Childhood was great for me.  I was what you call a “popular nerd”.  I had friends, I was social.  People invited me to their Dora the Explorer themed birthday parties, and yet I was a nerd.  I fully accept and have grown fond of the title nerd.  I think it means something different to everyone.  To someone else, it might mean you’re awkward, don’t know when to stop talking about computers, or you rarely go outside.  To me, it means you like to learn and to get a better understanding of the world around you, and there’s nothing wrong with that.  Someone has to know what’s going on.

            I grew up loving school.  While others would dread going back after summer break, I looked forward to it.  I was excited to learn something new.  During summer break, I would always do the summer reading program at the library and read well over the required number to get a prize.  I would, and admittedly still do, carry a book around with me at all times.  My family jokes that instead of a security blanket, I had a security book.  In my defense, you never know when you’re going to find a good place to read!  Okay, back to the issue at hand.  

            Reading has always been my comfort and my escape.  If given five minutes alone with a book, I could be in a completely different world.  I could be anywhere but Lincoln, NE.  My favorite were the books that were in different countries.  I would imagine what the people would dress like and sound like.  I would think in a British accent when I was reading the book. I also loved the learning aspect of reading.  I’ve realized that when you read, you’re constantly learning and improving your mind.  The people that seem to know a little bit of everything, read a little bit of everything.  Another bonus of reading is I tend to use what I’m reading in my essays, if it applies.  I use the interesting words I’ve read and adapt some of the ideas if I like them.

            Reading is not only a portal to another world, it’s a tool, that when used, can enhance you’re writing and mind.  So yeah, I may be a nerd, and you can call me a nerd, but it’s not going to stop me from reading and loving to learn.  

            My process of writing was to research a little before writing the paper.  I didn’t want to become too biased or too knowledgeable right now because it was an opinion paper.  I then started to think of reasons that I believe the wage gap is still happening.  I looked up wage gap reasons again to see if my ideas were in line, or just to see what others had already thought of, and then it would guide me into focusing on my reasons.  I revised one of my points completely out.  I changed it from women don’t have access to education to how women are viewed in society.  I honestly didn’t have enough evidence to support that women don’t have the ability to go to college.  After looking at it, I didn’t think it was specific enough to women that it would affect their pay.  I chose how women are viewed in society because that has a direct effect on their pay.

            I think my voice in the paper is effective.  Since I’m a woman, and one that’s more interested in cutting through the bullshit, I think I offer an interesting perspective.  I believe readers can sympathize and agree with what I’m saying.  I also used an example that I think a lot of women would have experience with.  I shared a story of how my boss chose a male over me at doing something as simple as spreading deicer on the sidewalk.  I think women will think of times when that’s happened to them and realize that it could be happening to them.

            I feel I could’ve explained my reasons a bit more.  I don’t feel some where explained as well as I had hoped.  Since I couldn’t pull from outside sources, it was a bit hard for me to write just on my opinions or my experiences.  I think I could’ve added more of my experiences to help the reader see more examples of inequality in the work force or how the wage gap is actually harming women.

            I said above how I think my voice is effective, but I also feel it could be better.  I feel at times I’m a bit too blunt, or too preachy.  I want to get better at maintaining a calm, not in your face style of writing.  I think it’ll agree with more people that way.

            I’m writing this to let people know the wage gap still exists.  I’m just giving them the knowledge they need to know what the wage gap is and then they can set about changing it in their own work or wherever.  My audience is women.  Literally all women.  It’s important for women in the workforce, out of the workforce, girls who will grow up to get jobs, etc.  I can’t think of one example where this wouldn’t be helpful to a woman.  I would publish this on a news website online.  Something like CNN or NPR or something.  Somewhere online that it’d reach the most people.

Ms. Doty

Composition 1

August 20, 2018

            For the second essay, we needed to interview someone about our topic, but they had to have a different opinion or view point than us.  For me, I interviewed my sister, but I also had to pull in an outside source from online.  I didn’t want to, but my sister didn’t give me a whole lot to work with, so I had to see what else was out there.  I ended up using a Forbes.com article and I think it worked out okay.

