Mid-Term Reflection

Dear Mrs. Cline,

            I would have to say that the biggest challenge presented to me in this class has been the essays. I've always had a hard time getting myself to do my writing assignments. When I try putting my thoughts onto paper, nothing sounds quite right or comes out the way I want it to so I end up staring at a blank document for far too long. Due to this I always procrastinate until the last minute (i.e., late Sunday afternoon) because I find the time pressure really helps to push the words out. Its a terrible habit I've tried without success to break. Anyways that is why I've had a hard time with my essays. I don't really think I've had any great triumphs, I suppose that the fact that I'm writing this on Saturday rather than Sunday and have already started working on my essay on A Modest Proposal is a huge win! *sarcasm* At first I wasn't too thrilled by the blog thing, but I think it is a great way to get students to look at other students' opinions and work. Surprisingly, I think there is more interaction with and growth generated by the interplay of classmates than I've experienced in  physical classrooms.

            I've really enjoyed the readings you have assigned. In my experience, you assign works that may not traditionally be assigned (this may just be because this is my first year of college), which spur lots of thinking and reflection in the readers. I haven't done much writing at the college level, so I don't have much to compare literary analysis to in college. Last semester you had us write an I Believe essay which was exclusively personal, where as literary analysis involves interpreting another's work which is much less personal. In high school my English classes actually focused quite a bit on literary analysis. Although I've had the benefit of dipping my toes into literary analysis already, I was not aware of all of the terms and techniques there are in writing. I think learning more about the makeup of literature has improved my ability to analyze literature on a deeper and more educated level.

            My goals for the next half of the semester is to continue to try and succeed at getting my stuff turned in earlier than five minutes before the deadline. I also am planning on writing my essay on Bartleby the Scrivener over spring break and getting that turned in via the no questions asked tab. I'm looking forward to reading White Noise, I'm sure it won't disappoint, hopefully I wont either! Thank you for all you do!

Sincerely,

Samantha Huber