As I Lay Dying Follow-up.

Now that we have had a brief discussion of the beginning of As I Lay Dying, write a brief response which extends or diverges from what we've already discussed.  Any scenes or situation that you would like to bring up?  And most importantly, what do you think this book is shaping up to be about (what kind of meaning is it making)?

Thesis check in.

For this post, try again to articulate what your thesis is currently.   Unlike last time, try to phrase your thesis as formally as you can.  Four to six sentences would be a good length for you to articulate the thesis and give it a bit of context. 

AP Test Resources

Resources for Test Day: May 6th

For your browsing convenience, here are some useful links to parts of the AP Central Page.

For sample free response essays and commentary (scroll down to the end of each free response type for commentary):

 http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2002.html

For test-day dos and don'ts: 

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap/test-day

For a visual map of how the test is arranged:

 http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-english-literature-bookmap-2014.pdf

Beyond these things, try looking up multiple choice test strategies and record some advice that you think will help.  We've talked about strategies in class, but with these kinds of tests there is no one-size-fits-all approach.  Try to think in terms of time management and what suits you best: will you want to take a peek at the questions before reading a selection, or start reading right away and then answer the questions that are least time-consuming first?   

More resources:

 For the Multiple Choice section:

http://www.education.com/study-help/article/ap-english-literature-multiple-choice-question/

http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/rgunnar/files/multiple-choice%20strategies.pdf

Research Check-In

Now that you have read some books and have taken extensive notes, let me know how your thesis is coming together.  Has your angle changed?  Do you have a sense of what you would like to argue.  Tell me about how you arrived at your idea and explain why your idea is interesting and meaningful to you.

King Lear Final Discussions

For this post, please refer to another student's comments on King Lear from our discussion, and respond to, extend, polite criticize, amplify, connect with or complicate what they had to say.  This post will be due on Monday, April 13.

King Lear Blog Post Acts I - III

For this blog post, choose three or more quotations from acts I-III which deal with a developing motif or idea within the play.  You can find some of the best lines in the packet of quotations provided to you in class.

In your post, discuss how Shakespeare is developing, playing with, extending or clarifying an essential concept or idea across the quotations you have chosen.  Try close reading: what words are essential to the line(s) and how are they arranged?  Principally, you want to communicate what you think is a central conflict or problematic idea within the play by looking at the language. 

King Lear Act I Passage Analysis

Please post your analysis in the comment box below, using the following guidelines:

Choose a particular monologue or passage of dialogue to analyze. (1) In your analysis demonstrate an understanding of the passage's meaning within its context. (2) Also, identify and discuss the significance of (at least two) motifs within the passage. What does the use of the motifs reveal, particularly about characters, conflicts, and themes? (3) Finally, discuss the relationship between how the motifs are presented in the passage and how the motifs are presented elsewhere in the play. Post your response below. At the beginning of your post include your name, name the motifs, and quote the passages (include act.scene.line).