Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Harry Potter Month: A Class on Harry Potter

Harry Potter Month is hosted by Faith at Geeky Zoo Girl and Micheline at Lunar Rainbows Reviews. This awesome event runs all through July, and you can find more information about it here.

This past semester, I thought it would be a great idea to take a class centered around the Harry Potter series. I was extremely surprised that such an awesome class was being offered, and I knew I had to take it. I read the syllabus a few weeks before class began and I saw that the class was going to be divided into different Hogwarts Houses and that we would be competing for the House Cup. I was never so excited for Winter Break to be over! XD I knew I was gonna been placed in Ravenclaw and I knew that Cup would be mine! Mwahahaha! Or so I thought . . . .

The first day of class finally arrived, and I could not wait to see what the Sorting ceremony would be like and who my fellow Ravenclaws would be. Our professor had assumed the identity of Professor Snape and pulled out his own Sorting Hat. To my dismay, he pulled our names out of the Hat already pre-assigned to Houses. To my extreme outrage, I was assigned to Hufflepuff. Before I continue ranting, I would like to say that I have nothing against Hufflepuff, but I am most certainly a Ravenclaw girl. How the heck could this guy sort us into Houses before even seeing which face goes to which name?! I was pissed. And to top it off, my best friend, who is also a Ravenclaw at heart, got into the right House! WTF?! I never really got over that.

Next came the creative project, which I totally beasted. I knocked that shit out of the park. I created a potions kit in addition to a portable potions ingredients book. I spent a whole lot of time and money on it, but it was worth it! I was that one kid who goes totally overboard with the project and makes everyone else's look terrible. I even did a mini demonstration with colored vinegar and baking soda. This project is one of my greatest achievements; I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Next came the group presentation. A total fucking nightmare. Of course, my fellow housemates were the slackers of the class. I was forced to take lead of the project (which is way out of my comfort zone). Despite my constant nagging, the project was not completed until a few minutes before we presented. My part of the presentation was on point . . . . There was only so much I could fix on theirs. It was passable, but not where I wanted it to be. -.- I loathe group projects.

Needless to say, we did not win the House Cup. That class had its ups and downs, but I really feel like I've gained a whole new kind of appreciation for the Harry Potter series. Overall, I feel like it was a pretty good experience.

18 comments:

  1. Firstly that is really awesome that they offer the course..but too bad you weren't in Ravenclaw..I would definitely be in hufflepuff unfortunately LOL It stinks that he didn't really do the sorting hat..
    I really hate group work as well because there is always a slacker in the group who doesn't want to do any work..
    Still so cool!

    Alisa Selene

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    1. The lack of the sorting ceremony was probably my biggest disappointment in the class. It was probably the one thing I was looking forward to most.

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  2. Your potions kit looks awesome! I'd have been pissed too if I got pre-assigned, I can definitely see why that annoyed you.

    Group projects are always a nightmare, so I don't envy you that at all, but the creative project does sound pretty awesome I have to say! Such a cool experience, thank you for sharing *goes away with vague plots of getting friends involved in our own class*

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    1. Thank you! The creative project was loads of fun and stress, but mostly fun. XD

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  3. That potions kits is freaking amazing!!
    I feel you on the group projects. They are almost always nightmares, never have I worked on a project where everyone is prepared and doing their part 100%. I'm sorry your classmates weren't up to snuff, but I'm guessing you were amazing just based on that potions kit.

    Oh and I would be pissed too if I were assigned to the wrong house!

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    1. Thank you! And groups projects have always been horrible for me as well. You would think teachers would take the hint! XD

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  4. This post blew my mind because I didn't know any schools offered a course like that. I would move just to go to a school like that =D. That sounds like the stupidest way ever ton sort people into houses. You need to know the person's personality to effectively sort them into their houses, or just, you know, ask them! Only people who love the series would sign up for a class like that and those people have already sorted themselves into houses. What was the guy thinking!?!?

    I am with you on the group projects. I'm really awkward around people I don't know and every single time I"m in a group project I am put into a group with no one I know. Gah! Sorry your group partners were horrible :(

    That potions kit is amazing! I think it looks better then some of the kits you can buy. I love the tiny cauldron, it's so cute!!

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    1. I was totally stunned when I found out about the class, and I am so grateful for having the opportunity to take it. Also, I totally agree with you about the sorting. :)

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  5. I took a HP and LotR college course. While it was fun to read enjoyable novels for class, I didn't learn anything new, which was disappointing. You're class sounds a lot more creative and fun, even if it did have it's ups and downs. I can't believe he assigned houses! He should know better as an HP fan!

    That potions kit is amazing! You did an awesome job. Congrats on winning the house cup!

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    1. I have always loved working on creative projects in a class. I think it gives you a different perspective on the subject. :D

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  6. Holy crap I didn't know schools offered classes like that!!! I would kill to take a class like that for my degree! How cool. The closest things my class has is Young Adult Literature. Having something specifically for HP had to be super cool!

    Nikki H @ Take Me Away...

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    1. Young Adult Literature sounds like a super interesting class! :O

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  7. AH! I would be so excited to take that class. I'm in the same boat as you, though with Pottermore. I was sorted into Hufflepuff and am a Ravenclaw at heart. I thought for sure I'd get in that house, and my son did too. We are both embracing our Hufflepuff sides now though. It sounds like so much fun. The pictures of your project are amazing!

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    1. Thank you! At least the real sorting hat takes your house preferences into consideration. :)

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  8. That is an awesome class and I would give you top marks for that potions kit! What a great idea.
    And yeah, I'd be pissed if I was sorted into a wrong house, too. Group assignments never end well if you can't choose the people you're supposed to work with (and even then it's always hard, someone always ends up doing more work).

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  9. If my Uni offered HP classes (even one) I would go back to school (again) THAT.is.awesome!! But yeah, it seriously sucks that your teacher picked your Houses for you without any kind of test or quiz or anything. O.O And YES group projects SUCK. Your potions kit is GORGEOUS though, if I made that, I would have it on display in my house ♥

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