Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Class Reflection
Focus on one part of this class (an aspect of one paper, one exercise, or one lesson) where you feel you received the most benefit. Discuss in 200 or so words. This can be something you struggled with or succeeded at. This is practice for your final on Monday, so be certain you give this some thought. Look at the goals on your assignment sheet, if you need inspiration. Just the initial post is worth the full 10 blog points. The blog needs to be fully posted by Friday at midnight. Responses to classmates will be ungraded, but feel free to discuss and comment as you wish.
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As i reflect on my past assignments in this class, I feel that in the beginning of class I really struggled with identifying pathos, ethos, and logos in literature that I read. After many exercises on the blog and having to write essays that involve pathos, ethos, and logos I came to a better understanding of how the influence the reader. I also am now aware of how to use pathos, ethos, and logos in my own writing to convince my readers and making my argument strong. A benefit that I found to be very valuable is going to the writing center for assistance when an actual English teacher is available to guide me through my papers. I think I am still weak at using correct grammar in my writing.
ReplyDeleteDuring my time in this English class I picked a few new traits, honestly without knowing. I have discovered my new writing style through my E-Mails or even in general conversation. One of the traits that I picked up on was the art of arguing and using logic. As the head of a committee that makes important decisions for my department I have noticed that I use more logic and critical thinking before making final decisions. I have also noticed that my E-Mails and memos look more professional. Although most of the reports that I write use a multitude of abbreviated words I still notice my new writing style come through. If I were to explain this class to future incumbent students I would explain to them that the class is sometimes a little slow but if you want to become a better writer, whether you want to write professionally or just for your job, this class will get you the needed skills to accomplish your writing goals.
ReplyDeleteI remember starting this class, and being completely oblivious to how to write an essay. I came in this class feeling very insecure, and being in this level in college and still not being able to write a complete in thought, academically or grammatically correct paper became a big part of my insecurities and anxiety. Having this class and Ms. B being my teacher made me feel that this was the true beginning of success in my college career. I just received my synthesis essay and I feel that all these hours and not being to go out just to finish, was all worth it. This class literally made me enjoy English and writing again, even if I didn’t write good paper I just simply enjoyed writing and now I can enjoy and write an A paper. I have learned to start using commas in the right places , get my ideas and structure them in the right places in my essays , I am still not perfect but on the level of get there.
ReplyDeleteWho is Ms. B?
DeleteIt's me
DeleteThe thing that I succeded at the most in this class would be learning how to keep it simple in my papers by not using too many uncessary word. I also do alot of rereading and rewording now since this class I use the tools I learned in my other classes and at work. The thing that I struggled with the most was the Causal Argument paper. I was finding alot of research but not all of it was useful.Following the structure for that paper was confusing at times. I felt like the more we went over it the more confusing it became to me. Everytime I thought I knew what I was doing something changed. Over all for me that was the hardest thing for me to understand all semester.
ReplyDeleteSomething I know I really struggled with in this class is trying to speak in third person and not in first person to my audience. I still have this struggle, but it's not as bad as it was towards the begging of this class.I know that if I want to go on to the next class above this I need to correct this struggle 100% or I could definnetly have a bad time in 122.
ReplyDeleteI also did learn what the difference is between a rhetorical essay and rhetorical annalysis essay the hard way. The best way I could describe the difference between the two is a rhetorical essay is basically summing up the whole essay you read as a rhetorical annalysis is when you deiscribe what the essay is about while criticing what the positives and negatives of the essay were.
In the time I spent this semester in English 121 with Professor Emily Taylor I experienced a wide variety of new things, writing methods, and writing processes. I took away a new writing style in my personal writings. The flow, organization, and structure of my writings progressed throughout the semester. Professor Taylor I feel catered to many different ways of learning and spent adequate time giving feedback to each individual throughout the semester. This feedback I feel is was helped me the most in understanding what needed to be done to develop my writing into what it is now. Looking at a little bit of my own personal history in English, I always did the bare minimum in high school and never really got involved only because I highly disliked writing. I had been out of school for about 5 years and was skeptical of my success in college level English. Throughout English 121 I felt the curriculum was set of to cover a variety of new writing styles from Rhetorical analysis to Research mainly to express different ways to appeal or convey a voice. In my personal writing I feel more comfortable in giving an educated piece of writing and can cite my work properly. Furthermore, I feel the information I learned throughout the semester greatly improved my writing style and will help me in my future endeavors throughout my education and success.
ReplyDeleteI am a more effective writer as a result of my work in this course. I am now aware of the importance of considering the audience I am targeting.I learned how to better address the needs of an audience and improved my writing at the structural level.
ReplyDeleteAs a past English student I have struggled because I feel like I do not understand the language that teachers use to get their ideas and lessons acrossed. In this class I feel like I was being taught so that I could actually retain the information that I was suppose to learn. I feel like I had a better understanding of what was expected of me in most of the assignments. I also feel like this class was not in fast forward; therefore I actually had time to learn the necessary skills I needed to complete the assignments that were required in this class. After this class, I feel like my thoughts on English classes are not just negative going in. I feel like I have grown in English and writing during this semester. I will admit that I still have a long way to go but I will continue to grow as long as I use the guidance and skills I learned in this class.
ReplyDeleteThe most beneficial portion of this class, that is difficult, however, I will try. I think the most beneficial period of instruction was the evening that I had difficulty conceptualizing an essay that did not consist of five paragraphs. That evening, Mrs. Taylor presented a foreign idea to the class: to not write a five paragraph essay. I found this concept incredibly difficult to grasp. As a non-traditional and older student, I was drawing my essay writing experience from my high school days. Having graduated from high school in 1999, I have since realized that my methods were both antiquated and not at the collegiate level. During that class period, I raised a number of questions and ideas, which I believe may have been annoying to some of my fellow students. Instead of progressing through the evenings lesson, I persuaded Mrs. Taylor to allow the class to approach the front of the class and be more actively engaged in the non-five paragraph essay format. I found the hour of instruction to be highly beneficial. At the very least, the side bar conversations were minimized and the class seemed very engaged. In retrospect, I felt guilty for what I thought was highjacking Mrs. Taylor’s lesson plan, but I believe it was beneficial for the whole class. I do believe that that evening’s class period was great and encourage that forum to be utilized more in future classes.
ReplyDeleteWhat about your personal writing style? Do you feel that taking a non-five paragraph approach has helped improve your ideas, and how you develop your papers?
DeleteMy first week in this class was quite the eye opening experience, as the ideas and way of class was much different than my last English class. During my time in ENG 090, I really felt in tune with my teacher and his ideas. I even told him after we finished that without his class I felt I would have never been able to finish college. However, in my ENG 121 class I didn’t quite feel the same connection or drive to succeed that I was able to sense with my pervious teacher. With that lack of an overall connection with the class, many times the feeling of being lost overwhelmed me. Thus, I feel my inner child came out showing a side of me that I dislike. Leading me down a dark path of being very rude, judgmental, and show any form of respect to the ideas and feeling of my class mates. Instead of assisting my fellow students in peer to peer reviews, I distracted them and failed not only them but myself. As I did attempt to overcome this poor aspect of my life in the later moments of the class, I do feel that I need to invest more time into personal development. To find the freedom to push myself and those around me to succeed in the paths of life we choose.
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