Congrats Home Fries. You've just turned in your first high school research paper. You made it. It must feel... well, just how does it feel?
I would like two posts.
Post 1: Please summarize your experience writing this paper. What did you learn about the process? What did you learn about the demands of an honors class? What did you learn about yourself as a student? What will you change next time. How do you think you will change when you get to next year's English class? Let it spill
Post 2: Please respond (with details) to the post of another students.
As always, posts must evidence authenticity, reflection and original thought. Please spend some time with this.(20 points)
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One lesson I learned writing this essay had to do with the type or rhetoric I used. In most essays I tend to focus more on logos rather than ethos. On this paper I started out that way, but ended up having to scale it back, and include more ethos. I also learned, that it was easier to structure a thesis statement around a solid essay, provided the essay still had a clear focus, than it was to structure an essay around a thesis statement I was already set on. Something else I learned, was how to focus on the details better. I am usually the type of guy who doesn't worry about details much; often to the expense of my grade. On this paper however I was forced focus on the MLA, which helped my perspective considerably. One change I am going to try to make next year is to procrastinate less. This will decrease my stress level considerably. I believe this will also make my papers better over all, because I will have more time to look over them. I will also be more alert at sic o'clock at night than I was at three o'clock in the morning - When I say 3 O'clock I am not exaggerating
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I learned a copious amount about MLA, though it was tricky. I learned about works cited which of course we will be doing next year as well as MLA. I learned that the research paper was all about research and giving credibility or ethos to the experts. The most challenging part of doing an English honors research paper would be showing no opinion when I was against a side, but I am sure I managed to do so. I learned that the demands of an honors class is challenging and demanding, but I feel like I have accomplished and have learned so much more than a regular nine class. I learned that if I really put in all my effort into something I can accomplish it. Next time I will try to take out all the vague language I used and will try to be more specific. My thesis at first was a list, but I changed my thesis instead of changing my essay; it sounds better now. I believe next year I will give my effort 100% and I will work more with my essay writing. I learned that next year I cannot slack off and I must pay attention to those little details either about an essay or thesis statement.
ReplyDeleteI thought the term paper was stressful; I gave up my social life and sleep for almost a month just to make sure my paper was perfect. In the process of writing my term paper, I learned how to argue my point and how to use in-text citations. I also feel a little more comfortable with MLA and works cited. This essay made me realize that when you are in an honors class, you have to go over and above expectations. It is way different from CP because we get into our essays in more detail, therefore we are graded harder. This essay helped me realize that, even though I am known to procrastinate, doing what is needed prior to the night before the due date will help. Next time, I will make sure that I do not procrastinate at all. By next year, I am going to try not to procrastinate at all and hopefully I will be able to come up with good thesis statements.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dulce about how next year I will try not to slack off. I also agree about paying attention to the little details; before this essay, I never knew that little details, such as grammer and taboo, could bring down your grade so drastically. I like how she said if you put all your effort into something, you can accomplish it. I also realized that from this essay. I thought I was going to fail, but I am overall satisfied with my essay. I'm just glad it's over.
ReplyDeleteWesley Lao
ReplyDeleteThe way this research paper was completed, with checkpoints, has provided me with an effective way to improve my essay. It helped solve my procrastination problem. I was able to see the errors in my essay, and get back on track as my peers evaluated my essay. I know the importance of rhetoric in any essay, but was never clear on how to use web citations. I have also learned that logos is not the same as ethos, though they often go hand in hand. My first essay included more logos, because I was sorting through the points I could make in my essay to support my topic. I soon realized that I had few credible points, as my essay was based on speculation. MLA also caught my attention, and I focused heavily on getting it right. Most of the stuff in my early essay was not complete in its arguement. I still feel a bit rocky on my thesis statement,since I feel that it is still unoriginal and uniform. Next year, I will create guidelines for my essay, so I can focus on what is really necessary first, and minor/easy details later. For example, I found myself focusing too much time on MLA, especially works cited. Finding each quote and including a say/mean/matter is of more importance than making sure MLA is acceptable. I should also make sure I do not waste time doing things that can be quickly completed when there are more pressing matters.
