Stirling20's Blog

Reflection Essay

Mike Stirling

English 101

Professor Stolley

12/8/09

Reflection Essay

            This semester was definitely a learning experience for me in the English department.  Through my last couple of years in high school doing papers was really not part of my routine.  I entered English 101 with a clear mind set and didn’t know really what to expect.  Through the course of the semester I improved my writing skills, was exposed to new ideas and learned how to have an open mind.

            I without a doubt improved my writing skills.  Our free write blog assignments taught me how to just write freely and things that came to mind.  It helped me with when I had to think about what to write when it came time to write my project papers.  The topics we had to write on were different then what I had to write on in high school.  I started to understand that my papers were all arguments and that to make a good paper it is essentially arguing your thesis.  My previous education never really taught me how to write a paper like that, I found this way a lot better for papers.  

            A huge part of our English class this semester was focused on the learning and writing on subcultures.  I was exposed to many new ideas and I definitely learned to have a more open mind.  Our first Q and Q was on Goths and I had a total bias stereotypical view of them.  That was my lowest grade I received and it was then I realized I have to open my eyes to new things a little more.  Our discussions in class were very open mind orientated, you felt like you could say anything and no one would  judge you.  This was the biggest thing that impressed me about the class; I came from a school where if you went out on a limb on a subject you were labeled a weirdo or a nerd.  I truly believe that this class has given me more confidence in speaking my mind and letting everyone know my opinion on a class reading or assignment. 

            All in all I definitely took something out of this class and that is the most important thing.  I would be lying if I said I took something from each class in my first semester of college.  Through my writing skills improving and my way of thinking broadening, I really enjoyed this class.  Hopefully I can take what I have learned and experiences into other area of my college career and life itself.