At the beginning of the semester, it took me quite a while to write my narrative because I honestly couldn’t put my thoughts into words. There were a great deal memories that could have been perfect for the prompt but the one I decided on stood out to me the most. I’m not going to lie though, I used so many words I didn’t even know the meaning of. So I hope my diction got better, does that fall under the “Explore and analyze, in writing and reading, a variety of genres and rhetorical situations.”? I think Ms. Noelle said we can use any writing style but I just try way too hard to be formal for no reason. Well that’s already one thing that didn’t change throughout the semester. Okay another honestly; I chose that memory because it was the saddest one and I wanted some pity points…. I’m sorry
Okay phase two is the rhetorical analysis essay. I remember this from AP Language and Composition, I absolutely dreaded these essays. I’m pretty sure it was why I didn’t get a good score on my AP test. I was glad it was the same context as the previous essay, at least. I do enjoy talking about these topics but I struggle to put it into writing because of how wordy I try to be. I guess for this one last essay I’m trying to take advantage of the option and sound a little more like me. Also I like this woman, Amy Tan. She and I, we have a lot in common. This one quote she had written, “It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than ‘broken,’ as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness.” I think i’ve always felt that way about my mother’s english as well; so there was some connection. I like the way she writes too, open and sincere. After that assignment, I think I hate rhetorical analyses a little less. Ms. Noelle wrote in the assignment details that it’s not necessarily about the course goals I achieved, but my understanding of them and my thoughts about the one’s I didn’t achieve. But I do think I achieved the “Recognize and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies when engaged in writing situations.”
The phase three essay, I thought I would enjoy writing it more than I actually did. I think I remember being told we could pick any topic for the research essay. Well obviously the first thing I considered was writing about a Taylor Swift and her entire discography. After all, she is music industry. But for an essay where we had to present an argument, I thought it would be better if it wrote about something I hate. Standardized tests. And you might be thinking I only hate it because I’m bad at, but that’s not the case. I’ve always been good at regents and states tests and all that; I just think it causes so much excessive stress. Plus all these repetitive math and english courses leave little to no room for classes that students will actually enjoy. I think I’m reflecting more on my writing rather than my development as a writer. What do I think of myself as a writer? I think I don’t take enough risks, like I always seem to take the easy way when I know I had some other ideas in mind. I’m probably like that as a person too but let’s not stray from the topic guys.
This assignment for me at least, is a reflection of myself and my thoughts and ideas through this semester. But I really did enjoy this class, and I enjoyed having Ms. Noelle as a professor.
Sincerely,
Anika
