Hello!
As my freshman year is coming to a close, there have been many things on my plate, and I've come to a point of looking back on my progress this year. I've already shared some aspects of my growth, but this year in my English class has especially changed huge parts of my work ethic as a student in all of my classes. All of the tasks and activities that seemed laborious at the time of completing them actually turned out to help me in the long run.
During my time in my English class, we read a total of four novels with units that corresponded with the novel and allowed us to illustrate our vital abilities as students. With reading the novels comes annotating, precisely two annotations per page about any significant things that we notice. This "back breaking task" turned out to help my analyzing skills and ability to find thoughtful and important quotes that could help even more in the analyzing department.
Something else that I also really enjoyed the after effect of was the use of technology in the classroom. Like I have previously mentioned, I was never sufficient with effective technology use, only using my computer to write essays for previous English classes, watching YouTube videos, and scrolling through pictures on my Instagram feed. During my time in this class, I learned effective ways to use technology with research, writing, and managing a blog. I also learned how to create slideshows and presentations that I would definitely be able to use in the near and far future.
This class granted me many skills that I never knew that I could obtain in such a short amount of time. My growth will not slow down, I guarantee you that, and I will definitely work on expanding the abilities that I was introduced to this year. I hope you enjoyed reading my post, and I wish you the best of luck in your growth as well. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the rest of my blog as well. :)
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Reflective Post #4 - 2015
Hello!
I've noticed so many changes in my work ethic lately. As I have been trudging along to the end of the school year, there have been countless projects and assignments that require a lot of time and care (and are pretty big in the grading department).
Accomplishing these tasks and projects lifts a weight off of my shoulders, and I'm soon beginning to see that weight is constantly being lifted. My tasks seem less daunting and easier to accomplish, which seemed weird to me. Hadn't my homework always taken me all night to finish? Just a few minutes ago, I had to edit a peer's argument paragraph, which used to take about 30 to 40 minutes. This time, I zoomed through in about 8 minutes of thorough editing.
I also had to write an argument paragraph on that same subject, which took me about an hour to write in the earlier months of the school year, but now took me 20 minutes with, if I may say so myself, the same quality.
The same goes for any of my other projects, including this one. Technology has never been my strong suit, but embedding links, pictures, and videos to this blog has been surprisingly easy and quick. The time I'm saving on the projects that I'm working on can finally go into homework, so that I won't spend my whole night slouching on my bed answering rigorous questions with rigorous answers.
Now that I am done with this post, I still have time to work on other projects, and I hope I still get a lot done tonight. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the rest of my blog!
I've noticed so many changes in my work ethic lately. As I have been trudging along to the end of the school year, there have been countless projects and assignments that require a lot of time and care (and are pretty big in the grading department).
Accomplishing these tasks and projects lifts a weight off of my shoulders, and I'm soon beginning to see that weight is constantly being lifted. My tasks seem less daunting and easier to accomplish, which seemed weird to me. Hadn't my homework always taken me all night to finish? Just a few minutes ago, I had to edit a peer's argument paragraph, which used to take about 30 to 40 minutes. This time, I zoomed through in about 8 minutes of thorough editing.
I also had to write an argument paragraph on that same subject, which took me about an hour to write in the earlier months of the school year, but now took me 20 minutes with, if I may say so myself, the same quality.
The same goes for any of my other projects, including this one. Technology has never been my strong suit, but embedding links, pictures, and videos to this blog has been surprisingly easy and quick. The time I'm saving on the projects that I'm working on can finally go into homework, so that I won't spend my whole night slouching on my bed answering rigorous questions with rigorous answers.
Now that I am done with this post, I still have time to work on other projects, and I hope I still get a lot done tonight. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the rest of my blog!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Reflective Post #3 - 2015
Hello!
Although I have already blogged a little bit about my improvement as a student over the year, I feel as though I should reflect on those aspects in depth. It's actually funny that at the time I was writing my earlier pieces, I thought they were the best of my abilities, but I now see that I was capable of so much more.
Particularly in editing the Death Penalty argument essay, there was serious editing and real work that had to be done. I practically had to rewrite the entire essay. Yes, I had to gather all new evidence from reliable sources to back up my claim, and then analyze that new evidence.
After gathering the new evidence, I had to add new analysis, which required a lot of critical thinking and "trains of thought" that were, to be honest, hard to keep track of. Eventually, repeating the mantra "answer the 'so what?' question" helped tremendously in my analysis, which took much less time.
The hardest part of writing an argument essay, in my opinion, is the counterclaim and rebuttal, especially finding more evidence to disprove the counterclaim that, at the same time, strengthens my argument. After a whole year in my English class, I found it a little easier to find strong evidence and connect it to more evidence on the subject.
In the end, the countless activities and exercises that required analysis in my class helped stupendously. Analyzing text and evidence proved to be easier with more progression of work in a smaller amount of time in writing other recent pieces, like the Joy Luck Club essay. The tasks that once seemed daunting and insurmountable actually became manageable and refreshing.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the rest of my blog!
Although I have already blogged a little bit about my improvement as a student over the year, I feel as though I should reflect on those aspects in depth. It's actually funny that at the time I was writing my earlier pieces, I thought they were the best of my abilities, but I now see that I was capable of so much more.
Particularly in editing the Death Penalty argument essay, there was serious editing and real work that had to be done. I practically had to rewrite the entire essay. Yes, I had to gather all new evidence from reliable sources to back up my claim, and then analyze that new evidence.
