Ruby's English Blog

Prompt Response: I remember last year during my accelerated class I had to write a poem about something I felt was important to me and represented a part of me. The writing process for me was a bit difficult, not becuase I did not know what to write about, but because I did not know how to make it make sense.  I had to write down some ideas of what I wanted to include and see what words went well with other lines. What I wrote about was my necklace and how if I didn't have it with me, I 'd feel like a part of me was missing and I would just feel anxious. I also involved my emotions in the poem, including that having my necklace made me feel safe because my mom gifted it to me and because to me, it meant that she was always with me wherever I went. Honestly, I did struggle coming up with many lines, but I was proud of what I wrote and how it described me in just a few stanzas.  Summary: We started reading and analyzing a poem as well as annotated what each line could mean. Refl...

 Prompt Response: Clustering helps generate ideas by connecting subtopics and ideas. It usually starts with the main topic of the essay. A part of clustering that was most useful to me was how easy it is to organize my ideas and think of different examples before writing. I think I would use this strategy when planning an AP Lang essay because it would help me quickly come up with ideas and organize my thoughts before I start writing. It can also help me make sure I have enough ideas to support my argument. Summary: We learned about what the writing process was and wrote down important information and the steps for it. Reflection: I learned that the writing process did not just have 2 steps but instead has 5. I also learned what clustering was and how it helps to plan your argument essay.

 Prompt Response: The part of writing the essay that was easiest for me was coming up with the reasons. Usually I would say the conclusion, but I was able to come up with the reasons easier than usual. The part that was the most challenging was writing the explanation to the reasons and the conclusion. I did not know how to explain my reason without repeating it because I felt like the reason was enough. I also struggled with the conclusion because it was hard not repeating the claim. One thing I would do differently is  Summary: We wrote our argument essay timed and had to explain whether we agreed with the prompt or disagreed and why.  Reflection: I wrote a full essay on why I was against the claim of the prompt. I wrote why it was wrong and it was because not everything needs to be posted and how doing so could ruin the moment.

 Prompt Response: A time where I felt like I truly belonged was when I was with a group of friends that always tried to make me feel left out, but there was one friend who always tried to include me and make me feel heard. What created that feeling was when she would always ask me what I thought about the situation, bring me with her and even told the group that it was not right to make others feel left out. Sometimes, I always tried to include myself, but always ended up getting  ignored which made me stop trying and just be alone. I hated being alone, but eventually I found peace with being alone instead of forcing myself to be included. I am grateful for that friend that gave me the opportunity to feel like I actually belonged somewhere. Summary: We completed the asssignment and I learned that belonging isn't just about being with a group of people, but sharing interests and relations to feel a sense of belonging. Reflection: I read that the importance of belonging can be h...

Prompt Response:A word that I think will be the most useful to me in the future would be discerning. The word means being able to tell differences or detecting them. I chose this word because I always use the word "different" and I can tell I've overused it. The word discerning sounds like a better word to utilize. I could realistically use it when having to notice the differences in an essay that both are graded with a different score. I could also use it at home if I'm questioning why something doesn't look the way I left it. Summary: We wrote down new vocabulary words and completed three excersises to help us learn the usage of the word. Reflection: I learned many words that I thought I knew the meaning to had a whole different meaning. I also realized that some words are words I've never used before.

Prompt Response: One thing I understand about commentary now is that the evidence shouldn't merely repeat itself. Another thing I understand is that commentary is the part of an argument that explains why the evidence matters. I will start to use the "So What?" method by explaining the importance of my evidence and connecting it back to my claim in my next AP Lang argument. This will make my argument more clearer and more convincing. It will also help me avoid leaving my evidence unexplained. Summary: Individually, we started the "So What?" practices and read four different claims and evidence. Reflection: I finished the prompts given and made sure it all connected back to the claim. I also asked my group members to reread my explanations to make sure I did not repeat the evidence but instead, wrote about why it mattered.

 Prompt Response: Two important takeaways that I can apply to my own writing is not repeating the evidence when writing my "so what?" Repeating this doesn't quite help the reader understand the idea of why the evidence matters and how it connects back to the claim. Another important takeaway I can apply is staying on track with the topic I've chosen for my essay and make sure all the information I include makes sense and connects with all I've written. If I get off track, the reader can get confused and the essay would lose its point. It might cause me to lose points and not get a good score on my essay. Summary: As a class, we reviewed many argumentative essays and scored them based on how they were written and how formatted it was. Reflection: I learned how different essays can look and depend on what score you will get based on the amount of paragraphs you write. I also observed how low effort essays look and tend to make no sense.

Prompt Response: When doing an assignment that has a rubric, I tend to sometimes take a glance at it before starting the assignment and other times I just look at it after. It is probably better to look at it before starting the assignment so there's an idea you know you'd come up with instead of doing it how you think it'll be graded and then realize you missed a step or over did it. When I check it after completing the assignment, I always observe that I get a good grade from it and change what needs to be corrected. After reviewing the AP Language Argument Essay rubric, I would use it to make sure I don't do common mistakes and aim to get the highest point possible. I would follow all the requirements and try to avoid what I usually do. Summary: Our group brainstormed what topic we would use for our argument essay and came up with 5 claims and supported it with evidence. Reflection: I learned that it's best to choose a topic you have a good understanding of. I al...

