1. Is writing important? Discussion
2. Writing Skills Questionnaire
3. Writers on writing (video clips)
4. In-class brainstorm about prompt. (see "A" below).
Upcoming -- Assignments for Fri/Mon:
--Read the article “Bird by Bird” by Ann Lamott (click link).
--Annotate the article with 5 or more agreements, disagreements, comments, or questions.
--Timed writing: Give yourself 20 to 30 minutes and write (at least) one page about something you have done or experienced that has had a significant effect on you as a person. Examples might include: meeting/knowing a certain person, living somewhere, moving, a challenge or competition, an illness or injury, a trip or a job. (The two assignments above will count as your first two "homework" grades.)
Assignment for Thurs/Fri.
A. Write a 1.2 page typed, double-spaced (apx. 300-word) biography of yourself as a writer that includes a description of your own writing process. Your response can be longer than the minimum, but it should not be shorter. Include any struggles you may experience and any strategies you do/could employ to help you with your writing. Bring the typed description of your writing process to class. I will collect this. (Include any prewriting.) (This will count as two homework grades).
B. Read pp. 1 - 8 in text (Concise Wadsworth Handbook) and be ready to discuss.
C. Read syllabus and be ready to ask questions, in particular about KVCC policies that may need to be modified for a high school setting.
Monday, August 31, 2020
Welcome to College Compositon aka Dual Enrollment KVCC English / English 101
This blog is a home base for College Composition. Visiting this page often can help you be successful.
Please bookmark this page on your laptop browser.
Reasons to visit this blog include:
- to complete class assignments
- for links for research and reading
- to get caught up in case you are behind or absent
- if you are confused and need more information
- if you want to challenge yourself and complete an honors assignment
- if you missed a class and want to make sure you are on the right track
- if you are interested in something we discussed in class and want to learn more
Tuesday, February 04, 2020
Monday, February 03, 2020
Wednesday, January 08, 2020
Poetry Explication Resources
Explicating Poetry from NKU
How to Get a 9 on Poetry Explication
Sample Explication
A list of poems and prompts is here in pdf format.
Monday, December 09, 2019
Poetry Sound Devices and Modern Music
Use of Alliteration, Consonance, and Assonance in Popular Music
"How Does Hamilton . . ."
"Consonance, Assonance, and Alliteration in Hip-Hop"
"Assonance, and the Art of Writing Lyrics"
Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homestyle Blues"
"How Does Hamilton . . ."
"Consonance, Assonance, and Alliteration in Hip-Hop"
"Assonance, and the Art of Writing Lyrics"
Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homestyle Blues"
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Lord of the Flies
Full text online:
Lord of the Flies is available as an online audiobook here.
Lord of the Flies is available as a word document here.
Songs Inspired by Lord of the Flies:
Iron Maiden, "Lord of the Flies" (lyrics)
U2, "Shadows and Tall Trees" (lyrics)
The Offspring "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" (lyrics)
Elton John, "Lord of the Flies" (video w/ lyrics)
Rage: Official Music Video: "Lord of the Flies" | Rage Lyrics
Lord of the Flies is available as an online audiobook here.
Lord of the Flies is available as a word document here.
Songs Inspired by Lord of the Flies:
Iron Maiden, "Lord of the Flies" (lyrics)
U2, "Shadows and Tall Trees" (lyrics)
The Offspring "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" (lyrics)
Elton John, "Lord of the Flies" (video w/ lyrics)
Rage: Official Music Video: "Lord of the Flies" | Rage Lyrics
Thursday, October 03, 2019
Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman,
--Write a "found poem" of 6 - 12 lines, using lines from up to page 37 in the reading. (The purpose is to look back over this section of the play, to find lines that have symbolic relevance, and to explore what may be potential themes of the play.) An example is below:
Goin' Off the Road (a found poem based on lines from Death of a Salesman)
The peonies would come out, and the daffodils
And then all of a sudden I'm goin' off the road
Bricks and windows, windows and bricks
You can't raise a carrot in the back yard
Life is a casting off
The mind is what counts
I see everything
I can't seem to -- keep my mind to it
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Death of a Salesman Resources
Death of a Salesman online (pdf format)
Death of a Salesman Notes & Terms
Death of a Salesman video w/ Dustin Hoffman & John Malkovich
Death of a Salesman: analysis of the play
--for more analysis, see also Arthur Miller commentary in Bedford text, pp. 1986 -1989.
Storyboard That (includes themes, motifs, and sample storyboards)
Towards the Examined Life --- Notes for Reading
Tragedy & the Common Man -- Arthur Miller
Oedipus & Willy Comparison Chart
--Write a "found poem" of 6 - 12 lines, using lines from up to page 37 in the reading. (The purpose is to look back over this section of the play, to find lines that have symbolic relevance, and to explore what may be potential themes of the play.) An example is below:
Goin' Off the Road (a found poem based on lines from Death of a Salesman)
The peonies would come out, and the daffodils
And then all of a sudden I'm goin' off the road
Bricks and windows, windows and bricks
You can't raise a carrot in the back yard
Life is a casting off
The mind is what counts
I see everything
I can't seem to -- keep my mind to it
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Death of a Salesman Resources
Death of a Salesman online (pdf format)
Death of a Salesman Notes & Terms
Death of a Salesman video w/ Dustin Hoffman & John Malkovich
Death of a Salesman: analysis of the play
--for more analysis, see also Arthur Miller commentary in Bedford text, pp. 1986 -1989.
