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Everyone argued for their books very well today. I'm worried about my group (Lord of the Flies) because I feel like a lot of people already have their minds made up. I definitely see the value in The Great Gatsby, but I feel like it's less relevant to the average AP Lit student because class struggle usually isn't that big a deal to teens who are fortunate enough to be in challenging classes. I also felt like it was a little slow. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
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Tyler M
5/23/2011 11:58:01 am
I really do enjoy a majority of the selected novels, but I honestly hope that our group (Lord of the Flies) or Frankenstein wins. I wasn't surprised to see The Great Gatsby voted out, as its language is a bit cloudy and its aristocratic themes are quite far-removed from most AP Lit students.
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Becca M
5/23/2011 12:07:35 pm
I agree with Erica, actually. A lot of the books seem like they can fit into the average AP Lit student's life, but Gatsby doesn't seem so applicable. It's an interesting book, sure, but I feel like the issues addressed in the other books are more important than the division of old and new money. I agree with the decision made today in class, and look forward to see which book lasts until the end.
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Lauren B
5/23/2011 12:38:05 pm
I'm actually fairly surprised Lord of the Flies isn't more popular among the other groups. I'm hoping it comes in second, only after Huck Finn, of course. I feel like its message that man is inherently evil is incredibly important, especially for AP English students, in understanding what drives people to do wrong. It alsp, includes each of the Seven Deadly Sins, so the book is applicable to nearly any situation; most (if not all) of the other novels seem to focus on only a couple of these major sins. I remember loving the book when I read it a few years ago, and I really want to see it do well in this.
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Liesel
5/23/2011 01:12:24 pm
I thought that the discussion was rocky but it was a good start. I think the class made a good decision and I agree with others that it seems that everyone has their mind made up. I am looking forward to see how the rest of the discussion goes.
The books that all the groups have chosen all appeal to me. There is something worth learning in each. Though, I would like a chance to show off more to my book The Lord of the Flies more because I feel we couldn't get to any of the better parts to it. Though if we do get voted off next turn.... (I don't want to think about it)... I think either Huck Finn or Frankenstien would be my next pick.
Oh well, lets see what happens in round two!
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Alyson
5/24/2011 12:20:44 am
I predict that The Lord of the Flies will be voted off today. Like Gatsby, it was not a popular book among students though it's themes are applicable. I understand others' statements that Gatsby's theme of class and money differences is not very applicable to AP Lit students. But my group members and I were more interested in Fitzgerald's portrayal of a man in pursuit of the American Dream as well as his view on the disappointment of holding onto dreams in general.
I hope today to hear more from Frankenstein - it was not mentioned much yesterday. Though time was quite limiting!!
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Erica D
5/24/2011 01:12:11 pm
Although we were voted out, I would like to congratulate my group for arguing well in spite of our low rank in the competition at the end of class yesterday. I'm sorry I mispoke at one point.
At this point I have to say my support is behind Huck Finn because of the enduring relevance of the relationship between Jim and Huck. Jim was the character that stood out the most to me because of his heart-warming kindness despite the hardships he faced. Also, Huck is, in a sense, what every child wants to be: adventurous, free, and courageous. He too has faced hardships, such as his relationship with his father, but the coupling of sympathy and awe the reader feels for Huck is truly outstanding. This book is filled with drama, humor, and emotion in general... Wow, it's kind of like a 19th century Forrest Gump, don't you think? (But definitely more influential.)
I'm still a little bummed out that our group was voted out, but it was inevitable due to our inability to express the strengths of this book. I really wanted to point out that this book is great for learning symbols and themes to a beginning AP student since it is so loaded with them. Plus, the characters gave it a distinct feeling of a story while teaching probably the greatest lesson one can learn: humans are as a majority corrupt, and only certain individuals can rise above it.
Whew, now that I've gotten that off my chest, I'm interested in which book will get to the top. To me, it does not seem nearly as clear as to who will win because each has a great advantage, yet a great disadvantage. Dorian Gray - covers many themes, our own flaws will haunt us, but fails in comparison to the richness in text of Frankenstien. Yet Frankenstien can get to dull to Huck Finn, which is an amazing story as Erica has said, but I find that it resonates more with the american spirit than to the literary mind.
Further discussion is needed for judgement.
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Jon
5/25/2011 12:00:28 am
Well, im my opinion the real problem with the whole contest is that people are being collectively voted out by which group poses the most threat to the others *cough Paul's Group cough* .
Also, the attempts to change other people's minds about the vote, seems to be very inneffective because people have made up their minds beforehand.
I GUARANTEE Dorian is Gone Next.
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Taylor C
5/25/2011 12:36:12 am
I feel that to some extent there has to be much thinking about the contested books outside of class because of the much limited discussion time, and it is because of this need to think of the challenging books outside of class that people come to class with decisions on which book is to go away in their mind. Of course the discussions can sway people's minds--that is their purpose--but the limited discussion time greatly takes away from the ability that a group can sway the minds of those who are already against them.
The arguments are all great in terms of strength, but when hopping among five groups in a shortened class period, trying to argue these points and change minds is much less effective than if each group would have more time to change minds before a vote shows up to knock someone's group out. It seems to me that right when the discussion picks up and people start really making their deeper and more important points, we start voting, and stopping those points from influencing people to the best of their ability.
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Alyson
5/25/2011 09:57:39 am
I must admit, I went in today planning to vote off Dorian first. But I was glad that they got a chance to defend a little more first. What most put me off about Dorian was the supernatural element of his immortality.
But as for Huck and Frankenstein, I was ready to be swayed either way. Just when I had made up my mind to go for Huck, I ended up going for Frankenstein because of the last few minutes:
-Ms. Woodson asked what book we would give/read to this mysterious person that we love. After most people argued in support for Huck, Paul swayed me with his comment about how he would want to give this person a book that causes one to question, and questioning shapes a person's way of thinking and view of life. And of the two, he argued (and I agreed) that Frankenstein did that more.
-Amir said something about Frankenstein dealing with racism at a more universal level than Huck. The Huck group didn't really have a reply for that...
So congratulations Frankenstein group! I must say, though I am a big fan of Frankenstein, I am surprised that it won. Frankenstein seems like such a dark, gushy, and multi-tiered story of human nature - one that many did not like. But I guess that just shows that human nature is about as universal as it gets. (I know Amir - that was trite wasn't it?)
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