Sunday, May 3, 2009

Favorite Links

My favorite Links
http://www.cnn.com/
www.theweathernetwork.com/

gardensgardens.wordpress.com
www.youtube.com
http://us.mg201.mail.yahoo.com/
http://www.cnn.com/

English 111 Refections

Vera Norfleet
English 111-28
Reflections
05-03-09
Challenging
Challenging is the first word that comes to my mind when I look back on the last 15 months in English 111. I use the word challenging because writing has always been a bad word to me. I remember as far back as elementary school telling my mom that I did not like to write. My mother said that I got that I inherited that from her because she did not like to write also. So writing has always been a challenge to me.
I when remember my first day in English 111 when Mr. Gasparo advised the class that you would need to be computer literate in his class and if you were not you may want to consider transferring to another English 111 class. I was kind of thrown back when he said that because I thought that he only wanted computer geeks in his class. I decided to stay even though I knew I wasn’t any way near to being a computer wiz. After a few classes I understood what the concept of his class was about and that is to step outside of the box and experience new ways of writing.
Now when I write I try to use the rhetorical appeals, focus more on my audience and present a more clear argument about my chosen topic. These are all things that I would never have done in the past. When I first learn about the rhetorical appeals (logos,ethos,pathos) it was very challenging to have use each one twice in a writing assignment. I welcomed the challenge of each assignment and the more papers I write the more comfortable I become.
Writing a blog has been another experience that I would have never have done if I hadn’t been in Mr. Gasparo class. I asked fellow English 111 peers and no one I’ve talked too had to write a blog. I thought writing a blog would put me outside my comfort zone, but I’ve always encouraged my daughter to step outside her comfort zone and now it is my time. Writing the blog was not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be, my problem is that I have a problem sharing my feelings and thoughts with others.
I really enjoyed the different reading assignments that we had in the class especially the different songs that we had to analyze, listen and review in class; it was a different way to look at writing styles and revision. Another challenge that I appreciated was having my peers critique my assignment. This was challenging because I felt that my peers would know how bad my writing skills were and would judge me accordingly. What I did find out is that everyone has their own challenges and the reason that we all are in this class is because when need to learn or build upon whatever writing skill that that we have or don’t have.
In conclusion my overall experience in English 111 has been a good experience, even though I have had unexpected personal problems that caused to me to loose focus on some of my assignments, but with the encouragement from my instructor I was able to complete them taking one day at a time. I am now looking forward to my next English class which I will approach each challenge step by step and pledge to do my best on each assignment.

My reflections of English 111