evaluation for task four

• What is the thesis for your paper? The thesis for my paper was writer's block and how it can effect people.

• List the main points you make in your paper. The struggles it takes to write your thoughts on paper, one minute you know what you want to say and the thoughts are gone.

• What was the most helpful advice you received from your peer evaluation? I like the feedback on the basics, spelling, punctuation and most times they catch things you haven't.

• What was the most helpful information you received in class for your paper? Once again and as always, everything.

• How many drafts of this paper do you think you wrote and how/when did you write them? For example, did you compose at the keyboard, did you write lots of notes to yourself, did you pre-write or outline, did you write in small chunks of time or sit down and produce an entire draft at one sitting? I always write at the keyboard, unless we are in class. I see a laptop in my future. I do write notes, if I think of something away from the computer, however, I usually sit down and spill the whole thing on paper and then edit and edit and edit.I think I did a total of six drafts.
• What would you do differently with this paper to make it more effectively, or what did you try to do that you just don’t think you got a good handle on? I am not sure really, I know I have trouble with the summary. I think I got that down now though, I hope so.

• What are most pleased with about this paper I dont mean to sound boastful, but I did really like this paper. I am hopeing you do to. I really put myself in this one because I felt an instant connection with this essay.

Ø  If your reading and writing practices have changed since this class, how have they been modified because of English 100? I would say my reading practices are the same as I have been an avid reader for a long time, my writing practices are what have been influenced the most. I wouldn't say that I have achieved total freedom from my self conciousness when it comes to writing but I am a lot closer than I was before English 100. I love gaining more knowledge everyday as to what I have wanted to do for a very long time.

Ø  How have you become a better reader and/or writer? I think in some knowledge of how to write a paper, just like in anything, you gain more courage and self confidence. I am still pretty self concious and nervous to the point of craziness about the process and about people reading my work but it is worth it when someone says, "I liked that."

Ø  How has the blog encouraged you to write more thoroughly or has it not? I feel more encouraged with the blog because it is more freeing than haveing to sit down with a pen and paper and write it all out. I feel the keyboard is more freeing.

Ø  What did you like about having a blog in a reading and writing course? I like the fact that the comments were somewhat personal, I know people can still read them but I don't have to know about it. I also like that I don't have a paper trail behind me 100 miles long that I have to keep track of. I know I would lose half of them and spill something on the other. It is all together more convenient for me.

Ø  How is the blog similar to a journal? How is it different from a traditional journal? Where a personal journal is more your thoughts, ideas and full of your self expression, this is more to the point. You give us a subject and we take it from there, some of the steps are taken away, it is easier.

Ø  What kind of experience have you had for English 100? Please explain. I know I sound like a total kiss ass but I loved everybit of this experience. I know most of it is that it is so new and different for me but still I just love sitting and listening to everyone's points of view and experiences. It is very refreshing and mind opening when you are used to talking to the same people all the time with a very limited view on things for the most part. It is soul cleansing, if that makes any sense.

Ø  What would you like to see change with this class including the smaller writing assignments and/or the task papers? I would like some refreshers and maybe a little more infasis on sentence structure and proper use of everything, to and too or comma, colon or semi-colon. I know we reviewed a bit, but maybe a little more in depth or some web sites to go too. I didn't get enough of that in school, so I am re-learning alot of this. I think the atmoshpere is a relaxed and open one, we have discussed a lot of what could have been difficult subjects and I thought with the way it was introduced and brought to light made it ok to be talked about. If that makes sense. I wouldn't change a thing and I really enjoyed this semester.