            My process of writing this paper was to first write down the interview questions.  I didn’t know at first what to ask, but as I went on with writing the questions and then interviewing, they came naturally.  I then sat down with Olivia, my sister, and asked the questions.  It was a good interview.  I learned more about how she thought about the wage gap and why she thinks it’s not real.  We had a good conversation about it.

            I think my examples in this paper are effective.  My sister doesn’t do a lot of research and she’s a normal person.  Her perspective is probably like a lot of other people’s, so in that way, more people can relate to what she thinks and to this paper.  The one example I like is how Olivia says she works a minimum wage job and how she doesn’t think she makes less.  That relates to a lot of people.  I think that one will grab some people and they’ll think the same way and therefore be more interested.

            I could’ve done better with finding an interviewee.  There’s nothing wrong with Olivia, but maybe I should’ve picked someone that was more informed about why they think the wage gap isn’t real.  I just didn’t get enough from Olivia, as I said above.  I think she just didn’t know a lot about why she doesn’t think the wage gap is real.  She just kept saying I don’t know when I asked her to elaborate on why she didn’t think the wage gap is real.

            My purpose of this paper is to let people know the other side of the argument on wage gap.  My primary audience for this is women, like my other paper.  This can help women who also think like Olivia and like the Forbes.com article to see if they agree with me or with Olivia.  This piece would be good in a newspaper, or beside an article that says the wage gap is real.  This is just another side to the argument that people need to hear to form an opinion of their own.

Doty

Composition 1

August 31, 2018

            For this assignment, I wrote an argument paper without sources.  I started by looking at what I wrote before, especially my reasons, and I figured out some more solid reasons.  I feel my reasons got more concise and are narrowing down.  I think I did a good job with this paper.

            I started with a narrative that is hopefully relatable to some women in the workplace.  I thought it’d be a good hook and I could relate some of the reasons back to the story and make it seem more real.  I also revised one of my reasons from single parents being affected, which they still are, but to how society views women and the role that has on the wage gap.

            I feel my narrative was effective because it gave a real-life example.  I used a name, company and position that someone could relate to.  When I said Hannah just saw the paystub on the desk, I thought that was a smart touch because otherwise she wouldn’t know otherwise.

            I think my thesis could more concise and recognizable.  I don’t think ending my intro paragraph with the question why wasn’t necessarily a good thing.  I feel it was a bit elementary and I could’ve done it better.

            My purpose was to inform women of the wage gap and how they could be affected.  I wrote to tell women what could be happening within their job that they may not even be aware of.  I also think it could persuade them to ask themselves if they are being paid less.  

Doty

Composition 1

September 6, 2018

            For our final assignment, we were tasked to write an argument paper with sources.  Finally!  I used my last essay, but I put one of the reasons, that mothers/single mothers are unfairly paid, as a reason instead of women not having the resources to ask for more money.  I found more on how mothers are discriminated against and I thought that would be a better route to go in general.

            Since I used my essay 3, I didn’t have to start over with anything.  I just added the quotes to the paragraphs first, then I went back to add paraphrases or analysis as necessary.  I also added a paragraph talking about what it would look like if the wage gap didn’t exist, and I think that’s a cool feature of my paper.

           I chose the sources I did because they were the most relevant to my paper.  I used some research from .org websites to validate my reasons and to explain what could happen if the wage gap went away and how society views women, which is an integral part of my essay and the wage gap.  I couldn’t find anything as interesting or useful on the database, so that’s why I used .org websites.  I used research and stats to explain how much less women are making and how single mothers are treated and paid differently.  I feel using a mix of database and .org websites was effective because they both helped give the reader interesting and thought-provoking evidence.  Plus, they backed up my reasons and claims in each paragraph. 

 

Doty

 

Composition 1

 

September 17, 2018

 

            Well, it has been a journey.  I honestly loved taking this class.  I thought coming into it I would hate it because I wanted to be done with English.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I learned more than I thought I would, and I’ve gained a new, collegiate style of writing that I can use in my career.

            First, I want to say thank you Mrs. Doty.  I loved your teaching style and I love how this course was laid out.  I never felt too stressed about starting a new paper because the foundation was already there, as you intended.  It was a very thoughtful approach to English and to writing essays.  I also loved how we stuck with one topic.  While at times I felt like Spencer, thinking “how am I ever going to write 7 pages on one topic”, but I got there, and it was because of you and your teaching.

