{ AP Essay Reflection Usually this comes with the day you get the essays back, and is accompanied by group discussion and analysis, examples, highlighting, mini lessons, or other activities.

Step 1: Find your essay and open to Prose Section 3 in Notebook: Reference “Corrections and Commendations Guide” Step 2: Write down your score stats on your AP Essay Log Step 3: Make a list of the numbers you received (2 columns perhaps, one for odd numbers and one for even numbers) or make 2 columns- one for strengths and one for weaknesses and list numbers AND comments. Write out what the numbers stand for so you can learn them! Step 4: Write out, in sentences, your strengths and weaknesses per my comments and codes. Analyze your grade, and acknowledge my feedback Step 5: Set a goal for the next essay, from specifics (i.e. “no more misspelled words”) to more generalizations (I will raise from a 3 to a 4) Justify why you set that goal for yourself. This should be in-depth, not one or two sentences, and show reflection.

{ My observations for the class and essay: We need to practice: -How to structure claims -Use specificity or “descriptors” in claims -How to assure balance between details (support) and discussion (commentary) -What passive voice means (grammar) -Writing skills vs. understanding skills -Passages are important in their entirety- don’t focus on just one aspect (or say the passage “starts” half a paragraph in) -Social commentary by definition is a critique on an issue in society- early satire -DON’T SAY “VERY”- EVER!!!!

How would you improve?  Examples of weak claims:  Gaskell uses dialogue, detail, and point of view to provide social commentary.  In order to provide social commentary, Gaskell develops her characters and creates a point of view and setting that shows social commentary.

What are the components of a strong claim?  Specifically referring to the situation of the passage- usually given to you by the prompt- and providing as much detail as possible in a short statement.  Listing literary techniques that develop that situation with DESCRIPTORS (adjectives and more details)

Examples of improved claims:  In the passage from her novel, Mary Barton, Elizabeth Gaskell shows, through the point of view of a mill worker, the stark contrasts between the conditions of the working class and those of the bourgeoisie in 1840’s England. By using specific details to express the abundant wealth of the mill owner and characterized dialogue to convey the life of the servants, Gaskell comments on the unjust social situations of Manchester.  Using your own claim- in your notebook, write an improved claim *unless I gave you a 4 on your paper

IN YOUR ANALYSIS  Make sure that you are not using vague analysis, such as “to make the reader imagine or visualize the land” OR “to develop the social commentary”.  DO NOT DISCUSS THE READER! We are irrelevant to the author’s creation of meaning or the speaker’s conveyance of the situation. It is important that we enjoy literature, but we aren’t writing book reviews, we are analyzing technique and content.

Writing vs Understanding  Writing: -mechanics-organization-balance  Understanding -Ideas and content -insight -focus on purpose (I will write questions when this is issue)

GRAMMAR  I will include terms such as “redundant” (it means repetitive) or “omit” (it means delete this) if your writing has distracting moments stylistically.  PASSIVE VOICE- It basically means that you use the “to be” verbs (is, are, was, were, to be, and “shows”) too often. It weakens the strength of your argument by making you look uncertain of your claims. Use active verbs! Instead of “The use of imagery by Hardy is to help convey the scope of the land”- say “Hardy uses imagery to convey the scope of the land.”

In summary:  Work on improving the descriptors and specificity of your thesis statements for focus and clarity  Be sure that you address the prompt directly- What is the nature of the social commentary, or issue in society and Gaskell’s opinion on such issue, as inferred by techniques and details in the passage?  Continue to support all your assertions with textual references (quotes) and balance these with your own thoughts.  Use a minimum of 3 supporting arguments  Provide ample commentary and be explicit  ANNOTATE THE PROMPT AND PREPARE!