Lucy's English Blog

  Prompt Response:  Aimmee Finecky from the movie The Spectacular Now is quiet, thoughtful, and deeply supportive of the people in her life. She is someone who listens carefully and cares more about helping others than being in the spotlight. She also has a habit of constantly apologizing, even when she did nothing wrong. This comes from her nature to avoid conflict. I am extremely similar. I'm always very quiet/a good listener, and constantly apologizing for no reason. I chose her because her personality matches how I navigate my own life and relationships.  Summary: I was absent from class today. Reflection:   I was absent from class today.

  Prompt Response:  Yes, I think everyone worries about what others think at some point, and I constantly experience it. Every single time I speak, I am nervous about how others perceive me. Why do I usually choose to be the quiet person in the room? It's because I am constantly overthinking my words, afraid I will sound stupid or be judged by everyone listening. This persistent fear completely shapes how I interact with people every day. Whenever I have an idea or something to contribute, I replay the sentences in my mind over and over, trying to make it sound perfect. By the time I build up the courage to say it, the conversation has already moved on. Staying quiet isn't always because I have nothing to say, but because it sometimes feels like the best way to protect myself from criticism.  Summary: Today we continued reading the rhetorical devices book, wrote down definitions, and completed exercises.  Reflection:  Defining each term clearly helped me recogni...

  Prompt Response:  I agree with this statement because technology makes it easy to send quick messages but harder to sit down for deep conversations. In my life, I see this in group chats and on social media. I might talk to my friends all day by texting in group chats. However, when we actually hang out in person, people often check their phones or get easily distracted by notifications instead of staying focused on the conversation. Technology has completely changed how we build relationships. It gives us instant access, which is great for staying in touch, but it also can replace face to face quality time. An example of antithesis to show this contrast is that phones bring distant friends closer but push nearby friends further.   Summary: Today we also read about new rhetorical devices and completed exercises to check our understandings.  Reflection:  This helped me test my understanding right away and see how these devices work in practice. This will a...

  Prompt Response:  I once told my friend that waiting for them at the mall took "a million years." I had actually been sitting on a bench for about 40 minutes because they were running late. I exaggerated to them how bored and annoyed I was while waiting, without starting a big argument. Looking back, it worked to get my point across. It made my friend laugh, which kept things light, but they also got the message that I didn't like waiting around and apologized for being late. Using a big exaggeration helped show my frustration in a funny way instead of sounding angry.   Summary: Today in class we talked about rhetorical devices like hyperbole and understatement. We also completed exercises based on these devices. Reflection:  Learning hyperbole and understatement will help me analyze tone, argument, and author's purpose for the AP Lang exam. It also helps me spot bias and communicate more effectively. 

Prompt Response:  After reviewing the feedback on my AP Lang argument essay, I realized I did a good job taking a clear stance and supporting it with strong evidence, but I need to better explain the tensions in the argument to earn the sophistication point.  To do this better next time, I will make sure to address opposing viewpoints and the complexities of the issue instead of just arguing one side. I also plan to unpack why the issue is so deeply contested and how different forces pull the argument in different directions.  Summary: Today in class, we started creating our own poems and learned how to use  Adobe Express.  Reflection:  This taught me how to combine digital tools with writing to present my ideas in a more engaging and visually appealing way. It also helps me feel more comfortable trying out new software for future school projects. 

  Prompt Response:  Talking with my mom about God changed how I see faith and honesty. For a long time, I was afraid to ask hard questions about religion because I thought I had to have everything figured out. When I finally sat down with her and admitted I had doubts, she didn't get upset or judge me at all. Instead, she listened carefully and told me that questioning is a normal part of growing up and that a strong belief can handle hard questions.  Summary: Today in class, we completed a worksheet with questions based on the poem we had read previously.  Reflection: This taught me how to break down complex texts. It also taught me how to connect the author's ideas to my own understanding.