Each week, you will be responsible for posting to the blog. The blog is where you will show your homework and reflect on your papers. You will be required to interact with your peers, and to remain courteous at all times.
Blogs are graded as follows:
1. Participation: blogs are posted on time - 1 point
2. Following directions: while you may contribute additional comments or links, your primary goal in posting should be to satisfy the assignment requirements. - 1 point
3. You must reply to your classmates on time - 1 point, and follow directions in your reply - 1 point
4. Remaining respectful of your classmates - 1 point
Each blog will be different. You will receive feedback from the instructor, but the primary purpose of the blogs is to receive feedback from your community of students. Ask questions of each other, and be thoughtful in your responses.
Please click on the Follow link to the right, or bookmark this page in your computer.
For this week's blog….
Directions: write a 300 word explanation of your main goal for the semester, and then explain the objectives you will follow in order to reach that goal. Refer to the assignment sheet. (Due May 30 by 5pm).
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy goal in this class is the same goal I have in every aspect of life. No matter what the challenge or situation may be my goal is to work toward the highest achievement possible. In this class specifically, this achievement would be receiving an A. To meet my goal I have to focus on a few things within my writing; thinking critically, creatively, and communicating with clarity.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when writing I get excited about something and just type with no reason or rhyme. I don’t think about what the audience will be reading or I don’t think about having a biased paper; it is just pure unadulterated word vomit. To receive an A in the class, I will have to stop myself from continuing that habit by thinking critically. By thinking critically my biases will fall to the wayside and my ideas and thoughts will shine, ultimately making a more readable paper. If I were to just speak and type nonsense, not only would I receive a poor grade, but what I would be saying would be hard to believe. Through using critical thinking I will be able to use logical reasoning and portray that in my work. On the other hand, thinking entirely too critically can counteract with creativity. I need to find a balance between thinking logically and adding flair. Using these two things hand in hand will lead to higher merits on my work.
Emphasizing on my ungathered thoughts when writing, communicating with clarity will help with getting rid of my poor writing habits. Along with thinking critically, making sure my thoughts are clear and concise will make for a better paper, again, leading to a better grade.
With anything in this lifetime, nothing should be done half-heartedly and if I want to receive a high A in this class, I will whole-heartedly have to commit to bettering myself as a writer. Everything I learn I will use to my advantage to not only receive and A, but to become a better writer.
I love your attitude! Some great imagery in your response. I especially like the "word vomit." I know exactly what you mean.
DeleteWhile receiving an A in this class would be ideal, it is not my sole focus. The main goal I have for myself in this class is to retain and understand as much of what I learn as humanly possible. I have choose this as my primary mission because I firmly believe that if I am truly learning, and doing everything in my power succeed, then not only will my writing improve but my thinking and communication skills will also become more refined and good grades will follow. This class is not merely a grade in my mind. This class is the foundation of my higher education.
ReplyDeleteI am already prepared to use every resource that is available to me, and I have scheduled more than an adequate amount of time to study, use the writing center and learning assistance center, and seeking other help when I need it. By preparing myself with a positive attitude and a well thought out plan of action I feel as though I am a very active learner. I am eager to show up to classes every week and work hard on my faults in critical thinking, communication and writing. Not only will these skills be important to my education, they will also be imperative in my career. Accepting critiques and advice will only enhance the active learning experience, thus helping me to correctly apply what I have learned.
Achieving my main goal will help me to achieve all of my individual goals. Improving my critical thinking skills, communication skills, writing skills, and demonstrating everything I will learn while enrolled in this class all start with a commitment and a desire to learn. By staying an active learner I will be motivated to fulfill my potential and pursue all other objectives asked of me.
During my exposure to the English Composition 1 course my main goal is to ultimately pass this class with A. I hold myself to a high standard because I have had wonderful grades thus far in my college education. I know I am a great writer and I can have wonderful points of discussion during my writing. My downfall while writing is placing too many words into my article in order to explain my topic. A few other objectives I have set for myself during this course are to learn more about myself as a person, a writer, and a reader; to learn how to communicate clearer with my audience through my writing; and to work with others to create proper, yet exciting pieces for all to enjoy. Another objective I am willing to focus on during this course is to learn and use the resources needed to write a college-level paper that will have plenty of potential.
