Bobbie J. Serensky: File Clerk Extraordinaire

During my college years, I worked as a file clerk for a steel company.  In the course of those four years of employment, I often struggled with the seeming futility of my position.  Each day, I filed hundreds of papers:  I could sort, alphabetize, and file more efficiently than any other file clerk before me.  At least, so my superiors said.  But as my nimble paws quickly mauled their way through the mounds of paperwork, I could not help but to ponder the ultimate worth of my work.  Sure, other workers could quickly find paperwork, but they could have just as easily looked the information up on their computers.  It seemed to me, though, that they resisted this newfangled technology.  As such, I often thought about teaching them a lesson:  What would happen if I threw out all the paperwork?  Could they still do their jobs?  Could the company still survive?  Did the success of this company actually rest on my shoulders?  These thoughts raced through my brain as I sat on a stool much like the one Ignatius uses.  Hopefully, though, I did not look "like an eggplant balanced atop a thumbtack" (84).  But in my defense, those step stools do not provide much surface area.  Ultimately, although I did have wild fantasies of "pick[ing] up the stack of still unfiled material, and thr[owing] it into the wastebasket," I never did (89).  I just did not have it in me to buck the system and potentially destroy the company.  Overall, I came to see that perhaps the job had a tinge of futility, but in the end, it taught me resilience and dedication.  Most importantly, though, it also afforded me time to create amazingly impressive pieces of writing that I constructed in my head while filing.  As many of your blogs suggested, it seems that we do all have a bit Ignatius J. Reilly we can identify with.

Thoughts for My Goon Squad

To begin, I have enjoyed reading your blog posts.  Whether your chosen novels have inspired you or left you unfulfilled, I do know this for certain:  your growth as readers, writers, and thinkers continues!  Yeah!

In the spirit of looking on the bright side, we will not only blog about your next novel, but also get to discuss it IN PERSON!  Come on.... you feel the excitement, don't you?

As I currently make my way through A Visit from the Goon Squad, I can honestly say that I definitely look forward to hearing your thoughts as we "go all AP English on it."  Keeping that in mind, I have some advice:

1.  You need to have read this book in its entirety and to have posted at least two of the three required blog entries for class on Friday, August 26.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AUGUST 25 to read this book.  NOT WISE.

2.  The amazingly eloquent prose and complicated structure of the book needs your UTMOST ATTENTION.  It will behoove you to annotate like a professional.  Our work on this text will match its eloquence and complicated nature, so you need to make sure you give yourself the chance to let your brilliance shine.

3.  Let's face it:  No one wants summer to end.  BUT, we have each other's fine company and our first terrific book to look forward to.  Please approach it with a positive, intellectual mindframe.

Hence, the Title of My Blog

Just a quick note to say


GREAT JOB ON YOUR AP EXAM!!!!!


(I'm sure by now you understand the implications of my exclamation point use.)

The Newest Teacher at Hogwarts

Time sure does fly, does it not?

Already, June 21.  Already, only nine days left to complete your first books.  Already, most people procrastinating.

However, those of you who have already written have done quite well!  I would advise, though, to use literary devices when MOST applicable.  Make sure you include enough of your own opinions and thoughts in regards to the questions from your packet.  I do not want you to sound like terms machines.

Keep reading!  Soon, I will find myself on the beach and visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 

I may never come back if Harry asks me to stay.

Happy reading and writing!

The First to Post = No Big Surprise

Today reaffirmed what we have always known:  my awesome English skills have no limits.

At the first session of scoring of your AP Exam, the Table Leader said to me several times, "You're doing a great job!"

So, say hello to the table's teacher's pet:  ME!

At any rate, I will score an absurd number of responses to question three from your exam-- the Thomas Paine argument question.

So far, so good.

Oh, and the first five students to post a legitimate comment to this post will receive two bonus points on their summer reading blog assignment... SO GENEROUS!

Our Journey Begins!

Blog URL’s

AP English 12

Directions.  Sign up as a follower of each person’s blog.  Use “.blogspot.com” to complete each URL.

Period 1

Connor Bargar: connorbargar

Anna Benson:  annaebenson

Carrie Brunken:  carriebrunken

Elaine Cashy:  elainecashy

Ted Cogan:  theocogan

Anthony DeCamillo:  anthonydecamillo

Chris Gajewski:  christophergajewski

John Grady:  johnmgrady

Leslie Hoye:  lesliehoye

Olivia Kuenzi: oekuenzi

Sara Kushious:  sarakushious

Casey Lower:  caseylower

Brooke McEntee: brookebmcentee

Madeleine O’Neil:  madeleineoneil

Blake Schach:  blakeschach

Period 5

Claire Anderson:  claireanderson12

Jen Andrews:  jenandrews2

Ali Arnold:  aliennaarnold

Mason Baldridge:   masonbaldridge

Dani Boucher:  daniboucher

Natalie Davis:  natalie--davis

Everett Dishong: everettdishong

Annie Flesher: elizabethaflesher

Colin Groneman:  colingroneman

Alex Hallwachs:  alexjhallwachs

Lauren Isaacson:  laurenisaacson

Elise Manchester:  elisedmanchester

Shelby Sooy:  shelbysooy

Virginia Turner: virginiaturner

Emily Van Wagoner:  emilyvanwagoner

Victoria Von Saucken:  victoriavonsaucken

Kelli Wanamaker:  kellimwanamaker