The research paper was time consuming and stressful as well. It was a long process and I am glad it is over now. I learned much from this essay and I will bring it along with me. I learned a lot about MLA and works cited, it is much easier for me now and I understand it better. I learned from an honors class that this is serious and everything that I do will make a difference. It was different from CP because we do not have a specific outline or format, except MLA, but other that that we were on our own. I learned about myself that, i know i wait till the last minute, and I knew I could not do that with a 400 point essay and doing the four drafts, and going back to fix my mistakes honestly makes me feel like a better writer and student. Next time I think I need to focus on making my thesis fit with my essay and try to not show opinion. Hopefully by next year I can make my thesis more clear and minimize on vague language, and is not just the big information that counts, it is all the small details that count too.
ReplyDeleteThis research paper ytaught me how to manage my time to the besto fo my ability. For once I was not up until two o' clock figuring out what I should write. The MLA i smuch more rigourous than it was when my 8th grade teacher briefly taught it to us. Maybe it is because this 9th grade, or maybe it is because this is an honors class, but there are many more rules that are hard to follow, so I hope i did it right on my papaer. However, I did make many mistakes, I needed more credible sources, not to complete Ms. Gerber's standards but for my own standards. I need to plan my time better for 10 Honors. Next year, I will try and keep up on all my reading, try and write more efficient esaays,and try not to procrastinate, which is my main issue.
ReplyDeleteLike Wesley said, the check points helped me improve, and like Samantha and Wesley, the procrastination was way less with the many drafts and peer reviews. When I went back and fixed my mistakes I realized that the same problem was reoccurring. Like Dolce, I will be sure to give 100% effort into a big deal of my final grade. Also like Wesley, I was still unsure about my thesis statement, and it did feel a bit uniform, and plain, but i am proud with what i wrote and confident to see my grade soon.
ReplyDeleteI like what Sam said about how Honors being different from CP because she is right, it is extremely different, at least I believe so. The essays ARE in more detail and are gradeed harder and the teachers care more about the writing. Of course, I am talking like I have been in CP which I haven't but this is what I've heard. I also agree with Dulce and Sam about not slacking off and not procrastinating.
ReplyDeleteI learned so much in this process while writing my research paper. First, I learned the demands of an english honors class...every single detail counts! MLA was difficult to get used to, but I'm pretty sure I have a good understanding of it now. I still feel like I need to work on improving stronger arguments, and that is something I hope to work on in my next years english honors class.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dulce, and Sam Stanis about not procrastinating... When you are in english HONORS, there is no time for procrastinating! Since I have been in this honors class, I have learned to organize my time more efficiently, based on the amount of work given.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Wesley on the many drafts we were given and the check points. It forced me to stay on task and manage my time properly. It also helped me improve, with each draft.
Well, what I learned about myself is that when I take my time to write an essay and do my work right instead of being my usual lazy self and waiting until the last minute, I can write a decent essay. I figured out that rereading my work multiple times helps a vast amount especially if you're looking for a specific thing each read. What I learned about the class is that every little detail matters. Whether it be from MLA formatting to your word choice. Everything is important. I learned that MLA is a huge part in writing and can make or break your grade. I also learned that sometime it's natural to use first person even you're trying not to.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Natasha's statement because I thought doing the multiple drafts helped. If you compare my first draft and my final draft, you will notice a huge difference. I also need to focus on keeping my thesis and essay consistent with each other.
ReplyDeleteWhen first introduced to the research paper it was intimidating and unapproachable but I learned that writing anything isn't so hard when you take the time to do it right. It helped to start off slow and gradual; discovering topics, finding sources, making a simple works cites, and our millions of drafts. My work load kept dwindling to the point where I had little to do the night before the paper was due, a very nice feeling. I truly discovered how nice it is to take the time to reread a fully completed paper several times before turning in a final draft. An English 9 Honors class is demanding but not outrageous, in fact it is reasonable when I stay on top of my work and am willing to put in the effort. Through the experience of writing this paper I realized how much procrastinating I would have done if it weren't for our frequent deadlines. I will walk away from this changing my habits as a student, not only for essays but for any project. I know that next year in English 10 Honors there will be an equally rigorous work load which I will need to carefully manage, like I did with this paper.
