Assignment 26- Brianna Scott

To be honest, I've struggled to enjoy this class. I know that isn't what it's about though. I've struggled to understand some of the things we do in class or why we do them, but I still end up understanding the concept or skill I am supposed to somehow. I feel like there were a lot of unnecessary things that we did this year, but I think that's your style of teaching and I respect you for that. You like to share the things that you enjoy with your students. The blogs seemed a little pointless. The essay grading gets boring quickly, and I would love to get tips on how to make my writing better but I feel like every time we graded one of my essays in class it would get ripped to shreds by two or three people, and that didn't help me at all. I wish there was a way to control that aspect. Not to necessarily force people to be kind, but they shouldn't be allowed to be rude. I feel like this is an unpopular opinion, but I do feel like the Socratic Seminars helped me, even though they were a lot of work and I was scared that I wasn't getting my points sometimes. When I think about it, I left this class feeling extremely frustrated some days, but other days I would be cracking up with my friends. I'm not really sure what tipped me off either way, but I really wish I wouldn't have gotten so frustrated with the unnecessary things.

Assignment 25- Brianna Scott

Leading up to the end of the school year, I didn't feel like I had much to do. This made me very uneasy. I was taking the APUSH test, which I wasn't too worried about and I felt pretty good about AP Lang too. I didn't have much homework in any of my classes and finals felt like forever away. Yesterday it all hit me like a wall. I'm really struggling in Spanish, I have to get my mind back in the game for AP Physics and I have to finish the Freshman Edition newspaper.

Something that helps is headphones. They help me stay focused in on what I am doing. Something that is an awful distraction is my phone. I have to physically go put it in another room, which is pathetic, I know. Netflix is the devil. I let myself watch one twenty minute episode of The Office, and before I know it it's 2:30 AM and I'm already past Jim and Pam's wedding in season 6. After I make the effort to get rid of these things, the stress is lifted just a tad. Maybe next year I'll really learn how to handle it. Probably not.

Assignment 24- Brianna Scott

The future is approaching at what seems like faster than ever, and I'm terrified. It seems so close I could touch it. I know I can do the things I want and be successful, it's just all so scary and so real. It means more when you make mistakes. I'm starting to get real ideas of what I want my life to look like.

This summer I'm going to be working, go to church camp and go on vacation. Like I said earlier, as I start to see what I want my life to look like it makes it even harder when things don't work out. Ive been planning on going to Honduras this summer for years, and it all fell through. This has been really tough to deal with, especially since I had felt like it was God's plan. Unfortunately I don't know what He want, but I know He's got a plan.

With that being said, as I move forward in my life, I have to put my trust in Him. That doesn't mean it won't be stressful, but it does put my heart at ease a little bit. College and the future and everything that comes with it is extremely daunting, but I'm trying my best and that's all I can give.

Assignment 23- Brianna Scott

I love listening to music, especially when I'm driving. This would be my perfect playlist for a road trip with my friends and the windows down.

I Don't Want to Be- Gavin DeGraw
My favorite thing to do is sing along to songs. This one is especially good for that, because it is the theme song to one of my favorite TV shows- One Tree Hill. The chorus is pretty easy to remember and it repeats quite a few times, so it makes it super fun to sing along to even if your friends might not know it as well.

Grove St. Party- Waka Flocka Flame
This is the ultimate hype song. They play it during pre-game at Commonwealth Stadium before Kentucky Football games. I'm not one to usually listen to someone like Flocka, but everybody likes Flocka after they've turned it up on the speakers at Commonwealth.

Burnin' Up- The Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers used to be all I listened to. Joe Jonas was the ultimate boy to 10 year old Brianna. Just because I've expanded my music library, that doesn't mean I can forget. This music video probably got over 1,000 views from me.

My Life Would Suck Without You- Kelly Clarkson
This is one of those songs that you put on after a boy has done something stupid. Which is basically all the time. It tells a narrative, about how mad you are and that you have the right to be, but then it brings you back to the fact that you can't do life without them.

That's What I Like- Bruno Mars
I've literally never heard a Bruno Mars song that I didn't like, or that I didn't want to sing along to. That is all.

Springsteen- Eric Church
This song encompasses everything I love about summer. It brings me to country concert, right in my car. Eric Church made it sound just like the "July Saturday night" that he mentions in the song.

Wannabe- The Spice Girls
Another one of my favorite activities is singing karaoke, which is unfortunate for my friends. This is my go-to song. It's fun, girly and just about as annoying as it can be.

