Each week, you will be responsible for posting to the blog. The blog is where you will show your homework and reflect on your papers. You will be required to interact with your peers and to remain courteous at all times.
Blogs are graded as follows:
1. Participation: blogs are posted on time - 2 points
2. Following directions: while you may contribute additional comments or links, your primary goal in posting should be to satisfy the assignment requirements. - 2 points
3. You must reply to your classmates on time - 2 points, and follow directions in your reply - 2 points
4. Remaining respectful of your classmates - 2 points
Each blog will be different. You will receive feedback from the instructor, but the primary purpose of the blogs is to receive feedback from your community of students. Ask questions of each other, and be thoughtful in your responses.
Please click on the Follow link to the right, or bookmark this page in your computer.
For this week's blog….
Directions: write a 300 word explanation of your main goal for the semester, and then explain the objectives you will follow in order to reach that goal. Refer to the assignment sheet. (Due August 29 by 5pm).
- See D2L Newsfeed, under "Welcome!" for the Blogger sign-in process.
- You must be signed in to Google under a gmail account in order to post.
- Your blogging name must reflect your real name in order for you to receive credit (or you must sign your posts with your real name).
- Write your blog response in some kind of word processing document and then copy and paste it into the posting form for submission (Blogger is fallible and can lose assignments, but cannot be blamed for lost assignments).
- Spell-check, read-aloud, and edit your posts before submitting.
- No swearing. While the forum is meant to encourage freedom of speech, a certain amount of professionalism is expected.
College isn’t the easiest thing and writing isn’t one of my fortes. Grasping the material is cake for me, but putting my thoughts on paper is something I really struggle with. My goal for this class is learning to better express myself for papers in future classes by refining skills such as recognizing my audience, following the guidelines of the assignment, and learning to critique my work as well as having others critique it. First, an argument can be completely valid but if presented in the wrong way have no impact. My papers would be more powerful if I could learn to direct them to the right audience. Another way I could improve my writing is by following the guidelines. It’s very easy to get off topic these days and ramble about nothing. I want to learn to concisely stick to criteria for the paper without adding irrelevant fluff. Most importantly, I need to learn to stop trusting my grammar and punctuation. I need to learn to reread my papers checking for errors, double words, and general cohesion. In conclusion, I only have one goal for this class: improvement. I need to address the proper audience, meet criteria, and revise. If I work on these 3 basic objectives I think I can reach my goal.
ReplyDeleteHey Jaclyn I really liked how this flowed!!!
DeleteGetting back into the flow of going to school has revealed some serious challenges that were never intended or anticipated. One of these challenges being how to figure out what I need to improve in order to become a better writer. My goals for this class are to learn to interpret and understand other writing properly, learn to use my peers critiques, and be able to format my work more efficiently. Beginning with interpreting work, when reading a piece of writing from someone else we make our own interpretations of what the writer is trying to convey, but without the right skills it is very easy to miss key pieces of information or see the bigger picture. My work would become much stronger if I had a better understanding of how to see deeper into what I am reading and take the information discovered and use it and process it correctly. Another way I could improve is to take more time to listen and see what my peers have to say about my work when critiquing it and don't take their advice so negatively. By really learning to use others advice and outside thoughts in my work I could grow in my writing as long as I am able to learn to accept their ideas, thoughts, and advice more positively. Also, by learning to format my work better I could achieve so much more because I would be allowed to better express my work more effectively. The way a paper is written strongly effects the strength of a piece of writing so having the right idea of how to do so is important. Finally, its important that I realize that to achieve these goals its time to be more open and ready to face the challenges of becoming better and improving. I need to see the bigger picture when interpreting work, accept critique, and practice formatting my work.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is my least favorite subject because it is one of my weak points. I fail to be a good writer. My main goal for this class is to transform into an improved writer by becoming an active learner, thinking critically, and communicating with clarity. This is my second time in this course. The first time around I did not have a clear and concise goal. I have since matured and have learned from my lack of interest.
