ESSAY #5
My Reflection:
In the beginning, coming from high school to a college class my writing was still developing. I took AP and honor classes which helped me transform my passion for English into love. This semester in the STACC English class I learned various things that guided me through necessary skills and techniques for my writing. Out of the literature we read, one that really followed me throughout my journey was Malcom X, because it ignited in me an abundance of topics such as racism, achievement, and racial equality something that I never knew I would be such a strong supporter and advocate of. Revising, and studying articles truly challenged the way I think about English, and was a great way to revisit what I had previously learned about in high school. The constant group work also flourished leadership in myself, to be able to interact with others, and motivate my peers to contribute to the class. It is definitely great to be able to say that I was able to help others with their writing, while also having those same people be my friends. I think amongst every thing; the work we did in the class mostly taught me how to cause a change in people which can help cause a change in the world. The Freedom Writers presentation is the highest point of being in class because it was the first time I felt confident in myself when talking in front of others. The topic of "Racial Inequality" resonated with me so profoundly that it was effortless to speak about it to an audience. It made me learn that when I'm passionate about something I can make it come alive, not only to a class or people, but for myself. Throughout the class, the essays were nerve wrecking to think about, but ended up being one of my greatest achievements I even spoke about in my college one class.
The first essay was in-class "personal narrative", which I wasn’t particularly excited for, but in the end I received a B. This surprised me, simply due to the fact that I hadn’t written in so long to receive that grade. Some of my strengths in that paper was the flow, I kept each paragraph short and to the point which helped the structure of it as a whole. The weaknesses would probably have to be the awkward phrases I added. Some of my wording is always a problem because I tend to write a lot and confuse myself with what I am saying. For the second essay, "Personal Narrative" I felt more confident because I was sharing my experiences with the reader. This came easy to me, and the sentences flowed a lot more simply because I added more time to the assignment. This was one of my most successful essays because in my opinion it really selected on who I am personally, and where my love for writing derived from. One of the strengths in this essay would probably have to be the transitions that I added from paragraph to paragraph. The integration of quotes in between my writing, and the length of it as a whole. One of the weaknesses was the title because I titled it "The Write to Literacy" which I didn't clarify enough. I received an a on this essay and it was one of the best feelings in my life because I knew that I had written something well. In the past I have always butchered what I write and never went easy on myself when it came to getting a grade I didn't think I deserved on an essay. The third essay was the "Baca Literary Analysis" which I didn't think I did so well on. Although I knew that I put effort and time into writing it something about the grades I received on essays I worked really hard on in the past changed my perspective of how I write.
What I have learned about myself as a writer is that I need to keep enabling myself to think bigger. Not only in the sense that I need to be more confident about what I write about but also trust in myself to do it right. This class taught me that no matter what you write, it should never be judged simply because it has a lack of elevated vocabulary, or an extended amount of syntax. It should be critiqued depending on what it is written about, and and given feedback on what I can do to improve it. Many of the students in the class asked for my help, and it made me use to be able to help peers around me who are struggling. This way I learn new techniques, and other strategies that help me better myself and my own writing. This class not only helps me become more open to having a growth mindset but also change the way I view other classrooms and other subjects such as college one. Many of the things that we practiced in this English class, we also studied in college one. I think this was a great way to establish the learning stretch between both classes in one.
In many ways this class has definitely inspired my practical learning and my educational goals. One of the ways it influenced me was by giving me a sense of accomplishment. Receiving an A on an assignment goes along way because it can have you feeling at the top of the highest mountain peak. The first time I received an A in this class I couldn't stop smiling. I held my heart with my right hand and I felted beating faster and faster. I know that this feeling isn't mutual with all college students but the fact that my majors English has a lot to do with it. Writing has always been a way to let my true identity out, having more than five journals also has a lot to do with it. This whole semester with English has basically fueled my energy to keep progressing in my literature and florist in abundance of capabilities that I could've never found within myself if it weren't for this year. I now have no doubt that I want to follow the path of being in English professor, and hopefully being able to also have a side job where I constantly write.