Congratulations- Post Malone
Again, this isn't my normal genre. It comes on the radio a lot, and I kind of got addicted. It really is bop. Most of my friends don't like to hear me sing in the first place, so it's even more fun to try to rap.

https://open.spotify.com/user/briscott16/playlist/6aLC8NZdN3wQnKXdEY0tW5

Assignment 26 - Erin Caudill

I've noticed that English classes normally are the classes that people feel are the least important. However, English has always been my favorite and I was thrilled when I got the chance to take an AP class that I knew I'd get better than a 3 on the test for. Sure, writing essays wasn't fun. Grading essays wasn't my favorite past time, but it did help a lot. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into when I walked into my testing room on May 10, and I knew I'd do well on it. While I can admit there were several days where I didn't want to go to English because I knew I'd have to try really hard to stay awake, I also knew it'd be beneficial to read more essays. The Socratic Seminars, on the other hand, caused me nothing but stress. I hate having to throw myself into a discussion with no structure for a grade. I always felt like there was never enough for me to say, or never a way for me to get full points.

Assignment 24 - Erin Caudill

With five days left in the school year I'm left wondering, as I always am, where all the time went. And as I'm sitting here stressing over blog posts and web homework, I feel like I've fallen short of where I could've been. I've always struggled to do things in a timely manner (oh look, Erin is posting her blogs last minute again) and Junior year is not a great time for that. With 5 AP classes and countless extracurricular activities I had no time to just relax. There were many mistakes made, and perhaps not enough successes to make up for those mistakes, but it's what happened and I can't change any of that now. While I'm hoping for a better Senior year, I know that I'll still make just as many mistakes and that's okay. If I keep learning from my mistake I don't really mind making them. There's only so much learning that I can do without making mistakes.

Assignment 23 - Erin Caudill

The perfect playlist for a late night car ride with friends. One of my favorite things to do now that my friends and I have the capability to drive places on our own is to take a late night trip to go get ice cream or dinner or something, and then just drive around for a couple hours (yes, a couple of hours) and scream - not sing - songs at the top of your lungs.

1. Take On Me - A-ha
This song, with all of its glorious high notes, is perfect for just screaming like a maniac while driving around with your friends. No one can realistically sound good while singing this song, and it's hilarious to hear people try.
2. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
You're lying if you say you've never attempted to sing all of Bohemian Rhapsody by yourself. However, nothing compares to when you can sing it completely with your friends in a dark car while everyone has their assigned parts (I'm normally everything, it's too fun to not try and sing every part)
3. Piano Man - Billy Joel
Not all of the songs you sing have to be upbeat and obnoxiously loud. I like to throw in a couple songs that are quiet and calm because it really fits the mood of driving around at night.
4. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Duh. You can't be on any car ride and not listen to this song at least once. It should be against the law to not listen to this song.
5.  Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Also one of those songs that you just have to scream. No actual singing allowed. You have to scream at the top of your lungs no matter how horrible it sounds.

Assignment 23 - Claire Thompson

A Midsummer Night's Dreampop:
Songs for a surrealist, Seaonsal Affective Disorder summertime

https://open.spotify.com/user/spooky-mulder/playlist/7d1SNG3iXZdeKGRQA37m06

(This playlist is actually 80+ songs long, because it's meant to furnish an entire summer's worth of songs that you can just put on whenever. But I'll just list some HIGHLIGHTS here, but I do think that you should listen to that playlist because I think it's pretty good in my honest opinion. It's my actual summertime playlist that I've been working on for almost a year now because I'm that kind of a gal. And this isn't your typical, run of the mill summer playlist! It's genuinely a playlist about summer malaise and the intense feeling of uselessness one gets from sitting around for two months in the largest capitalist country in the world--is that Southern gothic? It's all very much the heavy, humid loss of sanity of A Streetcar Named Desire set on the background of suburban isolation, with a few happy songs thrown in that represent the bliss you get from summer breeze or the knowledge that you don't have to go back to school for a hot second.)