ReplyDeleteIn order to accomplish these objectives and receive the A that I am willing to hold myself to getting, I realize that I will have to remain focused and keep my own opinion out of my work. Taking other people’s opinions into consideration would be another way for me to progress throughout this course. A major motivating factor of why I feel the need to complete these objectives is because I believe that later when I begin my career as a Youth Probation Officer I will be able to effectively write my reports clearly while keeping the integrity of the information I will need to put in them. By writing reports and conducting my paperwork clearly and effectively my colleagues would be able to understand and process the information within these reports. Until then though I can use the lessons learned in my course work for the reports that I write for my employer at this point in my life. Writing information reports for my job now clear and concise will make a large difference in the outcome of the action taken against the offender in question.
While receiving an A is ideal for this class and ultimately everyone’s desire I would only ask to be graded fairly with consideration of my hard work, as I wish to hold a passing grade. In this process of success I would like to make up a few rules for myself to help me achieve what I’m looking to earn. First, I would like to gather all my resources and make sure that I have the right tools to succeed, the writing center is one that I would be using most. I strongly believe communication is key to success, making sure I have my resources at hand to help when I may not understand. My main goal here is to become a better writer and communicator in every aspect. I would like to become a writer with sophistication and straightforward. My strategy to achieve my goals would be to make sure that I’m giving my all in learning all that I can to the best of my ability. I will gladly receive any criticism related to my writing in the most positive way to help me succeed in this class. I understand that knowing how to properly write a paper is critical in pursing any career I’m sure that using the knowledge I will be learning this semester will lead me to great opportunity’s with better communication and writing skills to become a successful individual.
ReplyDeleteI wish to pass the class with a B or C so I can continue on my goals to get my degree in culinary arts. I only seek a fair and equal grade compared to my reading and writing skills. A few ways I plan to get this grade is to work hard on my personal writing skills, make sure that my homework is done at least a day before it is due, Be a productive student in class, and use all that the class and the college give me to succeed. With the hands on help the college writing give me and the help the class will give me, I hope to get a B or C and continue on my career in the culinary field.
ReplyDeleteReid Monteith
ReplyDelete5/28/2014
ENG-121
Ms. Taylor
My goal for this semester of collage which is my second semester at PPCC, at the moment I don’t see this as a class I need to just get through with a good grade. It is an opportunity to learn more then what I know, to not only excel at what I do now but what I can do. I want to be able to us what resources that are available to me and not just be afraid of being judged by the students, teachers, and helpers who are willing to lend a hand. I have good ideas; or I think they are good. I want to share them with others and not just write down in some book to forget about days later. From using the writing center to help check and tutor me for my class, even the math lab when I really need it most.
But not only just to better myself but to better everyone around me, to teach what I know and even to be taught by other students. This Blog is something new letting strangers see my work even comment on it. From my school work, to even trying to make my own blog. Even now as I am typing I am thinking ahead of my work what I need to read. With all homework i complete looking for mistakes, asking others, even dedicating more than just an hour to review over study guides of just glancing at books. Even now as this is the first work that is due Friday on the Blogger site, I am having trouble thinking of words to say or type. I guess I leave this off with something a friend of mine told me in high school. “Do, Do not, There is no try.” (Keith Smith FFCH 2007)
A wealth of knowledge is available in any subject for an individual to obtain and utilize as they see fit. That being said, out of this class in particular, I aim to acquire a better comprehension of how to improve and adapt my writing skills so that I may excel in future classes as well as my intended career path. In doing such, I will need to apply the course objectives that have been outlined.
ReplyDeleteActive learning is an essential factor in my educational process if I expect to retain any information. I will hone in on my strongest methods of learning, and utilize techniques and tools to encourage my growth as a writer. Doing so will include reading from multiple sources and taking notes, as well as branching out to other methods like participating in group discussions, scrutinizing all of my information, and using the writing center to ensure that anything I produce in this class is organized, concise, and easy to understand.
In addition to active learning, I will expect myself to use all appropriate conventions. I believe it is important to keep my reader(s) in mind when trying to write an effective and high quality paper. In doing so, I will tailor my writing style in accordance with the subject that I am trying to convey, whether it be expository, descriptive, persuasive, or narrative. Giving credit where credit is due, all of the sources that I retrieve information from will be recognized in accordance with the citation style designated by the instructor.
In short, all of the objectives are important, but I feel that these two will hold the strongest positive influence on my writing. They will help me achieve my goal because they both involve keeping my audience and myself in mind throughout the learning experience.
When most students receive an assignment to describe their goals and objectives in a class, they write about achieving a grade. Certainly this is a good goal, though it is not my own goal. I find that by focusing on the grade, the point of a class can be lost. Which is to learn and retain the knowledge. My goal instead is to focus on mastering the course objectives. I choose to focus on discussing two objectives here though all the class objectives have merits.
