AP Language and Composition is a college-level course that explores various writing skills. Students learn how to develop their writing into their own personal styles. Students delve into different types of compositions: rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and argumentative. Students find figurative meanings in various types of texts that they may not have thought about before. The class prepares students for college by implementing time constraints.
The group consists of four members: Mikayla Rose, Kassidy Magoni Belanger, Anastasia Andrade, and Lena Small. Mikayla was the editor of the speech; she was in charge of checking over the writing for grammatical errors. Kassidy was the speaker; she presented the work during class. Anastasia and Lena were the rhetoricians who made sure that there were rhetorical devices in the speech to strengthen it. Although we had these assigned roles, we all wrote the speech simultaneously together instead of breaking off and writing different parts. This contributed to how well the speech flows, with our different but effective writing styles woven together.
The speech is given from the point of view of Krist Novoselic about the passing of his close friend Kurt Cobain. The group prioritized the purpose of mental health, to convey that it is imperative that you check in, not only on yourself, but on your friends. This overarching purpose allows a space for mental health to be discussed, currently and in the 1990s when Kurt passed. Furthermore, the group was inspired to write about Kurt Cobain because he was innovative, creating the subculture, grunge. A symbol of self-expression and pushing people to be non-conforming with society’s ideals.
The memorial speech that was assigned to the class fits in with the curriculum of being able to implement rhetorical devices within proper language and being able to identify those devices. This further solidifies the idea that all assignments are connected to one universal thing: preparation for the AP Lang exam. If students perform well on the exam, it can count towards college credits, which saves money on tuition fees. It provides the students a chance to practice writing speeches and work on their public speaking skills. Students should consider taking this course for the betterment of their futures.
1) Good afternoon. My name is Kirst Noveselic, the bassist of Nirvana.
2) It burdens me and all of us close to him to announce Kurt Cobain’s passing. We were always together in high school, best friends. We were always happiest when composing music. We were always on tour, spending every day together. When we started the band, we never thought we would get this far. Now, here we are, every artists’ dream, without the dreamer.
3) He was discovered in his greenhouse this April 8th, deceased on April 5th. As some of you may have known, Kurt struggled with a heroin addiction. I had been encouraging him to seek help for his addictions, after struggling with addiction myself. Days before his suicide, Kurt had reluctantly allowed me to drive him to the airport. After arriving at the airport, we had an altercation, and Kurt fled. There, I knew Kurt was beyond my reproach.
4) Addiction is a disease. Kurt felt trapped by his dependence on heroin, as it overtook his entire existence. In a last effort to gain control, he took his own life. This may be the hardest for those of us who struggle with mental issues. Although I know not many people are open to talking about their personal struggles, mental health is a slippery slope that can quickly go downhill. 12,000 people this year died from suicide. With drug addiction following, 11,000 people passed this year. I encourage you all to take the initiative and take care of yourselves.
5) Without Kurt, is there Nirvana? That’s the question we have been asking ourselves after hearing the heartbreaking news. I believe that as supporters of Nirvana, you deserve a clear, concise response to our collective concerns. It would not feel right to continue what we started together, without the heart and soul of our band. Know that Nirvana is not dead; it lives on as his eternal legacy. This troubling time is also a time for growth, for change, for the better.
6) Although you may feel the need to conspire and avoid the harsh truth, it’s time to face the reality. As his friend, best friend, I feel the need to say that Kurt was real. A real person, who faced hardships like the rest of us, even on stage singing for his adoring fans. Many of you may not be able to understand beneath the surface, the difficulties that plagued him after only seeing him, not knowing him. He was an up-and-coming artist at the young age of 24, with his hit release of Teen Spirit, but Kurt still had a family, a wife and a young daughter. His addiction took that from him. Fans may have lost an inspirational artist, but we lost a friend, a husband, a father. We will all have to take the time to grieve, before growing with the memories of Kurt, rather than with him.
7) The public continues to believe that Kurt was shy and introverted, but that is not the case. In reality, his personality was a complex contradiction, impulsive yet intelligent, sincere yet sarcastic, and self-destructive yet calculated. Kurt Cobain mentioned the lyrics from the song “Hey Hey, My My” by Neil Young in his final words to his close friends and family, “It’s better to burn out than fade away.” Kurt aligned with wanting to make an impact on the world. However, once he lost his passion, he lost his will to live.
8) “Grief changes shape, but never ends.” This will be a difficult journey without a foreseeable destination. Here I would like to take the time to say that you should check on friends and family, but also yourself. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes.
9) Kurt was my best friend since high school. We had always enjoyed writing music together and going on tour. Although you may not have had the same relationship that I had with him, I would like you all to know that we did not just lose a rising star, but a friend.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you reach Nirvana, as I once did with Kurt by my side. Thank you for your continued support in making our dreams a reality.
