1. As far as "incidents" go, I am not really sure what it is that you are asking about. I remember all of our essays and our movies we got to watch and our discussions we had regarding our essays. What stands out to me most about our incidents is our timed in class writing essay on the shadow. I had some extreme anxiety when it came to that essay not only being timed, but also just the whole shadow concept. I don't know why maybe it is because I try to read into it too much or make it more difficult than what it really has to be, I am not sure.
2. Of all of our essays I enjoyed the Mulan essay which for me was about Fairy tales. It was probably my favorite because it was easier for me to write and it just seemed to come together a whole lot better than any of my other essays that I wrote, which made me feel more comfortable about it. My least favorite was the shadow and I feel like I keep writing about this essay not being my favorite, so I am not complaining about it, I just personally had a hard time with it, I guess I just had a hard time with it and read in to it more than I should have. I looked at a few of my peers essays after they were all graded, and it seemed as though their essays were good but simple and I seemed to make my thoughts about the whole thing way more difficult than I needed.
3. Well I write all of the time...haha! but as far as writing for my essays, I write at night when everyone in my house is asleep or at home when no one else is there. I am not a fast writer, believe it or not I like to organize my points related to my thesis and sometimes my thoughts don't seem so organized when I put it on paper, but when I start to write, I write my thesis, then originally at the beginning of the semester I would list my points to support my thesis, a few ideas to support my points and then start putting it together. I use pen or pencil when I write out my outline for my paper then I start typing on my computer and follow my outline.
4. I wouldn't say that I have a time limit when I type, type until I get my ideas and thoughts out on paper and make sure I have met my requirements, so it could be an hour or it could be six hours off and on. When I finish an essay how do I feel? Well, it depends on how I feel about the paper. When I finish, I print the paper off and then I start making corrections and notes on the hard copy so that I can fix my mistakes or reword something that doesn't sound clear. Then I fix my errors.
5. I somewhat explained my writing process in number 4, so to answer what is the hardest for me, I would have to say that I still have difficulty sometimes with my thesis and if it is narrow enough and not too broad. The easiest for me? I guess re writing and proofing, it seems like I can always find things that I can fix or change on my papers.
6. Peer editing, to be honest it didn't help me much at all. I would rather hear your feedback as an instructor. I mean don't get me wrong, I have classmates read my paper after I write it, or my husband at home, but reading it to my husband is kind of like doing the peer editing here. He always says "it sounds good" well he isn't the pro, so I really don't take a whole lot of what he says into consideration...is that bad? I am just trying to say that I REALLY liked being able to have conferences with you to hear your suggestions and to have you help me see a different side or clarify what you were wanting in my essay. One thing that I would have liked in class that you didn't do was for not only our peers to comment on our blogs and our blackboard assignments but for you to comment also. There were some things that I would have liked to hear your thoughts on also. Not a big deal but it would have been nice to see what you thought too.
7. Problems I encountered, I would say in my first 3 essays I had a hard time making my thoughts sound clear on paper, I had it all organized in my outline but then I was trying to incorporate my experiences like in the Me Search paper and I had not ever done that before, so I then shared too much of my experience and then it was a subject that I really enjoyed and knew a lot about, so then I had too much information that not everyone knew, so it may have seemed like it needed to be cited when actually I didn't get it from a source, so that was difficult for me. The shadow essay...well honestly I wish I could have just learned about it and read everything you gave us and discussed it in class, but that essay to me was a disaster...There were many times that I felt like I had come up against a brick wall and didn't know where to go with my ideas or there weren't any ideas there for me and I didn't know what to do. Finally on my Mulan essay that part clicked for me and I decided to take an entirely different approach..and instead of finding points to support my thesis, I did the opposite and thought of points to argue my thesis which I was able to defend much easier if any of that makes sense. After I took that approach it was much easier for me to write that paper.
8. How do I feel about writing? I like writing, I wish I was a better writer. Now I don't mean that I want to be a journalist by any means, but I do enjoy it and I hope to continue to grow as a writer in my future. I think that I have become a better writer as I look back over the semester. This has been a challenging course but I am glad I got to take it and am thankful to have a "real" instructor who was there to help us grow as writers.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Process Journal 5
I am excited about this essay much more than any of my other essay's. I enjoyed all of the writings that we went over of Maxine Kingston's about Fa Mulan and the movie of Mulan, I didn't get much help from the Fa Mulan poem, but I did enjoy the topic of the fairy tales. I was pretty excited about the fairy tale topic in class last week and I have to be honest when I got home and started this essay I had a mind freeze and it was like I hit a brick wall! I thought I was going to be in trouble! After sitting down and stepping away from it and making notes about it, I finally sat down and put it all together and felt really good about it...thank the Lord! I did feel like I knew a lot about fairy tales and I also brought in another source that was not given to us along with the three others that were necessary in our essay.
