Dear future APELC student,
Congrats! You are currently enrolled in perhaps the most challenging English class of your High School career. You must be prepared to read the works of Plato, contemplate the societal effects of rhetoric, and prepare yourself in early May for three hours of mental exertion and a cramped hand. But contrary to what you may have heard, this course is far from impossible. It's okay if you don't think your writing ability is up to par, or if you're not sure you have the literary insight to fully grasp every piece of writing. When you emerge from this course in mid-June (well, really more like early May), you will feel more confident in your writing ability and able to think critically on a deeper level. In between, however, it will take responsibility, determination, and hard work.
Many of you probably consider yourself decent writers. After all, that's probably part of the reason why you took this course. You are accustomed to doing well on essays, which is why getting back essays in the beginning of the year with a 4 or a 5 may be a bit of a surprising disappointment. But constantly striving to improve oneself is perhaps the most important lesson that I have learned from AP English. If at first your essays aren't where you want them to be, then keep on practicing during in class ones. Talk to Mr. Yost or Ms. Pronko. Invest time into your take-home essays. This is not a class where you can slide by and get an easy A.
A second part of APELC besides essay-writing is a lot of reading. There will be Language of Composition packets, pieces of rhetoric to analyze, Plato, and at the end of each Marking Period, a project assignment. Try to space out your reading and don't leave 20 pages for the last day. Trust me, I've done it. And the last thing you want to be doing at 1 am is sitting at your desk trying to power through 20 pages of text when even five cups of black coffee can't keep you awake. It's really a shame too, because most of the texts are very interesting. Instead, plan ahead. During group projects, find times for all group members to collaborate. Do a little bit of the reading assignments each day. In terms of workload, APELC really isn't a very demanding class at all.
The goal of every AP class is to prepare you well for the AP exam, and I can honestly say that you are in very capable hands. If you give your best effort all year, you won't find yourself trying to cram for the APELC exam the night before ( and with something like English, I feel it's pretty impossible to cram for in the first place). That being said, don't just focus your attention on the AP exam. Actually participate in class discussions, think for yourself, and share your ideas. Consider if what you want to say will actually add to the discussion, but don't be afraid to take on a different perspective. I wish you the best of luck this year in APELC and all your other classes! Don't stress out too much. Remember: it's just school.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
TOW 29: The World Before Her
Claim: Women in the "new India" are better off than women in the "old India."
The World Before Her by Nisha Pahuja shows a very compelling story of a nation held in a cultural struggle between its traditions and roots and its new age of communication and globalization. This dramatic change affects all Indians, although especially the lives of Indian women. Although it is clear that the modern Indian woman, as represented by the Miss India contestants in the film, feel less constricted in what they dare to dream for their future and are more optimistic than fundamentalist Prisha, there is still a great struggle before women in either spheres can truly call themselves equal to men.
From the beginning, baby boys seem to be preferred over baby girls in India, a sentiment that almost all the women interviewed in the film confirmed. This is because when a woman got married, her family used to have to provide a sizable dowry to her husband's family. Furthermore, women usually moved away with their husbands and could not take care of their parents as easily. This is a problem that affects women all across the country, and not just in the more rural villages where traditionalism is high. In fact, there have been reports of baby girls found in trashcans in even the larger cities of India, showing that this is a problem that affects even the "modern" side of India as well, according to The Atlantic. This preference of baby boys has led to India's skewed sex ratio, where there are about 30 million more men than women currently. Clearly, this is still an issue that really affects the whole nation as a whole and is not just limited to some villages across the country.
Although women in the cities can generally find better opportunities than women in the countryside, violence against women still exists in both areas. In particular, reports of rape have raised human rights concerns internationally. In 2012, a young woman and her male friend in New Delhi were aboard a bus. She was then gang-raped and beaten severely with a metal rod. This tragic incident raised great concerns across the country, as people in New Delhi protested for days for better laws to protect women from rape. There have been rape cases in smaller villages across the country as well. This year, two teenage girls were raped in a village in northern India. It is said that authorities were notified but did not respond immediately. Although cases of rape in smaller villages may be reported less often or not get as much attention, it is clear that the country is still striving to deal with this heinous crime that affects the cities of modern India just as often.
It is true that a shift towards modernization has allowed more women to break free from the social constraints that they were bound to traditionally. However, many issues dealing with women and how they are treated are still a major problem even in the "westernized" cities across the country.
