AP English Language and Composition



AP English Language and Composition

Reflection Portfolio

It is an appropriate time to reflect upon yourself and others, as well as the past, the present, and the future. The assignments in this portfolio are designed to have you consider where you’ve been, who you are, and what you wish to become. As the writer E.M. Forster said, "How do I know what I think until I see what I say?" You may surprise yourself when you see what you say. Everyone must complete all four assignments in Part A, and then will select one of the remaining assignments in Part B. All responses should be well-developed and thoughtful (and, of course, typed and stapled together).

Part A: Everyone must complete all four of these items for the portfolio:

 

#1: A Letter of Advice to an Incoming APE student: You can tell them about what to expect in AP Language class. Some of the topics you may wish to discuss: summer reading assignment, 1984, "The Politics of the English Language," the Author Roundtable, crafting political speeches, rhetorical analysis, persuasion, group projects, The Norton Reader, journal writing, writing a college essay, creating a synthesis essay, identifying issues, arguing issues, Michael Sandel’s episode of Justice, deconstructing prompts, close reading, annotating, the outside reading assignment, oral presentations, class discussions, writing prompts, the AP exam. You have a great deal of knowledge to share with the incoming students. What do you know now that you didn’t know when you began this course of study?

 

#2: Annotated Life List: John Goddard is considered one of the world’s master goal setters. At the age of 15 he created a list of goals he wished to achieve in his lifetime and then systematically worked toward completion of his goals. This is a good time in your life to think about your future. Working toward specific goals is one way to make the future happen the way you might imagine it. For this response you will create a "Life List" of no fewer than 50 items with some illustrations of your goals and/or explanations/annotations as to why and how you’ll accomplish some of the goals on the list.

 

#3: A Selection of Journal Entries: Browse through your writings of the last year and then select two or three pieces that are the most memorable or meaningful to you. Retype, expand upon, and/or revise those responses and in a cover letter consider how and why those pieces "speak" to you. You should also consider any patterns you notice about yourself as a writer/thinker and/or a progression in your writing from the beginning of the year to later in the year in your responses.

 

#4: Thank You: A letter to a former teacher or mentor thanking him or her for the influence he or she had in your life. Recall specific interactions with the individual to support your gratitude. Think back over the years—it could be someone from elementary school, middle school, high school, or outside of school. Who’s made a difference in your life and why?

 

 

 

Part B: Choose one of the following to complete your portfolio.

 

#1: Issues, Problems, Compromises, and Solutions: One goal for this course of study has been for each student to examine and better understand the world in which we live. Through our outside reading and presentations we’ve identified a number of contemporary issues that define life in the 21st century. Whether collectively as a nation or personally as citizens, we must make decisions each day, sometimes each moment, about how we respond to the controversies/difficulties or obstacles which every individual must find a way to overcome. Identification of problems is always the easier step than to actually try to create solutions. The director of the movie Crash says, "Once you get people angry you get them talking. Once you get them talking you get them to resolve issues." This is true in families as well as in society. In this response you will have the opportunity to go beyond the thinking and the talking. Now is the time to create solutions.

 

#2: Analysis of Art/Music/Film/Dance: Select a work of art or musical composition that you find particularly compelling. Museum websites have extensive collections of artwork on line, or, even better, actually go to a museum to make your observations. Consider your interest in the piece; what attracts you to this composition? And then develop your response with detailed description (enough detail so the reader can imagine the work through your written text without actually seeing it). Explain why you’ve chosen this particular piece and then consider the stylistic choices made by the artist and how those choices create meaning (either implicit or explicit). Include the composition with your written response.

 

#3: Writing Folder Response*: Peruse the contents of your writing folder and write a response that considers your progression as a writer over the years. Are there any discernable patterns between the writer/thinker you were years ago and the person you are today? Please include a photocopy of something you particularly enjoy from your folder. If you don’t have a writing folder, attempt to reconstruct other writings you might have or remember from your past.

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