As far as the thesis goes, I knew what I wanted to write about but sometimes I have a hard time getting those thoughts down on paper, so I had to tweak it a few times before coming to a conclusion. I felt pretty good about the sources that we had for this essay, once again I didn't get much from the poem though. As far as learning from the shadow essay.....I have to be honest, I did not like the shadow essay at all! It was very difficult for me for some reason and I think like I said in class, after being in nursing for awhile my mind just doesn't seem to think that deep into the analytical side of it, I felt like it was too psycho analytical.
I think that going over the sources together more than we did with the shadow helped a lot more. It seemed as though the shadow essay we flew through the sources and didn't get a good understanding of them....I still don't think I understand it even after writing my rough draft and final paper. :) As far as doing anything differently I would have maybe added a couple other sources maybe to support the fairy tale idea further and not just use Mulan. The sources were great for some of the other essay topics we could write about, but if you chose fairy tales like I did, it was kind of hard to talk about fairy tales and only be able to use one as a source.
My strengths and weaknesses. I have learned that my strengths are still the basics, the fundamentals of writing, I think I am a good writer, but sometimes I have a hard time getting my thoughts down without them being all over, even when I sit down and do an outline with my thesis and my points to support etc... but I am working on that and hope to get better with time. As far as improving, I can always improve and that is what I plan on doing. I need to work specifically on organizing my thoughts and making my essay run smoother which I hope that with this last essay we just wrote I will have very much improved.
As far as the thesis goes, I knew what I wanted to write about but sometimes I have a hard time getting those thoughts down on paper, so I had to tweak it a few times before coming to a conclusion. I felt pretty good about the sources that we had for this essay, once again I didn't get much from the poem though. As far as learning from the shadow essay.....I have to be honest, I did not like the shadow essay at all! It was very difficult for me for some reason and I think like I said in class, after being in nursing for awhile my mind just doesn't seem to think that deep into the analytical side of it, I felt like it was too psycho analytical.
I think that going over the sources together more than we did with the shadow helped a lot more. It seemed as though the shadow essay we flew through the sources and didn't get a good understanding of them....I still don't think I understand it even after writing my rough draft and final paper. :) As far as doing anything differently I would have maybe added a couple other sources maybe to support the fairy tale idea further and not just use Mulan. The sources were great for some of the other essay topics we could write about, but if you chose fairy tales like I did, it was kind of hard to talk about fairy tales and only be able to use one as a source.
My strengths and weaknesses. I have learned that my strengths are still the basics, the fundamentals of writing, I think I am a good writer, but sometimes I have a hard time getting my thoughts down without them being all over, even when I sit down and do an outline with my thesis and my points to support etc... but I am working on that and hope to get better with time. As far as improving, I can always improve and that is what I plan on doing. I need to work specifically on organizing my thoughts and making my essay run smoother which I hope that with this last essay we just wrote I will have very much improved.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Process Journal 4
The shadow concept to me was very interesting. As far as using it for an essay topic it made me very confused while writing it. I did enjoy reading about it and learning about the shadow concept I just found it difficult to write about and make it understandable. I felt as if the concept was explained well, but it was one of those topics that you really had to think about and try to completely understand yourself before being able to put it on paper. It was almost like writing a psych paper. I am not happy with my essay that I wrote, and I think it would have been much better if I would have had time to organize my thoughts, and make my thoughts more clear before writing the essay.
The time constraint was not beneficial to me at all! I think the topic was maybe too deep of a topic for a one hour time frame. I am very glad that we get to revise this essay because my essay will be a completely different essay by the time I am done with it. I definitely know that I have to revise my writings before handing them in, and this is something I do many times before handing it in.
I did read all of my sources before the class, and wrote out my thoughts and made notes on my papers, I think it was hard because I didn't know what the question was so it was hard for me to write out my thoughts after reading the questions and then trying to organize it so it didn't all run together, but that didn't happen because of the time allowed. I will be making more notes, and will have my understand my own thoughts before writing my next paper.
Like I said I enjoyed this topic because I find it very interesting, I just had a hard time with the time allowed and putting my thoughts on paper without it all sounding all run together.