The World Before Her by Nisha Pahuja shows a very compelling story of a nation held in a cultural struggle between its traditions and roots and its new age of communication and globalization. This dramatic change affects all Indians, although especially the lives of Indian women. Although it is clear that the modern Indian woman, as represented by the Miss India contestants in the film, feel less constricted in what they dare to dream for their future and are more optimistic than fundamentalist Prisha, there is still a great struggle before women in either spheres can truly call themselves equal to men.
From the beginning, baby boys seem to be preferred over baby girls in India, a sentiment that almost all the women interviewed in the film confirmed. This is because when a woman got married, her family used to have to provide a sizable dowry to her husband's family. Furthermore, women usually moved away with their husbands and could not take care of their parents as easily. This is a problem that affects women all across the country, and not just in the more rural villages where traditionalism is high. In fact, there have been reports of baby girls found in trashcans in even the larger cities of India, showing that this is a problem that affects even the "modern" side of India as well, according to The Atlantic. This preference of baby boys has led to India's skewed sex ratio, where there are about 30 million more men than women currently. Clearly, this is still an issue that really affects the whole nation as a whole and is not just limited to some villages across the country.
Although women in the cities can generally find better opportunities than women in the countryside, violence against women still exists in both areas. In particular, reports of rape have raised human rights concerns internationally. In 2012, a young woman and her male friend in New Delhi were aboard a bus. She was then gang-raped and beaten severely with a metal rod. This tragic incident raised great concerns across the country, as people in New Delhi protested for days for better laws to protect women from rape. There have been rape cases in smaller villages across the country as well. This year, two teenage girls were raped in a village in northern India. It is said that authorities were notified but did not respond immediately. Although cases of rape in smaller villages may be reported less often or not get as much attention, it is clear that the country is still striving to deal with this heinous crime that affects the cities of modern India just as often.
It is true that a shift towards modernization has allowed more women to break free from the social constraints that they were bound to traditionally. However, many issues dealing with women and how they are treated are still a major problem even in the "westernized" cities across the country.
Monday, May 26, 2014
TOW 28: The World Before Her by Nisha Pahuja
The World Before Her is a rare film that offers a glimpse of India in the midst of a cultural crisis: should the country continue to westernize itself as its bustling cities have been doing, or should it remain steadfast to its fundamental Hindu beliefs, as many of its small villages hold on to? This big question is the basis of the film, and explored through the stories of two major female characters. On one hand is Ruhi Singh, a small-town girl who is vying for the crown of Miss India, a competition that is the epitome of western influence on India to many. Ruhi thinks like a "modern" Indian woman who wants to pursue a career outside the home. On the other hand is Prachi Trevidi, a woman working in a Hindu Fundamentalist camp for girls. This camp represents the right wing Vishwa Hindu Parishdad, otherwise known as the "Hindu Taliban". Like Ruhi, Prachi wants to be independent, but the stringent beliefs of her father make it hard for her to do so. Although the stories of these two women represent two very different Indias, the common struggles they share of being a woman in a patriarchal society, a society where boys are preferred over girls, is a common theme throughout. The audience for this film would probably be foreigners, because although it is about India, it deals with an issue that Indians are probably familiar with but Westerners most likely are not.
The most powerful strategy that Pahuja uses throughout this film is juxtaposition. The filmmaker compares "Old India" with "New India" by interweaving the stories of two girls that represent each. Ruhi and Prachi may believe in different ideals, but both girls speak frankly about feeling lucky to be alive in a culture where girl babies are sometimes even killed at birth. The stark contrast between the glamour and almost vapidness of the Miss India contest and the militant, cult-like environment of the girl's camp is very powerful in showing how divided India is. It is clear from this juxtaposition of the ideals of the "old India" and those of the "new India" that both are also flawed in their own ways. For example, the girl's camp teaches the participants to hate Muslims and Christians, while a scene in the Miss India contest has the girls walking with their faces covered just so the judges can judge their legs. Ultimately, juxtaposition effectively shows the two sides to India and each of their problems, raising the question of how this nation can possible reconcile these two opposite ideals.