            I have come a long way through this short quarter.  I feel my writing has come a long way and changed the most.  I now know how to be more concise and how to better express what I am thinking.  Before, I would use a lot of fluff and unnecessary words to try to explain what I was thinking, but I have the tools now to get right to the main issue and dive in.  I also know how to cite my sources within the text and sentence.  In high school, they did not really help me, and I enjoyed learning how to cite the correct way.

Through this course, I have also become a better reader.  I look for the rhetorical elements and I think “what is the author wanting to tell me, and how are they doing it?  Are they doing a good job?  What is their thesis and what are their reasons?’’  I feel I read more in depth because of this class, and I love it.  I am not frustrated any more when I read.  I know what to look for and if I cannot find it, I look again and go line by line and find what I need. 

 By now, I feel I am a pro at note taking.  I have learned that I do not have to write down everything said or read.  I know how to decide what is important and what I may need later on.  Now when I read, write or take notes for other classes, I think of what I have learned here and apply it to the essay or assignment and I feel better about that assignment when I turn it in.

            As a student, I feel I have changed.  With this class, I have had to learn to budget my time appropriately.  This is not a write-it-overnight sort of class.  I had to set out time, and a lot of the time, I would walk away from my essay and come back so I could have a clear head, which I never had to do in high school.  I feel I have “grown-up” in a way.  I have had to prioritize school over hanging out with friends or had to take a night off work here or there.  Through this though, I have learned how to recognize how much time something will actually take to do a good job and I have set out time for this class and others.  

            Something else I enjoyed about this class was the materials we read.  I enjoyed learning more about immigrants and their perspective and struggle.  I like how we would talk about the current events and how you did not mind us getting off a little when it was something important.  I learned more about how to have an open mind and how to look at it from someone else’s point of view.  I learned how to not take anything at face value, and to turn it around, look at it from different angles, and then decide what I think of it.

            Something I did not think I would enjoy when you first introduced it was peer review.  Now, I am a believer.  I loved getting feedback from you and from my fellow students.  I would learn where my essay was falling short, or where I needed to add more to make it clear or whatever the case was.  I enjoyed hearing others talk about their topic and essay and I would get excited for them.  I could see their progress as well as mine with each paper I would read.  I think that was something special.  That you improve along with your peers, and that you could see that improvement with each paper.

            This first quarter of college has been interesting.  I have loved and hated it, but I have learned a lot.  I learned that English can actually be fun and intriguing.  I learned how to become a better reader, writer, student, and overall human.  I loved how we learned how to just be empathetic.  I think it was important to choose a social issue and to read about social issues.  It is so relevant and not talked about enough.  I enjoyed out discussions and when I would leave class, I felt we talked about important things.  It never felt like you were just trying to fill time or that you were counting down the minutes till class got out, and that was a welcome change from high school.  Overall, my takeaway from this class is how to be a better writer, reader, and human, and I think that is something special about this class and about your teaching.  Thank you for a wonderful quarter.

            

 

Doty

 

Composition 1

 

September 17, 2018

 

            Well, it has been a journey.  I honestly loved taking this class.  I thought coming into it I would hate it because I wanted to be done with English.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I learned more than I thought I would, and I’ve gained a new, collegiate style of writing that I can use in my career.

            First, I want to say thank you Mrs. Doty.  I loved your teaching style and I love how this course was laid out.  I never felt too stressed about starting a new paper because the foundation was already there, as you intended.  It was a very thoughtful approach to English and to writing essays.  I also loved how we stuck with one topic.  While at times I felt like Spencer, thinking “how am I ever going to write 7 pages on one topic”, but I got there, and it was because of you and your teaching.

            I have come a long way through this short quarter.  I feel my writing has come a long way and changed the most.  I now know how to be more concise and how to better express what I am thinking.  Before, I would use a lot of fluff and unnecessary words to try to explain what I was thinking, but I have the tools now to get right to the main issue and dive in.  I also know how to cite my sources within the text and sentence.  In high school, they did not really help me, and I enjoyed learning how to cite the correct way.

