Reflection 1

               I’m working toward being a better analysis of what I am reading about if it is in English or World History. In World History we are given readings that are from 100 B.C.E. and the text can be confusing at times. I had to take it to a tutor or my friends and have them read it with me so I could get a better understanding of what they are saying. Now I can read some text in the book and know what they mean and use context clues. Analyzing is also a component in English to  read the reports and essays that were given in class I had to view the reading from the authors stand point instead of our own. It opens our thinking and understand how they feel and the reason why they feel that way. The tattoo identity topic was a good example; a young man covered in tattoos had a hard time getting a job because people thought he was a bad person when really, he is using it to express himself. He had different sketches that represented what his personal ideas are such as the logo behind his ear that shows his loyalty to the LGBT Human Rights Campaign. This also help me open what I believe in and where I’m from and an identify for myself as a person.

            The Red and Blue country we read about helped me see what a blue-collar person view means considering I grew up in a Red America and didn’t receive the full thought from someone that came outside our county. It really took a toll of what people truly think about where I come from even if the people of Red America are still in need in the world we live in. Reflecting on the opposite side of that story was relieving to let out and defend where I’m from and be bold to disagree in what he was saying about the other side. Putting it on my blog then defines me as who I am and what I believe in.

            My blogs and work do show my abilities to read actively, I can relate to both sides and still be able to keep a steady relationship with whoever I talk to. The tattoo museum writing shows the knowledge of what I know about many groups that live in this country. Realizing that bikers, students, and others can go through the same museum and know the same hobby; communicate with one another on their style of tattooing. Understanding “the dumbest generations” story by Lee Drutman and countering the comments he makes on our generation.

            As time goes on writing is coming easier to me, placing the appropriate punctuation in the write spot or learning new form of writing such as the poem. My grammar and punctuation came along as I met with a writing tutor in the Learning Center of the library. We read through my first paper which helped me hear the different sounding way the words were arranged and how different ways were worse than others. Being my first experience, nerves went through my body until she started reading it with a few mistakes and a couple word changing, I knew this will be a routine before I hand in any more major papers. My abilities to write were pushed to a different mountain when we wrote in a poem format. What a time that was, it wasn’t hard but it’s interesting to write in a different style other than MLA format. The class has taught me a lot about my writing from different styles to connecting to different people I wouldn’t normally associate with.

            I would give myself an “A” for participation since I have been achieving all the requirements. I have yet to miss one class assignment and I come prepared for class with my laptop every time class is schedule. I also am involved in class discussions that we have talked about and brought more key points that generated a new idea for the whole class to think about. During small group times I’m not afraid to mix up the groups and try to meet new people and create new friends while doing our work in class. Achieving the goals outside of class supports my “A” mentality by going to the learning center to make sure I get as much feedback as possible from other students who are there or another teacher.