ReplyDeleteThis time around, I intend to be an active learner by participating in class activities, using the resources available and attending class regularly. One of the resources available is a tutor from the LAC. I have already made a visit to the LAC and the Writing Center to inform staff I am requesting future assistance. Secondly, thinking critical by analyzing, interpreting, summarizing and evaluating future reading assignments, is sure to improve my own writing. Finally, communicating with clarity will be the most challenging. In the past my essays have lacked organization and purpose. Insuring I have a clear understanding of each assignment will improve my chances of achieving clear communication. Having assignments done at a timely manner to seek input from my peers and instructor will also help in producing a well communicated essay.
In summary, by following these objectives, I am sure to reach my goal of becoming an improved writer. I am excited to start English 121 and eager to reach my goal.
All throughout high school and college I have been a good student. I always got my work done and got good grades, but as I advanced in my English and writing classes, I discovered that it was more of a challenge for me to write and analyze critically. Taking this course now, after not taking any English course for over a year, slightly terrifies me. I am afraid that I will not do as well in the class as I hope for. But I have goals for myself. Through working on and mastering the objectives from the syllabus, I aim to get a high B, if not an A in the course.
ReplyDeleteI plan on working harder on some objectives than others, because I know I need more work in certain areas. By becoming better at learning actively, I believe that I will become much better at understanding the readings and assignments that we do. I have never been that good at analyzing a text, but I have already learned from The Little, Brown Handbook that I should read a text at least three times to get a good analysis of it.
I also need to work on thinking critically. I tend to read a text or hear a person’s idea and I take things very simply and literally. This is something that I know I need to work on, because most text and ideas are meant to be analyzed further than what is written in black and white. To be able to analyze better, I will be able to become a better writing, and in doing so, I have high hopes of passing this course with flying colors.
My Goals for this Semester
ReplyDeleteThis semester I will succeed in accomplishing my goals which are creating essays at a college level, having a profound knack of creating ideas that grasp attention of multiple audience, and create a text that is creative and is formatted well and precise. Creating essays have always been something that I enjoy. Though I’m sure my writing is not perfect, it will not take me long to become proficient at it because it is something I like to do. I would also like to have such an ordinary skill in creating ideas that will attract different types of audience. I would like my writings to be relatable because I feel that is what makes a passage stand out. Also, I would like to improve the quality of my papers. Being able to plan out a sophisticated and imaginative piece without over thinking it would be nice. If I can accomplish these goals this semester, I’ll be happy.
English is one of my strongest subjects, until it comes down to writing papers. Comprehending all the materials I need to use to write a great paper is easy for me, but actually being able to come up with creative ways to express my ideas and form them into a paper...forget about it. My goal for this class is to expand my creativity and imagination for all the papers to come in the future. In order to succeed in this I need to work on reflecting on my writing choices, following the assignment guidelines and creating my own ideas. One way I can improve my creativity is reflecting on my writing choices. By reflecting on my writing it will help me improve my organization and help me makes stronger decisions when it comes to what I should include in the actual paper. Another way I can improve my creativity is by following the guidelines to the assignment. When you start to get off track with your ideas and your words just start wandering into places they shouldn’t, then you end up with a sloppy paper. No one wants to read a sloppy and wandering paper that has no point. Most importantly including my own ideas is a must. The more originality your writing has in it, the more feedback for improvement you can generate. Overall nobody wants to read a boring paper, so by improving my creativity and imagination abilities I think the chances of me reaching my goal and passing the class will be even greater by the end of the semester.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school English was one of the course I struggled with. I can speak English, but when it comes to reading, annotating, and analyzing my papers I get bored easily. My goal for this course is to increase my critical thinking and writing skills. I also want to develop my ability to exchange great ideas and information to make my paper more presentable to my audience. One thing about me is that I always think my paper is not right no matter how much time I spend on writing. I will always put more effort and seek help from the writing center to see if I need more assistance. In order to achieve my goal I have to turn in my homework before the due date. Attending and participating in class regularly will also help to reach my goal in this class. Another way I could improve my writing is to read aloud my paper to see if it sounds right or wrong. I want to be a good writer not just for college purposes but because it will be useful in all aspect of life. I hope by the end of this course all the materials provided for this course will help increase my knowledge to be a better writer.
