Having been writing articles for quite some time now, I think I have a pretty good idea of your taste in articles. If you disagree, view this article 5 times to confirm (jokes!). But, I think you have no choice but to admit that you will be enjoying this one quite a lot especially for those of you AP kids. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you yet another spectacular interview with our one(s) and only(s) co-editors in chief, Faith and Titus! They will tell you all you ever need to know about AP English, a rather dichotomous (if you get the reference you’re a real one) course in high school that will end up being paradoxically lovable for some. If for some reason you disagree again, you know the drill. Here is what Faith and Titus, AP English geniuses (appeal to logos), have to tell you:
*Disclaimer: prepare yourself for a plethora of English puns; I can’t help my post-midnight flow of consciousness.
As a professional mind-reader, I automatically know you want to hear about the debate that has been circulating among rising seniors and potential grade 10 students. So, let’s save the best for first instead: what is up with AP Research?
Titus: “I haven’t personally taken AP research, but the AP English courses are not as scary as people make them out to be. I was able to learn so much so if you’re on the fence between taking regular and AP English classes, I definitely recommend you to be ambitious and take the AP class!”
You heard it! The poor class won’t bite (personification). Also a little sidenote: Mr. Obeck and Mr. Fuller are amazing teachers––coming from someone who has had them––and they are so incredibly considerate and understanding. All AP teachers are great, so don’t get tricked by the name “AP”. Take this with a grain of salt, though, I personally enjoy research (I will update next year).
But, almost all of us––not all because we do not make sweeping generalizations as educated individuals––think of A- when we hear the word “English”. So, as Spartans with high academic standards, you might visualize a graph of your grades undergoing an exponential decay if you take AP English, but is it really like that?
Faith: “ I would say that one's English performance will steadily improve if they choose the AP route. AP courses are more rigorous by nature, and taking on such a challenge will surely finetune your writing skills! You’ll also be surrounded by more academically competitive students, which will facilitate your growth.”
Now, only the heavens know what awaits you in regular English (comedic relief), and this was a joke, but when someone says they are an AP English student, think about the student, not the grade. You will most likely think of a smart individual––of course my logic might be faulty, but just trying to calm you down with the typical Spartan logic.
AP English, as both Faith and Titus agree, is a very rewarding course. Analyzing literature, for example, requires tricks and skills that you gain along the way, so Faith and Titus want to speak on their rewarding takeaways from it:
Titus: “I think that reading–whether that be a book of literary merit or not–has played a huge role in improving my overall English abilities; reading has helped me improve my abilities to both understand or analyze a piece of literature, so I highly recommend anyone looking to improve their English to read! I also think that continually practicing analyzing and writing essays–especially in a course like AP Language and Literature–definitely helps you to both refine and improve your English skills.”
Faith: “I absolutely agree! I’m a big proponent of reading, as it provides lifelong benefits such as a sophisticated vocabulary. Familiarizing yourself with various literary and figurative devices, as well as practicing literary analysis will definitely take your analytical skills up a notch too!”
So, I think the person reading this article might need to use some more appeal to logos. How would you guys rate your English courses on a scale of 1-10? (they both took AP Literature 12 and AP Language 12)
Faith: “I would rate my AP English experience a 9.5/10! I took AP Language and AP Literature with Mr. Beetlestone and Ms. Armstrong, respectively. I learned about many new literary devices–I had no idea what a synecdoche was before I took AP Literature! The numerous in-class essays also taught me how to work under a time constraint, and has made me a much more efficient writer.”
Titus: “10/10! This year I took AP Language and Literature. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but as the year went on I learned so much from both Mr. Beetlestone and Ms. Armstrong; whether it be persuasive essays, analyzing the Great Gatsby, or even reading poetry, they were both phenomenal teachers. I also was able to meet so many new amazing people that were also similarly interested in English like me. I highly recommend anyone who is interested in the course to take it!!”
Coming from a third party, I can assure you these numbers are quite promising and valid. But, I can still hear a faint word saying: “But, English is subjective.” To be honest, I do not have a response to this statement, hence why I am not the person being interviewed. Faith, what do you guys have to say about this?