Through this course, I have also become a better reader.  I look for the rhetorical elements and I think “what is the author wanting to tell me, and how are they doing it?  Are they doing a good job?  What is their thesis and what are their reasons?’’  I feel I read more in depth because of this class, and I love it.  I am not frustrated any more when I read.  I know what to look for and if I cannot find it, I look again and go line by line and find what I need. 

 By now, I feel I am a pro at note taking.  I have learned that I do not have to write down everything said or read.  I know how to decide what is important and what I may need later on.  Now when I read, write or take notes for other classes, I think of what I have learned here and apply it to the essay or assignment and I feel better about that assignment when I turn it in.

            As a student, I feel I have changed.  With this class, I have had to learn to budget my time appropriately.  This is not a write-it-overnight sort of class.  I had to set out time, and a lot of the time, I would walk away from my essay and come back so I could have a clear head, which I never had to do in high school.  I feel I have “grown-up” in a way.  I have had to prioritize school over hanging out with friends or had to take a night off work here or there.  Through this though, I have learned how to recognize how much time something will actually take to do a good job and I have set out time for this class and others.  

            Something else I enjoyed about this class was the materials we read.  I enjoyed learning more about immigrants and their perspective and struggle.  I like how we would talk about the current events and how you did not mind us getting off a little when it was something important.  I learned more about how to have an open mind and how to look at it from someone else’s point of view.  I learned how to not take anything at face value, and to turn it around, look at it from different angles, and then decide what I think of it.

            Something I did not think I would enjoy when you first introduced it was peer review.  Now, I am a believer.  I loved getting feedback from you and from my fellow students.  I would learn where my essay was falling short, or where I needed to add more to make it clear or whatever the case was.  I enjoyed hearing others talk about their topic and essay and I would get excited for them.  I could see their progress as well as mine with each paper I would read.  I think that was something special.  That you improve along with your peers, and that you could see that improvement with each paper.

            This first quarter of college has been interesting.  I have loved and hated it, but I have learned a lot.  I learned that English can actually be fun and intriguing.  I learned how to become a better reader, writer, student, and overall human.  I loved how we learned how to just be empathetic.  I think it was important to choose a social issue and to read about social issues.  It is so relevant and not talked about enough.  I enjoyed out discussions and when I would leave class, I felt we talked about important things.  It never felt like you were just trying to fill time or that you were counting down the minutes till class got out, and that was a welcome change from high school.  Overall, my takeaway from this class is how to be a better writer, reader, and human, and I think that is something special about this class and about your teaching.  Thank you for a wonderful quarter.

            

Doty

 

Composition 1

 

September 17, 2018

 

            Well, it has been a journey.  I honestly loved taking this class.  I thought coming into it I would hate it because I wanted to be done with English.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I learned more than I thought I would, and I’ve gained a new, collegiate style of writing that I can use in my career.

            First, I want to say thank you Mrs. Doty.  I loved your teaching style and I love how this course was laid out.  I never felt too stressed about starting a new paper because the foundation was already there, as you intended.  It was a very thoughtful approach to English and to writing essays.  I also loved how we stuck with one topic.  While at times I felt like Spencer, thinking “how am I ever going to write 7 pages on one topic”, but I got there, and it was because of you and your teaching.

            I have come a long way through this short quarter.  I feel my writing has come a long way and changed the most.  I now know how to be more concise and how to better express what I am thinking.  Before, I would use a lot of fluff and unnecessary words to try to explain what I was thinking, but I have the tools now to get right to the main issue and dive in.  I also know how to cite my sources within the text and sentence.  In high school, they did not really help me, and I enjoyed learning how to cite the correct way.

Through this course, I have also become a better reader.  I look for the rhetorical elements and I think “what is the author wanting to tell me, and how are they doing it?  Are they doing a good job?  What is their thesis and what are their reasons?’’  I feel I read more in depth because of this class, and I love it.  I am not frustrated any more when I read.  I know what to look for and if I cannot find it, I look again and go line by line and find what I need. 

 By now, I feel I am a pro at note taking.  I have learned that I do not have to write down everything said or read.  I know how to decide what is important and what I may need later on.  Now when I read, write or take notes for other classes, I think of what I have learned here and apply it to the essay or assignment and I feel better about that assignment when I turn it in.

