Looking Back and Looking Ahead
Content
Simes1 Garrett Simes Professor Jan Rieman English 1103 October 9, 2010 Self-Assessment: Overall I like this paper. However, like all essays it has its strengths and weaknesses. I think that my description of my reading and writing practices is pretty strong. I might be able to further elaborate on what I am uncomfortable and comfortable in those practices. I also feel that my conclusion is weak but I am not sure what to do to make it stronger. If I had more time I would elaborate on the whole essay and try to fix the weak points I listed earlier. Looking Forward and Looking Back We have had quite a few writing pieces in English 1103 this semester. We have written about many topics from choices in our lives to the language we use with different groups people. Many of my writing practices have been consistent throughout. My last writing to explore looked into my writing rituals and I learned how comfortable I am with them. I have used those rituals for all of my different writing pieces so far. All of my papers have been based on MLA format so far. I write in this form because I understand it and I am comfortable with it. I brainstorm and outline for all of my papers, in English and in my other classes. I do this brainstorming and outlining on the same notepad. I always write my papers and read for class in the same spot. That spot is in the lounge on the third floor of my dorm. It is always a quiet place that I can free myself from as many distractions as possible. Even right now, I am writing from the lounge. All of these practices or rituals make writing easier for me. Another thing that makes it easier for me to write is when a paper includes my opinion. I know exactly how I feel about
Simes2 things and I do not have a problem writing those feelings in a paper. One thing I struggle with is writing papers on things I am not as familiar with. I also have problems with writing objective papers. I have an opinion on everything and it is very hard for me to exclude my opinions from my writing. It is also a heck of a lot easier to write about things I know and understand. I also struggle to write in other forms than I am comfortable. I write all papers and essays the same and I don¶t feel comfortable changing how I write. I believe that everything we have done inside and outside of class has worked toward the class goals. We have read and discussed academic texts, including Sponsors of Literacy, Intertextuality and others. We have used key ideas, terms, and concepts when we applied the term ³sponsors of literacy´ and applying it to ³Learning to Read,´ by Malcolm X and Alexie¶s ³The Joy of Reading and Writing.´ I am still working on exploring other modes. I hope to address this as I continue through the semester. I think that the classroom culture document is being followed and that it is further encouraging the achievement of the class goals. All the rules help us, as the students; complete our goals and those of the course. Peer workshop is a great help for the development of my writing. It is really hard to evaluate your own writing. It is much easier to look at your paper with new eyes by actually using someone else¶s. I also enjoy receiving multiple opinions. Every time we have a peer workshop, I take all the advice given and it always helps me better my essays. My inquiry has branched off of the writing I have done so far. My inquiry question is based off of one of the writing to explore prompts. It was conceived after reading about the writing log prompt. It made me wonder how technology has influenced the way people read and write. So much of the information we receive comes from technology. Through my research I
Simes3 have decided to focus on the digital language formed from this new technology. I want to learn how this changes the English language as a whole, if at all. We are halfway through the semester and it has gone by extremely quick. One thing has held true. This class has focused on writing. We have written over 25 pieces of writing so far and I don¶t see the pace letting up any time soon. We are making good progress towards the accomplishment of our goals. I look forward to the continuation of the class and the semester and finding out what else we will write in the course.
Simes2 things and I do not have a problem writing those feelings in a paper. One thing I struggle with is writing papers on things I am not as familiar with. I also have problems with writing objective papers. I have an opinion on everything and it is very hard for me to exclude my opinions from my writing. It is also a heck of a lot easier to write about things I know and understand. I also struggle to write in other forms than I am comfortable. I write all papers and essays the same and I don¶t feel comfortable changing how I write. I believe that everything we have done inside and outside of class has worked toward the class goals. We have read and discussed academic texts, including Sponsors of Literacy, Intertextuality and others. We have used key ideas, terms, and concepts when we applied the term ³sponsors of literacy´ and applying it to ³Learning to Read,´ by Malcolm X and Alexie¶s ³The Joy of Reading and Writing.´ I am still working on exploring other modes. I hope to address this as I continue through the semester. I think that the classroom culture document is being followed and that it is further encouraging the achievement of the class goals. All the rules help us, as the students; complete our goals and those of the course. Peer workshop is a great help for the development of my writing. It is really hard to evaluate your own writing. It is much easier to look at your paper with new eyes by actually using someone else¶s. I also enjoy receiving multiple opinions. Every time we have a peer workshop, I take all the advice given and it always helps me better my essays. My inquiry has branched off of the writing I have done so far. My inquiry question is based off of one of the writing to explore prompts. It was conceived after reading about the writing log prompt. It made me wonder how technology has influenced the way people read and write. So much of the information we receive comes from technology. Through my research I
Simes3 have decided to focus on the digital language formed from this new technology. I want to learn how this changes the English language as a whole, if at all. We are halfway through the semester and it has gone by extremely quick. One thing has held true. This class has focused on writing. We have written over 25 pieces of writing so far and I don¶t see the pace letting up any time soon. We are making good progress towards the accomplishment of our goals. I look forward to the continuation of the class and the semester and finding out what else we will write in the course.
