This course has had two major points that have stuck in my head, those being DIDLS and how to write a strong thesis. Being an insomniac makes analyzing literature and constructing responses to it difficult, especially in the morning. The technique of DIDLS provides a step by step process that is easily remembered, which I can use even after 2 or 3 days without sleep. Constructing a strong thesis can also be a challenge when one is not able to think clearly, but the way we were taught to analyze the prompt provides an initial blueprint that is immensely helpful.
DIDLS and I have had a complicated relationship so far, even with the accolades I gave it in the previous paragraph. Yes is aids me in my tired hazes and yes it inspired the "Teach Me How to Dougie" parody "Instruct me how to DIDLS", but it has had some negative contributions. In AP lit we are delving deeper into the parts that make up DIDLS, the most annoying for me has been diction. Usually when a lit teacher assigns some form of diction assignment, I take the book, put it on my dartboard and chuck a few at it, then make things up about the words the darts hit. Now with essays hinging on a solid explanation behind the words and not some bull I made up in the 7 minutes before 3rd hour, I'm forced to look at the text with an exponentially higher amount of effort.
I come from the group of students who took AP world. Now in this class we wrote multiple essays, which resulted in multiple thesis statements, unfortunately these were all terrible run on lists of facts. Ever since then I have relied on Lit teachers basically holding my hand into writing a good thesis. The biggest challenge for me in this class will be getting to a point where I can condense all of my thoughts into one clear concise statement.
Dude,
ReplyDeletethis is quite awesome in a way, but awful... but I can totally see you throwing darts at books though.
First of all I have to say I don't know how to comment on this.
Second, I think this "Course Response" sounded a little like you complaining, with a little "yay DIDLS" at the beginning
Diction isn't that hard to find, you just got to read the sentence a couple times, find words that can have multiple means and figure out why the author chose one word over the other. :]
Don't give up man!
Great sense of humor. Coming from 3rd hour Sholla holla I understand what you mean. One thing that would be good to include in this is poetic techniques and what you should expect out of thesis: argument and the whole prompt being answered. Argument or opinionated thesis is probably the greatest change from AP world and AP lit.
ReplyDeleteHaha this whole response made me laugh. I agree that DIDLS helps give me some solid techniques to always look for when analyzing a work. I also took AP world, and agree that the theses are very different. Although, AP world essays in their entirety were basically lists of facts. I suggest you try to get some sleep and perhaps the essay writing will come easier :)
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