Mrs. Presnell,
Where do I begin? I guess I can start with some of works we did this semester. The most challenging thing we did, I’d probably have to say for English, was the inquiry paper. This is probably due to the fact that I was researching an odd topic and there isn’t a whole lot of readily available data. Since my subject was concentrated in Star Wars, I was much limited in my sources and in my knowledge of how that universe could potentially work for us. While the e-portfolio is hard also, it’s more about just combining things together as opposed to the research paper where you have to find the articles you are going to use and then make conclusions from them. I also got the opportunity to explore more about things I like, memories and other topics that are near and dear to my heart.
I’d have to say that my strongest paper was probably my big personal essay, which was an expanded form of my place essay. This was also the easiest essay for me because I was writing from a memory and besides making up a few small details and filling in a few occasional memory gaps, I was writing straight from a memory, and thus didn’t have to make up a story myself. I really enjoyed that paper, though it did elicit some strong reactions from me initially as that was the second to last memory I have of my grandmother. I was also young and am afraid of losing that memory, so I am glad I got a chance to memorialize it forever on paper.
I hadn’t really gone back to this memory, basically since it happened, because it was unnecessary pain to put myself through again, but I feel that, now, having completed this paper, it was a necessary thing, to revive that pain, but also the joy of remembering my grandmother alive and (somewhat) well. I know my parents were certainly shocked when I sent it to them. But Momma really enjoyed it and wants to show it to her siblings now too. I am glad that it made her at least somewhat happy; that my memory could do that for her.
I have certainly grown as a writer this semester. The personal essays really helped me on that; I now know what writing style I prefer, I know how to get my thoughts on paper easier and more coherent than ever before and I am better at viewing what I have written with a more critical eye. I can keep in mind certain criteria that help me improve my papers as I write them, and spend less time editing small things and more time working on my main point or what I’m really trying to say. I’ve also explored more about myself through the personal essays, which I haven’t ever done before, so that was a big step for me. In addition, getting peer reviews on private, personal things took some getting used to, but has ultimately made me a better writer. The feedback, with both compliments and constructive criticism really inspired me to better form my writing and enhance my technique on each successive thing.
My portfolio reflects my growth as a writer from the beginning of the semester, when I wasn’t really sure where we were going with our personal essays to a more structured inquiry paper. With all of the editing and drafts and critiquing that happened with each paper, I really learned how I like to write, read some fantastic papers written by my fellow peers and really learned how to take the editing process just a step further, or going the extra mile, as some like to say. I feel that my personal paper lends a distinct touch to my portfolio that is strictly mine. That, and my pictures in the intro of my portfolio. I feel like they really show a transition in me through high school to college, just like my transition from a good writer to a better writer. I don’t think that this change has been huge and all at once either, it’s been more of a slow and gradual transition, from something I don’t even recognize anymore, a total n00b, to a better writer today. I’m not going to say that I’m the best I can be yet though because I’m still learning and always will be until I die. But I can try and strive to always get better, to always find something new to learn about myself and others through my writing. I felt that I really connected to my family and friends from high school through my personal essays since they were about them, and to my college friends more through my inquiry paper. I have tried to take the lessons I’ve learned from my old friends and combine them with lessons I’m just learning from my new friends. A mix of past and present, you might say.
I’d have to say that ultimately I learned more about myself and how to write better from this class as a whole. But it wasn’t through ordinary means. You, Mrs. Presnell, made the class into an unexpected form of fun. With so much creative liberty, I was allowed to let my imagination stretch and run wild. I do have one regret in that I did not have more time to research my inquiry topic as there were many different tangents associated with my topic that seemed very interesting when I was researching it. I was only disappointed that I won’t have the chance to further explore this topic in class. The only problem was I feel like I did not have enough time to properly research my paper. Maybe it was just because I had a more difficult topic but that was a tough spot for me.
I really liked the way that you structured the class, except for the amount of time left at the end for the inquiry paper. Maybe next time have a little less time for the proposal and more for the drafts? Just a suggestion. Thank you for a great semester though!