Besides employing juxtaposition, Pahuja also uses anecdotes from real people to add humanity to the film. The entire film is really based on two women; their lives, their familes, and their dreams. This from the beginning adds a very personal element to the film, because Pahuja is not just introducing the two India's, but rather two people who are actually living through this cultural revolution of sorts. From Ruhi we can feel the determination and aspirations of a young woman trying to create an identity for herself in a country where women are still limited. Ruhi believes that winning the crown will give her a way to be able to prove that she is worth something as an individual. Prachi is also searching for a sense of self-worth, but she does so by teaching what she believes in, which is Hindu fundamentalism. And although the audience may not believe in what each of the women believe in, it is hard not to feel compassion for them and at least try to understand why they believe in the things they do. These two women add faces to the cultural crisis that India is currently facing, and their presence and struggle to find their place in each of their societal systems makes this story personal and powerful.
I believe that the filmmaker did achieve her purpose of letting her audience see the current cultural dilemma that India and also other developing countries across the globe is facing. The Old World and the New World are set on a collision course, and for many, the questions becomes, "which one should we follow?" Nisha Pahuja is also the director of Diamond Road and Bollywood Bound.
The most powerful strategy that Pahuja uses throughout this film is juxtaposition. The filmmaker compares "Old India" with "New India" by interweaving the stories of two girls that represent each. Ruhi and Prachi may believe in different ideals, but both girls speak frankly about feeling lucky to be alive in a culture where girl babies are sometimes even killed at birth. The stark contrast between the glamour and almost vapidness of the Miss India contest and the militant, cult-like environment of the girl's camp is very powerful in showing how divided India is. It is clear from this juxtaposition of the ideals of the "old India" and those of the "new India" that both are also flawed in their own ways. For example, the girl's camp teaches the participants to hate Muslims and Christians, while a scene in the Miss India contest has the girls walking with their faces covered just so the judges can judge their legs. Ultimately, juxtaposition effectively shows the two sides to India and each of their problems, raising the question of how this nation can possible reconcile these two opposite ideals.
Besides employing juxtaposition, Pahuja also uses anecdotes from real people to add humanity to the film. The entire film is really based on two women; their lives, their familes, and their dreams. This from the beginning adds a very personal element to the film, because Pahuja is not just introducing the two India's, but rather two people who are actually living through this cultural revolution of sorts. From Ruhi we can feel the determination and aspirations of a young woman trying to create an identity for herself in a country where women are still limited. Ruhi believes that winning the crown will give her a way to be able to prove that she is worth something as an individual. Prachi is also searching for a sense of self-worth, but she does so by teaching what she believes in, which is Hindu fundamentalism. And although the audience may not believe in what each of the women believe in, it is hard not to feel compassion for them and at least try to understand why they believe in the things they do. These two women add faces to the cultural crisis that India is currently facing, and their presence and struggle to find their place in each of their societal systems makes this story personal and powerful.
I believe that the filmmaker did achieve her purpose of letting her audience see the current cultural dilemma that India and also other developing countries across the globe is facing. The Old World and the New World are set on a collision course, and for many, the questions becomes, "which one should we follow?" Nisha Pahuja is also the director of Diamond Road and Bollywood Bound.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
TOW 27: Reflection
I notice a greater amount of detail in my TOWs as they progressed throughout the year. In the beginning of the year, I was more worried about finding rhetorical strategies, but towards the end, I was more concerned about how these strategies affected the work as a whole. I also noticed that I took bigger risks and found more varied topics as my TOWs progressed as well. I think I've mastered, or at least gotten very well, at detecting an author's central argument and also the means he or she goes about trying to achieve that argument. Furthermore, I've been able to summarize my sources more effectively and concisely as my TOWs progressed. This is very important to analyzing all forms of rhetoric. I could still work on considering the author's audience more; whether there is more than one audience and how the author's message may be different depending on who is reading it. I could also work on continuing to see the strategies the author uses as a means towards the bigger goal of achieving his or her actual argument. Overall, I think that I did greatly benefit from these TOWs. I know the main purpose was to help with analysis essays and to get varied sources for argument essays, and I think that these TOWs helped in both ways. They also taught me to be a more conscious reader and be aware of the rhetoric all around me. These TOWs really showed me how to look deeper at an argument, whether it be visual or written, and make judgments for myself about validity and impact of what the author is arguing.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
TOW 26: Checkers Speech by Richard Nixon
Reading Goal: Find something besides an opinion piece
Writing goal: Have a good intro and background
During the 1952 election, former President Richard Nixon was running as Vice President of Dwight Eisenhower. He was accused by the Democrats of taking $18,000 from his campaign funds to use for his own personal lifestyle, something that was highly illegal. Although these accusations did seem to have some merit in them, and Eisenhower was about to drop Nixon as running mate, Nixon went on national television to address the issue. In his now infamous "Checkers Speech", Richard Nixon told the American people that he was not using his campaign funds illegally, and that if he had to return his gifts he would still never return a dog that he got from a supporter named Checkers. With his skillful appeal to pathos and his question-and-answer technique, Nixon successfully convinced the American people and the Republican Party that he was a credible candidate.
