B1/C1
My development of the rhetoric strand has started growing after a three-year hibernation. Granted, I was always strict on grammar and spelling, but actually using the study of the technique and language has refreshened my memory. I've only had to write a few decent papers since I started college, but I have recently started to wish that I had taken this class sooner, for it may have helped my writing.
Although it has been years since I did any huge research for a paper or project, I believe my ability to do so has grown just a little. My knowledge on MLA has been refreshed, and citing proper sources has made a comeback in my papers. My research has also become more detailed and consistent with my papers, whereas before I would only research the bare minimum for an assignment.
As far as technology is concerned, the computer is my best friend. I use my computer for research, writing, and posting. I have had previous experience with Live journal, even though at the time it was for my own personal venting. However, past postings have made it easier for me to write.
I think as far as putting together research or ideas is concerned, I believe I have grown. For example, when my paper was finally completed, I felt like it flowed well together, despite how originally I had compiled it together in chunks of random paragraphs. I do need to work on leaving out extra information not needed for the big picture.
This class has definitely improved my critical thinking skills; in order to pass this class, it's impossible not to have to think critically. Most of my life I have had terrible critical thinking skills, but I can finally turn my lack of thought around into logic. The lessons alone have made me think more critically (i.e, sexual deviance, communication, etc). How do you not think more critically when sadomasochism is mentioned? Haha.
I am trying to become more confident in my writing, but I have had a hard time doing so because it has been so long since I have had to use the right side of my brain to concoct a decent piece of writing. I have almost always been an independent individual, which is why I sometimes have a hard time asking for help when I am in a bind, as far as my writing is concerned. My development in both of these aspects is still growing. For now, I accept the help because I know I need it. Eventually, I will be confident enough to write something spectacular.
I will use prior skills I have learned in my reading, writing, and comprehension, and new strategies to make ends meet in my writing; I am taking any and all advice. Also, my prior knowledge of the basis of rhetoric will be hopefully develope more as time goes on, as well as my ability to understand old concepts and pick up on new ones quickly. My prior experiences of high school advanced placement writing through my present day skills have become more developed through this course, as well as my critical thinking.
In the department of reflectiveness, I know I have developed increasingly. I have hardly written or read anything that required me to think twice about it; however, this lack of reflectiveness has gotten me into trouble many times. The same lack has also cheated my brain from growing into a wiser being. With the articles we have to read, and the required observations to go with them, it is impossible not to reflect. I know my thoughts can only grow more from here.
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If I had to give myself a grade, it would be a B-. My portfolio is short a few assignments, but I have no doubt I will finish them soon. I am still working on my time management, as far as giving all of my classes an equal part of my time and attention is concerned. I have turned in all of the major assignments, such as the final draft of Essay One and A1/A2.
The instructor, Sarah Bowman, is incredible. She is refreshing, honest, and she makes class worth coming to. Honestly, this is the first basic class I have taken at UTD where I am not constantly falling asleep. In fact, I have yet to fall asleep in her class. She always makes class interesting, even when we are talking about the most boring of subjects, such as communication. I have never had a class where an entire lecture was based on sexual deviance; that will be a class period to remember. I think because of her enthusiasm and fun personality, the course material does not seem so dull. I have taken many an english class, and she is only the second or third teacher I have met in the last three or four years who made coming to a required class interesting.
I am still not a huge fan of group work, but the classroom activities have proven themselves to be fun. For example, the lecture on messages in popular music was entertaining; there is not many classes I have had where listening to music was part of the instruction, not just a way of drowning out the monotone voice of the teacher. In fact, when we have presentations of our prospectuses, I like hearing other people's ideas on what they want to write about. Sometimes this helps me decide what direction I want to go in with my ideas and writing.
The only part of this course I am not too keen on is the work load. I have three other classes on top of rhetoric, and sometimes the amount of assignments can be pretty demanding. For instance, reading a huge article, summarizing it, and writing a rough draft of a paper is a lot to ask for one assignment, in my opinion. If rhetoric were my only class, and I did not work thirty hours a week, a work load of that magnitude may not seem so huge. However, it is not my only class, and the assignments from my other classes, especially history, pile up quickly. Thus, I cannot devote much time and/or patience to either class, which in turn is making my grades suffer.