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Sara Smith
Professor Lago
Experiences in Literature 1500-12
April 30, 2014
I have never seen myself as a strong writer. I am more into things such as math and
formulas because they are definite and come easier to me. These past two college semesters have
made me a little stronger though and more independent. Having feedback from my siblings used
to feel so needed for me before I would even hand in a rough draft but now I understand the
reason for rough drafts. We wrote a lot of interesting pieces for this class and they were had good
topics which made the words come easier for me.
Essay one asked us to use the Internet and see how it affected our understanding of a
selected text. I chose Daddy by Sylvia Plath to use the Internet for and compared it to and
easier piece, Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood, which I did not look up. I got an A- on this
assignment which I was happy about because I but a lot of work and research into it. My favorite
part of my essay was where I commented on the downsides of Googling a text before having you
own ideas about it.

Then, they must choose an idea and perspective they agree with and believe in. The problem
with this method is that instead of thinking critically and creatively, students are simply choosing
from a set of previously thought up concepts. The student must start with a general opinion on
the poem or story before Googling it, that way they are not only influenced by other peoples
opinions on the Internet but they can use other perspectives to build on their personal ideas.

Going in to essay two, I though it would be a breeze because I was comparing two
stories that I enjoyed reading and believed I had a good grasp on. I ended up getting a B- so
maybe I didnt understand the prompt as well as I though I did. I brought the second draft to the
writing center with your notes and they helped me. I think I struggled with this essay because I
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couldnt say, all men do this, all women do that. I had to beat around the bush but I liked
comparing male and female writers. My favorite part of this essay was where I wrote,
Mallard has no harsh feelings toward herself regarding her own happiness. However, if
a man, such as Hemingway, had written a story about a widow, he would most likely depict the
woman as being completely grief stricken and inconsolable.
I liked that part because it seems relatable, men are a lot stronger than men make them out to be
and usually their world wouldnt crumble without a man.
Essay three was the most difficult because it seemed so rushed and I dont think I planned
it out enough. My first draft is always really bad and once I get feedback I see the direction I
should be headed but this was only one draft so I stuggled with it and received a C. I didnt have
a focus but I completely rewrote it with what I think was my original idea but it didnt shine
through the way I had hoped. From my new draft I focused on how easily love can change and I
wrote in the conclusion,
Jeremy and Chinas relationship failed because of the way the handled it. Love is such a
strong and wholesome force but can be brought down by one shot. The Love of My Life is
obviously a love story, it says that much in the title, but really the words make it a love story by
showing how strong love can be and how fragile it is if it isnt taken care of properly.

I did the best on my fourth essay and I received an A. I worked on it a lot and read many
different sources, some of which I didnt end up using. I think the best thing I did was find
perfect sources because thats the basis of a research paper. Toward the end I wrote,
Jig is far more complex than the man. Through the contrast of the male and female
characters, Hemingway highlights Jigs maturity and superiority as he excoriates the selfishness
and insensitivity of her companion (Nolan, p. 19). She is the superior character in the story, but
she is not superior in society. Hemingway did not believe in the validity of traditional gender
roles, he wrote to expose the hypocrisy in them.
The way Nolan worded that was perfect and I believe I supported and explain that quote well.
I often find myself comparing my writing to my real life and I constantly want to throw
personal stories in to it. This semester steered away from first person and it proved to me that I
could write without talking about myself. I want to grow and improve with my confidence in my
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writing and not have to second-guess myself. I think I am a clear writer and I dont add fluff or
big words that I dont understand. This semester has taught me a lot and mostly it taught me to
show my work to get help before a final draft because I dont always know the direction Im
headed.