Blog #3: Group work skills

When it comes to group dynamics, I tend to be "that girl" that people come to with issues, questions, problems, etc. The group looks to me to make decisions, settle disputes, and take charge when needed. In other words, I'm basically the mom of the group which is why I have taken on the role of "harmonizor" for our group. The harmonizor looks out for everyone and makes it their duty to make sure people are getting along and working together to get the work done. These characteristics and motherly like instincts remind me of none other than the fairy godmother from Cinderella. Right when Cinderella feels there is no hope left, in swoops the fairy godmother to save the day. She watches over Cinderella, comforts her when she is upset, and turns her into a beautiful princess so she can live happily ever after. Much like the fairy godmother I oversee the group, make sure that everyone is happy, and unify everyone in order to get the work done so that we can all, like Cinderella, live happily ever after.

Similar to being the mother of the group, I tend to also take on a leadership role when it comes to working in groups. The two go somewhat hand-in-hand, you could say, since a mother typically is the leader of the household. Nonetheless, I like to be in control of the situation. From assigning roles to other members in the group to keeping things organized, being a leader is one of my strongest skills. Two roles that suit these characteristics are the "orienter/ summarizer" and the "coordinator". One leader I feel portrays these skills and characteristics is Jesus. Jesus is the leader of the twelve disciples and they all look to him for both direction and advice. He tells them what to do in a way that is not controlling and/or bossy and in turn, they respect him. Like Jesus, I lead with regard to other people and their feelings rather than aimlessly demanding them to do "this" and "that". 

Blog #2: Test Reflections

Today's practice AP Literature test not only brought back vivid memories from my days in Mrs. Roth's AP Composition course, but also helped in pointing out where both my strengths and weaknesses lie in terms of test taking, literature analysis, question answering, etc. After checking my answers with the key, reading through the explanations, and looking back to see what I missed, I was able to get a clear idea of what type of questions give me trouble and what I need to work on this trimester in order to improve my results. One thing in particular that I struggled with today was clarifying the type of poem. For example, one question said, "The poem is an example of a(n)... A) Sonnet B) Lyric C) Ode D) Ballad E) Dramatic Monologue". While this question, in reality, is probably quite simple, I was not familiar with any of the answer options which therefore made the question quite challenging. I also struggled with questions that referred to tone not because I do not understand tone but rather that I do not know the meanings of many of the words used to describe the tone. This is simply due to lack of variety in my vocabulary but when the question provided answers with words such as pensive, indignant, laudatory, arbitrary I struggled to make a decision simply because I was unsure of the definitions of each word. 

Although I did struggle with multiple things on the test today, there were also numerous things that I did well. One of my biggest accomplishments was actually finishing the entire test within the time limit. I have very high anxiety which makes timed tests, papers, projects, etc. extremely challenging for me. After taking AP Comp, however, I feel that I have really improved upon staying calm and managing my time properly which are both skills that I will need in order to succeed in this course. I also noticed that I did well when it came to questions pertaining to literary devices and syntactical choices. I am very familiar with most literary devices such as parallel structure, personification, paradox, and metonymy which appear to be the popular choice of most test makers when it comes to writing questions regarding rhetorical devices. I did notice, though, that there are a few literary devices that I am not familiar with (for example: caesura) that we will hopefully be introduced to throughout the course. 

Overall, I scored a 30 out of 47 which is not terrible but is also no where near what is ideal. I would like to be receiving scores that put me at least at an 85% or above which means scoring somewhere in the low 40's rather than the low 30's. Although a 30 out of 47 is technically a passing grade, it is not a reflection of my intellectual level and is not where I would like to be. By the end of this course I hope to be scoring at least in the low 40's, if not higher. In order to do this I plan on improving my score by six points this trimester and then six more points by the end of second trimester. 

But in order to improve my score, I also need to improve my test taking skills by working on my weaknesses such as: identifying type of poem, expanding my vocabulary, paying closer attention while I am reading, and understanding metaphors more clearly. I did not mention the last two weaknesses above but I also struggle when it comes to staying focused while reading as well as fully comprehending the meaning behind extended metaphors. In order to eliminate my vocabulary issue, I plan on making it my mission to learn one new word a day and then using it throughout the day so that I get a full understanding of the meaning. The words can not be random words, however, they must be words found throughout AP literature that might appear on the AP test or other assignments throughout the trimester. Aside from that, I want to work on being able to stay focused while reading passages. I tend to get lost when I come across Old English language, Shakespeare, or writing that contains extended metaphors which then leads to confusion when I try to answer questions because I have no clue what I just read. According to chapter one of our literature text book, in order to be an effective reader you must "pay attention to what is going on inside your head". This is something I typically forget to do, letting my mind run rampant and then two minutes later realizing I have to reread the entire passage. In order to help fix this problem, I want to set a goal to read at least two texts that include either Old English language, Shakespeare, metaphors, or other difficult writing per week so that I can become more comfortable with this type of writing. 

Hopefully, by the end of this course I will be able to accomplish the previously mentioned goals and improve myself as both a student and a test taker. 

Blog #1: Justifying My Designs

In designing my blog, my main goal was to create a reflection of my personality so that the viewer would be able to get an idea of who I am as a person. I chose the "Watermark" design theme from the templates section and then personalized it by changing the colors, fonts, and overall layout. For colors, I chose to go with a blue and pink color scheme. According to color psychology guide Kendra Cherry, studies show that both blue and pink have a tendency to evoke moods of tranquility and serenity. Studies also show that blue has been known to create a productive atmosphere. These characteristics speak to my personality in that while I do like to have fun, I tend to be more introverted. I like to surround myself in calm settings where I feel I can be both comfortable and successful. Aside from the psychology behind the colors, they also happen to be my favorite colors. They have been my favorite colors since childhood and, therefore, remind me of much of my past. They bring back memories of clothing items, baby blankets, school supplies, and preschool crafts which is why I wanted to incorporate them in my blog.

Another way I tried to reflect my personality throughout my blog was through the typography I used. According to Carrie Cousins, fonts also have an impact on the overall mood. She says that certain fonts can create certain moods ranging anywhere from formal to warm to modern to even dramatic. For my blog, I chose to stick to just two different fonts. In the title of my blog I used a font that portrays a more light and informal mood whereas for the remainder of my blog I used a font that portrays a more traditional and formal mood. The two fonts express both sides of my personality, one being more fun and welcoming and the other more serious and reserved. Through these choices, I hope that my design portrays an accurate picture of my personality and creates a welcoming environment for all viewers.