Peer Feedback #1

Post your feedback here.

1987 AP english essays

AP Essay 1
Essay 1 Part 2
Essay 2 Part 1
Essay 2 Part 2

Socratic Seminar

The socratric seminar we had today in class was not too eventful for myself, but interesting none the less. The conversation seemed dominated by two individuals discussing the difference of the freedom to think what you want, and the right to your own opinion. I can't blame them, as I did not add anything to the conversation. I could have changed in it a bout of words between simple language such as the subtle but important differences between right and freedom, a very important fact to note. Your thoughts should not so much seem to be an entitlement, but rather tools to use to accomplish actions. When circumstances change, the tools must change to fit the situation, and so go thoughts. They should be a liquid form of substance, not static such as solids, but not as free and hard to control as a gas is. There must be balance, as in all things.

Reflections on Week 1

1. Are there any factors that you think are going to affect your participation or experience in this class? (Access to a computer, cell phone, transportation? Family that can help or hassle? Friends that can help or hassle? Scheduling factors that can help or hassle?) 

No I don't believe I will be inhibited in any ways. School wise this will be a busy year, but there is always time to find in order to get things done. As far as technology, I am set, with the exception of a smart phone. However several friends have them and I don't believe the fact I do not have one will hassle me.

2. Think of an awesome (or the best ever) learning experience (or an experience where you changed) What was it you learned? [call it X] Where were you? What happened? Who else was there? Did it teach you anything about how you learn (or pay attention... or ?) How did you know what was happening?

My best learning experience was at the family literacy program at the library. It wasn't so much the teachings themselves, but it helped teach me I was more capable than what I thought I was. Dropped in with a family with a clear language barrier, the experience of getting to know the family and the kids was deeply enriching in the end. My nerves shook me during my first few times, but it was simple smiles I would see in both their faces and their eyes that helped me look forward to it day after day. Ryan Nguyen shared this experience with me and I'm sure he would say the same. 

3. What are you most [excited/concerned] about in this class? What do you look forward to in learning?  How do you think it can/will make a practical difference in your life?

I am most excited about the blog and the opportunities that an individual are able to create through the blog. In creating groups of peers to help pursue whatever you have true passion in life for is a great opportunity. I am looking forward to the more philosophical ways of thinking and managing of the class. If it helps me get more excited for each day, and live with just a little more passion it will be a very successful course. 

Additional thoughts: Austen/Montaigne Essay

If I was to add to my essay I would have created one more comparative paragraph to further add to my theme of Montaigne's writing of interpersonal ideas, while Austen writing of complex human relations in the society in order to their points of view across. I would have gone farther into depth of this difference in the last paragraph. Montaigne using himself to symbolize society as a whole leads to one accurate form of representation and interpretation of life very directly. He is able to avoid excess information in his messages. His self reflection of guilt in particular shows how an egregious act on the surface can be compensated in other forms in order to have a clear conscious. So to take a fault on base level would be wrong. On the other hand Austen uses her characters as tools. While it does create additional information, it creates relations lacking in Montaigne's writing. In this she is able to create such examples as Elizabeth's situation, where the author weaves a story through her love interests and how to not take these things at face value as well. Lastly I would conclude the essay with one last paragraph tying the overall theme of this together.

No specific thoughts came to me after the initial essay writing was complete, other than that it could have been more structured than it was, and that I should have been able to finish the essay.

The break was very disruptive in the thought process of the essay. We left right as I was getting to my thesis, and in the break I had lost the footing in the creation of my thesis. Therefore the thesis took much longer than intended to create, and therefore I was not able to create the length in the essay that would have been optimal. 

Assignment 1

This course is meant for me to be a completely different mental challenge than any of my other classes. Too often have days gone by where pen meets paper yet no actual information reaches the mind. Already this school year patterns have begun emerging in several other AP classes. The general formula of note taking followed by assigned questions for homework seems to be wearing down the creativity and zeal which I can only hope stay with me as I progress through education. This class presents the opportunity to go where few classes have dared to go. It is a large risk, and I understand this. The class must be lead by the students, and as a group we must prove this model to be effective, or else send a message of conformity in relation to success. I take this class as a great opportunity to help change what we view as "successful" in learning. I very much mean what I type, and hope to bring full effort into making this system the best it can be. The only thing to fear is that we fail to make full opportunity of this chance, and to fail other classes in our carelessness. We are pioneers, and we are going to have to do this right.