Link:
http://choprariddhicatcherintherye.blogspot.com/
Final Personal Reflection
Although this project was oftentimes stressful, it provided me with valuable preparation for the AP exam. I chose to analyze J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and its portrayal of adolescence in various aspects. I enjoyed the book immensely because of its ability to attract any type of audience through its relatable portrayal of society, especially in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When preparing my materials, I mostly followed the order given in the guidelines. Although I tried my best to meet all due dates, I was sometimes not able to succeed, resulting in hectic attempts to catch up. Once my materials were completely prepared, I felt confident in both my writing and presentation. I was not nervous prior to presenting because I was secure in my knowledge of the novel, author, and theme and was certain that this would easily guide me. Indeed, my expectation proved me correct and I performed exceptionally well.
As mentioned previously, I may have been better able to apply my knowledge of literature into the research paper and the two essays had I been more efficient in managing my time. Additionally, I believe I did not analyze the two poems as well as I intended. Even when presenting to the class, I merely summarized the poems and avoided any analysis until relating them to my novel. While my introductory statistic was powerful, I believe I did not deliver it with enough authority to accentuate its meaning to the audience, as they seemed relatively unaffected by the morbid fact. A few other students used comic means to engage the audience and thus elicited a more positive response. There is not much I would alter if given the chance to re-do this project. I was proud of my work and grade that I received and believed that it accurately reflected my commitment towards this project. To prepare for the AP exam, I find the multiple choice questions on others’ blogs helpful to practice both surface-level and deep analysis of prose and poetry. My extensive knowledge of The Catcher in the Rye now allows me to be fully educated on one particular theme and novel should I choose to use this for my open question essay. Before the exam, however, I will take a practice multiple choice test and review the frequent terms and concepts that may help me on the essay sections.
