Responses to Course Materials - #2

First of all, we learned a lot this week. From the last two components of DIDLS to Edward Albee’s The American Dream there’s a lot of material we covered this week. Although it’s a lot of material I think it’s not exactly impossible to understand and use all we have learned.

First we began to explore the last two components of DIDLS: language and syntax. I think I already had a pretty good understanding of the use of language to enhance the meaning of a work but syntax was almost a new concept. I was not familiar on how authors use syntax to create various effects and moods. The practice sheets really helped me understand syntax by giving me different passages to analyze that all had different pieces of syntax from each other. I think that the group discussion also helped further my understanding of the technique.

The second thing that I remember from this week was the Theater of the Absurd. I enjoyed reading on the history of comedy although I did not know the five different types of theories that adhere to the different aspects of humor and how they can be combined to create different effects. The most difficult aspect for me was to find humor in something that seemed humorless. However, after learning the five theories I am able to spot humor and analyze it complexity easily.

Reading The American Dream was fun but rather bizarre experience. While I did not particularly enjoy the plot I was pleased when I could spot important meaning in the play using what we learned from DIDLS. I liked the intricate details Ms. Holmes explained throughout the play which made the play a lot easier to read and understand.

Once again, I struggled with writing the essays even dividing it up into the thesis, and main idea sentences. Although I was able to come up with some good arguments for our group, I felt that they picked up a lot of details I didn’t think of before. While it was good practice looking at actual essay prompts for the AP exam, I think there is so much more I can learn and improve on. This week I learned that creating a good argument is very important, but supporting it is even more important. This is a skill I can never stop getting better at and I will continue to work on this skill.