“I think that English is subjective to an extent. Like any form of art, literature is subject to the reader’s interpretation, making it subjective. However, certain aspects of English, such as grammar and syntax, are much more rigid, so getting a good grasp over the basics is essential to becoming a good writer.”
So, if you have already been convinced to take AP English (this is not sponsored by the college board), which I am sure you have been (right? If not, reload this page 5 times), here is a little hint. Let’s just say you might have to write about a novel or piece of literature that you have previously read on the AP Literature exam, so you could use some advice on a solid piece of literature to read in order to prepare for that grand moment. In fact, both Faith and Titus have something to share with you on this:
T: “Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a book that I read a few years ago that has still stuck with me to this day. The book tells the story of Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who takes part in an experimental procedure aimed at increasing intelligence. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. The novel looks at so many different ideas: from mental disabilities to human nature, from love to ignorance. It also makes you feel so many compelling emotions: frustration, exasperation, hope, thankfulness, just to name a few. I’ve also recently started reading a book called Crying in H Mart which is a memoir about a Korean-American daughter losing her mother and growing up; the book is so relatable and personal that I want to mention it here as well!”
Faith: “Flowers for Algernon is one of my favorites as well! Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut has stuck with me throughout the years. Its plot revolves around Billy Pilgrim, an American soldier, whose PTSD has given him time traveling abilities. The story has definitely taught me to be less anxious and to embrace a more serene outlook on life.”
I know what you are thinking; you are here for the destination and want to ditch the ride. Why are you still thinking about what grade you are going to get? It’s okay though, here at the Sentinel Sun, we give the people what they want. Faith and Titus, what range of grades would you say is relatively outstanding in AP English?
Titus: “I would consider anything above 90 to be outstanding; however, different people have different ideas of what an “outstanding” grade is–for example, Faith probably thinks 95 is an “ok” grade.”
Faith: “Actually, I think anything above 90 in an AP English course is amazing.”
We had some feud happening, so we had to return for a commercial break. But, you rock if you get high 90s in English! Here is an idea: you should go on to take AP English! But, we are not yet done. There is always room for improving your English even if you are getting high grades. They say math requires practice, but oh, have you been lied to if you thought English skills come out of thin air. Here are some tips Titus wants to share with you:
“Read! Read! Read! Throughout my high school life, I’ve also, whenever possible, done creative writing. I think this forced me to improve my overall writing skills; I also think that this has allowed me to develop my critical and analytical skills when writing for school. If not creative writing, I’m sure any type of writing–whether that be writing in your journal, creating a news article, or working on poetry–will help.”
But if you zoom back a bit and look at this article from a different perspective, you would not be blessed with all of these tips if it wasn’t for the Sentinel Sun. As the left wing (or right, doesn’t matter) of the Sentinel Sun and a fellow writer for many years, here are some takeaways Titus has had from your one and only school newspaper:
“To put yourself out there! I wouldn’t have had the opportunities and experiences that I’ve had with the Sentinel Sun if it wasn’t for me talking to Mr. Beetlestone for writing opportunities.”
And to end on a good note, both Faith and Titus want to leave their legacy in a Sentinel Sun article. You didn’t think I was going to end without appealing to your pathos, right?
Faith: “Not to sound like a broken record, but reading is such a rewarding endeavor! Additionally, taking the time to brush up on basics such as punctuation and citation can prove worthwhile. Knowing how to use a semicolon can greatly elevate your writing!”
Titus: “This is also a bit cliché, but take time to make friends and enjoy your school life! Life is about more than just cumbersome schoolwork!”
Take a step back and think about the beautiful integration of English puns throughout this article, all of which I learned thanks to Mr. Beetlestone (You can learn them too if you take AP English)! As cheesy as it may be, AP English is such a valuable course, and taking it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. If you needed a sign today to sign up for that AP English course, well there you have it. But, of course, this was more than just a sign (6 whole pages of beauty to bless your soul).
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