ReplyDeleteOne class objective is to be an active learner. I will achieve this goal with three objectives. I have encountered many different forms of literature. I will seek to expand my literary knowledge by seeking out and analyzing new forms of texts. As well, much can be learned from peers that will expand and round out my literary knowledge. Often we encounter things that we would not have thought of simply by reading the thoughts and impressions of others. Along similar lines, I have never really used some of the resources available to me in college. For instance, I have only been to the writing center once to get input on one of my papers. I am hoping that by using this resource it will also expand my knowledge.
Creative and critical thinking is one of my favorite objectives of this class. While I believe this is a strong point of mine, I can always use improvement. Supporting writing with correct logic is an entirely necessary aspect of writing. This will be a main point that I seek to refine. Two sub objectives of this creative and critical thinking are closely related. These subjects are identifying and analyzing my own biases and values as well as identifying whom the target audience is in order to do the same. It is critical when communicating to understand biases and values otherwise the message is often lost in translation.
Through focusing on mastering the course objectives a longer lasting benefit can be gained: retaining the knowledge after the class has completed.
I thought your paper was well organized. I also like the idea of more full utilizing student resources this semester. Good work!
DeleteConstance DeGraffe
ReplyDelete2014 May 30
Emily Taylor
My ultimate goal for, English 121, summer semester is of course to get an "A". I am academically competitive and would love to take on the challenge and becoming apart of the few who earned the highest grade. While following the course objectives, I believe I will be successful in getting the grade I deserve. Unfortunately, I have never utilized any of Pikes Peak Community College learning resources, I feel this semester, if I fully take advantage of the services, I can not only improve my writing skills but also be able to effectively communicate. Communication is key to growth and productivity in society; communicating with clarity and originality is essential to improving my writing skills and getting the grade. I would like to improve my research skills and to be able to use technology and other resources to gather and relay my information. This objective will help me learn my personal process and strategies that would help me write effective pieces on various texts and create an accurate college essay. Another objective that would aid me int this course is using appropriate-conventions. With having knowledge and information about genre conventions and forms of analysis and arguments, I can not only control my grammar, punctuation and spelling but also be able to document resources appropriately. To conclude, my goal to obtain an "A" in this course is very much reachable if I take initiative and utilize all all my learning resources at the college; improve my communication and clarity by being original and using flexible writing strategies; lastly, with learning the appropriate mechanics in writing, I can minimize my writing errors.
While attending this course I hope to achieve certain goals. These goals are to obtain a passing grade, better understand how to write papers more efficiently, and learn how to be a more critical reader. While I intend to follow all the course objectives, there are a few of them that I will utilize in particular in order to achieve my goals.
ReplyDeleteThe first class objective that I think will be most beneficial to my goals is thinking critically and creatively. This objective will help me in my reading goals by helping me better analyze what I read by “Recognizing one’s personal values and biases, and those of others”. This objective will also help me with my writing goals by teaching me how to “Support my writing with logical reasoning and sufficient evidence.” My final objective is to earn a passing grade in this class. The objective of thinking critically and creatively will help me achieve this goal by helping me achieve the other two goals which will hopefully in turn get me a passing grade.
The next class objective that I will be utilizing to achieve my goals is to learn actively. This objective will be very helpful in not only this class by I believe in the rest of my life. If I am able to learn actively it will assist with both my reading and writing techniques by teaching me there is always more I can learn about the way I complete my work and that there are resources out there that I can utilize. Once again my last goal of a good grade will fall in place by implementing this objective to achieve my goals, I should be able to get a passing grade.
The last of the course objectives that I think will assist me in completing my goals is to communicate with clarity and originality. This objective will be most beneficial with my writing goals seeing as this objective is basically all about writing. I believe if I learn and apply all the components of this objective then I will become a better writer.
By using these objectives and achieving my goals I believe this class will be an educational and worthwhile experience.
Drew Burton
ReplyDelete5/30/14
ENG-121
Ms. Taylor
Goals are set it place to push the individual in order to better themselves and others around them. My goal in English 121 is to not only receive and “A” but to actually become a better writer and learn how to use analysis to better my understanding. My goals are achieved by communicating effectively with my teachers and peers and thinking creatively.
The syllabus seems to stress the importance of communication, whether that be with the teacher, peers, or the folks at the writing center, and I plan on being very open and asking questions in order to stay up to date and informed at all times. Utilizing this step in the syllabus will also allow me the opportunity to have my papers read by more people and help me fix my writing errors in order to become a better writer.
