Top 10 of '10

Most of my break has consisted of lounging around the house and watching pointless television, neither of which I am ashamed or tired of doing. In fact, the countless "Sportscenter" re-runs that air constantly throughout the day with the Top Memorable Moments or Blunders or Athletes of 2010, provided me with an intriguing thought. What were the Top 10 moments of AP English 2010?

10. Soapstone for Angela's Ashes
-Who doesn't like to wrap up a classic novel by Irish writer Frank McCourt with a concluding soapstone?Plus the book itself had to be one of the best moments of 2010, I mean not a single person in the class had dry-eyes when McCourt left his family to try his luck in America (slight exaggeration).

9. The introduction of the "Argument Essay"
-After months of analysis and intense restriction on what could appear in an essay, we were finally able to use the personal pronoun "I" and let our emotions fly.

8. Shakespeare haunts us with his magnificent "Othello"
-I mean when a ten-page section take over an hour to read I deem it worthy to make the Top 10. I still have nightmares where I forget the quote "You told a lie, an odious damned lie," leaving me with absolutely nothing to write on my book-less essay (which brings me to number 7).

7. Book-less essays
-An event like no other. Never do I see hysteria on the school grounds like I do before a book-less essay (only rivaled by mornings before Calc homework quizzes). Without a doubt, a ground-breaking event in the world of AP English in 2010.

6. The introduction of the "Synthesis Essay"
-My worst fear came true, a Brownlow DBQ mixed with a Serensky Analysis Essay. Enough said.

5. The Decision
-No, not the infamous decision by Lebron James this summer: The decision by our very own Thomas Donley. The question posed, "Will you grow your hair until the end of the year for less than 5,000 dollars?" The answer, "No." A truly mind-blowing decision to say the least.

4. Bobbie's Blog Banter/ The Ever-Changing Theme Song
-The popularity of the show is undeniably great, so much so, that I will push for a school-wide showing in the near future. Furthermore, the theme song exemplifies the flexibility and forward thinking of the show, and changes constantly from cuckoo noises to guitar solos to random humming ensembles.

3. Chief Bromden
-This silent giant kept us relaxed throughout the stresses of college applications and relieved us from a serious "Othello" hangover. At times throughout the last couple months I'm sure some of us thought we belonged in an insane asylum just like the Chief.

2. AP EXAMS
-Duh duh duh duuuuuh (Dramatized), as much as we all would like to forget Joseph Sitzwohl beating or tying our AP Exam scores we cannot. That is why it ranks at number two on my Top 10 list.

1. DEEEEEEAAAR Journal
-From its roots as playful jests toward the Thomas Donley, to its transformation into a staple of our class, I will never forget the "Dear Journal" segments of Ms. Serensky's ongoing comedy routine. Especially the fact that Thomas' diary undertakes the accent of an old british hag.

A great year in AP English and hopefully an even better one to follow. Happy New Years!