Jonathan Fletcher Fletcher 1

Professor Jan Rieman

English 1103

October 25, 2010

Self Assessment

In writing this reflection, I have seen that I have begun to improve somewhat

in my writing. I am learning to pay more attention to the reflective side of writing,

instead of relying only on the facts, or whatever research I can find. Although both

sides of writing are important, I have never been a reflective writer, and I am

striving to improve that side of my writing now. Looking at where I am now, I know

I still have room for improvement, but I have improved some as well.

Expectation and Surprise: A Reflection on the Course

Throughout the duration of this course, we have had many reading and

writing assignments in a variety of subjects. Much of the readings have been

informational essays. I have enjoyed reading The Blue Sweater the most, mainly

because I enjoy reading narratives and fiction novels like Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings

or Ted Dekker’s Black. I unfortunately do not enjoy reading most types of literary

essays. I do not mind reading to learn, and some of the essays I’ve read bring up

interesting points (like “Intertextuality,”) but many of them lose my interest quickly.

I sometimes find myself frustrated when reading these types of essays, and it takes

me more time to read them, but I eventually get through them.

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In writing, most of my work has been either reflective, or opinionated (like

the “Writing into the Day” pieces). I find that I am most comfortable writing about

what I know: my own life and interests (such as our first forum post, or our

“Sponsors of Literacy” assignment). I enjoy writing on my own terms, about a

subject that I choose for myself. I feel most challenged when attempting to write

about specific things I’ve learned, or how I feel about reading and writing. Even this

reflective essay is somewhat of a challenge for me. Despite the challenge, I do feel

that I am getting better at that aspect of writing, by expanding on my opinions with

details and examples.

Regarding the course as a whole, I have been positively surprised at how

much I enjoy the class. It has turned out much different than I expected. I assumed

the class would be very impersonal, and that we would focus mainly on the

grammar and vocabulary of our writing, rather than the how and what. So far, we

have not studied any grammar or vocabulary, and we have focused more on

learning how to read better. As the course description says, we have studied various

“invention, revision, and reflection strategies” in our writing.

The “Writing Into the Day” pieces have also given me another perspective on

how I write, and what I write about. Through these pieces, I have discovered that my

initial drafts are rather sloppy. These pieces have a lot of room for improvement,

and need revising, but they still capture my main thoughts. The “Writing to Explore”

assignments have given me a similar view. Having to write about such a diverse

group of topics (in a variety of ways) at first seemed to be a challenge, but has really
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turned into something fun. Even the simplest prompts (as with the storytelling

assignment) can blossom into a truly “creative” writing opportunity.

There have been a couple parts of the course that I have never really

experienced before. I thought the “classroom culture document” was a great new

idea. As with any aspect of society, making a list of a few simple “rules,” even when

not harshly enforced, can be a positive influence on a group people. Peer workshop

proved to be a valuable asset, confirming things in my own writing that I enjoyed,

and helping to revise and remove those things that were less agreeable. After each

meeting with my small group, I feel more confident about the way my paper is

written. I hope that we will be using this tool when writing our future assignments.

The inquiry paper looks to be an assignment with a practical use. I have in

the recent past wondered whether or not computers have had a direct affect on my

personal education, or if they were just a small catalyst compared to other

important factors such as personal drive or family encouragement. Though I know

each of these factors is important, I speculate that computers have shaped my

literacy in some way. Looking ahead, I think that I will enjoy writing the personal

inquiry paper because it will give me more insight on a subject I am interested in. I

have been interested in the relationship of technology and literacy for a while, and

the inquiry paper will give me a chance to explore that in more detail.
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In conclusion, I have noticed that my writing has improved during the course.

This has helped me somewhat in my programming classes, because I have learned

to try and view my work objectively, and see it how other people see it. Each class is

more and more interesting, and I am patiently awaiting all that lies ahead.