- The Ballad of Keenan Milton - Devendra Banhart
I have a very distinct memory of sweltering heat and listening to this song as I drove past a row of pastel colored houses in southern Florida. The song is so peaceful but there's intentional noise pollution on the track that makes this song transfixing while at the same time reminding you that you're here and present.
- Genius of Love - Tom Tom Club
I just want to say that this song is the best song ever written and I don't want anyone to try and fight me on this because it is. And it's so iconic, and I listen to it most in the summertime but it's really for all year long (if you watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia you'll remember that this was their Thanksgiving dinner song in the s9 finale).
- Fireworks - Animal Collective
There's something  so thrilling about this song yet it seems so still, like the whole song happens in a moment, but you're watching it in slow motion. It's like the moment between when you see the firework and when you hear it. It is the moment of anticipation that reminds us that there is a momentary lapse between light and sound, and all of eternity seems to exist in that fraction of a second.
- Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
Crime rates go up during the summertime because no one likes being hot and everyone's angry and that's all I'm going to say about it. (Also if you don't think Genius of Love is the best song of all time, it's probably this song. Which is funny because Tom Tom Club consisted of two members from Talking Heads.)
- Heaven or Las Vegas - Cocteau Twins
This song is the song that started this playlist because it started as a dreampop playlist back in like June when I was on vacation (and Cocteau Twins is like the mother of dreampop). But the playlist has expanded beyond that so now like Heaven or Las Vegas is the mother of this playlist.
- Oslo in the Summertime - of Montreal
Never has there ever been a more emotionally hollow and heavy song about summertime malaise and I love it.
- Tenderly - Billie Holiday
If there's anything good about summer, it's the evening breeze
- Banshee Beat - Animal Collective
I don't have anything to say this song is so beautiful and mesmerizing and peaceful and it's perfect

I would also just like to add that the album Rainforest by Walter Wanderley is maybe the greatest bossa nova album of all time and would be a great addition to this playlist, but it isn't on Spotify. I also want to add Plantasia by Mort Garson, also not on Spotify. But both are on youtube!

Assignment 26- Gus Carlson

 This class was effective at most times for preparing for the AP test. I felt like I knew what to do and what to expect going into the test. The relaxed nature of the class was also a bless for the hour after I got out of Ms. Dewees's room.
 One of the best parts of the class for the AP test was doing so many past essays and going very specifically over the rubrics and benchmarks. I got used to how to write to get a higher score, and what mistakes to avoid.
 The multiple choice practice was helpful, but possible could have been improved. We didn't go over many specific problems as a class. One example is the multiple choice questions about the footnotes and citation methods. This was a subject that I feel we could have reviewed for a day or half day in the week leading up to exam that would have helped us get a few more questions right.

Assignment 24- Gus Carlson

Successes: I got good grades both semesters, and got great scores on the PSAT and ACT, which will hopefully help get me into a good college. I got 2nd in the state for Academic Team composition, and look to continue Academic Team success next year.
Failures: Stressed way too much about homework and school and everything in life. Definitely did not get enough sleep.
 Overall, I was happy with this year. I had some fun and succeeded in most areas academically. The problem was that I stressed way too much. Next year, I am hardly going to stress at all, and it's going to be fantastic. I'm going to work hard and finish my college applications, sit back, and relax. I will work enough to get good grades in my classes and I want to get better with academic team, but I will spend more time having fun. I will try to go to more parties and not worry about doing everything right. This year I improved from sophomore year, but I can definitely go further.

Assignment 23- Gus Carlson

The perfect playlist for watching the summer sunset. This playlist is all about happiness. Summer nights are always a great reminder of our freedom in life, and that we should live in the moment. The music goes along with these themes. This is also timely, as summer is quickly approaching.

Beautiful Day- U2
 To start, we have a song that emphasizes the preciousness of the time we have. "It's a beautiful day; don't let it get away." exemplifies the idea of having fun on a summer night.
Jack and Diane- John Mellencamp
 Jack and Diane is an excellent song by John Mellencamp that embodies the thought of living in the moment, and living your life without a care. It makes me nostalgic for a time period in the 20th century that I didn't even live through.
Rhythm of Love- Plain White T's
 In Rhythm of Love, Plain White T's poured out the feelings of living for one night at a time, not caring what the future will hold, which is really the emotional message of the playlist.
Shut Up and Dance- WALK THE MOON
 Similar to Rhythm of Love, Shut Up and Dance is talking about just one night, one moment. The repeated attempts to look to the future and destiny are pushed back with "Shut up and dance with me." The quickness and lively nature of the song represent the excitement that a summer night with no limits can hold.
Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen
 The Boss's epic song Born to Run is the perfect cap to a playlist trying to symbolize freedom. The message is all about seeking freedom and making your own way for yourself. It is the perfect song to describe a hot night in the middle of the summer, and summarizes the playlist well.

