Dante's English Blog

Prompt: I understand the statement to be rooted in truth. Due to my experiences, I've concluded that social media was created in order to please a generation of performers. People used to colonize land, but now, companies colonize our minds through pop-up advertisements, sponsored materials, and constant content. At the end of the day, all of my friends and I watch our entire lives back as satisfied viewers. Real connections and moments of peace are substituted by phones ready to "capture the moment".  Human connection has been abolished and replaced by large corporations, and this benefits them greatly since consumers continue to buy. Social media is beneficial to the people upstairs, and it is detrimental to those downstairs. Summary: We finished working on and defining rhetorical devices. Reflection: As we further explored rhetorical devices, it became clearer as to when to use them. Building up context and an argument are vital to understanding a rhetorical trick, and...

Prompt: Getting a cast list is one of the most anxiety-inducing experiences I have undergone. I am never anxious because I am scared I will not get a lead or a preferred part, but I am scared that I will embarrass myself in whatever role I am assigned. Is doing theater embarrassing? Well, performance, film, music, and all forms of art are embarrassing. Everyone has eyes on one at their most naked and vulnerable. While all of these things can be awkward, uninteresting, and shameful, it is also rewarding. The thought of others judging me is infuriating, but it also adds fuel to my fire, and it pushes me to work even harder. Summary: We continued to break down rhetorical devices, but we specifically looked at ones that regarded questions. Reflection: Rhetorical devices can be found anywhere and everyone. It is a surreal experience realizing that devices like hypophora are being used everyday, and I was just not aware of the terms.

Prompt: It's been brought to my attention that I exaggerate everything. My friend, Aiden Garrett MacGregor, loves dipping sauces way too much. He consistently licks every container so clean that they all look straight out of the factory. In retaliation, I may have accidentally exaggerated his addiction to all of those "delicious" liquids. I claimed he dipped each and every one of his fingers into the sauce, and shove each finger down his throat. This process was disgusting and disturbing, but it was untrue. This story, however, was crucial to combating his revolting actions. In the end, he stopped drinking sauce (at least in public). Summary: We began defining and understanding rhetorical devices. Reflection: On the AP exam, we will dissect the effectiveness of rhetorical devices. It has come to my attention that just because a rhetorical device is in play, it is not by default effective.

Prompt: Although I was absent today, a couple of people messaged me about my essay. I looked at the grade book, and I received a six out of six. From what I can recall, I used Ellen DeGeneres' famous selfie as a piece of evidence. Since it was a specific piece of evidence, it made it easier to explain the importance of it. However, I remember the clock ticking away faster than I originally perceived. In the future, I will use my time more wisely. Summary: While everyone looked over their argument essays, I found myself in North Carolina somehow. Reflection: While I was away, I helped a friend location scout for a new Tom Cruise flick, the sequel to Days of Thunder . The experience showed me that making movies consists of too much work, but it's a beautiful way to live one's life.

Prompt: After years of lectures, it gets tiring to hear that race doesn't define a person. What's even more tiring is the realization that it does. At twelve years old I was instructed to give a speech to my graduating class, and my teacher sat me down to prepare me. When he was younger, he was chosen to do the exact same thing, but when he was told about it, his advisors told him he was "very well spoken." What they really meant to say was "he was very well spoken for a black kid." Chills went down my spine, and I was terrified that anyone would tell him that. After living with his words for a bit, I realized that I could not let those boxes define me. I don't want people to think I'm well spoken for a Hispanic kid, but that I am talented and smart. Summary: In class, we finished analyzing Ferlinghetti's poem. Reflection: When interpreting certain lines of figurative language, it became useful to remember that it is all up to interpretation. ...

Prompt: Around this time last year, I submitted my application for the Governor's Honors Program (GHP). I wanted to be a part of the Communicative Arts major at the prestigious summer program, which meant perfecting my writing. We were instructed to write a poem or prose that not only shows off our capabilities, but one that also reflects on our character. As I wrote it, I second-guessed myself consistently, and I had many close friends critique it. In the end, all the stress was futile since I did not get accepted. Despite that, I consider it to be the best piece I've ever written. Summary: In class, we dissected a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Reflection: Although AP Lang strictly digests non-fiction work, being able to deconstruct those pieces is crucial. Through poetry, I've learned to read, analyze, and make connections in what I read.