Blog Post #14 Reflections on the course

Reflections on the course

I like this because it reminds me of the ever changing world we live in regarding technology

1. What skills have you learned in this class and how might you apply them to writing in your career or future college courses?

An analytical perspective is probably the biggest thing I have gained through the content of this course.  I have learned how to read between the lines better and not take things quite so much at face value or literal.  This will help me greatly as I head into the legal field in a multitude of different ways.

2. How have the readings in the class affected you?

Well not being an avid reader – I never realized just how satirical satire can be.  It is very strange to me.  And I must say that I now know I didn’t like it one bit.  I will probably never read anything similar again.

3. How have you met the learning outcomes for the class (which can be found on the syllabus)?

I feel that I am still having trouble with exacting a thesis statement – although with Professor Cline’s help, I am better than I was before.  Utilizing an outline and filling in the blanks and expounding on ideas and facts have been most helpful in this class.  The outline made it easier for me to realize what I needed to go back and find in order to support my essay.

4. How has your writing or your writing process changed?

Really, never before have I needed to read between the lines to get to the hidden meaning of the written word.  This class has taught me the analytical side of reading.  Taken altogether this deeper understanding has changed my perspective on writing - writing with meaning and clarity.

5. What were your challenges in the class?  How were you able to overcome them?

All of the technology in this class – totally overwhelming in the beginning, still a little much for me at times.  I just had to keep plugging away and learn as much as I could through trial and error and going back and watching the tutorial lectures.  Here's one of our lectures - enjoy!

Blog Post #13

Use of Technology, Author: Schutz & Rettung Zürich

Technology

1. How is online learning different than in person learning?

This semester is my first experience with online college classes – of which I have 6.  If I was having to drive in to classes, I honestly do not know how I would have found the time to actually do the work (I live 50 miles away).  The classes with the lack of the classroom environment have surprisingly allowed us to be connected with our fellow students through the fantastic technology available to us all.

2. What are the particular challenges or benefits to taking an English class (in particular) in an online environment?

The last time I took a college class was Eng 101 in the Fall of 1995.  The changes in technology since then have been tremendous as well as MLA formatting (which was not taught to me ever before – this is the first I knew anything about MLA anything).  The basics – spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc. – these remain the same throughout time and space.  Although I overall prefer online classes, I think that I miss the immediate interaction involving classroom discussions on the written word.

3. Which of the technologies that we used this semester was most beneficial to you?

As much of a pain in my side as it has been – I would have to say the blog posts along with the comments have given me a better understanding of the written word – which is what this class is all about. 

4. Which did you like the most?

Seems kind of strange – but I liked the blog posts the best.  I never knew how to do a link and a visual before – not saying that I have it down really well yet – but I am making progress.

5. Which will you use in the future and how will you use them?

I think that in my work I will use the link stuff in my reports.

Post #12

REVISION OR EVOLUTION

First of all, one must understand that back in the day when I was in High School writing papers and such, mostly it was done by hand – with an actual pen or pencil and sheets of paper.  I was lucky though, because my family had a manual type writer – so once I came up with a final product, I could type it and make it look very nice (as long as I used erasable bond paper).

While the thought process was pretty much the same - the tediousness of jotting down notes and thoughts on so many different pieces of paper, then organizing them and putting it all together in some sort of order on more papers was so all consuming.  And then writing a well-organized paper and finally typing it so my reader could actually read it (rather than trying to read my handwriting).  The mechanics of getting my words on paper was much more difficult than it is now with computers.

I think that process is partially responsible for my being such a visual person.  So now, with computers, I can go through this same process and use the ‘save as’ button and actually see the evolution of my writing.  I write for a while then I have to get away from it for a few hours, then go back to it with fresh eyes.  I do this over many days.  I still find myself printing out a lot of papers – I think that is the old school part of me wanting to see it and make my notes for changes in the margins.  I can see and feel the flow of it all much better when it is actually printed on paper rather than simply seeing it on a monitor.  I know – it’s weird, but that’s me.

I emailed my paper to a coworker at the High School (she’s the English teacher) and I submitted it to the online tutor.  I received it back and am in the process of making their proposed changes.  This has been a most difficult assignment this semester.  I am hoping for the best!

Click here for a great checklist on revisions!