The most important lesson I learned this semester was that progress can always be made. No matter how much you think you know, and know matter how good you think you are, you can always learn more and become better at everything and anything. That was my case as a writer.
Writing essays well has always been a sort of anomaly. It’s a rumor that every teacher tells differently, and somehow students are supposed to find the truth. I took this class to become a better writer, and to hopefully discover the truth behind formal analytical essays. I believe that I am well on my way to do just that.
There were two areas of my writing where I struggled the most in analytical essays: the introduction and the conclusion (and in deciding whether or not to use a colon or a semi-colon; the previous one was a shot in the dark). Oddly enough, the intro and the conclusion of a work are usually the most important parts. In my introductions, I needed to learn to avoid distracting generalizations, and I needed to learn how to clearly explain my thesis in a mere statement. Before this class I wasn’t even writing conclusions at all, believing that they were a waste of time and an annoying redundancy. I know now that they are an opportunity to reflect on your work, to wrap up an open-ended essay, and to even add any final analytical and thought provoking ideas. With the concept of ongoing progression proven true, it is easy to say that I have become a much better writer in a matter of months.
The same can be said for my reading. I became more perceptive when it came to novels, and found enjoyment in readings I would normally not have any interest in. For example, I hated everything about The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, when I first began reading it. The protagonist was cowardly, annoying, and, for lack of a better term, a bum. My class urged me to look harder and to focus on Holden’s likable qualities, whether they were good or not. They asked me what I would do in Holden’s situation, and despite having a different answer, I could understand and relate to Holden. There were also striking similarities between Holden’s life and the life of Travis Bickle, the protagonist of my favorite movie, which helped me to appreciate Salinger’s work even more.
An unknown factor about this class (to me at least) was the fact that there would be a lot of oral presentation and participation. I never expected to memorize and present 100 lines of Shakespeare in front of my peers, and although I still shake with fear at the thought of public speaking, I now know that it is possible. As much as I loathe to admit, I am happy I had the opportunity to practice public speaking in front of my class.
There is still another half of this class remaining, and I’m sure that my abilities as a reader, writer, and public speaker will continue to progress. I never regret using an opportunity to learn and improve, and I can’t wait to see what is next.
In order from best to worst, the pieces in this portfolio:
Imitation Piece - Sector 16
College Essay
Middlemarch Essay
Blackberries Essay
Kite Runner Essay
The most important lesson I learned this semester was that progress can always be made. No matter how much you think you know, and know matter how good you think you are, you can always learn more and become better at everything and anything. That was my case as a writer.
Writing essays well has always been a sort of anomaly. It’s a rumor that every teacher tells differently, and somehow students are supposed to find the truth. I took this class to become a better writer, and to hopefully discover the truth behind formal analytical essays. I believe that I am well on my way to do just that.
There were two areas of my writing where I struggled the most in analytical essays: the introduction and the conclusion (and in deciding whether or not to use a colon or a semi-colon; the previous one was a shot in the dark). Oddly enough, the intro and the conclusion of a work are usually the most important parts. In my introductions, I needed to learn to avoid distracting generalizations, and I needed to learn how to clearly explain my thesis in a mere statement. Before this class I wasn’t even writing conclusions at all, believing that they were a waste of time and an annoying redundancy. I know now that they are an opportunity to reflect on your work, to wrap up an open-ended essay, and to even add any final analytical and thought provoking ideas. With the concept of ongoing progression proven true, it is easy to say that I have become a much better writer in a matter of months.
The same can be said for my reading. I became more perceptive when it came to novels, and found enjoyment in readings I would normally not have any interest in. For example, I hated everything about The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, when I first began reading it. The protagonist was cowardly, annoying, and, for lack of a better term, a bum. My class urged me to look harder and to focus on Holden’s likable qualities, whether they were good or not. They asked me what I would do in Holden’s situation, and despite having a different answer, I could understand and relate to Holden. There were also striking similarities between Holden’s life and the life of Travis Bickle, the protagonist of my favorite movie, which helped me to appreciate Salinger’s work even more.
An unknown factor about this class (to me at least) was the fact that there would be a lot of oral presentation and participation. I never expected to memorize and present 100 lines of Shakespeare in front of my peers, and although I still shake with fear at the thought of public speaking, I now know that it is possible. As much as I loathe to admit, I am happy I had the opportunity to practice public speaking in front of my class.
There is still another half of this class remaining, and I’m sure that my abilities as a reader, writer, and public speaker will continue to progress. I never regret using an opportunity to learn and improve, and I can’t wait to see what is next.
In order from best to worst, the pieces in this portfolio:
Imitation Piece - Sector 16
College Essay
Middlemarch Essay
Blackberries Essay
Kite Runner Essay