After gathering the new evidence, I had to add new analysis, which required a lot of critical thinking and "trains of thought" that were, to be honest, hard to keep track of. Eventually, repeating the mantra "answer the 'so what?' question" helped tremendously in my analysis, which took much less time.
The hardest part of writing an argument essay, in my opinion, is the counterclaim and rebuttal, especially finding more evidence to disprove the counterclaim that, at the same time, strengthens my argument. After a whole year in my English class, I found it a little easier to find strong evidence and connect it to more evidence on the subject.
In the end, the countless activities and exercises that required analysis in my class helped stupendously. Analyzing text and evidence proved to be easier with more progression of work in a smaller amount of time in writing other recent pieces, like the Joy Luck Club essay. The tasks that once seemed daunting and insurmountable actually became manageable and refreshing.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the rest of my blog!
Monday, May 4, 2015
Reflective Post #2 - 2015
Hello!
As I have been uploading more writing pieces and artwork, I have come to notice how fun blogging and managing a website is. I'm constantly changing my theme, as well as other aesthetic aspects of my blog, and the editing of my work along with uploading it is a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of my homework (but don't worry, I'm not complaining... that much).
So far, I'm very proud of my progress as a student in writing and in art, but I've also gained a familiarity with technology in my English class. Working on computers, tablets, and other devices throughout the year has definitely prepared me not only for creating and managing this website, but for many more other uses of technology later in my life in whatever career I choose.
I have never been very tech savvy to say the least, and the only times that I interacted with technology prior to this class were when I checked my instagram account, contacted friends and family through text messages and phone calls, and when I wrote essays on Microsoft Word or did some minor research for school. Never did I think that I would soon create my own blog to document my growth and use technology in new ways. I guess you could say that I have finally seen the light.
To anyone struggling with technology, or anything in general, persist and pursue. Day to day, it all seems the same, but pretty soon, everything is different. Just keep trying, and you might even find out how fun your worst enemy can be (in certain contexts). Thank you for reading and viewing my blog. I encourage you to check out anything you find interesting on any of my other pages.
As I have been uploading more writing pieces and artwork, I have come to notice how fun blogging and managing a website is. I'm constantly changing my theme, as well as other aesthetic aspects of my blog, and the editing of my work along with uploading it is a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of my homework (but don't worry, I'm not complaining... that much).
So far, I'm very proud of my progress as a student in writing and in art, but I've also gained a familiarity with technology in my English class. Working on computers, tablets, and other devices throughout the year has definitely prepared me not only for creating and managing this website, but for many more other uses of technology later in my life in whatever career I choose.
I have never been very tech savvy to say the least, and the only times that I interacted with technology prior to this class were when I checked my instagram account, contacted friends and family through text messages and phone calls, and when I wrote essays on Microsoft Word or did some minor research for school. Never did I think that I would soon create my own blog to document my growth and use technology in new ways. I guess you could say that I have finally seen the light.
To anyone struggling with technology, or anything in general, persist and pursue. Day to day, it all seems the same, but pretty soon, everything is different. Just keep trying, and you might even find out how fun your worst enemy can be (in certain contexts). Thank you for reading and viewing my blog. I encourage you to check out anything you find interesting on any of my other pages.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Reflective Post #1 - 2015
Hello!
My name is Ariana Licea and I am a ninth grade student. Over the course of my freshman year in my English class, my writing, capabilities, and stress level have been tested and pushed. I have created a hub to collect all of my achievements and work over the course of this year; this compilation of my work will definitely show my growth as a student and writer. In editing one essay from the beginning of the year and one essay that I have recently written to put on this blog, I have noticed some drastic changes to say the least.
At the beginning of the year, our class had studied and written an essay on our view of capital punishment. Although I have always been comfortable with elaborate vocabulary and sentence structure, my evidence and analysis in this argumentative essay was quite weak and unconvincing. I noticed many times in which there was a twinge of insecurity or doubt in myself as a writer.
Fast forward to March of this year and you will find my informative essay on the novel The Joy Luck Club written by Amy Tan. Over the course of this year, I have learned key analyzing skills, as well as uncovering solid and convincing evidence. Combined with my before mentioned tools of writing, the essay gained my approval and confidence (I also got an A :)).
During the beginning of my freshman year, I didn't realize that I would learn and improve so much as a writer. Now, I possess vital writing tools that will aid me in my future years as a student and an aspiring journalist.
My name is Ariana Licea and I am a ninth grade student. Over the course of my freshman year in my English class, my writing, capabilities, and stress level have been tested and pushed. I have created a hub to collect all of my achievements and work over the course of this year; this compilation of my work will definitely show my growth as a student and writer. In editing one essay from the beginning of the year and one essay that I have recently written to put on this blog, I have noticed some drastic changes to say the least.
At the beginning of the year, our class had studied and written an essay on our view of capital punishment. Although I have always been comfortable with elaborate vocabulary and sentence structure, my evidence and analysis in this argumentative essay was quite weak and unconvincing. I noticed many times in which there was a twinge of insecurity or doubt in myself as a writer.
Fast forward to March of this year and you will find my informative essay on the novel The Joy Luck Club written by Amy Tan. Over the course of this year, I have learned key analyzing skills, as well as uncovering solid and convincing evidence. Combined with my before mentioned tools of writing, the essay gained my approval and confidence (I also got an A :)).
During the beginning of my freshman year, I didn't realize that I would learn and improve so much as a writer. Now, I possess vital writing tools that will aid me in my future years as a student and an aspiring journalist.
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