Response to Course Material #1

     Ever since the first day of school, we have been going in depth on how to really read literature in order to understand every aspect of it. In every other class I've been taught to look further into literature, but the acronym DIDLS really helped me remember what exactly I should be looking for every time I read (diction, imagery, details, language, and syntax). This acronym has already made it easier to analyze pieces. At first when I read the short story "The Way We Were" by David Sedaris, I was unsure on the overall meaning of the story. Then, after I applied DIDLS to this piece, I was able to see what Sedaris was saying all along whether it be in the length of his sentences or the choice of his words. After I realized what a great tool DIDLS is, I had the urge to reread a few of my favorite books to analyze all of their hidden meanings just in case I had missed something! 

     Another thing that I have found really helpful in preparation for the AP test this spring, is how to write both a well structured introduction and thesis. All throughout my career as a student I have been taught that an introduction should be five sentences long, and I have always struggled finding enough to say in that first paragraph. You can imagine my relief when I learned that a good introduction paragraph is short and to the point containing only three sentences, a connection to the real world, a connection to the book, and a thesis. Writing these introductions became a little easier when we began discussing how to write a thesis. Writing a thesis has never been a strong point for me. I learned these past few weeks that a thesis should give the audience a general idea of what my essay is about, but most importantly that it should ALWAYS answer the prompt. Although there is still tons of room for improvement, I am one step closer to tackling the challenge of writing a thesis. I have always thought of myself as a strong reader and writer, but after these first few weeks I have realized there is a lot I do not know, and I am excited for what I have been missing out on after all these years.