Prompt Response: An assignment I did without fully understanding what the teacher was looking for was when I was in my advanced algebra class and I didn't understand how to solve the equation. It was mostly my fault because I didn't go that day due to an appointment, and when I got back I asked for help yet I still didn't understand it fuly. Knowing the "ins and outs" can help change the way I approached the assignment because it would give me an understanding on how to solve it, what can't be accepted and what is required to get the grade. Sometimes I tend not to ask for help because I get nervous or anxious that they'll say something about it. When I do ask for help, I feel relieved and it shows in my grade that I did understand the concept.  Summary: We reviewed the rubric for the AP Language Argument Essay and reviewed what would be accepted and what wouldn't. Reflection: I learned that the requirements aren't as difficult as what I had imagine...

Prompt Response: A time when someone used informal language was when my friend emailed her chemistry teacher and the email was nowhere near being formal in any way. It was written as if she was texting a friend and then she showed me how her teacher displayed it infront of the whole class. I don't know how the teacher reacted because it's someone from a Gwinnett school, but I'm sure it wasn't in a good way. Maybe she could've started off the email with "I hope your day is going well, I was wondering when you would be able to put in my test grade so it can boost my grade up and encourage my parents to let me  go out." I feel like that wouldv'e been better than "Hey fren I was wondering if you could put my grade in so I can hang out w the huzz this week." The situation taught me that writing emails definitely requires formal writing and shouldn't be written as if it were you texting a friend.  Summary: We learned about informal and formal l...

Prompt Response: When I experienced COVID-19, I was in elementary school and remember we were told we had a break for a week. I wasn't alive when 9/11 happened, so I can't say that I know how everything happened or how every person felt at that moment. I can say that COVID-19 helps me understand a bit about what it might have been like for Americans to experience uncertainty and change following 9/11 because it was a major event that had people afraid abouot stepping foot outside. Everyone was afraid of even touching items because they imagined that it was contagious and would cause them to get ill. From what I remember being told, 9/11 was definetly an event that changed lives and also took many. It is talked about till this day and everyone mentions where they were, what they saw, and what they felt. Hearing them expresses that it was horrible, it was as if war was occuring at that moment and everyone was panicking and worried about people they knew that worked there or were ...

Prompt Response: One idea that improved my paragraph was knowing what is considered evidence and what should be considered the explanation for my evidence. When I was working with my partners, I was a bit confused on how to start evidence 1 so I communicated and asked for help. I thought I had the hang of it and once I shared what I had typed, I realized I was adding more than what was asked for. My partners told me that my evidence mostly matched and looked better as the explanation of the evidence. When they told me that, I noticed my misunderstanding and edited it. There help made me improve on my idea. Summary: We completed our paragraph with our group and revised it to make sure we all typed up the same thing. Reflection: I learned that we shouldn't overdo what is asked for in our paragraphs. I communicated with my partners and we were able to share our ideas and debate on what evidence and explanation was going to be used. 

 Prompt Response: I've always been curious about how life is for people who are an only child. I feel like that has to be a bit boring. Personally, I feel that way because well I have three siblings, but only one is a boy. I always talk to them about random things and I have one sister who is a sophomore which is fun because she's always with me and I don't go to school alone. The reason I've always been curious about that is because how do they just get home alone and have nobody to talk about their day to? Doesn't it get lonely not having someone to match with or get ready with or even share and stay up talking to their sibling about anything? I genuinely love my siblings and I can't imagine my life without them. We're always talkative and get ready and blast music together and give each other our opinions on whether we should wear this or change it and all.  Summary: We learned about what the Line of Reasoning was and began writing our group argumentative...

 Prompt Response:The part that is most difficult for me is coming up with a claim. I know how to identify the idea that I'd include in my claim I just tend to struggle creating the claim. I could write the body paragraphs first and then the claim. Sometimes I also tend to struggle creating the conclusion without repeating everything I stated in the claim. When I am able to create a claim, everything tends to flow and I get the hang of it. I've always had a difficulty when coming up with creating claims and sometimes conclusions. Summary: We learned what phrases to avoid when creating our claim and also wrote down what we can use as evidence in our readings and what not to use. Reflection: I learned that we should avoid using second person pronouns in paragraphs and should only use them in quotes if necessary. I also learned that if we use news articles or research studies, they should be no more than 10 years ago.

 Prompt Response: A fear I have overcome is being alone and feeling judged. I would always have the fear of being alone and wanting to fit in with people that I didn't even know. I felt like if I was alone in a class, people would always judge me for being a loner and say things about me and give me bad looks. I was that way last year as well, but around April-May, I stopped caring about being alone with nobody to talk to. It's better to be alone and at peace than being with people that do bad things and talk bad about anyone that crosses their path. This year, I'm alone in two classes and I don't talk to anyone or try to fit in. Sometimes people talk to me just for answers, but I don't speak to them. My sister is the opposite because she always ends up talking to new people without being nervous and I would want to be like her eventually but I doubt it.

 Prompt Response: A phrase I often find myself saying these days is "I don't know what I'm going to do". It has became a part of my everyday vocabulary because I feel like there's so much to do this year and I can't keep up with everythingat once. It's stressing trying to complete one thing and then having to do another and sometimes veen trying to find time and make everything fit if they're due the same day. I've been procrastinating which I definetly need to change. I have homework every week for US history, I stay after school for a club, take care of my siblings and do work for other classes as well. Right now, I have to teach myself the lessons for chemistry since my teacher is out and it's difficult when I have questions and don't have anyone to ask. I feel like I say that phrase everyday.  Summary: We jotted down new vocabulary words and their definitions and used them in exercises. Reflection: I learned some words I hadn't seen...