Nixon uses a powerful appeal to emotion , which becomes the basis of his speech. He starts off by stating the accusation from the other side and then says, "The usual political thing to do when charges are made against you is to either ignore them or to deny them without giving details.
I believe we’ve had enough of that in the United States, particularly with the present Administration in Washington, D.C." By doing this, Nixon not only makes himself seem like a moral and righteous man by speaking "frankly" with the American people (and therefore an appealing Vice President), but he also takes a jab at the Democratic Party by insinuating that the current administration is not being honest and open with the public. He also appeals to emotion at the very end of his speech with discussion of a cute little puppy that he got as a campaign present. This story of the a puppy and also his two young children and how much the family would be saddened to have to give up this "present" is a pathetic appeal. Naturally, the audience will be horrified to imagine tearing the puppy away from the crying girls, and immediately feel sympathetic towards Nixon and angry at the Democratic Party. However, when examined closely this "Checkers" argument falls apart as it really doesn't have much to do with the missing $18,000 in funds at all.
In addition to winning the hearts of the American people, Nixon wins over their minds as well with his clear question-and-answer format of his speech. He posses two questions, "Was it wrong?" and "Was it morally wrong?", and answers both as the audience would want him to answer very clearly. Nixon points out a difference between if something was wrong or morally wrong, saying that something is wrong if it's illegal but that stealing $18,000 is not just wrong but morally wrong and that, no, he would never do something like that. Nixon states, "And now to answer those questions let me say this:Not one cent of the $18,000 or any other money of that type ever went to me for my personal use. Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers of the United States." His firm answer, whether or not it might actually be true, uses strong words like "no" and "never". This further convinced the public that he did not funnel $18,000 into his private lifestyle.
By appealing to the sentiments of the American public and firmly denying any accusations, Nixon was able to save his political career. Whether or not these accusations were true is still unknown; but now, an emotional speech by a politician is mockingly called a "Checkers Speech."
Writing goal: Have a good intro and background
During the 1952 election, former President Richard Nixon was running as Vice President of Dwight Eisenhower. He was accused by the Democrats of taking $18,000 from his campaign funds to use for his own personal lifestyle, something that was highly illegal. Although these accusations did seem to have some merit in them, and Eisenhower was about to drop Nixon as running mate, Nixon went on national television to address the issue. In his now infamous "Checkers Speech", Richard Nixon told the American people that he was not using his campaign funds illegally, and that if he had to return his gifts he would still never return a dog that he got from a supporter named Checkers. With his skillful appeal to pathos and his question-and-answer technique, Nixon successfully convinced the American people and the Republican Party that he was a credible candidate.
Nixon uses a powerful appeal to emotion , which becomes the basis of his speech. He starts off by stating the accusation from the other side and then says, "The usual political thing to do when charges are made against you is to either ignore them or to deny them without giving details.
I believe we’ve had enough of that in the United States, particularly with the present Administration in Washington, D.C." By doing this, Nixon not only makes himself seem like a moral and righteous man by speaking "frankly" with the American people (and therefore an appealing Vice President), but he also takes a jab at the Democratic Party by insinuating that the current administration is not being honest and open with the public. He also appeals to emotion at the very end of his speech with discussion of a cute little puppy that he got as a campaign present. This story of the a puppy and also his two young children and how much the family would be saddened to have to give up this "present" is a pathetic appeal. Naturally, the audience will be horrified to imagine tearing the puppy away from the crying girls, and immediately feel sympathetic towards Nixon and angry at the Democratic Party. However, when examined closely this "Checkers" argument falls apart as it really doesn't have much to do with the missing $18,000 in funds at all.
