What are one or two important things you have learned in English this year?
- ...standardized tests are evil. (You have learned well, grasshopper.)
- page layout (I shoot high.)
- Don't use Sparknotes. (Took you this long to learn that?)
- Don't have your phone out.
- How not to be vague.
- I can't write papers and conformity is bad.
- That you should always read so you can pass your tests.
- I have learned that first drafts are never good.
- I learned that if you write a paper in one period it's going to be terrible no matter what.
- Mr. Chaffee hates standardized testing. (Perhaps I harp on this too much...)
What was your favorite work we read this year and why?
- The Great Gatsby because it was a great book and I read the book and I don't read.
- My favorite was Lord of the Flies because I liked the topic of ethics and morality. Sadly, I think it's a rather realistic storyline.
- My favorite work was The Great Gatsby because it was interesting, unlike Ethan Frome, and did not use outdated English, looking at you The Scarlet Letter.
- I enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald because I had already watched the movie and after reading the book I realized how bad the movie was. (True story.)
What was your least favorite work and why?
- The Crucible was my least favorite because most of the characters were ignorant and that's a little too life-like for me.
- Ethan Frome. Frome wasn't poorly written, but it felt insignificant. The book didn't seem to hold too much depth relative to our other novels. Frome seems like nothing more than petty people acting foolishly. (Take that, Edith Wharton! Though isn't life often petty people acting foolishly?)
What did you like most about English?
- Mr. Chaffee's sarcasm. (See, now I can't tell if that is sarcasm.)
- Mr. Chaffee's sarcasm. (Still can't tell.)
- lisening to your storys about your life. (Indeed I cut an adventurous swath through existence.)
What did you like the least about English?
- The homework, quizzes, and essays. (So, school work.)
- I didn't like the quizzes. I thought some of the quizzes were too deep.
On a scale of one to ten, how hard was this class?
- 8 - actually had to try to get good grades.
On a scale of one to ten, how much effort did you put into school this year? Explain.
- I put about an 8, I knew this was a big year for scholarships and such. (Ah yes, scholarships; the true purpose of "learning.")
Do you have any suggestions to make this class better?
- Take more phones. (I do my best, really.)
- (A college English student) The only improvement I would suggest is instead of doing only 1 rough draft in 2nd semester we should have had to have done one for each paper because it helps improve our grades. (Second semester I set a rough draft due date for every paper; they are only required to do one rough draft, but they may submit a rough draft for each paper. If you don't turn one in...)
- Grade essays a little easier. We're not all destined for getting a Master's in English. (But I want you to write well enough to get a Bachelor's in something.)
Do you think you became a better writer this year?
- Yes, learning that you can write 12 rough drafts and still not have a perfect answer. There's always room for explanations and examples.
- Yes I think I have because there is less green on my paper.
- Yes... I picture what Mr. Chaffee will write awkward under and try to change it before I turn it in.
(College English only) Of the six papers... which was the hardest to write and why?
- The hardest paper to write was the compare / contrast paper mainly because it was the first one and I didn't know what Mr. Chaffee was looking for. (I was looking for a compare / contrast paper, the idea of which we went over in some detail in class.)
(College English only) Which of the six papers did you enjoy writing the most and why?
- I enjoyed writing the persuasive paper the most because I could write about something I was passionate about. (You got to pick the topic for all six papers...)
(Seniors only) When did your senioritis set in?
- The last month-ish.
- Somewhere near the beginning of May.
- My senioritis set in around May 10th at 7:30 am, so suddenly that it was a shock, not joking. *date and time are approximate.
- sophomore year
- Halfway through the year, when I decided I'm done with high school and all the crap that goes with it.
"Bonus:" Is there anything else you'd like to say on any topic whatsoever?
- Congrats on teaching (a certain student) to pronounce "library."
- I like when Mr. Chaffee gets off task and lectures us on his opinion. (I lecture you on my conclusions, reached through Reason, not my opinions.)
- Can a woodchuck actually chuck wood? like I've been asking myself this for years.
- I didn't enjoy the course but i did enjoy the class. (I'll take what I can get.)
- The comments on the rough drafts were really helpful. (Just glad she didn't say "mean.")
See you in the fall.
J