            As a student, I feel I have changed.  With this class, I have had to learn to budget my time appropriately.  This is not a write-it-overnight sort of class.  I had to set out time, and a lot of the time, I would walk away from my essay and come back so I could have a clear head, which I never had to do in high school.  I feel I have “grown-up” in a way.  I have had to prioritize school over hanging out with friends or had to take a night off work here or there.  Through this though, I have learned how to recognize how much time something will actually take to do a good job and I have set out time for this class and others.  

            Something else I enjoyed about this class was the materials we read.  I enjoyed learning more about immigrants and their perspective and struggle.  I like how we would talk about the current events and how you did not mind us getting off a little when it was something important.  I learned more about how to have an open mind and how to look at it from someone else’s point of view.  I learned how to not take anything at face value, and to turn it around, look at it from different angles, and then decide what I think of it.

            Something I did not think I would enjoy when you first introduced it was peer review.  Now, I am a believer.  I loved getting feedback from you and from my fellow students.  I would learn where my essay was falling short, or where I needed to add more to make it clear or whatever the case was.  I enjoyed hearing others talk about their topic and essay and I would get excited for them.  I could see their progress as well as mine with each paper I would read.  I think that was something special.  That you improve along with your peers, and that you could see that improvement with each paper.

            This first quarter of college has been interesting.  I have loved and hated it, but I have learned a lot.  I learned that English can actually be fun and intriguing.  I learned how to become a better reader, writer, student, and overall human.  I loved how we learned how to just be empathetic.  I think it was important to choose a social issue and to read about social issues.  It is so relevant and not talked about enough.  I enjoyed out discussions and when I would leave class, I felt we talked about important things.  It never felt like you were just trying to fill time or that you were counting down the minutes till class got out, and that was a welcome change from high school.  Overall, my takeaway from this class is how to be a better writer, reader, and human, and I think that is something special about this class and about your teaching.  Thank you for a wonderful quarter.

            

Dot 

Composition 1

 

September 17, 2018

 

            Well, it has been a journey.  I honestly loved taking this class.  I thought coming into it I would hate it because I wanted to be done with English.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I learned more than I thought I would, and I’ve gained a new, collegiate style of writing that I can use in my career.

            First, I want to say thank you Mrs. Doty.  I loved your teaching style and I love how this course was laid out.  I never felt too stressed about starting a new paper because the foundation was already there, as you intended.  It was a very thoughtful approach to English and to writing essays.  I also loved how we stuck with one topic.  While at times I felt like Spencer, thinking “how am I ever going to write 7 pages on one topic”, but I got there, and it was because of you and your teaching.

            I have come a long way through this short quarter.  I feel my writing has come a long way and changed the most.  I now know how to be more concise and how to better express what I am thinking.  Before, I would use a lot of fluff and unnecessary words to try to explain what I was thinking, but I have the tools now to get right to the main issue and dive in.  I also know how to cite my sources within the text and sentence.  In high school, they did not really help me, and I enjoyed learning how to cite the correct way.

Through this course, I have also become a better reader.  I look for the rhetorical elements and I think “what is the author wanting to tell me, and how are they doing it?  Are they doing a good job?  What is their thesis and what are their reasons?’’  I feel I read more in depth because of this class, and I love it.  I am not frustrated any more when I read.  I know what to look for and if I cannot find it, I look again and go line by line and find what I need. 

 By now, I feel I am a pro at note taking.  I have learned that I do not have to write down everything said or read.  I know how to decide what is important and what I may need later on.  Now when I read, write or take notes for other classes, I think of what I have learned here and apply it to the essay or assignment and I feel better about that assignment when I turn it in.

            As a student, I feel I have changed.  With this class, I have had to learn to budget my time appropriately.  This is not a write-it-overnight sort of class.  I had to set out time, and a lot of the time, I would walk away from my essay and come back so I could have a clear head, which I never had to do in high school.  I feel I have “grown-up” in a way.  I have had to prioritize school over hanging out with friends or had to take a night off work here or there.  Through this though, I have learned how to recognize how much time something will actually take to do a good job and I have set out time for this class and others.  

            Something else I enjoyed about this class was the materials we read.  I enjoyed learning more about immigrants and their perspective and struggle.  I like how we would talk about the current events and how you did not mind us getting off a little when it was something important.  I learned more about how to have an open mind and how to look at it from someone else’s point of view.  I learned how to not take anything at face value, and to turn it around, look at it from different angles, and then decide what I think of it.