ReplyDeleteMy primary goal for this class is to become more proficient with my writing skills by using the objectives such as learn actively and communicate with clarity and originality
ReplyDeleteFirst objective that will help me reach my goal is learn actively; the key points that I will focus on are, be in class all the time and on time, be open minded to new ways of writing, and use all my resources. Being in class all the time and on time will make sure I don’t miss anything in class because all information I could/will get in class I won’t be able to receive without being there. Being open minded to new ways of writing will expand my knowledge and different ways to put my thoughts and or work down on paper. Lastly I will use all the resources are given to achieve my goal, for example the writing lab for assistance.
Second objective that will help me reach my goal for this class is communicate with clarity and originality; the key points are, be able to write at a more experienced level, be able to put my own personality to my writing, and be able to capture and hold the attention of the audience with relevant information in my writing and or presentations. Being able to write at a more experienced level will help me because the higher you move up in the world the more your writings will have to improve. Being able to my own personality to my writing will be great for achieving my goal. I would like my readers to feel the emotion I put in it, not feel like they are just being talked to. Finally, being able to capture and hold the attention of the audience with relevant information in my writing and or presentations because the degree I’m going for is accounting and normally accountants always have presentations and or writings to do.
In conclusion, I will reach and surpass my primary goal set forth by myself because following my objectives will help me attain my goal. As long as I keep on track and focused it will happen!!!!!
I can speak English just fine just like anyone else. The problem is writing and doing all this “stuff” that has to be done just to write a paper or read an article. My goal for this class is very simple but yet it can be so hard and it is to pass with at least a B. I have two objectives to help me reach my goal along with my course objectives. My objectives are to attend class and do all my work. It sounds so simple to say it and write it, but it takes a little more work than that.
ReplyDeleteAttendance is probably the most important part of doing your work. I show up and I will receive the knowledge to do my work. One of the course objectives is to “Think Critically and Creatively.” To me the critical part means to think reasonably, what makes the most sense. Show up to class makes great sense if I plan to pass. Creatively just means put my brain to work and let it take its course and write down all of my brain’s ideas. Being in class surrounded by other students with the same idea or purpose will bring out the best of me and my ideas.
What good does do if I attend class every day if I don’t do the work? Not much at all. Doing my work and that does include homework will help accomplish the course objective of Learn Actively. To learn I must do the work it is simple. Not only just do the work but I must go beyond doing the work. Going that extra mile is the actively part of learning highlighting, underlining, asking questions, tutoring and list goes on. Doing the best I can and taking advantage of all the opportunities will help me complete all of my work.
Everyone has an objective for this class but my main objective is to pass. I just want to move on in order to get to where I want to get in life. No one says it will be easy but I have to start somewhere and build up good habits and keep the information in my head.
English is not to hard of a challenge for me but i do occasionally run into troubles with it during essays. My goal for this class is to make good grade a high B or C by the end of the semester and to make my essays skills and analyzing skills better to improve my writing. The goals that i have set for myself to improve my essays skill are mostly based around analyzing and critical thinking i can do these things in my papers but one is harder than the other. Analyzing was something i had a hard time with last semester while doing essays my skills in it are not terrible but it can use improvement especially when an essay is all about analyzing. I'm a good writer with great thinking ability but not every topic and essay will be in my favor. I want to be able to write papers with less stress and more confidence i'm very doubtful when it comes to writings and putting my ideas down. By the time this class is over intend for my writing to be college level
ReplyDeleteSigned Darius Stephens
My goal for this English class is to improve my writing to the college level. I am proficient at the high school level only because I just graduated two months ago. I want to advance my vocabulary and really learn to analyze a piece of writing. My goal is to be able to write an essay with confidence without doubting myself. I am not very good at critically thinking about a piece so I will definitely need to work on that as well. The plan I have to reach these goals are to follow the directions, have confidence knowing that I do not have to get a one hundred on the paper for it to be a good piece, and to let my creativity flow instead of holding it back for fear of ridicule. Another way to reach my goal is to participate in class and not hold back what I am thinking. I get scared of answering questions because I am scared of looking stupid in front of other people. So with this class I am hoping to gain confidence in myself and not be so doubtful of my writing.
