal preferences in writing. The task required me to outline Nick's character traits, fears, and strengths, but I struggled to add my own creativity to the assignment. I did not enjoy the assignment as much because I felt limited in expressing myself and putting my heart into the writing.

Explanation- The assignment was to create a bio poem about myself. The objective of the assignment was to provide a creative way to share personal information and characteristics through the structured format of a bio poem. The assignment aimed to explore and express individual identity and self-awareness. Bio poems can be tool for self-exploration and self-discovery, allowing students, like myself, to consider their own traits, aspirations, and experiences. While completing the assignment, I did not learn anything new about myself but I did confirm my dislike for bio poems and my perception that they limit my ability to add my creative flair. The assignment did not provide the opportunity for me to fully express myself or showcase my creative strengths. It served as a reminder of why bio poems have not resonated with me in the past.

Reflection- In reflecting on the assignment above, which involved creating a bio poem about myself, I found that it did not align well with my strengths and personal preferences in writing. Throughout the assignment, I struggled to add my creative flair and felt limited in expressing myself fully. Leading to me not enjoying or appreciating the assignment as much as I could’ve. The assignment did not effectively showcase my strengths because I felt constrained within the structured format of the bio poem. While it provided an opportunity to share personal information, I was unable to fully live up to my creative potential and showcase my unique writing style.

Explanation- The objective of the assignment was to assess students’ in analyzing and comprehending information quickly and effectively. By setting a time constraint, the assignment aimed to simulate the time pressure we would have during the AP exam. It tested my ability to comprehend the passage, identify key literary elements, and construct a clear and well-supported response within a limited timeframe.

Reflection- Reflecting on the assignment above, I was proud of being able to work quickly and efficiently to complete it. The fact that I was able to produce an okay-enough piece of writing in a short amount of time shows my improvement in time management and organizing my thoughts. The assignment itself was meaningful in how it touched upon important themes present in "Obasan." The theme of trauma and the significance of remembering and acknowledging historical injustices actually resonated with me. Exploring the lasting impact of trauma and the struggles faced by Japanese Canadians during World War II provided me with a deeper understanding of the human spirit, resilience, and empathy.