Thinking creatively will allow me to reach my goals in this class because it will always remind me to “Support my writing with logical reasoning and sufficient evidence”, which is not just important in writing, but in everyday conversations. I will use this piece of information to attain my goals because it forces me to study up on whatever the subject is I am writing about in order to give a detailed, honest essay on the subject that is both informative and though provoking.
If I follow these guidelines, among a few others, I will obtain my goals of both becoming a better writer and receiving an “A” in the class. Through utilizing communication among teachers, peers and the writing center allows me to become a better writer through peer reviews, and thinking creatively allows for better thought out essays and more informative writing. The key to reaching my goal in this class is staying informed and engaged.
Colten White
ReplyDeleteProfessor Taylor
30 may 2014
ENG-121
Goal setting is an important part of success for anyone; the goals set must be in reach, but hard enough that they push you to become better. Goals are set up as both short-term and long-term goals. The short-term goals are steps to be taken to reach your long-term goals, and therefore they must be set up with great care and timing so your success is not impeded. I shall take great care in planning my goals for this class so that I can reach them and succeed in this class.
My goals for this class are to improve my writing skills and develop a better style for my writing. Along with these goals I plan to maintain a good grade in this class. To complete this goal for the semester I shall set short-term goals that will lead me to success, as well as use my resources such as the writing center. My short-term goals to succeed my long-term goals will be to get better at planning my paper out, using different and better words in my writing, and strengthening my style of writing. These short-term goals will help me take steps toward accomplishing my end of semester goal.
By setting my goals I plan on becoming a better writer in all aspects. I shall check my short-term goals by evaluating my papers after they are returned, and I will use my resources such as the writing center to improve my weaknesses in my writing. I plan on meeting my goals through these resources and my short-term goals for each assignment, class activities and my peers. This will help me maintain and check my progress to reaching my goals.
Dana Herring
ReplyDeleteMs. Taylor
English 121-101
30 May 2014
My primary goal for English 121 is to receive an A average. In order to achieve my goal, I have to improve the way I learn and study and build confidence both when writing and in myself. During this course, I hope to find a better way to interpret words and retain the new words that I hear daily. Being that I have a hard time retaining new information, my vocabulary needs improvement. I am open to the constructive criticism I will receive from my classmates and professor, because I know it will help improve my writing skills. This will help by taking me out of my comfort zone when writing papers and allowing others to view my writing. I will have a positive attitude and will not let my ignorance of writing discourage me through this course or during my college experience.
I tend to lack confidence when writing or speaking publicly, because I fear not using grammar and punctuation properly. I plan to utilize the college resources provided to me; the Writing Center, tutors and The Little, Brown Handbook. I want this class to help me develop a way to express my thoughts with clarity and originality so that I understand what I am writing, and my audience can as well. I will be careful when evaluating my work and the work of my classmates. Doing so will improve my critical thinking skills and logical reasoning. I will attend class every week and put forth a tremendous effort to receive 100% on all of my essays, blogs and quizzes. I will follow up with the feedback that I receive from my classmates and professor weekly to ensure that I receive 100% with everything I do.
Learning on the first day of class that Ms. Taylor said “It is hard to get an A in this class,” I would like to achieve a better communication skill by being clearer on my works. To do this, I must read and learn in The Little, Brown Handbook (LBH), write and rewrite, and “compose a college-level essay.” LBH have a lot of materials to help me learn English language, so I can clearly states what I wanted to say. For example, the use of hyphen (566) can help me clarify my already-confuse thoughts because my assumptions (156) from my audiences are that my audiences already know some-what of what I am writing about. Writing and rewriting is essential in writing an essay; my style of a first draft is to “draft and revise at the same time.” (54) As in this draft, I omit more in “I must read and learn more” and “write and rewrite more” while I was typing. A college-level essay should be in its concise and clarity form. With practice and crowd-sourcing, I can be a better writer at communicating my thoughts on paper.