Assignment 26 - Ethan MacGillivray

I think that your class is a really effective one. Most of the work we did was focused on the writing portion of the AP exam, which I think is what it should've been. I know that not everyone took the practice multiple choice you gave us seriously, but I tried to do my best on it, and think it helped out a great deal with what to expect on the real test. The multiple choice on the AP exam was harder than the practice tests, but I don't know if that is a year by year thing or if it's always that way. With that being said, I think I still did fine, probably around 40 or so correct on the real test. The writing exercises and discussions did great things to my writing over the course of the year. I walked into class in August as a very mediocre writer, who never strayed from a five paragraph essay, but I left the AP testing room feeling extremely confident about the three essays I had just written. The most effective part of your class is definitely the constructive criticism we receive from the teachers and our peers on our writing. The ineffective thing is probably the practice AP multiple choice simply due to the fact that nobody tries on it. If you could figure out how to make it a small grade, not 50 points, but maybe 10 or 15, then I think that most people would give much more effort, and it would help them in the long run, however annoyed they are when they're taking it.

Assignment 26- Logan Gehefer

This year I have improved incredibly as a writer. The large group discussions were extremely helpful as by reading the 8s and 9s as well as gaining feedback for my own essays I really furthered my writing. The small group grading I found much less efficient as everyone was kind of shy to talk about the essays and I did not get much feedback on my own. One thing I feel as though would have helped better prepare me for the AP test would have been if we worked together on analyzing documents and went over the questions and good strategies for answering them. Specific ways to more easily find themes and topics from the essay as well as how we should go about analyzing the passage and budgeting our time. The practice test were big help but maybe going over the documents and what they're trying to say would be a little more efficient. Overall I feel as though I gained much in my field of writing and felt adequately prepared for the AP test and not too overworked.

Assignment 23 - Ethan MacGillivray

https://open.spotify.com/user/ethanmacg10/playlist/315zCcwR4ScVWVsylmCgnL

This is my playlist for getting ready for a big game. My first song is Hotel California by the Eagles. It gets the playlist started on a low tempo, and a really chill vibe. It also segways white nicely into the second song, AIn't No Rest For The Wicked by Cage the Elephant. This song ramps up the tempo just a little bit, along with it being a great song. The third song is Replay by Iyaz. This is the first Hip-hop song i ever remember listening to, and I still like it to this day. It's a tradition from classic rock to the slightly faster 200s era hip-hop. After that, the fourth song is Might Not by Belly ft. The Weeknd. This is halfway still hip-hop/R&B singing by the Weeknd, and helps transition the playlist to mor current rap, with Belly. I opted for a different sound in the fifth song, beibs in the trap by Travis Scott. This is one of my favorite songs, but it has an almost futuristic, science-fiction feel to the music. I wanted to end on a quicker tempo wth my last two songs, so I chose Rolex by Ayo & Teo, and Backseat Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar. Rolex is a fast-paced song that gets your energy up a bit, and Backseat Freestyle is one of Kendrick Lamar's best known songs, as it kicks up the tempo to an absurd rate, getting you pumped up and ready to go out and play your best.

Assignment 26 - Haley Drake

Things in this class I was a fan of:

• Writing. Essays!! Getting familiar with the AP prompts and learning how to respond to them with multiple examples of Synthesis, Argument, and Analysis prompts was an essential part of the learning experience. To prepare for an exam that was almost entirely skill-based, practicing was the best thing we could have done!
• Essay scoring in class. This helped me to have a better understanding of the AP scoring scale and gain confidence in my writing. Although hearing my essay read in class first semester was incredibly daunting and caused a lot of anxiety, by second semester I learned to appreciate it more. I reveled in the anonymity of the essay scoring and took more chances with my writing, which honestly revolutionized my writing style and ended up being the most visible improvement I made in this class.

Things I was not so much a fan of:

• Visual Literacy... I'm sorry but with every single one of these projects I struggled to see how it could possibly prepare us for the AP Exam. I just didn't understand their relevance. I understand that learning to analyze/create visual works and speak publicly are necessary skills in life, but felt that they did not contribute to my confidence during the AP exam at all. Writing essays or taking a test for finals would have ultimately been less stressful for me (and all the other kids who aren't inherently gifted/practiced in speech or video making).
• Socratic Seminars. I'm pretty sure everyone in this class knows I hated socratic seminars, but I'll say it again for those who maybe didn't witness my relentless anxiety: I. Abhor. Socratic. Seminars! Not just because they're personally my worst nightmare, but because I again fail to see their relevance to the AP exam. (It's very possible that I'm prejudiced against them because of my hatred toward them. Some people seem to have seen their relevance, and some did not.)

