How Blogs Fix Sticky Situations in AP English

A feeding frenzy of AP English students begins as the discussion starts and we all almost literally envision the points out in the big, open room and all try to grab them at once. Everyone knows the feeling of a new topic shooting out into the circle and taking over just as you think of a really great point for the last one. Unfortuanetly, the moment passes and now your argument has little or no relevance to the conversation, and our determination not to embody “the one” (who simply says random quotes just for a grade) takes over, and we must sit back and accept our defeat. Everyone also knows the feeling of sitting up straighter in your chair and getting a little nervous as you decide to enter the main ring of feeders because a great idea pops into your head that simply must be heard. Basically, a continual overlap of interruptions from eager over-achievers became of the graded discussions that used to define our English lives.
Then the blog project came along. 

Your own personal page created so that every idea that missed that crucial moment of relevance in discussion can finally come forward and become heard. Every angry, disagreeing thought that you may feel too shy to say in class (because Henry will then disagree with you of course) can finally become explained. Every creative tie from your life to English class can finally become expressed in an interesting way without judgment.

I think that this changed us. 

A group of AP English students begin a class discussion and as the discussion starts, they all choose to ignore the points they envision in the middle of the big, open room and instead decide to share them and take turns speaking. The occasional moment of thinking of a great idea that then becomes rendered irrelevant by a topic shift easily passes with the reassuring thought; “I can just blog about it”. The students still sit up straight in their chairs as a heated point arises, but this time the student who runs out of time to say their opinion or feels too much a minority on the topic, easily shrugs it off with another, “I can just blog about it”. The discussions still seem intelligent and passionate, just simply more relaxed and laid back as everyone depicts more mature and calm AP English Students.

Thanks blogs.

 I found this funny cartoon online and decided to share it because it humorously shows the opportunities blogging has opened up for us. Also, I became really excited when I realized we basically are only one step away from becoming famous bloggers! Yes.  So even if you do not believe that we have changed as a result of the blog project...at least we have that going for us.