ReplyDeleteFor 11 years now, I have felt trepid and discouraged about school. The last time I was in a college classroom was in 2003. It was a failed experiment. I was 22, I partied a lot, and I just didn't care. I never even went to the trouble to drop or withdraw from my classes. I just stopped going.
ReplyDeleteI'm a single father now. My daughter is my world. This time I want to do things the right way. Not just for me, but for her as well.
My main objective for this semester is to get past the trepidation and use all of the resources and avenues available to me in the right way. I think the first step to that will be to learn exactly how to use those resources( i.e. the writing center, professors, and classmates) and figure out how to shape them to my own individual learning style.
I don't want to be good at this. I want to be really good at this. I want to learn how to better think creatively and analytically and to talk to the people that are great and not-so-great at this to mine any nuggets of advice or information that I might be able to apply and fine-tune to my own needs. It sounds selfish, but that is where I'm at. I want to annoy those with the expertise in all fields with questions until I become an expert myself. I want to show my daughter that success will be there if you seek it out. Most of all though, I just want to show myself that I can do it.
When it comes to writing, the hardest thing for me to do is to try and stay calm. My anxiety goes through the roof and I panic. I have a tendency to over think what I need to write. How do I overcome this obstacle to get the most out of this class? Plain and simple, follow all directions. It’s just like math, you do as your told to. That’s how I see it anyway. I’m not very creative when it comes to writing. I also recognize right away that I struggle with communicating clearly and thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteBy following all directions closely, I can better understand what is expected of me and it helps to clear my thoughts into a less rambled mess. Also learning how to use the internet for professional research will help me reach that goal. Researching thoroughly will only lead to a better paper. It helps me to keep things clarified or I know that no one will understand what I’m saying. Along with the internet being a great resource, using the colleges tutor centers and the library are important.
Editing, proof reading and reading my material out loud are great strategies I’ll incorporate also. I’ve read this assignment 50 times. Being an active learner in class and while I’m working from home will help my writing process also. I am actively learning every time I reach for a book for a direction and looking for answers in the right places. I’m always reminding myself to try harder.
My goal for this class will be to become better at all of it. I believe by effectively following directions, being creative with boundaries and researching everything, I can become a proficient writer this class. Staying focused on the task in front of me is difficult but I respect a new challenge.
For somehow, we all understand that living here on earth is a journey that makes every human being comprehend the significant of life. Also, because of this, it becomes to be a human responsibility to dedicate themselves on what they want to achieve in their lives. I did not understand this until it happen to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I left my home country and join the society here in the United States of America I found it to be difficult for me. At the time I got here, I did not know English. Because I did not know that language, I could not communicate. My writing became intense. This pushed me down, and the dreams of my bright future turned to be nowhere I could find it in the world. This is when my fresh man and sophomore years turn to be hard for me. But, from determination, dedication, and working hard, I received high school diploma.
Now, since I am currently attending Pikes Peak Community College and I am taking English 121 my primary goal is trying to do what I can in order to develop all writing skills. My first stapes on this are to understand what I read, and communicated my ideas clearly in my paper. Second is working on using good consistent on writing conventions, such as punctuations, and editing grammar. To do all these I have to use research paper, note books, and tutoring. Next, I will have to develop the idea on asking questions, take note and understand the author’s point in order to understand myself and the world.
In conclusion, I can say that, I think by following all this goals that I set up for myself in this class, I think it will make me more comfortable and I understand that I can end up doing better in this class if I take this path.