I am hoping to keep improving on my writing and being a bit quicker with my responses so that I am more prepared next time we have a timed essay that is due.
The time constraint was not beneficial to me at all! I think the topic was maybe too deep of a topic for a one hour time frame. I am very glad that we get to revise this essay because my essay will be a completely different essay by the time I am done with it. I definitely know that I have to revise my writings before handing them in, and this is something I do many times before handing it in.
I did read all of my sources before the class, and wrote out my thoughts and made notes on my papers, I think it was hard because I didn't know what the question was so it was hard for me to write out my thoughts after reading the questions and then trying to organize it so it didn't all run together, but that didn't happen because of the time allowed. I will be making more notes, and will have my understand my own thoughts before writing my next paper.
Like I said I enjoyed this topic because I find it very interesting, I just had a hard time with the time allowed and putting my thoughts on paper without it all sounding all run together.
I am hoping to keep improving on my writing and being a bit quicker with my responses so that I am more prepared next time we have a timed essay that is due.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Process Journal 3
I believe my weaknesses as a writer include I guess I would call my random thoughts and trying to leave them out of my writing. My next weakness is still the researching process and last would be probably citing, but I think that has gotten better with my last essay. As far as becoming aware of them, I realize something else every time I reread my essays, which I guess is a good thing that I keep learning as I do it. I think that I am improving every time I write, which I think is important to always keep getting better when we write because who is the perfect writer?
Fundamentals of writing are probably my strong points. I feel like I write my papers well as far as the content, grammar and punctuation. Of course I always have things that need to be improved which I think should be for everyone. I think another strong point is my organization of my material, well it is organized, it may not transition well, but I am working on that!
As far as how my writing has been over this semester, I think I had a moment of brain cell loss at the beginning..I have been writing APA style for nursing for so long that when I switched over to MLA again it was like learning it all over again. That's okay, I enjoy MLA much better than APA any day! I think my writing is improving, and I really appreciate all of the resources that we get in class! They help out tremendously and are much better than the books we had to purchase for this class.
The conference was very helpful to me. I had never done that before with an instructor, and I think it was a good idea since every student is at a different level and it is hard to help each one individually with specifics, and that way we all got to address our own concerns with you and got to hear your suggestions for improvement. I hope to continue to improve not just through this semester but forever.
Fundamentals of writing are probably my strong points. I feel like I write my papers well as far as the content, grammar and punctuation. Of course I always have things that need to be improved which I think should be for everyone. I think another strong point is my organization of my material, well it is organized, it may not transition well, but I am working on that!
As far as how my writing has been over this semester, I think I had a moment of brain cell loss at the beginning..I have been writing APA style for nursing for so long that when I switched over to MLA again it was like learning it all over again. That's okay, I enjoy MLA much better than APA any day! I think my writing is improving, and I really appreciate all of the resources that we get in class! They help out tremendously and are much better than the books we had to purchase for this class.
The conference was very helpful to me. I had never done that before with an instructor, and I think it was a good idea since every student is at a different level and it is hard to help each one individually with specifics, and that way we all got to address our own concerns with you and got to hear your suggestions for improvement. I hope to continue to improve not just through this semester but forever.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
I had a good idea of what I wanted my thesis to be, but I had to narrow it about three times. I still think it was a little broad, but I think that my paper supported my thesis. My paper did have a lot of information and details in which I hope it didn't sound too complicated, but it was on a topic that is true to me and that I am pretty knowledgeable about so I wrote it as if the person reading it didn't understand anything about it and I also described each aspect of my thesis in my paper which I learned that we needed to do last week.
I enjoyed the Me-Search part of the essay as far as using an experience or something we were familiar with to help write the paper, but I was still a little unsure exactly how much we needed to put in there or if I was doing it correctly. As far as incorporating documentation into the essay, I personally don't care for it, I understand that it has to be done, but I like to write, but it is hard for me to search for research material and incorporate it into my paper and then the proper citations and all of that gets frustrating sometimes especially with the book that we have it is difficult, not very user friendly. I wouldn't say that it adds a level of complexity to MY papers, I think personally it adds some confusion because when I get to writing and then have to stop and add in my information from my research sometimes I don't feel like it connects well or it sounds out of place.
I also had a hard time with the library periodicals and finding what I needed from that. Everything that I pulled up showed the detail of the article but when I went to look at the full text, it wouldn't pull it up or print it out....very frustrating, I also had trouble finding something to relate to my subject. So on my 2nd draft I have 3-4 sources, but I still cannot get my library stuff to open correctly or print correctly so that I can see the full text version. So I am still having difficulty with that.
