[TA] I Am No Longer The Young Grasshopper

Dear future AP Language students,

You are about to embark on an entirely new experience.  It's no trip to Europe or skydiving adventure, but you are about to learn more than you ever thought you could without even really realizing it.  Here are a few compacted pieces of advice that I give you as an experienced AP Lang student.  Hopefully, these tips will be an aid in helping you learn as much as I did this year, if not more.

1. Read the books.  They're all really good (maybe not so much The Awakening, but it has some merit to it), so just take some time to read them carefully and make connections to them.  I never enjoyed nonfiction books before this year, but the memoirs and stories we read showed me a new kind of reading experience that I am so glad I have opened up to.  Also, surprise reading quizzes seem to happen at the least convenient of times, so always be prepared.  
2. Do research.  So many class discussions are improved by those who can bring in outside information on a topic that they've taken the time to look into.  The gender studies unit was made thrice as profound as it was probably intended to be, just because I spent a half hour or so every night exposing myself to opinions and media related to the topic at hand.  Even if you don't have the time or materials to research the themes you discuss in class, never be afraid to bring up a connection you might have on a personal level; these points are always unique and often better than anything you can find on Google.
3. Let the class change you.  AP Lang, more than any class I've ever taken (maybe besides 7th grade history), has changed me in incredibly profound ways.  You'd think that an English class would only change your understanding of grammar and essay writing, but AP Lang changed my understanding of the world.  Looking back on a year ago, there were so many topics that I was so impartial towards, not willing to take a firm stance one way or another.  Now, I am firm in so many of my beliefs, just due to AP Lang's way of getting me to consider all perspectives, causes and effects of so many social issues, then giving me the tools to funnel everything down into one steadfast opinion.  Topics such as torture, the death penalty, affirmative action, race colorblindness, feminism, welfare, and the deserving of pity are ones that I was rather lukewarm towards before.  I now know how to think about these concepts, address all counterarguments, and fight to the death in debates.  I've grown as a person, I'm absolutely sure of it.  I can only hope I have classes like this in the future that will enlighten me beyond the classroom and allow me to discover the values that make me who I am.
4. Lower your expectations.  The best way to enjoy ANYTHING, really, is to assume the worst while throwing yourself into.  Once you've narrowed your hopes and dreams for the class to a small sliver of excitement, sit back and let it all blow your mind.
5. Ms. Pyle rocks, so treat her with respect and no spitballs.  Don't even bother trying to make up an excuse for not doing your work.  Either it's done or it's not.  You're a big kid; you're your own boss now.  Ms. Pyle just points you in the right direction and lets you mess yourself up as much as you want from that point.

There you have it-- five very important words of advice for those of you who are taking AP Language next year.  I hope you learn as much as I did! Best of luck!