It definitely surprised me that I became a better writer all throughout the semester. All with the help of myself, and the day-to-day pep talks by Mr. Adler, my writing improved. I didn't think that my writing in five different journals about anything on my mind would actually pay off. The fact is that writing well comes with practice. You only get better at writing by writing more, and I learned that from my sophomore English teacher. I adapted this a couple of years ago and just he started once I began this class. It's been a benefitted me in the long run because I am now more motivated to write anything. I have also found it in myself to send a submission to the PCC inscape which could potential help me through submitting other pieces of my writing. Getting A's on all of my essays except two has been one of the most triumphant moments of my life, and the one that has really defined me as a writer simply because I'm so I'm vicious to become a better one. If I were to do the class all over again, I don't think I would change a thing. I'm ecstatic about sharing my next semester with the same professor and class, because it kind of feels like I am in Freedom Writers. What I learned in the class was definitely something that I carry-on with me throughout my other English classes and as I purse my goal of being a writer, poet, rapper, and professor.
The first essay was in-class "personal narrative", which I wasn’t particularly excited for, but in the end I received a B. This surprised me, simply due to the fact that I hadn’t written in so long to receive that grade. Some of my strengths in that paper was the flow, I kept each paragraph short and to the point which helped the structure of it as a whole. The weaknesses would probably have to be the awkward phrases I added. Some of my wording is always a problem because I tend to write a lot and confuse myself with what I am saying. For the second essay, "Personal Narrative" I felt more confident because I was sharing my experiences with the reader. This came easy to me, and the sentences flowed a lot more simply because I added more time to the assignment. This was one of my most successful essays because in my opinion it really selected on who I am personally, and where my love for writing derived from. One of the strengths in this essay would probably have to be the transitions that I added from paragraph to paragraph. The integration of quotes in between my writing, and the length of it as a whole. One of the weaknesses was the title because I titled it "The Write to Literacy" which I didn't clarify enough. I received an a on this essay and it was one of the best feelings in my life because I knew that I had written something well. In the past I have always butchered what I write and never went easy on myself when it came to getting a grade I didn't think I deserved on an essay. The third essay was the "Baca Literary Analysis" which I didn't think I did so well on. Although I knew that I put effort and time into writing it something about the grades I received on essays I worked really hard on in the past changed my perspective of how I write.
What I have learned about myself as a writer is that I need to keep enabling myself to think bigger. Not only in the sense that I need to be more confident about what I write about but also trust in myself to do it right. This class taught me that no matter what you write, it should never be judged simply because it has a lack of elevated vocabulary, or an extended amount of syntax. It should be critiqued depending on what it is written about, and and given feedback on what I can do to improve it. Many of the students in the class asked for my help, and it made me use to be able to help peers around me who are struggling. This way I learn new techniques, and other strategies that help me better myself and my own writing. This class not only helps me become more open to having a growth mindset but also change the way I view other classrooms and other subjects such as college one. Many of the things that we practiced in this English class, we also studied in college one. I think this was a great way to establish the learning stretch between both classes in one.
In many ways this class has definitely inspired my practical learning and my educational goals. One of the ways it influenced me was by giving me a sense of accomplishment. Receiving an A on an assignment goes along way because it can have you feeling at the top of the highest mountain peak. The first time I received an A in this class I couldn't stop smiling. I held my heart with my right hand and I felted beating faster and faster. I know that this feeling isn't mutual with all college students but the fact that my majors English has a lot to do with it. Writing has always been a way to let my true identity out, having more than five journals also has a lot to do with it. This whole semester with English has basically fueled my energy to keep progressing in my literature and florist in abundance of capabilities that I could've never found within myself if it weren't for this year. I now have no doubt that I want to follow the path of being in English professor, and hopefully being able to also have a side job where I constantly write.
It definitely surprised me that I became a better writer all throughout the semester. All with the help of myself, and the day-to-day pep talks by Mr. Adler, my writing improved. I didn't think that my writing in five different journals about anything on my mind would actually pay off. The fact is that writing well comes with practice. You only get better at writing by writing more, and I learned that from my sophomore English teacher. I adapted this a couple of years ago and just he started once I began this class. It's been a benefitted me in the long run because I am now more motivated to write anything. I have also found it in myself to send a submission to the PCC inscape which could potential help me through submitting other pieces of my writing. Getting A's on all of my essays except two has been one of the most triumphant moments of my life, and the one that has really defined me as a writer simply because I'm so I'm vicious to become a better one. If I were to do the class all over again, I don't think I would change a thing. I'm ecstatic about sharing my next semester with the same professor and class, because it kind of feels like I am in Freedom Writers. What I learned in the class was definitely something that I carry-on with me throughout my other English classes and as I purse my goal of being a writer, poet, rapper, and professor.
Some English 100 Moments
Couldn't contain our laughter at the showing of Baca's "A Place to Stand" on the plus side, we got free cookies, and tiny waters. Not to mention we were Adler's #1 supporters in a room full of people who were only there mostly for extra credit.