Being a part of ENGL 1A has given me a better view on my writing. I have not been the best writer in elementary and middle school, but every semester in high school, I kept on progressing little by little on writing assignments, such as the teachers giving us graphic organizer to start each paragraph. But in ENGL 1A, I have changed significantly as a writer by formulating an effective thesis statement that focuses on the essay’s argument and advance a clear assertion about the subject. Like Lost connections and Igens, after I get done with reading the book, I go back and read the chapters that I am assigned in class and write down little notes based on the topic and start to formulate what to write for each paragraph in my graphic organizer I created in my notebook. One of my goals that I met during the semester was to ask for help when I need it. I have accomplished that goal by going to TC sessions every time I needed clarification on what to write about and write notes down from the session. In addition, I have gone to the writing center for additional help on starting body paragraphs if I still had trouble understanding what to write about.
As a researcher, I have learned that there are multiple sources of finding research on your topic. Such as CQ researcher, google scholar, and Gale eBooks, those 3 are my primary sources where I get my research on. Like if I need to research events on police brutality on minorities, CQ researcher would be my first option because they go into detail on what happened on a certain day and how it happened. Learning about a subjects biography like marine chemistry, I would use Gale eBooks because it gives you a whole description on the subject, for instance, how it was made, what relates to it, and what elements are connected with it. Looking up articles on a topic I would be doing for a class would be for google scholar because no one can edit what the author says like wikipedia, it gives me an abstract about the whole article, while it gives me a pdf version of the article too.
Revisions I have made during this semester was the feedback that was given to me for every paper I have written in ENGL 1A. When I receive the feedback information for my paper, I take note on what to improve on or word choice on how to make the paragraph understandable. Like rewriting the lost connections project, when I first wrote it, it did not have a target audience, the information was a little vague, and some of the connections were relevant but did not correspond with the rubric. I had to rewrite this part of the project and after I turned it in, it made sense by making my evidence connect with my claim, had a target audience, and went into detail as I was writing it.
As a reader, I have changed outstandingly by paying attention to detail. For instance, while reading igen, I take some quotes that could go with the project and make some type of connection while writing the paper. Most of the time, I would read the rubric for that project and get a small headstart on what to write about, that is when I reread the each chapter we are assigned to write a golden line about and write down quotes that can make a connection with the paper. I have progressed as a reader throughout the semester by rereading chapters in a book I am assigned to read memorizing the topic of each chapter. Basically creating a short summary in my head.
As a writer, I have changed significantly by writing down sentences that I think is important to discuss in class. I read over the chapters we have to do a golden line on. First I write some potential golden lines that I understand, then I pick the golden line based on what I understand the most. At the end, I would come up to 5 potential goldene lines. Sometimes I write a preview of what I could talk about in class. Like talking about a quote that I do not understand or why I like the quote. Sometimes I agree with the author and sometimes I disagree. I have progressed as a writer by writing little notes on what each chapter is about and if we have a discussion about it, I share what I wrote about it and explain why I liked it. It also gives me pointers on how I could start on a body paragraph about one of the chapters.
Going into ENGL 1C with the knowledge I gained from being in ENGL 1A would be tricky at first but when a few weeks go by, I will know what to do for each assignment. I feel like I know the necessary skills for ENGL 1C after taking ENGL 1A by remembering the 4 t’s, talking to the text, CRAP test for each source I look up for a paper, and always write a rough draft instead of writing it without a full plan. The skills that I learned in ENGL 1A will help me get through classes by writing down little notes from what I understood from the lesson and use it for a class discussion. I can even record some notes down in case of a writing assignment and be prepared to write about the topic. Also, I can use the 4 t’s method when reading a book for class, it can be a preview quote that I can make while writing the paper and make a connection.
Overall, the grade I think I deserve would be a B, but I want an A. The reason why I want an A in ENGL 1A is because I have participated in some of our discussions and learned what to fix on whatever statement I made and make it different or better. I have gone to TC sessions 7 times. I did not notice it until my 7th signature and after my classmates told me I needed 3 signatures. I was not focused on the signatures, I was focused on getting extra help with writing the papers. Reasons why I deserve a B is because I have done every essay assignment and turned it in on time, sometimes I ask to turn it on a different day. After I get done with the first draft and get feedback on how I can make it better, I would go straight to the library and work on it there or work on it on my laptop. Also, the group I was in for the iGen project, all of us made contributions on our roles, like we had different topics to look up and write about that makes a connection with igen’ers. My role was to write about how igens will impact future businesses. We followed the requirements that can make the essay a complete the essay. I have check marks on all assignments that we did as a class. Some used to be X because I turned the assignment in on time but the wrong location. Like I posted it on my website but did not turn it in on canvas because I thought the teacher could automatically look at our websites. In conclusion, being a part of ENGL 1A has enhanced my reading and writing skills for the real world by using methods like the 4t’s, CRAP test, and quote sandwich structure.
Cj Blogs 