In addition to winning the hearts of the American people, Nixon wins over their minds as well with his clear question-and-answer format of his speech. He posses two questions, "Was it wrong?" and "Was it morally wrong?", and answers both as the audience would want him to answer very clearly. Nixon points out a difference between if something was wrong or morally wrong, saying that something is wrong if it's illegal but that stealing $18,000 is not just wrong but morally wrong and that, no, he would never do something like that. Nixon states, "And now to answer those questions let me say this:Not one cent of the $18,000 or any other money of that type ever went to me for my personal use. Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers of the United States." His firm answer, whether or not it might actually be true, uses strong words like "no" and "never". This further convinced the public that he did not funnel $18,000 into his private lifestyle.
By appealing to the sentiments of the American public and firmly denying any accusations, Nixon was able to save his political career. Whether or not these accusations were true is still unknown; but now, an emotional speech by a politician is mockingly called a "Checkers Speech."
Sunday, April 27, 2014
TOW 25: Media-Iams Pet Food Commercial
Reading Goal: Be able to clearly identify rhetorical strategies in a video media
Writing Goal: Concise summary
In this commercial, Rocky, an Irish Wolfhound, is shown eagerly awaiting and crying for his owner, Dawn. Dawn has just returned from what appears to be deployment. A voice narrates the bond that Rocky and Dawn, his owner, share. As Dawn appears, Rocky runs outside and jumps on her, clearly happy to see her back. The narrator states, "for a love this strong, Dawn only feeds him Iams". The screen then shifts into a visual that shows that Iams has more protein than the leading dog food brand. Finally, the last scene shows Rocky and Dawn happily together.
The ad. is effective because of its brilliant appeal to pathos and repetition of words. The viewer immediately falls in love with Rocky, who is a beautiful and clearly loyal dog. The meeting he and his owner have also tugs at the hearstrings, making the video highly watchable. The fact that Dawn is also in the military taps into the American conscience and the pride we have for our troops. In fact, this "Dog welcoming owner home" -style video is something highly trending on Youtube, the source of this commercial. After this is when the narrator begins talking about the product this video is selling, Iams pet food. He states the Iams slogan,"For a love this strong, [owner name] only feeds him/ her Iams". This is then continued with a repetition of the word "love" in sentences that follow. Therefore, the viewer associates Iams with happy, loyal pets and mutual love between the pet and the owner.
I think that this ad is effective in its purpose of trying to sell Iams pet food. By incorporating this product into an emotional video, Iams makes this commercial more memorable. It also makes sure to mention its slogan, which is clearly associated with the product. The audience for this commercial is probably all pet owners. Iams is a pet food company manufactured by P&G.
Writing Goal: Concise summary
In this commercial, Rocky, an Irish Wolfhound, is shown eagerly awaiting and crying for his owner, Dawn. Dawn has just returned from what appears to be deployment. A voice narrates the bond that Rocky and Dawn, his owner, share. As Dawn appears, Rocky runs outside and jumps on her, clearly happy to see her back. The narrator states, "for a love this strong, Dawn only feeds him Iams". The screen then shifts into a visual that shows that Iams has more protein than the leading dog food brand. Finally, the last scene shows Rocky and Dawn happily together.
The ad. is effective because of its brilliant appeal to pathos and repetition of words. The viewer immediately falls in love with Rocky, who is a beautiful and clearly loyal dog. The meeting he and his owner have also tugs at the hearstrings, making the video highly watchable. The fact that Dawn is also in the military taps into the American conscience and the pride we have for our troops. In fact, this "Dog welcoming owner home" -style video is something highly trending on Youtube, the source of this commercial. After this is when the narrator begins talking about the product this video is selling, Iams pet food. He states the Iams slogan,"For a love this strong, [owner name] only feeds him/ her Iams". This is then continued with a repetition of the word "love" in sentences that follow. Therefore, the viewer associates Iams with happy, loyal pets and mutual love between the pet and the owner.
I think that this ad is effective in its purpose of trying to sell Iams pet food. By incorporating this product into an emotional video, Iams makes this commercial more memorable. It also makes sure to mention its slogan, which is clearly associated with the product. The audience for this commercial is probably all pet owners. Iams is a pet food company manufactured by P&G.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
IRB Intro Post 4
I plan on reading The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This novel deals about the bioethical issue surrounding cell research and race. I choose this book because in AP Biology we actually got to work with HeLa cells, which originated from Henrietta Lacks. I'm very interested to know more about the story behind this woman and also how far Mrs. Lacks's cell have come. One interesting thing about this book is that there are actually pictures of Henrietta Lacks and some of the characters the author mentions.
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