Question #3

In his 1998 book Life the Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality, Neal Gabler wrote the following. One does not necessarily have to cluck in disapproval to admit that entertainment is all the things its detractors say it is: fun, effortless, sensational, mindless, formulaic, predictable and subversive. In fact, one might argue that those are the very reasons so many people love it. At the same time it is not hard to see why cultural aristocrats in the nineteenth century and intellectuals in the twentieth hated entertainment and why they predicted, as on typical nineteen century critic railed, that its eventual effect would be “to overturn all morality, to poison the springs of domestic happiness, to dissolve the ties of our social order, and to involve our country in ruin.” Write a thoughtful and carefully constructed essay in which you use specific evidence to defend, challenge, or qualify the assertion that entertainment has the capacity to “ruin” society.


Set your timer for 40 minutes. This is a timed writing. In your comments, assign a number to your classmates essay. Scores range from 0 to 9. Give a reason for your score.

Once Upon a Time....

Choose a fairy tale. Rewrite it in high style AND in low style. For a high style, you might choose the vernacular of one of the following: a doctor, a lawyer, a US president, or Shakespeare. For a low style, imagine the speaker as one of the following: a surfer, a country bumpkin, an urban teenager, or a chatty girl on her cell phone. Here are some fairy tales to choose from:

You should find and read the fairy tale before attempting the assignment. Also, once a fairy tale has been chosen, it cannot be repeated. THese are just a few suggestions. When the list runs out, you are expected to find your own. There are hundreds of fairy tales, so it should not be a problem. Be sure that you're telling the WHOLE story, in chronological order. 

"The Three Little Pigs""
"The Ugly Duckling"
"Hansel and Gretel"
"Rumpelstiltskin"
"Rapunzel"
"The Elves and the Shoemaker"
"Sleeping Beauty"
"Little Red Riding Hood"
"The Fisherman and His Wife"
"The Gingerbread Man"
"Henny Penny"
"Puss in Boots"
"Jack and the Beanstalk"

Let's say....

1. Give us a scenario in which someone is proposing something that you either agree with, or disagree with OR
 2. something you are proposing to someone else.
THEN, write a letter making an argument for or against what it is the person or group of people is considering.

For example,
1. You school is considering extending the school day an extra hour.
2. You have just had a birthday, and you were hopign your parents would extend your curfew but they didn't. Argue for a one hour extension.

So, first you need to choose a scenario and tell us what it is, then, you pen them a letter. You must use 5 of the 6 logical means we discussed in this last chapter.
Enthymeme
Historical Example
Comparison
Fable
Maxim

Be creative, and BE SURE your letter is fully developed. (ie make sure your blog isn't too short!)

Let's Get Creative!

God Bless America!

Synthesis of The American Dream

Practice makes perfect, part 3! Make sure you fully develop this essay, regardless of your busy weekend. The exam is right around the corner, so do not delay!

You must read and rate the essays of two of your classmates. Make sure you are specific about why they got the grade they did.

Practice Makes Perfect Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWc8H_pAwOY

Watch this video about question 2, rhetorical analysis. Then, set a timer and respond to the prompt in a fully developed essay.

You will find the prompt here. You need to scroll all the way to page 10.

So, after fully developing a rhetorical analysis, it is time to comment on the responses of your classmates. Choose 2 students. Read their responses, constructively criticize their work and give them a score from 1-9.

Engage in this process. Make sure you watch the video and stay with me! What happens in the last few weeks can be the difference in passing and not passing the exam. You can do this.

Practice Makes Perfect!

As the title of this blog suggests, practicing these prompts leading up to the exam will help you to do your best on the exam. Additionally, practicing how to argue is at the heart of AP Language and Composition. You have read and analyzed many, many arguments and have written your own. This prompt is about community service, so many of the information you might want to use is fresh! I implore you to try this pre-writing exercise and upon completing it, set a timer for 40 minutes and go to town! Make sure your essay is fully developed. When you are finished writing it, click on the link below and read the samples. After checking the samples, choose and comment on three of your classmates' essays. Give them a score and give a synopsis of why you awarded the score you did. Be specific and refer to their argument. Do not just say it is good or that you liked it, comment on what was good about it and what they might consider improving.
Pre writing Question 3

Scroll Down to Question 3

Sample Responses