This semester we have focused on so many aspects of the reading and writing process. I certainly thought by English 101 I had done it all, but this English class has introduced me to other aspects of writing to consider.
First out of the gate was blogging. I had would have never thought an English Professor would actually use this tool in their class. It just seemed to be a social networking device that some individual could share their thoughts with others or as a journal. Though I think it helped encourage me a little more to write with the thought of reaching others out there. It became a useful tool that helped me be attentive towards my grammar and consider the forum to which I was writing for. The responding aspect of blogging was helpful it introduced me to various styles of writing out their by other persons. It was also another way that students of English 101 could again share thoughts and interact with one another like group work did.
Group work was interesting! It was like entering the classroom on the first day and getting to one another. Then allowing for the transference of ideas and opinions to happen and take place. It was constructive criticism from others that helped me see areas in my writing that needed improvement. I think it helped out a lot with my development in writing and deconstruction and analyzing essays. Group work I think was challenging at first however I believe the process itself help me focus more on what exactly was being asked of me to write and it helped me with teamwork skills because usually I tend to be a loner and work on my own.
What I found helpful was the discussion boards early on, as I was having technical difficulties with blackboard and understanding what was specifically that I had to do. So it was great to get homework help when I needed it, I am still working with some formatting issues and submitting. The Reading discussion forums was another great tool that was useful in helping to examine closely the plot, references made to history and similarities and characters of our reading. The generation that other students came up with through their examination through reading and then responding in the forum was insightful. It was useful to have others connect ideas and help me thinking or relate others during my reading.
What was great this semester was the peer draft reviews, PDR’s. The PDR’s were awesome! I love hearing from others what they thought of my essay’s and getting that feed back. I am not that confident when it comes to essay writing my first thoughts are that, “Am I doing this right?” or “This seems extremely boring and I am sure the Professor has heard it all before.” I was not too sure when we first had to do them but they helped to catch mistakes or unclear thoughts in my papers.
Essay’s are at first hard to get started then they run over and somewhere there I do not know what the heck the writer is talking about. This is were the PDR’s become helpful and provide insight into our essays by having other read it then answering . Writing and reading is most defiantly rough. It is great to have had these tools this semester. I think they have helped me with writing essay and considering a border spectrum of people. It has also help me understand reading effectively and what to look for.
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