Well, I apologize for this late post. I was busy studying all day on Wednesday for my last final which is today. I’m glad it’s over; and I hope we all did well. Now I have time sit down and write this final blog before I go to bed because I really need to catch up some sleep. What a long journey! In actuality this is not really the end of my journey. It is only the end of my third year in college. For me it has been a long semester. This class combined with business math and writing has pushed me to the brink. It is amazing that I even had time for this class. For an online class this was definitely more like a real class. When I first signed up for this class and saw that I would need to commit six plus hours a week I thought that was overrated. But to my surprise I ended up committing such hours to this class. This was not like a typical English class I had come to believe. My thoughts were that hey were going to write 3 essays, read a couple books, do some assignments and be done with it. This was how my previous experience with English went. After taking this class I was humbled. This class was no joke. If you did not keep up with the work there was no way you could catch up. It went at a hundred miles an hour. Now that we have reached the end of the semester it feels like a weight is coming off me for a little while until spring semester starts.
This class taught me a lot of thing. From reading all the essays out of the Exploring Language text to the books we read, I have gained a new perspective on many different issues. To hear all of these different voices has been a great lesson on how to approach a certain issue from all different angels. The most valuable lesson I learned from the EL text was on propaganda and political word play. In my opinion there real is no such thing as actual reporting or real journalism anymore. It is all opinion based off how people feel and not on actual facts. It is sad when I hear that a majority of people now get their news from talk radio. Learning about wordplay and propaganda has been really helpful in cutting through the nonsense and getting to the truth. These lessons learned will help in finding the truth. The real lesson learned was about critical thinking. Now when I read something I apply these skills so I can get to the bottom of what the author is really trying to convey. This skill goes far beyond just the English classroom. Critical thinking should be used in all fields. To me it is another form of scientific observation where you ask questions and try to find answers to those questions. This skill has been invaluable and I will look to improve on it as I continue my education. To all the classmates that managed to tough it out and stay with the class I say bravo. We did it. Through hard work and determination we made it to the end. Now let’s not slip up and blow off the final assignments. It’s been great working you guys and the ideas each of you brought were great. All the best to your future endeavors and good luck.
First, congratulations on graduation! It was cool encountering you at ceremony. I also felt we have achieved one step of our life. It was very nice ceremony! By the way, I am not sure if you saw her, but our instructor was there as well, cheering for you while you were receiving diploma. Your thought in blog is very well expressed. I totally agree with you. When you said “Learning about wordplay and propaganda has been really helpful in cutting through the nonsense and getting to the truth,” I was nodding my head. Yes, learning propaganda method helps us to avoid being deceived and to face the fact. As you said, the critical thinking skill we have acquired in this class will help us to understand the real meaning of the story in any kind of field. So I believe I am in higher level to judge the text now. You pointed out that “Now when I read something I apply these skills so I can get to the bottom of what the author is really trying to convey,” I also felt exactly the same; sometimes it is hard to read author’s intention because they are so skillfully applying their tool to persuade readers, but there are always little key to find author’s real intention. After taking this course, my skill in detecting author’s intention improved remarkably by always thinking critically by assignments. I feel so good when I find author’s use of propaganda to persuade readers, then I think in my mind that “I will not be deceived by you!” Without critical thinking skill, I would have been simply deceived. So I appreciate the course which taught me the critical thinking skill which will be applied in everyday life. Again, congrats on your achievement and good luck to you also!
ReplyDeleteYour title could not have been any more fitting, boy am I relieved we are at the finish line. I must admit I was in the same spot as you ,so worried about everything I forgot to post my blog on time this week. You mention sleep in your passage and that is something we all should get enough of while this semester is coming to end. I will take full advantage of no homework or early morning classes. I think I dedicated much of my sleeping time to this course and my math 102 course, just like you mentioned I thought the 6 hours of home work was a little exaggerated but it was pretty darn close. The amount of work is what made me think the class was going to be to challenging but I pulled it out. The research paper was my most nerve racking assignment and it was the best grade I got on any of my work. I learned similar things that you did from Ms. James course and have gotten better inc certain areas.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best in whatever you do, I know you did great in this course cause I always read your work, I wish the course was in some way physical so that we could all have met but maybe we will run into eachother another time.
Take care.