ReplyDelete5/28/2014
ReplyDeleteENG-121
Ms. Taylor
My main goal for this semester would be to get a better understanding of writing concepts and to increase my ability to be able to communicate without a soldier mentality. Serving in the Army for 16 years I have learned to take direction and to give it but never to express myself or write anything of purpose. With this class I hope to achieve that and to become a better writer. I require this goal because of the profession I have chosen as a history teacher and in order for me to become a great teacher I need to be able to understand the things required of me to teach. I have never been a strong reader and struggle to comprehend what I read if I don’t have an interest in it, so with this class I also hope to achieve a better appreciation of reading. The objectives I will follow in order to reach this goal would to first to partake in all of the discussions to the fullest in class and online. I feel with this alone I will become better at writing and communication. I also feel I will be able to learn from my peers about different forms of expression and different styles of writing. Another way I feel I can achieve my goal of becoming a better writer and acquiring a good grade in this class would be to set aside enough time in my day to study and take time to understand the discussions and assignments so that I don’t feel rushed in any aspect and allow my brain to process the information and retain what I have learned. This class is actually very critical to my style of teaching in the long run and my abilities to assist my student with learning and ways of learning when they don’t have much interest.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJesse Haynes
ReplyDeleteEng121
Ms. Taylor
Ernest Hemingway once said “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” While this may not be how many people perceive the act of writing, a poetic truth lingers in his words. To put your blood on paper is similar to putting your thoughts to ink. Your thoughts are a part of you, naked and helpless before the gazes of your friends and critics alike. If there is a reason to pursue the study of the English language, it is surely to improve the appearance of those thoughts. To make words more appealing is the key to power and success in the world around us.
In order to begin improving a skill of any kind there is a requirement; Passion. Without a clear enjoyment of something no amount of talent or hard work can achieve greatness. The first step in the direction of successful study is learning to work diligently without ever forgetting the spark that brought you to the subject in the beginning.
Equally imperative, however, is persistence. Without consistently putting oneself in a situation to learn the mental muscles that are built will atrophy. If involved in any sort of schedule for learning or a classroom environment attendance is one key to rising above and earning excellence.
The most important way to build an individual’s reading and writing abilities is to simply listen. It does not take sage knowledge to give sound advice, and if there are mentors or teachers available it is imperative to hear what they have to say even when you are not in agreement. The opinions of your peers and instructors are the catalyst that will keep you going on the path to superior craftsmanship.
In the end, it is a myriad of habits and practices that will combine to create a healthy and aware student. These few points are absolutely necessary for success, but it will always be backed up with hard work and blood, just as Hemingway warned us.
Justin Shultz
ReplyDeleteMs. Taylor
06/08/14
ENG-121
My goal for the semester, is to pass my classes of course. I want to be more educated at the end of the semester. To achieve the goal of passing my classes, I will have to stay focused with the work that is handed to me. I need to stay on track in keeping everything organized to complete tasks on time with acceptable accuracy. I should participate within the class and interact with other classmate if i am having trouble with a particular topic. To come out of this semester more educated, I will study notes more often to recollect the information in the future when needed. I will be increasingly active in classes to learn the information better. These objectives will insure that i get a great education while studying in classes and will help me succeed in this semester.
My most primary goal in taking Eng 121 is to learn to effectively convey complex ideas and thoughts in a way that flows beautifully, and is easy for my audience to comprehend. I believe the best method for achieving this is simply practice. I quite enjoy writing, so long as it's on a subject I'm interested in, and hope to do a lot of it in this class. Some of the objectives set up for this course will ensure that I learn the necessary skills to achieve my personal goal.
ReplyDelete"Think critically and creatively." Words I live by. A problem I have when writing informative or persuasive papers is that I simply state an argument, but inadequately provide reasoning that would prove the argument correct. This class is going to ensure that I do not leave points unsupported by legitimate sources. I quite like the objective on the course about "understanding relationships among language, knowledge and power in social contexts." It signifies that language, writing, is nothing more than a tool of life that one must master if he or she wants to effectively navigate an intellectual society.
Objective 3: "Communicate with clarity and originality," possibly the most important objective of all. This aspect of the class is going to teach me how to turn my jumbled up, disorganized thought processes into a clear readable comprehensible format. "The ability to exchange ideas and information is essential to personal growth." I love this because once I can efficiently organize my ideas, I will be able to make connections and draw conclusions that I otherwise wouldn't be able to see. After taking philosophy, I learned the importance and significance of relying on my peers' outside perspectives to critique my own. Just from our first few days of class, I can tell this course effectively utilizes the "collaborative and social aspects of the writing process."
My main goal for this class is too learn the proper English and grammar. I would like to have a perfect communication when speaking to people. Next semester I have to take 122 also. I want have a perfection on my English because I'm going to need it for my future job. My job requires a lot of explanations and details to find the person guilty or not. I want to learn how to use references and citations. My problem that I have the most is using proper citations and reference.
ReplyDeleteI want to learn everything that I could so when I get to 122 it won't be that much difficult for me.