AP Language and Composition Explores Transcendentalist Texts
AP Language and Composition students have been studying Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Nature,” presenting group slideshows including their analyses of Emerson’s claims and their own writing in imitation of his intricate and poetic descriptions of nature. Sometimes we forget to find beauty in the cold depths of winter, but these slides (see below) reveal students’ appreciation of this season.
“Not the sun or summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ms. Hagge also asked students to design their own argument essay prompts in response to quotes by Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller. While workshopping these prompts, we accepted the invitation from Abbie Castriotta to hold class in the sunny and warm space of Arnie’s Greenhouse. Surrounded by humid air, plant life and earthy aromas, we passed around prompts asking for our opinions on a variety of Transcendentalist quotes. Topics included: the value of “returning to reason and faith” in nature, the importance of self-reliance, the role of nonconformity in society, and the responsibility to share knowledge.
Aleks Cirovic and Sophia Rosenbach
Lia Gugliotta
Priscilla Richardson
Kyler Eaton