Storyboard That (includes themes, motifs, and sample storyboards)
Towards the Examined Life --- Notes for Reading
Tragedy & the Common Man -- Arthur Miller
Oedipus & Willy Comparison Chart
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Oedipus Rex Resources
The Riddle of the Sphinx:
The Sphinx stopped travelers on the road to Thebes and posed them a riddle. If they answered wrong, they died. The hero Oedipus was asked the following question: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three at close of day?" Click here for the answer.
Oedipus Rex, Robert Fagles, translation Part 1
Oedipus Rex, Robert Fagles translation, Part 2 (begin on page 82)
Oedipus Tyrannus, modern translation
Greek Theatre (slideshow)
The Theater of Ancient Greece -- An Intro. to Oedipus Rex (slideshow)
The Story of Oedipus (Animated cartoon)
Discussion Questions
Tragedy Unit Overview & Expectations
The Sphinx stopped travelers on the road to Thebes and posed them a riddle. If they answered wrong, they died. The hero Oedipus was asked the following question: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three at close of day?" Click here for the answer.
Oedipus Rex, Robert Fagles, translation Part 1
Oedipus Rex, Robert Fagles translation, Part 2 (begin on page 82)
Oedipus Tyrannus, modern translation
Greek Theatre (slideshow)
The Theater of Ancient Greece -- An Intro. to Oedipus Rex (slideshow)
The Story of Oedipus (Animated cartoon)
Discussion Questions
Tragedy Unit Overview & Expectations
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
AP Lit. Terms Quiz
--Rime of the Ancient Mariner (text on ActivelyLearn)
--Rime of the Ancient Mariner w/ Gustave Dore illustrations
--Gustave Dore illustrations w/ text (larger size illustrations)
--Rime of the Ancient Mariner (alternate text 1)
--alternate Text 2 with Audio & Study Questions
--Brief Review: Rime of the Ancient Mariner (recommended)
--Dynamos Rime of the Ancient Mariner Themes incl. "Great Chain of Being"
--Related articles
Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Modern Culture
Rime of the Ancient Mariner & Pirates of the Caribbean
Iron Maiden, "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" lyrics and audio
temporal: 1. of or relating to time.
2.pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world; worldly: temporal joys.
3. enduring for a time only; temporary; transitory (opposed to eternal ).
liminal: 1. relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.
2. occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.
What does liminal mean to you? (short video)
Liminal Spaces/Crossings (video)
An article about modern liminal spaces is here.
--Rime of the Ancient Mariner (text on ActivelyLearn)
--Rime of the Ancient Mariner w/ Gustave Dore illustrations
--Gustave Dore illustrations w/ text (larger size illustrations)
--Rime of the Ancient Mariner (alternate text 1)
--alternate Text 2 with Audio & Study Questions
--Brief Review: Rime of the Ancient Mariner (recommended)
--Dynamos Rime of the Ancient Mariner Themes incl. "Great Chain of Being"
--Related articles
- "Just Breathe: A Story of Survival & Gratitude"
- "The Transformative Power of Gratitude"
- "2019: The Year for Gratitude"
Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Modern Culture
Rime of the Ancient Mariner & Pirates of the Caribbean
Iron Maiden, "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" lyrics and audio
Have you ever done something stupidly careless and known it was stupid at the time?
If you have, then you can relate to the narrator of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
allegory: a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. 2. a symbolical narrative: the allegory of Piers Plowman.
temporal: 1. of or relating to time.
2.pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world; worldly: temporal joys.
3. enduring for a time only; temporary; transitory (opposed to eternal ).
liminal: 1. relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.
2. occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.
What does liminal mean to you? (short video)
Liminal Spaces/Crossings (video)
An article about modern liminal spaces is here.
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
Things Fall Apart Resources

Things Fall Apart Reading Schedule
for Monday, Sept. 9, read up to page 86
Tuesday, p. 115
Wednesday, 142
Thursday, 167
Friday, 197
Monday, Sept. 16, end of book, page 209.
Things Fall Apart online
Chinua Achebe biography
Chinua Achebe on Nigeria & Africa 50 years later (video)
Premium Times Nigeria (Nigerian newspaper online)
The Guardian (Nigerian newspaper online)
William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming" (poem)
Gender Role Test (Take the test once for yourself. If you have time, take it again for Okonkwo).
-------------------------------------------------------
"Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world . . . "
--from Yeats, "The Second Coming"
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
First Readings
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Welcome to AP English Lit. & Comp!
About AP and About the Course:
The College Board: Advanced Placement English Literature & Composition
The College Board: Advanced Placement English Literature & Composition
Thursday, May 02, 2019
Listen Up! More on Persuasion
1. Appeals Activity & Discussion
2. Portfolio #3 Pre-write (Google Classroom)
3. Read text, pp. 88 - 106. (Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, and Writing an Argumentative Essay.) Submit 2 questions for a Kahoot!
Upcoming: Persuasion Kahoot! plus read sample paper in text, pp. 101-105.
Upcoming: Persuasion Kahoot! plus read sample paper in text, pp. 101-105.
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