Some thoughts:

Although there were parts of this class that I didn't adore, I really am grateful for the opportunity this class gave me to focus on improving my writing, (especially considering the mountain of college essay writing ahead of me). Thank you for putting in the effort it takes to teach this class, and for putting up with all of us; I really appreciate it!

Assignment 24- Logan Gehefer

 Junior year has gone by relatively fast and I feel as though nothing's really changed in my life. I got my ACT score even higher and feel like I should be able to get a scholarship to a school I like. I wish I had done my homework more for math class instead of being forgetful and slacking off. For this summer I would like to work around 40 hours a week and hang out with some of my friends. My family's going on vacation but I'm staying home so it'll be nice to have the house to myself, plus I'll be 18. My friend Jared and I plan to record many movies so it should be fun to dpo that as well as go to my annual church camp with all of my church camp friends. Many of them are seniors so this will be their last year so I'm hoping for it to be the best year yet. Hopefully I can save a lot of money up and get a nicer car as mine is kind of falling apart, as well as visit some of the nicer colleges around the state and states bordering us.

Assignment 23- Logan Gehefer

Music to scream along in the car

Bonfire (Childish Gambino)- Every line in this song is pure genius and the creativity behind the lyricism is simply astonishing.

Pretty Good at Drinking Beer (Billy Currington)- The laid back country beat with the long held out notes make this song one you just feel and cannot resist singing along.

Long Live A$AP (A$AP Rocky)- The way the beat kicks in from the soft storm in the beginning is just too hype to not jam along and sing every word.

Dream On (Aerosmith)-  I mean come on I think this is self explanatory, if Stephen Tyler can't get you hyped then the guitar riff definitely can

Waves (Kanye West)- The vocals in the chorus and the hyped up intro right off the bat are enough to get me singing along.

Mr. Brightside (The Killers)- This song is completely irresistible to sing along to and if you say you don't then you are lying.

Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day)- Sad message, but perhaps my favorite song of all time, I can never resist singing along as I often find myself humming it in class.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/bangers/idpl.ac2ae852b75345af862a7272317a1712

Assignment 24 - Ethan MacGillivray

My junior year of high school has been one of the best, if not the best year of my life. in the classroom I have done very well, with a 4.0 GPA so far this year. I took three AP tests and passed all of them without a doubt. I think I got a 5 on Calculus and English as well. I've also blossomed as a soccer player in my club season. During high school I played alright, but the team wasn't up to the standard it has been in the past few years. This ring, I have played well, especially in the league that matters, the MRL. I'm leading my team in goals, and have impressed a few college coaches along the way, including UK, Brown, and maybe even Notre Dame. I'm really excited for the summer because I'll be going to ID camps and figuring out what college I'll play for in 2018. I think I've passed the stage where I'm nervous about college and preparing for it, now I'm sure that I'll go to a college that I'll love and play soccer at, which makes every happy. I just want to enjoy my senior year, do well in school and have a good time outside of school with my friends and with soccer.

Assignment 26 - Claire Thompson

I feel like a lot of people are going to say that they hated the Socratic Seminars, and I will admit that while I didn't hate them I found myself a little bit frustrated because I didn't see how they were helpful. That is, until we took the AP exam. It's funny because I thought that the Socratic Seminars weren't really worth much for the class, but I did enjoy reading all of the pieces we read and then hearing what my classmates had to say about it. But then when I was taking the AP exam, I don't remember the exact moment, but when I was writing the essays something suddenly clicked in my brain and I feel like I used a lot of the on-your-toes thinking that we used in the Socratic Seminars to keep up the conversation. So I just wanted to say that the Socratic Seminars were actually interesting and eventually helpful.
Also I liked writing essays and having the full class grading. I'll admit that it did make me absolutely panic to have to hear my essay read out loud but the bottom line of that is that it was very helpful. (Also, I just wanted to say that I Hated the small group grading. But it was very helpful for the full class grading that we talked with the people around us briefly before sharing our thoughts with the whole class. And I often found it better to read silently because then I could actually pay attention to the essay instead of being lulled to sleep during an especially long essay to the sound of someone's monotonous reading.)

