Final Reflection:
My experience with small group workshop was extremely helpful. It was very useful to be able to hear other peers and teacher suggestions while trying to improve my essay. Hearing good and suggestive comments also helped boost my confidence in my writing. My skills have evolved from being shy and self conscience of my writing to being more open minded and useful. I now know how to comment precisely on others work, what to look for, and how to make suggestions that will not offend any writers. My understanding of writing has changed as I now understand how to compose different types of papers. For example, I really liked the inquiry essay because I had not heard of writing a research paper that also included your own opinions and thoughts along with the research. I feel as if my strengths consisted of being able to convey my messages and meaning accurately and to point out the big issue instead of small grammatical errors. I think my weaknesses that I need to continue to work on is being more open minded and trying out new ideas, formats, and perspectives.
- Discuss your experience of the small group workshop, and how your peer review skills have evolved over the semester. How has being involved in the workshop shaped your understanding of writing? What aspects of the workshop helped you in revising your essay? (Be specific. For example, maybe reading someone else's paper gave you a great idea - explain why. Look back over the responses you received - which were most helpful to you and why?) Think back on the reviews you wrote - what were your strengths? weaknesses?
My experience with small group workshop was extremely helpful. It was very useful to be able to hear other peers and teacher suggestions while trying to improve my essay. Hearing good and suggestive comments also helped boost my confidence in my writing. My skills have evolved from being shy and self conscience of my writing to being more open minded and useful. I now know how to comment precisely on others work, what to look for, and how to make suggestions that will not offend any writers. My understanding of writing has changed as I now understand how to compose different types of papers. For example, I really liked the inquiry essay because I had not heard of writing a research paper that also included your own opinions and thoughts along with the research. I feel as if my strengths consisted of being able to convey my messages and meaning accurately and to point out the big issue instead of small grammatical errors. I think my weaknesses that I need to continue to work on is being more open minded and trying out new ideas, formats, and perspectives.
- What have you learned about writing that you think will help you in other courses?
First, I have learned new techniques to get me started on my writing. For example, the concept map and proposal; both aspects allow me to plan out what I would like to say and to thinks of new ideas to indulge in. Next, I have learned that is it okay to stray from tradition when it comes to my writing. I do not always have to follow the five paragraph essay with an introduction, three main points, and a conclusions. Readers actually find your paper more interesting if something is different or stories are included. These new learned abilities will help me compose overall more efficient papers in my other courses.
- What connections have you noticed this semester? You can interpret this question however you want. Here are some connections you might explore: between our class and other classes, past or current? Between things you've learned in the past, and things you heard in this class? Between your inquiry topic, your other classes, or the topics of other people in this class? Between things you read during workshop?
The main connection I see during this 1102 UWRT class is on something I heard in this class. All throughout high school I was taught the format of a strict five paragraph essay. In this class, I was taught that it is okay to make my paper my own and not follow the normal example. It is okay to include subheadings, write in first person, have as many paragraphs as I want, and to include my own voice. Readers and other writer often find papers "that have been made their own" more interesting and better written anyways. Sometimes it is good to not follow tradition and set your own format.
- Choose a song that represents your experience in this class, and explain why (be specific).
The song I have chose is Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. I would like to focus mainly on certain lyrics that comes towards the beginning of the song and part of the chorus. This lyrics are:
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The reason I chose this songs and this particular lyrics is because they convey a message of letting go of all fears or stress and just getting the words down on paper. Not worrying about what it looks like, just writing what you want to start off with. This is how I was at the beginning of this class. I worried to much and had a fear of writing because I thought I was no good. Now I know that letting go of these fears and stress will help in the long run, especially with a first draft. Also these lyrics portray a message of living life with an open mind. This represents my experience in this class and I have come to learn to have an open mind when it comes to writing. Finally, "the rest is still unwritten" so make it what you want it to be.