I am not totally satisfied with my essay at the moment, I know I need to add more sources from the library periodical stuff, but I also felt like I was telling a story with this me-search idea. I did have one opposing thought in there, but I am not sure that is really what you wanted or not.
I know I can write and I have always done well in all my English courses, but I feel a little out of sorts with this class. I enjoy Mr. Stalides and everything he provides to us, but maybe I feel somewhat "thrown to the wolves" but hopefully we will have things a bit more clear after this week. I am glad we get to have our conference to discuss everything the week when we come back.
I enjoyed the Me-Search part of the essay as far as using an experience or something we were familiar with to help write the paper, but I was still a little unsure exactly how much we needed to put in there or if I was doing it correctly. As far as incorporating documentation into the essay, I personally don't care for it, I understand that it has to be done, but I like to write, but it is hard for me to search for research material and incorporate it into my paper and then the proper citations and all of that gets frustrating sometimes especially with the book that we have it is difficult, not very user friendly. I wouldn't say that it adds a level of complexity to MY papers, I think personally it adds some confusion because when I get to writing and then have to stop and add in my information from my research sometimes I don't feel like it connects well or it sounds out of place.
I also had a hard time with the library periodicals and finding what I needed from that. Everything that I pulled up showed the detail of the article but when I went to look at the full text, it wouldn't pull it up or print it out....very frustrating, I also had trouble finding something to relate to my subject. So on my 2nd draft I have 3-4 sources, but I still cannot get my library stuff to open correctly or print correctly so that I can see the full text version. So I am still having difficulty with that.
I am not totally satisfied with my essay at the moment, I know I need to add more sources from the library periodical stuff, but I also felt like I was telling a story with this me-search idea. I did have one opposing thought in there, but I am not sure that is really what you wanted or not.
I know I can write and I have always done well in all my English courses, but I feel a little out of sorts with this class. I enjoy Mr. Stalides and everything he provides to us, but maybe I feel somewhat "thrown to the wolves" but hopefully we will have things a bit more clear after this week. I am glad we get to have our conference to discuss everything the week when we come back.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Process Journal #1
The reason I chose the thesis that I did was because I agree with it, there are many determining factors that play a part in deciding whether or not killing is ever justifiable. I still agree with my decision to use this thesis.
The purpose of our first essay was to answer a point based off of the movie Road to Perdition given by Mr. Stalides. I chose to answer "Is there ever a time when killing is justified?" I felt like I clarified my point that there are many factors that play a part in determining whether or not it can ever be justified. The confusing part for me when writing this essay and trying to make my point was that there are a lot of questions that can be continually asked when making my arguments. So I had a few question statements in my essay and I wasn't sure if that was appropriate necessarily but I felt like I needed to put them in there, so I guess I need to clarify that with Mr. Stalides if that is okay or not.
I try very hard to write my papers in peace and quiet....that is not always as easy as it sounds at my house. I have two little girls ages 5 and 6 and my husband works until 7:15pm every night, so writing my essays usually consist of "mom, she hit me", "mom, I'm hungry", "mom, I need a drink", or I usually write late at night, that seems to be the best time for me to study and write my papers. I have been doing that now for 2 years and my body has become accustomed to late night studying. I get everyone fed, bathed, and down for bed and then it is time to work. It is probably not the best choice, but it works the best for me, there are usually less distractions.
I always start out just writing out my thoughts based on my topic I have to write about or my thesis and try to build on those. Once I feel like I have enough for my essay then I try to organize it on paper, not writing it out, but more like an outline. Then I sit down and type out my essay. After I have typed it out, I then look for my research to back up my thoughts in my paper or anything I think would help support what I have written. Once I have that then I try to work it into my essay. Once I have all of that done, then I type my rough draft. I do all of my typing at home, at my computer desk in my living room. Usually tired is my typical mood. I am also in the nursing program working on my RN, getting ready to graduate in May, so I am a full time mom, student, maid, cook, bookkeeper, taxi service, and up until August also worked full time. So, to say the least it has taken a toll on this "non-traditional" student.
I am pretty excited about how Mr. Stalides has set up so many resources for us on our blackboard and how he is current with the times. It is nice to have a young, open-minded, willing professor to help you grow as a writer! I enjoy having class in the computer lab! I think just like with nursing, you learn more when you have hands on experience. It gets very monogamous to sit in a class and listen to lecture and do exercises out of a book. I enjoy doing our blog and having Mr. Stalides there to show us new things to help us learn and grow.
