Thursday, May 14, 2015

Revisions to your STP Research Paper

For most of you, revisions to your STP research paper are due by Friday, May 22. For those of you who received the paper this week, you have until Tuesday, May 26 (preferably) or Wednesday, May 28 (if absolutely necessary). You must return the original version to me so I can compare it to the revision. You may email the revision to me, but if you do, be sure you get a confirmation email from me. If you do not get a confirmation email from me, then I do not have your paper. Also, even if you email it to me, you must return the original version to me. If I don't have the original version, I can't assure you that your revision will improve the original grade. As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me.


Monday, May 4, 2015

Class Work for Monday, May 4

Make an outline for each of the three FRQ's from the 2013 AP Lang exam that is linked below.

http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/apcentral/ap13_frq_english_language.pdf

Each outline must have a thesis, and it should focus on your analysis or argument. Your outline should have three or four supporting points, and each supporting point must have evidence. For the synthesis essay, that evidence will come from the sources; for the rhetorical analysis essay, that evidence will come from the passage; and for the argumentative essay, that evidence will come from your knowledge of the world.

In each of the next few classes, you will write one essay, whether we have class first block or not. Prior to writing it, we will go over that particular kind of essay. This Wednesday, you will write an argumentative essay.

Sample outline:
Prompt: Who is more powerful, Yoda or Dumbledore?
Thesis: Yoda is more powerful than Dumbledore, but Dumbledore is a better wizard than Yoda is a Jedi.
Point 1. Yoda's connection to the force binds him to the most powerful source of positive energy in the universe, while Dumbledore studied spells in school.
Evidence: The force is a pre-existing factor in the universe that the Jedi must access; wizards are simply born and must learn spells and such.
Evidence: Yoda was never tempted by the dark side as Dumbledore was by the power of the elder wand, which means he has a more profound connection to the force than Dumbledore has to magic.
Point 2: Yoda's mastery of the force has allowed him to defeat numerous Sith Lords for centuries, while Dumbledore used magic to confront two nemeses, Grindelwald and Riddle/Voldemort.
Evidence: Yoda refers obliquely and modestly to previous battles, which makes Dumbledore duels seem like play fighing.
Point 3: Although Yoda is more powerful than Dumbledore, Dumbledore is superior to other wizards in ways Yoda is not superior to other Jedi and Sith Lords.
Evidence: Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald, forced Voldemort to flee. Yoda could defeat neither Count Dookoo nor Darth Sidious.