            Something I did not think I would enjoy when you first introduced it was peer review.  Now, I am a believer.  I loved getting feedback from you and from my fellow students.  I would learn where my essay was falling short, or where I needed to add more to make it clear or whatever the case was.  I enjoyed hearing others talk about their topic and essay and I would get excited for them.  I could see their progress as well as mine with each paper I would read.  I think that was something special.  That you improve along with your peers, and that you could see that improvement with each paper.

            This first quarter of college has been interesting.  I have loved and hated it, but I have learned a lot.  I learned that English can actually be fun and intriguing.  I learned how to become a better reader, writer, student, and overall human.  I loved how we learned how to just be empathetic.  I think it was important to choose a social issue and to read about social issues.  It is so relevant and not talked about enough.  I enjoyed out discussions and when I would leave class, I felt we talked about important things.  It never felt like you were just trying to fill time or that you were counting down the minutes till class got out, and that was a welcome change from high school.  Overall, my takeaway from this class is how to be a better writer, reader, and human, and I think that is something special about this class and about your teaching.  Thank you for a wonderful quarter.

            

Doty 

Composition 1

 

September 17, 2018

 

            Well, it has been a journey.  I honestly loved taking this class.  I thought coming into it I would hate it because I wanted to be done with English.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I learned more than I thought I would, and I’ve gained a new, collegiate style of writing that I can use in my career.

            First, I want to say thank you Mrs. Doty.  I loved your teaching style and I love how this course was laid out.  I never felt too stressed about starting a new paper because the foundation was already there, as you intended.  It was a very thoughtful approach to English and to writing essays.  I also loved how we stuck with one topic.  While at times I felt like Spencer, thinking “how am I ever going to write 7 pages on one topic”, but I got there, and it was because of you and your teaching.

            I have come a long way through this short quarter.  I feel my writing has come a long way and changed the most.  I now know how to be more concise and how to better express what I am thinking.  Before, I would use a lot of fluff and unnecessary words to try to explain what I was thinking, but I have the tools now to get right to the main issue and dive in.  I also know how to cite my sources within the text and sentence.  In high school, they did not really help me, and I enjoyed learning how to cite the correct way.

Through this course, I have also become a better reader.  I look for the rhetorical elements and I think “what is the author wanting to tell me, and how are they doing it?  Are they doing a good job?  What is their thesis and what are their reasons?’’  I feel I read more in depth because of this class, and I love it.  I am not frustrated any more when I read.  I know what to look for and if I cannot find it, I look again and go line by line and find what I need. 

 By now, I feel I am a pro at note taking.  I have learned that I do not have to write down everything said or read.  I know how to decide what is important and what I may need later on.  Now when I read, write or take notes for other classes, I think of what I have learned here and apply it to the essay or assignment and I feel better about that assignment when I turn it in.

            As a student, I feel I have changed.  With this class, I have had to learn to budget my time appropriately.  This is not a write-it-overnight sort of class.  I had to set out time, and a lot of the time, I would walk away from my essay and come back so I could have a clear head, which I never had to do in high school.  I feel I have “grown-up” in a way.  I have had to prioritize school over hanging out with friends or had to take a night off work here or there.  Through this though, I have learned how to recognize how much time something will actually take to do a good job and I have set out time for this class and others.  

            Something else I enjoyed about this class was the materials we read.  I enjoyed learning more about immigrants and their perspective and struggle.  I like how we would talk about the current events and how you did not mind us getting off a little when it was something important.  I learned more about how to have an open mind and how to look at it from someone else’s point of view.  I learned how to not take anything at face value, and to turn it around, look at it from different angles, and then decide what I think of it.

            Something I did not think I would enjoy when you first introduced it was peer review.  Now, I am a believer.  I loved getting feedback from you and from my fellow students.  I would learn where my essay was falling short, or where I needed to add more to make it clear or whatever the case was.  I enjoyed hearing others talk about their topic and essay and I would get excited for them.  I could see their progress as well as mine with each paper I would read.  I think that was something special.  That you improve along with your peers, and that you could see that improvement with each paper.

