L.+Course+Reflection

The course English eleven is not a hard course, but it will test one’s ability to write a paper. At the beginning of my eleventh grade year, I hated writing papers. English has always been my easiest subject, but I just have never enjoyed coming up with topics to write papers on. I have grown as a writer throughout the year because I can organize papers better, I add more detail when needed, my form of writing has improved dramatically, and I have expanded my vocabulary. Organization is key when writing a paper. I use to just sit in front of a computer and try to write things down as I thought of them. For some that works, but for me, not so much. I am glad that I can organize a paper better. English this year has taught me so many great ways to have a layout ready, so that when I want to type my paper it is pretty much written. Details are also important. I like to add a lot of detail, because Mrs. Szymczak would tell me that my stories were boring. I quickly got rid of the boring stories, and spiced them up with details. Some of my strengths in English are spelling, reading and comprehending what I have just read, and writing poems. I have always been a good speller. All one has to do is sound out the word, and write it down on a piece of paper. I have never liked to read very much, but when I do, I can comprehend what I have read. There are some books in English that make me want to clean a bathroom, rather than read it. There are also books that I get really into, and do not want to put down. I like writing poetry a lot because I love the outdoors. I can express whatever I am feeling, and put it on paper. Now comes the hard part, persuasion. I hate that word. This is where I did the most damage to my grade. I am probably the worst persuasion essay writer in the whole eleventh grade. No matter how hard I try to make it better, I am just not good at it. Now wait, that does not mean that I cannot persuade my mom to get me the cutest purse I saw in PAC SUN yesterday, or persuade my dad to get my a new phone instead of getting my brother, who needs a new phone, a new phone. It means, when it comes down to writing a persuasive essay, my mind goes blank, and I cannot figure out why. I will admit, I have gotten better than I was at the beginning of the year, but with how bad I am at persuasion. That is not saying much at all. I will keep trying to get better at it, and hopefully if I try my hardest I will succeed in writing persuasion essays. My favorite essay to write this year was my midterm essay. It was one of two or three essays that I was proud of. It was about me persuading Mrs. Szymczak to give me a B on my midterm exam, and sure enough I got one. It was a simple essay to write, and I was very confident in it. Like I said, i am not a very strong persuasive essay writer, but that essay proved that if I push myself enought I can write a good persuasion essay. My least favorite writing was my persuasive essay (topic strip). I do not like having a topic to pick from. I like coming up with one on my own. I feel limited to what I can talk about when topics are given to me. When I can come up with topics on my own, I feel as though I can put whatever I want into that essay, and also put as many details into it. I would much rather have a Wiki portfolio, just because it is easier to organize. If there is a typo, I can always just hit backspace instead of going back and re-writing the whole thing. Wiki portfolios also look a lot neater. I absolutely hate when there are creases in my paper, especially when I have to turn it in as a grade. With a wiki portfolio, I have no neatness problems what so ever. Another thing is I can write all of my things that I want to write on paper, and when I am ready to do my final draft, i just type it up. Wiki portfolios are just easier on me all around. Overall this year in english I feel like I have progressed the most. I liked my class and teacher, so that helped me do well also. I look forward to keep learning how to do better with english as I get older. It is a part of my everyday life. I am proud of myself for how much better I have done in english this year.