I only had a couple problems with this first essay and my first one has been fixed already, which was my blackboard classes not being on my class list. So, I couldn't get on blackboard to get the assignment in the first place, and the week it was announced, my whole family was sick and we had been out of class for a week due to the Ice Storm of 2009, so I had missed the details given out in class. So, I finally got my access on blackboard the afternoon that our rough draft was due, so I had to throw it together very quickly! My other concern is the works cited page and doing the cites in the writing, I don't think the book is very clear, it just throws it all together it seems and sometimes it seems like the kind of cite you are looking for is not the exact way that it is in the book. (Mr. Stalides work your magic on getting that book changed for future students) So, I have some growing to do on the works cited but I think that with some discussion in class about it and getting to work with it more we will be able to conquer that concern.
As far as changing the way I do my essay, of course I will make changes. If I didn't make changes a long the way I wouln't become a better writer. Life is about change, and I believe in change, though some may think of it as a scarey thing, I believe it makes you grow.
The purpose of our first essay was to answer a point based off of the movie Road to Perdition given by Mr. Stalides. I chose to answer "Is there ever a time when killing is justified?" I felt like I clarified my point that there are many factors that play a part in determining whether or not it can ever be justified. The confusing part for me when writing this essay and trying to make my point was that there are a lot of questions that can be continually asked when making my arguments. So I had a few question statements in my essay and I wasn't sure if that was appropriate necessarily but I felt like I needed to put them in there, so I guess I need to clarify that with Mr. Stalides if that is okay or not.
I try very hard to write my papers in peace and quiet....that is not always as easy as it sounds at my house. I have two little girls ages 5 and 6 and my husband works until 7:15pm every night, so writing my essays usually consist of "mom, she hit me", "mom, I'm hungry", "mom, I need a drink", or I usually write late at night, that seems to be the best time for me to study and write my papers. I have been doing that now for 2 years and my body has become accustomed to late night studying. I get everyone fed, bathed, and down for bed and then it is time to work. It is probably not the best choice, but it works the best for me, there are usually less distractions.
I always start out just writing out my thoughts based on my topic I have to write about or my thesis and try to build on those. Once I feel like I have enough for my essay then I try to organize it on paper, not writing it out, but more like an outline. Then I sit down and type out my essay. After I have typed it out, I then look for my research to back up my thoughts in my paper or anything I think would help support what I have written. Once I have that then I try to work it into my essay. Once I have all of that done, then I type my rough draft. I do all of my typing at home, at my computer desk in my living room. Usually tired is my typical mood. I am also in the nursing program working on my RN, getting ready to graduate in May, so I am a full time mom, student, maid, cook, bookkeeper, taxi service, and up until August also worked full time. So, to say the least it has taken a toll on this "non-traditional" student.
I am pretty excited about how Mr. Stalides has set up so many resources for us on our blackboard and how he is current with the times. It is nice to have a young, open-minded, willing professor to help you grow as a writer! I enjoy having class in the computer lab! I think just like with nursing, you learn more when you have hands on experience. It gets very monogamous to sit in a class and listen to lecture and do exercises out of a book. I enjoy doing our blog and having Mr. Stalides there to show us new things to help us learn and grow.
I only had a couple problems with this first essay and my first one has been fixed already, which was my blackboard classes not being on my class list. So, I couldn't get on blackboard to get the assignment in the first place, and the week it was announced, my whole family was sick and we had been out of class for a week due to the Ice Storm of 2009, so I had missed the details given out in class. So, I finally got my access on blackboard the afternoon that our rough draft was due, so I had to throw it together very quickly! My other concern is the works cited page and doing the cites in the writing, I don't think the book is very clear, it just throws it all together it seems and sometimes it seems like the kind of cite you are looking for is not the exact way that it is in the book. (Mr. Stalides work your magic on getting that book changed for future students) So, I have some growing to do on the works cited but I think that with some discussion in class about it and getting to work with it more we will be able to conquer that concern.
As far as changing the way I do my essay, of course I will make changes. If I didn't make changes a long the way I wouln't become a better writer. Life is about change, and I believe in change, though some may think of it as a scarey thing, I believe it makes you grow.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Writing Strengths and Weaknesses
As far as my strengths of writing, I believe that I have a good basic foundation. I enjoy writing. My weakness I believe is the technicalities of formatting, I think that after having to write in APA and the MLA changing around over the last 10 years of me being in college it gets a little confusing at times. I am looking forward to this class and building my formatting skills.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
