Writing formats

High school students are expected to write in many different formats. A student who excels at writing in one format may struggle writing in another format. 

There are different writing formats for different exams like the HSPAs, AP exams, and the SAT writing section. The format of writing on the HSPA is the typical five paragraph essay that students are taught since fourth or fifth grade. The writing format on AP exams is more lenient but tends to be around 4 paragraphs with a short, effective introduction. I honestly have not gotten a grasp on the formula of the SAT writing.

Students are expected to master these writing formats if they wish to be a successful writer. Exceptional writers master all three styles; however, most students only have a grasp on one or two writing styles.

Devices in literature

Anyone can read a novel, epic, poem, etc., but it takes a dedicated and informed reader to analyze and understand the text they are reading. The author usually conveys their message using devices, and if one can recognize them and how they are used in a story they will most likely understand the text.

While reading Homer's "The Odyssey" I recognized some of the devices he uses; however, I did not even notice others. I made no connection between the landscape and characters of the epic until our annotated bibliography assignment where we read scholarly articles on that exact device. Homer made it so that the landscape reflected the character and vice versa. For example, calypso is a beautiful immortal stuck on a remote island that is also quite beautiful.

Recognizing and understanding devices used by authors is critical in fully and accurately understanding a piece of literature, for they play a major role in the telling of the story.