Josh's Final Portfolio

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Looking back at all the skills, experiences and assignments I have gained or written over the semester in this English class, I reflected on the words of T.S. Elliot; “A play should give you something to think about. When I see a play and understand it the first time, then I know it can't be much good.” As I have reflected on this class, this time as a whole, I have thought about what I have learned and how it has helped me not only in school but in my life as well. I have thought about how I wrote and thought at the beginning of this class compared to now, at the end.

As I have stated in previous reflective entries, I did not have the best writing or comprehensive skills for a college student. As I have gone through college, my writing style has been geared more towards engineering, which is my major. I wrote more as a calculator than a opinionated person. Going through this english class, however, I have begun to write outside my normal comfort zone and share my views instead of rewording someone else's. Some of the comments made about my first writings in this class were spot on about how I wrote. Riley, from the class, commented on my first paper; “Although you had some really good questions at the end it might help to be more skeptical. That is really hard to do. I struggle with it a lot. It is really easy to take everything you are reading as true, and agree with it. I noticed at one point you started writing like you were one of the people doing the study.” As I mentioned above, My writing was very factual with little to no opinion. I never shared my voice or my ideas in my writings. This was one of the biggest struggles I've had to overcome thus far in my writing career. Throughout the semester, this has been the focus of every paper I write; to be more skeptical in voicing my side of the story. I feel that now at the end of the semester, I have in someways climbed that mountain and feel satisfied in where I am at in my writing abilities. I found that Wachovski's writings have actually helped me the most. I always thought that writing, especially in an english class, was more of a debate and throwing out facts than it was about feelings and emotions. Reading Wachovski I have come to understand that I can talk about colors and emotions and true human characteristics. I have come to realize that writing doesn't have to be black and white like students are taught in high school, it can be a reflection of one's inner self filled with colorful thoughts, ideas and expresions. I feel that this will help my writings as I continue through college and even into my career.

Another lesson that I feel has impacted me the most over this semester has been the way I think about writings and others thoughts. I have already mentioned that my own writing has improved, but that is only a portion of the battle, I feel. As the semester began, I would read an article and take it as it was. I wouldn't dive into the meaning or try to examine different ways the author could be bringing their point out. I read very linearly. I finally realized this when another classmate commented on one of my analysis papers, saying, “Try to step back and look at it from an outsider point of view. Act as if you have not yet concluded anything.” This took me by surprise. I had thought that I was a good writer and that my writings were meaningful. As the semester continued, I tried to take their advice and analyze the meaning behind what I was reading. I found that once I started reading articles over and over agian, I caught something new every time and found a different perspective about it. I feel that my understanding has deepened in the sense that I try to find a deeper meaning to what i am reading than what is on the surface. I have found that this has helped me over the course of the semester and i believe will help me in later classes as well. I feel that with my writing and understanding improving, I can be a more persuasive writer in the rest of my school years and in my future career. Even though my writing and understanding have improved since taking this class, I know there are still areas of importance that have improved as well.

As I have been thinking about this class, have reflected on how I interact with others in the class. I have made several comments about feedback that I have recieved from peers. I think back to the beginning of the class and how this feedback affected me and my writing. I was never one who took kindly to others analyzing my work, or giving criticism. Criticism has always been a hard thing for me to take, especially when it's been about my work. I have always been someone who loves what they do and doesn't like to change or make adjustments to their work once it's complete. I have always found it very difficult to take criticism, especially from peers. This has been an area that I have been reflecting and constantly working on to improve. I have found that as the semester has gone by, I have become more and more willing to accept criticism from others. In many casses I have found that it has actually helped my writing. As I have mentioned above, one peer had commented on how I need to be more skeptical. As I have applied what feedback I got from my work, I have noticed that my writings were meeting the college level. I actually revel in the opportunity to receive ideas (criticism) now from someone to help further my writing ability. I feel, now, that I couldn't just write something perfect without having it revised and read by someone else. I feel that this will most definitely help me in future classes as I will have to take criticism, whether from my writings or project, or whatever. I feel that this will help me be more successful in life.

As I have reflected on these certain areas that I fell I have improved in, I feel that I have become more successful. I think of the quote, “Success is not measured by what one brings, but rather by what one leaves.” I feel that I brought a fair amount of knowledge to this class, but as I have reflected these past couple of days about this class, I have found that I am leaving with a greater understanding of writing and appreciation for criticism.