Unit 1- Assignment Question Reflection

To be quite honest, there was a great deal of speculation upon arriving into AP English Language and Composition. Particularly when Mr. Gabriele dived into the concept of rhetoric and all seemingly abstract ideas, I am certain I was not the only person who felt apprehensive about the upcoming year. For the first couple days and maybe even weeks, my main confusion and concern surrounded around what exactly rhetoric was. However, I felt that my "saving grace" came with the reading of Tim O'Brien's "How to Tell a True War Story." I felt that it was a powerful piece, but even more so because the certain rhetorical elements and styles of arrangement that Mr. Gabriele had been discussing for a time finally crystallized in my mind. For example, use of specifically short sentences, the arrangement of definition, and the activity surrounding the reading involving the writing of information on those poster sheets really assisted and finally put together my understanding of rhetoric. The climax of this came when the writing of the in-class essay came. Although most students would dislike such assignments, I surprised myself during the process. Because a timed writing forced me to think purely about what I absolutely understood... Describing the differences in rhetoric was a test for myself and a surprise as to what I knew: and I finally understood rhetoric!