ReplyDeleteWriting this paper was a long process. It took much more work and planning than I predicted. I had to write and rewrite paragraphs numerous times as we learned new aspects that must be incorporated into this type of paper. I learned that writing a research paper is definitely a multi-step process. It takes loads of editing and precision to get the MLA right. I also learned that the actual writing is more complex than it seems. It must use ethos, many sources, and show no opinion. I didn’t really learn anything new about the demands of an honors class; writing this paper just reinforced the fact that honors students must work hard and be dedicated. As a student, I learned that I am extremely opinionated, and I must not let that show in my writing by itself. I had to go back and add sources to back up the stand that I took on my topic instead of just saying what I feel. Next time I will work more on the introduction and conclusion because I felt I did not work on those as much as they needed. They were left under worked. I also need to work on flow and transitions. I will plan out my essay so I have time to fix every aspect of my paper, not just the body paragraphs. I don’t think I will change next year because what I am doing now seems to be working well for me as a student.
ReplyDeleteNinja is Tyler Minton. I created the name for my Winston blog, and forgot it would show up here. I definetly agree with Wesley's point that having manny drafts helped to stay on track. I agree with your idea for prioritization, and know what you mean when you talk about spending a lot of time on less important things. However, unlike you I actually think that I could have focused a little bit less on my arguments, and a little bit more on MLA. Still though, I focused more on conventions than I have on any essay before, and am proud of myself for it
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Danielle about first receiving the paper and about keeping the work load light. When I heard we had a research paper, I was nervous to see how it would turn out because it was a new type of essay for us this year. Then after we started working on it, I realized that it wasn’t so intimidating. Breaking it down was immensely helpful. All the drafts allowed us to get all of our thoughts out there and then organize them. After my paper developed more, my work load did get much lighter than I had originally thought I would have.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel. By taking time to write an essay it turns out noticeably better then when I write it late at night with little review. Procrastination may be the panacean for lazy people but it backfires big time. Specific rereads of a paper are extremely helpful when I am looking for a certain element because it is impossible to write a paper and remember to include everything. I also found it difficult to write naturally without using taboo first person words.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Natasha saying that the reasearch paper was stressfull and time consuming. The drafts like she said helped alot. I am glad that the research paper is done. I also like natasha, I learned a lot about MLA and works cited. Like natasha said it is a serious buisness and next year we will have to do this on our own.
ReplyDeleteThe process involving the research paper was tedious and slightly stressful as Honors work should be. I now learned (hopefully) how to make a good thesis statement for essays. I know that English Honors requires a heightened level of expectation and that if you do not have a firm grasp on the material it will slip right before you know it. I honestly believe that I can do better as a student, but one major factor about my personality plays a role here and that is my laziness. I find myself at extreme situations, for at times I will work like a Clydesdale and others I am slow. I need to pull out my inner Clydesdale most of the time. I know I will change, because growing as a person obviously deals with truly learning from the mistakes one has made and surely learning from them. It is not hard to change for the better; one just needs to time it all right. By next year's English class I will simply progress through like I always have done.
ReplyDeleteThis is Alfredo Azpeitia
I feel like taking an honors class is still new to me. This essay was the most stressful assignment I had to do this year, but I think I pulled it off and did my best. Everything about it was new. The MLA, the use of ethos for the essay to be credible, and the work cited, which I honestly did not know even existed beofre this class, were all hard for me to get used to. The hardest task in this essay was not to show opinion in the body paragraphs. I spent my time searching for important people saying what I was dying to say. I did not really realize how rigorous this class would be until the essay. I learned that working on an essay with a topic I was passionate about made it seeem easier because I understood it and truly believed in it. Next year, I am going to make sure the little details are always right.
ReplyDeleteJust like Dolce, I think that I can do an assignment this diffucult if I really work hard and put my heart into it, because my effort will pay off. And I agree with Rachel about the fact that rereading my work multiple times helps when I'm looking for a specific thing each time.
I agree with Natasha too when she said that the multiple drafts helped, because it forced me to do my work on time instead of procrastinating until the night before the paper is due.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danielle. Writing our first term paper seem an unachievable goal at first. Starting of slowly and making changes over time really broke down the essay into manageable sections. English 9 Honors demands much more, but it is not at an impossible level, no matter how daunting the work seems.
ReplyDeleteAs a side question...who is Ninja?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Natasha’s entry. I get an understanding of what she is going through because it is also part of what I am going through too. I agree on the part where she states that she learned from herself, I strongly believe this is key information to becoming a better student and organization. The learning process of works cited and MLA formatting was said enough by Ms. Gerber.
ReplyDeleteAlfredo again.