Growth Piece

Standard: 2.2 Write responses to literature.
• Assignment Name: AP Timed Essays
• Objective: To be able to analyze a poem, text, or story and write a well written essay in 40 minutes.
• Questions Prompt: My growth as a writer could be proven by...

In AP Literature, the class was designed to help students prepare for a Nation- Wide AP Literature Exam. In doing so, we were given different prompt essays from past exams to help us practice for the real test. In practicing for the exam, I met the standard. “Write responses to literature.” I met the standard, by being able to analyze a poem, text, or questions, and conduct a well organized essay in 40 minutes using stylistic devices.

My growth as a writer could be proven by comparing my first AP timed essay to my last AP timed essay. When we first started to prepare for the AP exam, Ms. Johnson gave us five practiced essays. At first it was very difficult to read the question, brainstorm, and write a well written essay in 40 minutes. When she gave us the first prompt, I had a hard time putting my ideas into words. I didn’t have a strong thesis and I felt as if my ideas were everywhere. Although, I received a 5-6 score on my essay out of 9, I felt that my ideas were very broad and vague and that I should have went deeper into explaining my thoughts. On my last essay, I felt prepared and I knew the routine of how to write a well organized essay. I was now able to conduct a well structured essay that had a straight forward thesis, and use the different stylistic devices (diction, imagery, tone, etc.) to argue my statement with out using “I” and I was able to organized my ideas and write in detail. I’m proud of how I structured my first paragraph. “…During those periods it was depicted to show male dominance in a women’s life…In the following poem, Meredith uses melancholy tones to describe the theme of Modern Love in the Victorian Era.” I was able to put together historical text with the prompt. On this essay I received a 7, showing how I’ve grown from essay to essay.

To read my two different essays click here: First AP timed Essay & Last AP Timed Essay