Obstacles Of Education

The AP English Language and Composition course is not one that can be considered an easy grade. Approaching the course with the expectations that you will not have to work hard is one of the worst things you can do. The writing style and critical thinking essential to your success in the course may seem unorthodox at first. I warn any of next year’s students to be prepared to receive grades that they may not be accustom to. The requirements and guide lines for the rhetorical précis and analysis essays are a bit different from what is taught in English 10H. Accepting criticism is a huge part of becoming a better writer and critical thinker in the class. I urge students to see grades that may seem unsettling as pieces of advice to better their writing in the future.

            Despite my prior beliefs this class has taught me that your writing can always be improved. No matter how many drafts are written improvements are possible. It is always better to go into great detail with as many examples as possible. My writing improved in connecting my examples to my thesis in a more specific way. I have learned when developing a thesis to attempt to connect it to the world. The broader it is the easier it becomes to connect it to a text. I have improved greatly from the first quarter to now. My biggest improvement stems from making better connections when it comes to referring to a literary device an author chose to use. I struggled with recognizing literary devices as well as wording how it improved the authors writing. After reading multiple essays that Ms. Forgarty corrected and graded, I began to get a feel for how it is suppose to be done. My improvement stems from being able to accept criticism as a way to improve myself rather then take it as an insult to my writing.

            The course definitely prepared me for more intense writing classes. I feel I am more mentally prepared because I have learned to take my downfalls and turn them into guidelines for what not to do and what to continue to do. I have learned to push my limits when it comes to writing. Getting to comfortable with one particular type of essay or just one subject allows me to get to content with what I am doing and never try anything new. When it comes to writing there is a thin line between following the guidelines and thinking outside of the box. When writing and trying to appear to have a different incite from others it is important to remember to stay on task and continue to have a professional tone. It is okay to try new things when writing or addressing tasks differently as long as the task is completed and a more mature pros style is continuous throughout your writing.

            Ms. Fogarty was extremely helpful throughout the year. She definitely made me feel more comfortable in the beginning of the year assuring all of the class that improvements would come in due time. I struggled to understand some of the writing tasks that we were expected to reach but she did her best to explain. What I like most is that throughout the class she offers constant practice in different aspects of what will be on the AP exam. I do not have many complaints about Ms. Fogarty’s teaching style. I was afforded multiple opportunities to learn different techniques on how to approach tasks and times to practice them. I enjoyed the class and feel as if I gained a lot from it. I am definitely more prepared for college courses although I hope that next years English course prepares me even more.