            This first quarter of college has been interesting.  I have loved and hated it, but I have learned a lot.  I learned that English can actually be fun and intriguing.  I learned how to become a better reader, writer, student, and overall human.  I loved how we learned how to just be empathetic.  I think it was important to choose a social issue and to read about social issues.  It is so relevant and not talked about enough.  I enjoyed out discussions and when I would leave class, I felt we talked about important things.  It never felt like you were just trying to fill time or that you were counting down the minutes till class got out, and that was a welcome change from high school.  Overall, my takeaway from this class is how to be a better writer, reader, and human, and I think that is something special about this class and about your teaching.  Thank you for a wonderful quarter.

            

Doty

 

Composition 1

 

September 17, 2018

 

            Well, it has been a journey.  I honestly loved taking this class.  I thought coming into it I would hate it because I wanted to be done with English.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I learned more than I thought I would, and I’ve gained a new, collegiate style of writing that I can use in my career.

            First, I want to say thank you Mrs. Doty.  I loved your teaching style and I love how this course was laid out.  I never felt too stressed about starting a new paper because the foundation was already there, as you intended.  It was a very thoughtful approach to English and to writing essays.  I also loved how we stuck with one topic.  While at times I felt like Spencer, thinking “how am I ever going to write 7 pages on one topic”, but I got there, and it was because of you and your teaching.

            I have come a long way through this short quarter.  I feel my writing has come a long way and changed the most.  I now know how to be more concise and how to better express what I am thinking.  Before, I would use a lot of fluff and unnecessary words to try to explain what I was thinking, but I have the tools now to get right to the main issue and dive in.  I also know how to cite my sources within the text and sentence.  In high school, they did not really help me, and I enjoyed learning how to cite the correct way.

Through this course, I have also become a better reader.  I look for the rhetorical elements and I think “what is the author wanting to tell me, and how are they doing it?  Are they doing a good job?  What is their thesis and what are their reasons?’’  I feel I read more in depth because of this class, and I love it.  I am not frustrated any more when I read.  I know what to look for and if I cannot find it, I look again and go line by line and find what I need. 

 By now, I feel I am a pro at note taking.  I have learned that I do not have to write down everything said or read.  I know how to decide what is important and what I may need later on.  Now when I read, write or take notes for other classes, I think of what I have learned here and apply it to the essay or assignment and I feel better about that assignment when I turn it in.

            As a student, I feel I have changed.  With this class, I have had to learn to budget my time appropriately.  This is not a write-it-overnight sort of class.  I had to set out time, and a lot of the time, I would walk away from my essay and come back so I could have a clear head, which I never had to do in high school.  I feel I have “grown-up” in a way.  I have had to prioritize school over hanging out with friends or had to take a night off work here or there.  Through this though, I have learned how to recognize how much time something will actually take to do a good job and I have set out time for this class and others.  

            Something else I enjoyed about this class was the materials we read.  I enjoyed learning more about immigrants and their perspective and struggle.  I like how we would talk about the current events and how you did not mind us getting off a little when it was something important.  I learned more about how to have an open mind and how to look at it from someone else’s point of view.  I learned how to not take anything at face value, and to turn it around, look at it from different angles, and then decide what I think of it.

            Something I did not think I would enjoy when you first introduced it was peer review.  Now, I am a believer.  I loved getting feedback from you and from my fellow students.  I would learn where my essay was falling short, or where I needed to add more to make it clear or whatever the case was.  I enjoyed hearing others talk about their topic and essay and I would get excited for them.  I could see their progress as well as mine with each paper I would read.  I think that was something special.  That you improve along with your peers, and that you could see that improvement with each paper.

            This first quarter of college has been interesting.  I have loved and hated it, but I have learned a lot.  I learned that English can actually be fun and intriguing.  I learned how to become a better reader, writer, student, and overall human.  I loved how we learned how to just be empathetic.  I think it was important to choose a social issue and to read about social issues.  It is so relevant and not talked about enough.  I enjoyed out discussions and when I would leave class, I felt we talked about important things.  It never felt like you were just trying to fill time or that you were counting down the minutes till class got out, and that was a welcome change from high school.  Overall, my takeaway from this class is how to be a better writer, reader, and human, and I think that is something special about this class and about your teaching.  Thank you for a wonderful quarter.