Assignment 24 - Claire Thompson

The number one thing I learned this school year is that I have a deep seated passion for pottery. Taking pottery this year has been wildly influential for me. Doing pottery is kind of like I've found something that's like a second nature to me--I have NEVER done pottery before this school year and I've been immediately taken with it. I not only do all of my assignments for that class but I am also always working on at least 2 or 3 extra personal projects in that class. (And not to bring astrology into this, but I'm a Capricorn which is the cardinal earth sign and I feel like clay is like medium of my soul.)
But the other, and very surprising thing for me, is that I have discovered an interest in the history of dance (and I don't dance At All outside of like the typical dancing with friends or whatever). And it's all thanks to Arts and humanities (which this year was also a great reminder to me that art history overwhelms me with so much passion), because ever since I was so enthralled by the 30 seconds of the ballet the Rite of Spring we watched it class, I have been obsessed and watch videos of performances of Rite of Spring all the time. I seriously can't get over choreographers like Martha Graham and Pina Bausch either ever since learning about them and their work. (And tangentially, I watched the movie Amadeus while I had the flu back in February and ever since then I've been very obsessed with opera, and I'm very hung up on trying to get to see one live.)
That was a long winded way to say that my understanding of culture has expanded a lot this year I think. And, not to sound pretentious or anything, but I think my POV on culture and pop culture has always been very broad, but I think that it's becoming more filled out and even more eclectic. So I'm happy to just be working on myself all the time.

Assignment 23- Ella Jensen

Mr. Blue Sky – There is a reason everyone starts dancing when you play this. Such a good song and you can’t listen to it and not want to sing along or dance.

Paper Planes (M.I.A)- Makes you feel like a boss ass bitch.

Bonfire (Childish Gambino)- A more mainstream rap song but once you know the words it feels so good to sing along while shampooing your hair.

All Star (SMASH mouth)- Throwback to elementary school gym class, my teacher played this and D.A.N.C.E every time and I swear this is like my generation’s theme song.

Dancing in the Moonlight (King Harvest)- Thanks Dad. One of my favourites because he would sing it as I danced on his feet.

Niave/ Sweet Emotions (The Kooks)- GOD I LOVE THE KOOKS SO FRICKIN MUCH. Top notch band, highly recommend. They are also British so that makes it fun. I personally like their earlier stuff (hooked on Konk- 2008) more because its slightly more acoustic but all of it is good.

You Don’t Own Me (Grace)- When I saw suicide I didn’t think a song could more perfectly describe Harley Quinn and the Joker better and I have been hooked every since.

Start a Fire (John Legend)- Honestly if I could put all of Lala Land on this I would (except the Planetarium) but this one is the most fun to get into, as well as the Epilogue, another favourite.

Poor Unfortunate Souls (Ursala?)- The Little Mermaid was my freaking shit when I was little and I honestly liked Ursala more and so this song is one of my Childhood favouites to sing to. Also anything Moana, even the outtakes are so so good.

Ultralight Beam (Kanye West)- The lyrics if you just listen are actually wicked good and kinda inspire the deep shower sessions we have.

Alexander Hamilton (Hamilton)- If you know the lyrics this and Aaron Burr, Sir and Guns and Ships and so fun to get into when no one is around, or in the shower.

Not My Day (Keith James)- If you’re having a bad week or bad day, this will make you feel better about feeling bad.

https://open.spotify.com/user/1243283600/playlist/3gUKpLJFSMbEiavZkDQgib

Assignment 26- Ella Jensen

My whole life my mother (a uk professor and dissertation advisor) has told me that my writing needed work, which was the polite way to say it. Freshman year I would pour over essays for weeks before the final edit was due and it still only earned a B maybe a 92 if I was lucky. This year on the other hand, I never wrote below a 7 and to say I was surprised would be an understatement since half of them I wrote when I still wasn’t fully awake. What I discovered was that I was very skilled at writing rough drafts but not exactly finalizing them. I loved scoring and writing essays but a lot of the time I found myself wanting a redemption, or some more time to work on a next draft and perfect the skill I had been lacking. I did also really appreciate the visual literacy speech, since it forced me to get out of my comfort zone and write for a new setting, but really it ended there. If I wanted to make short videos or learn how to produce, I would take film class; which ironically you also teach. I found that the PSA, the photo advertisement, and the video advertisement didn’t really improve any of my skills or effectively challenge me. Not that I’m looking for more challenge when I’m already taking 4 other AP classes plus a sport and a dozen clubs but just something that’s more engaging rather than another grade in the gradebook. I did enjoy the essay regarding the advertisement analysis because it tested my skills of editing my pieces but I wanted more conferences along the way? Not in an elementary school parent-teacher conference, childish way, but just to help me through the process since I have obviously never succeeded in that vital part of writing. Thanks.

I also liked blog posts bc I got to be petty.