Seeing as this is my first college lever English course, I wasn't sure of what to expect. The questions rung through my head; “Am I a good enough writer? How many papers will be assigned? Does the professor grade harshly? Will I be able to pass the class?” Luckily, the answers to all of the above questions were exactly what I wanted them to be.
I have very distinctive thoughts on writing in general. I have always hated it, and I probably always will. Throughout this class though, I enjoyed writing each assignment we were given, and received good grades on all of them. Even though this was the case, I didn't necessarily realize any specific thing about myself as a writer. I did realize that if the topics or assignments given peak my interest, or give me more free range, I hate writing a little less. I think that my writing skills are basically the same going out of this class, as they were going in.
All because I don’t enjoy writing doesn't mean that I think it is valueless. Writing is a key component to letting someone’s voice and opinions be heard. Writing, in my opinion, allows one to argue with a point but stay away from violent affairs. For example, if you were to go to a pro-choice rally, march right up to the podium, and state your pro-life views, you might have just put yourself in a bit of a predicament. If, however, you write your views on pro-life in the form of a letter to the pro-choice committee, you can still get your point across without endangering yourself.
I did pick up on several terms and ideas through this class. I am now more confident with discussing the topic of rhetoric. Before entering this class, I honestly had no idea what rhetoric was, or what its components consisted of. Now I can confidently answer any question thrown at me about it! I also became more aware of how to find scholarly articles through the Atkins library page on our school’s website. This technique has already assisted me in several other classes I’m taking. Also through this class, I have read some appealing pieces of writing. My favorite was a piece that turned normal American views and activities, and made them seem foreign and disturbing. It opened my eyes to see how much the vocabulary you choose for your writings can affect how the readers view it.
Regarding my research paper, I would probably change the site that I observed to be something different. While, in the long-run, my paper turned out fine, I wish I would have been able to dive into a deeper thesis statement. In order to have done this, I should have observed my original site earlier instead of last minute. If I would have done this, I could have decided that I didn't find enough appeal and chose another subculture.
The conversations we engaged in during class were always interesting and entertaining, and I felt like I could voice my opinion without being judged. I enjoyed the discussions we had, such as the one when we passed around the brick and gave it different descriptors, and felt like the lesson plans were appropriate. I did find that on occasion, the class would get out of hand and jeer off subject, but that is expected in almost any classroom. Overall, I was pleased with my experience in this class.
No comments:
Post a Comment