Literature(EC)

  English, English, English....From reading poems to writing a letter to the Crayola Company, I have learned so much since the first day of Honors English.  The most important skill that I have learned thus far, would probably have to be learning how to analyze a small piece of literature.  With this skill, I can look through a piece and identify irony, imagery, satire...etc. 
     There was more than one assignment that helped me apply these "English skills" to a piece of literature.  One that I think helped the most was the Satire, Tone, and Point of view assignment.  We went around in groups to each table and analyzed for specific elements of satire, tone, and point of view.  By going through with a group, it gave me a different outlook on what others thought verses my own opinion. 
     A lot of people may ask, "Well, why is that important?"  In a way, it helps you uncover the author’s perspective and what their actual take on the piece was, rather than your own. By picking small details out of the big picture, you will be able to grasp some of the little details that others may not perceive. Every detail that you can distinguish will make literature that much more interesting!

The Building Blocks

Poetry is the part of English in which I fail to completely comprehend.  By analyzing the three poems in class, and along with the class discussions, I found it easier to find the literary and symbolic meanings.  If you glance through the poem "Lobsters" you would find that the author builds the poem with essential "building blocks" (such as literary elements: imagery, irony, descriptions etc.) that make the poem tie together it's relevant meaning.  Before the discussion, I didn't know that I was missing such an important "building block".  The question brought up was about the colors that the author used to describe the lobster's appearance.  What I didn't recognize was that the colors were not coinciding with the actual color of the lobster.  The colors were all shades of violet.  The violet was to represent blood and death.

Sooooo what did I learn?  How was I enlightened?  I realized the author not only focused on the "big" ideas, but they went as far as representing the theme - death, in the Lobster's description.  Now that I know this, it is easier to see that the poem is more about death then about the innocence of a Lobster.  The author’s simple word choice can build the theme and meaning to give the poem depth.  However, if you miss one of the building blocks you can miss a major part of the poem.

Step, by step to THE Five Part Paragraph

            In fourth grade you learned how to properly write a topic sentence and elaborate a little on your topic.  In fifth grade, you know how to write a five paragraph essay which includes transitions, topic statement, concluding sentence, etc.  Now...in high school, you are taught the 5 Part Paragraph Format.  In English, each year the curriculum advances, and as it advances so does the expectations.  When one is faced with the big FIVE PART PARAGRAPH FORMAT you need to focus on taking it one step at a time.  If you do your paragraph this way, then the "do's and don'ts" are a little easier to follow.  By taking it step by step it is easier to include the necessities such as: a topic sentence, effectively using concrete details, and developing insightful commentary.  It will develop into a perfect paragraph!  I think that if you grasp how to write the topic sentence, concluding sentence, and embed your quotes the 5 Part Paragraph will be strong.  Especially the topic sentence, I think that as a class we had a hard time with trying to say what was going to be prove through the paragraph instead of stating a few facts about the novel.  Without this small piece it is a little harder to get into the quotes and commentary.  Also, embedding the quotes was another struggle because it was hard not to include plot summary.

Besides for that...I think everyone wrote really well and good quality paragraphs.  However, I know that I have a lot of space for improvement.  I tended to include plot summary instead of putting in my own words.  I also need to reread my paragraph VERY CAREFULLY because there were a few miss spellings...OOPS  It may take more than one time to get this Five Part Paragraph into perfection, but if you take little steps it may come faster than you think.