response to question for task four

  Have you learned or gained anything?
     I think the idea that someone could enter college or any kind of setting like it and not learn anything is a crazy one. In the past 3 months I have gained knowledge of the mind and most important, knowledge of myself. I have learned that I am allot smarter than I thought, you are never to old to learn and that I am capable of a lot more. I have had some struggles, but all in all, I feel stronger and more empowered everyday.
     I don't remember the process of learning to read. I can remember bits and pieces but that is about it. I do love to read, I think no matter what you read, fiction/non-fiction, you will come away learning something. Even in fictional stories there is some truth to them. The process of learning, now this is a different story. I have trouble with communicating and being around other people for a long period of time. This can make things difficult, when I get this way it is hard to concentrate on anything but getting out of the situation. I have found that in a learning environment it doesn't seem to bother me as much. I think it is the distraction, if I am interested in what I am hearing, it takes my mind off of other things. There are other times that it doesn't seem to matter when or what is going on that I can't break the spell, but more often than not I get through it. I am kind of amazed really. I wonder if that is why I am liking school so much.
     I am aware of the fact, how lucky I am to have the ability to read, write and learn. I can't imagine a world without it. In some of the essay's I have been reading they talk about the power or importance of reading or what a book can do for them. I have never thought of it that way but what they say is so true, a book can keep you company, take you away when you are bored or need a break, it can even teach you how lucky you are to know how to read them. Another thing that crossed my mind is how much we take these "simple things" for granted, instead of realizeing how forturnate we really are that we are literate.

Fredrick Douglas, How I Learned to Read and Write from The Life. Questions for reflection and writing

In considering Douglas' fight to learn to read and write, it makes me feel a little ashamed of myself. I have been thinking back to when I was learning to be literate and I really can't remember the process. It seems the only thing that comes to mind is sitting in our reading circles and copying the letters our teacher had written on my big chief notepad. I guess it makes me feel a little irresponsible, in away, that I can't remember such a valuable lesson, another thing I take for granted without realizing how much it means to me. There are struggles in every one's life, granted Douglas fought an amazing fight for something he wanted. I am not sure I would have fought so hard, I think I would have just bowed out like the rest of the slaves and accepted that it was to be my fate.

experiences in writing before English 100

Ø  Before this course, what did you anticipate?

I honestly, didn't know what to expect. I definitely didn't expect you. I thought my professor would be the proverbial, bi-focal twirling, gray haired lady that was my English teacher in high school. It's funny where our mind takes us.

Ø  What were you unsure of and why?

I was unsure of everything, I still am. I remember writing a research paper my senior year on the paranormal and getting an A. That is about the extent of the knowledge I retained. I have been out of the "learning" classroom so long, I was afraid it would be to hard for me to catch up or grasp anything.

Ø  Discuss your process as a reader and as a writer.

 I have written in a journal sporadically through my life. It was just notes when my life would get really chaotic, other than work related writing, I have no real experience. I do read all the time, I really think that is what is saving my nether region right now. I think I am so used to seeing words on paper and the form, that I must have picked some things up from there. I read everything! I love to read.

dicussing the two essays, Whitfield(300) and Barnett-Bey(279)

Granted I am not in class, I just wanted you to know that I read, both of the essays and of course the one's in which they were referring too.

Nov. 15 - Discuss “Reading and Writing:  A Journey Through My Life” by Hilary Whitfield (300) and “Read With Purpose” by Cheryl Barnett-Bey (279). Discuss the connection to Task Four.

 

I did not care for, "Reading and Writing: A Journey Through My Life" by Hilary Whitfield. I thought it was random and she overused the "reading and writing" comment so much, I wanted to strangle myself. I did some editing in my book. I know I am just learning, but I don't think she had a good connection or feel for what she was writing. However, there were some statements on pg. 300, that I liked. When she is talking about how parent read to us and help us in learning to write, she mentions " to expand our imagination." I like that. Also she mention that she reads fiction and she likes "to journey throughout a book." I connected to that.I totally agree with her opinions and the relationship she has with books, for that is also how I feel.

 

In "Read With Purpose", by Cheryl Barnett-Bey, I connected personally to what she had to say. I had to read the essay, "The love of Books",by Gloria Naylor, to "read" for myself, where she was coming from. I too, use writing as an out. I way to release emotions or just random thoughts I can't seem to figure out in my head. It seems if I write them down and then go back and look, I get the "aha" moment. I really liked this essay.

 

I actually think I am going to use: "The love of books" and "Watcher at the Gates", for my task 4. I am not sure "Watcher is approved". If you could please let me know, thanks. I would like to work on that today, I think.

For Mom: just writing

Your strength is so amazing
you bend but never break.
Your love, your courage and your faith
"It's from GOD, is what you'd say.
You are so very gentle
in your words and your way.
But when someone makes you mad
Look out! For Heaven's sake!
I love you so much for who you are
my mom, my keeper, my friend.
I could never stand as straight as you
but I will try until the end.
I have a great role model
keeping up is quite a chore.
You are just so fabulous
I could never love you more.