Where do I begin? I guess I can start with some of works we did this semester. The most challenging thing we did, I’d probably have to say for English, was the inquiry paper. This is probably due to the fact that I was researching an odd topic and there isn’t a whole lot of readily available data. Since my subject was concentrated in Star Wars, I was much limited in my sources and in my knowledge of how that universe could potentially work for us. While the e-portfolio is hard also, it’s more about just combining things together as opposed to the research paper where you have to find the articles you are going to use and then make conclusions from them. I also got the opportunity to explore more about things I like, memories and other topics that are near and dear to my heart.
I’d have to say that my strongest paper was probably my big personal essay, which was an expanded form of my place essay. This was also the easiest essay for me because I was writing from a memory and besides making up a few small details and filling in a few occasional memory gaps, I was writing straight from a memory, and thus didn’t have to make up a story myself. I really enjoyed that paper, though it did elicit some strong reactions from me initially as that was the second to last memory I have of my grandmother. I was also young and am afraid of losing that memory, so I am glad I got a chance to memorialize it forever on paper.
I hadn’t really gone back to this memory, basically since it happened, because it was unnecessary pain to put myself through again, but I feel that, now, having completed this paper, it was a necessary thing, to revive that pain, but also the joy of remembering my grandmother alive and (somewhat) well. I know my parents were certainly shocked when I sent it to them. But Momma really enjoyed it and wants to show it to her siblings now too. I am glad that it made her at least somewhat happy; that my memory could do that for her.
I have certainly grown as a writer this semester. The personal essays really helped me on that; I now know what writing style I prefer, I know how to get my thoughts on paper easier and more coherent than ever before and I am better at viewing what I have written with a more critical eye. I can keep in mind certain criteria that help me improve my papers as I write them, and spend less time editing small things and more time working on my main point or what I’m really trying to say. I’ve also explored more about myself through the personal essays, which I haven’t ever done before, so that was a big step for me. In addition, getting peer reviews on private, personal things took some getting used to, but has ultimately made me a better writer. The feedback, with both compliments and constructive criticism really inspired me to better form my writing and enhance my technique on each successive thing.
My portfolio reflects my growth as a writer from the beginning of the semester, when I wasn’t really sure where we were going with our personal essays to a more structured inquiry paper. With all of the editing and drafts and critiquing that happened with each paper, I really learned how I like to write, read some fantastic papers written by my fellow peers and really learned how to take the editing process just a step further, or going the extra mile, as some like to say. I feel that my personal paper lends a distinct touch to my portfolio that is strictly mine. That, and my pictures in the intro of my portfolio. I feel like they really show a transition in me through high school to college, just like my transition from a good writer to a better writer. I don’t think that this change has been huge and all at once either, it’s been more of a slow and gradual transition, from something I don’t even recognize anymore, a total n00b, to a better writer today. I’m not going to say that I’m the best I can be yet though because I’m still learning and always will be until I die. But I can try and strive to always get better, to always find something new to learn about myself and others through my writing. I felt that I really connected to my family and friends from high school through my personal essays since they were about them, and to my college friends more through my inquiry paper. I have tried to take the lessons I’ve learned from my old friends and combine them with lessons I’m just learning from my new friends. A mix of past and present, you might say.
I’d have to say that ultimately I learned more about myself and how to write better from this class as a whole. But it wasn’t through ordinary means. You, Mrs. Presnell, made the class into an unexpected form of fun. With so much creative liberty, I was allowed to let my imagination stretch and run wild. I do have one regret in that I did not have more time to research my inquiry topic as there were many different tangents associated with my topic that seemed very interesting when I was researching it. I was only disappointed that I won’t have the chance to further explore this topic in class. The only problem was I feel like I did not have enough time to properly research my paper. Maybe it was just because I had a more difficult topic but that was a tough spot for me.
I really liked the way that you structured the class, except for the amount of time left at the end for the inquiry paper. Maybe next time have a little less time for the proposal and more for the drafts? Just a suggestion. Thank you for a great semester though!