“No Name Woman” and the AP Test

1. “No Name Woman” and the AP Test Mr. Josefino Rivera, Jr. AOSR: AP Language and Composition September 28, 2010

2. Homework • “No Name Woman” Essay

3. Today’s Objectives To evaluate your participation and understand your grade in my class. To analyze group discussion. To take a practice AP Test. To prepare for the “No Name Woman” essay.

4. What works? • I must say that everything you do--group discussion, projects, even the quizzes--are very effective. Yesterday when reading the book, I actually did ask myself questions and speculated and most importantly didn’t rush myself. • I like that we move around a lot for different activities because if we sit for an hour it gets kind of boring. • I like that you offer conferences to coach me on my writing. • My learning style is visual and the Powerpoints really help with that. • This is one of my favorite classes. The environment is free and I really enjoy being part of the group discussion. • You ask us to read a few pages a day. I think it is really good because I read slowly. I have have many pages to read, I usually read without understanding well. • So far, I’ve enjoyed these English classes far more than any one I’ve ever taken. I enjoy the “new school” mentality of teacher being active in class compared to the old teacher vs. student mentality. • Outlining the objectives for the day help me understand what we are working on in class and makes me feel as though I’m actually doing something which is helping me. • Other classes don’t offer as many chances to speak out loud in front of many people so it has been very helpful for me. • I really like the seminar we did and the partner work is really helpful. • What’s working for me is the type of writing we’ve been reading. It’s actually interesting and enjoyable. Pico Iyer’s “Nowhere Man” was really relatable. • This is possibly the English class that has the most peer working compared to other classes, and it works great because it helps me to understand what I can’t understand on my own.

5. What doesn’t work? • At this moment I can’t think of anything that is not working. • Not enough feedback on how my work is going. • The journal writing times could be a bit longer depending on the topic. • Once problems arise, you’ll be the first to know. • No hole-punches on handouts. • I’m not very good at arguments. • Sometimes I get lost on the topic of the conversation. • Instead of reading logs, maybe we can focus on writing and perhaps on the structure of the AP Test. • The pace is pretty slow. It’s an AP class so I think we should be doing more: more reading and more writing. I need to be challenged. If I feel the class isn’t challenging me then I become complacent. • Looking at the Powerpoint is not working very well for me. • I don’t really enjoy Card Quizzes. I think you should pick the question you are going to answer instead of randomly choosing the order. • Some more interpretation of the text from you so that we can understand it better. I ask this because I’m not always sure what all the events that happen mean.

6. Participation

7. Daily Journals

8. Socratic Seminar Analysis 2 7 # 6 # 1 # 4 4 4 1 3

9. Socratic Seminar Reflection In your reflection, you should discuss the following categories 1. Specific ideas you found particularly interesting and why. Give specific examples and explain your reasoning. Please include who said the idea (this shows me you were listening carefully). • For example, I found _______’s speculation that …. interesting because I had not made that connection myself. However, I am not sure I agree with this connection because …. I need more information on this; however, ______’s comment jumpstarted my thinking on …. 2. Unanswered questions or ideas you are still grappling with regarding the topic. Explain why you still have these questions or intellectual tensions. • For example, I question ________’s argument that …. Is…really possible? I need more evidence suggesting that …. 3. Discussion of why you scored yourself on the rubric for each category the way you did and specific examples supporting your self-score. • For example, I responded to … I referred to the …and connected this to …. This example reflects how I was listening intently to the conversation, following the ideas, and extending them by providing a relevant example that pushed the discussion forward, which is why I gave myself an “excellent” in listening and speaking and reasoning…

10. Discussion Questions • What is the purpose of the first paragraph? Why does Kingston launch into this story without a prefatory explanation? How would the impact of the story have changed if Kingston had provided an “introduction”? • What is the mother’s attitude toward the aunt, as revealed in her story? • According to the mother, what is the purpose of telling the story? • What does Kingston mean when she says of her mother, “She will add nothing unless powered by Necessity, a riverbank that guides her life” (¶ 13)? Why does Kingston capitalize “Necessity”? • Why does Kingston repeat the word “perhaps” throughout paragraph 16? Is she calling her own credibility into question? Explain. • Kingston speculates that her aunt must have been raped because “adultery was an extravagance” women could not afford. What does that mean? • What is the purpose of using various voices in her essay?

11. AP Test • 3 hours, 15 minutes • Reading Comprehension, 45% (1 hour) • Multiple Choice • Three Essays, 55% (2 hours, 15 minutes @ 40 min. each) • Rhetorical Analysis (analyze a text) • Argument (persuasive essay using personal examples) • Synthesis (persuasive essay using multiple sources)

12. Practice AP Test

13. Answers • D. • B. • E. • D. • A. • C. • C. • E. • A.

14. Rhetorical Analysis Essay • Maxine Hong Kingston reflects on the life of her aunt, a relative who committed suicide after giving birth to an illegitimate child. Write an essay analyzing how Kingston’s language conveys her attitude toward her aunt.

15. “Analyzing Language” Rhetorical Strategies • Diction and connotation • Syntax • Figurative language • Imagery • Tone