Another one bites the dust...

Being a second semester student, freshman, I don't have that much experience with the whole college concept quite yet, but I can say that one of my most interesting and beneficial classes has been Engl. 1020 sec. 1. Since I can remember I have always enjoyed writing, so every chance I get to improve my writing I take it. When I walked into this class I though I had it made, but little did I know, my writing would drastically change as I found my self in depth with the topics. Through each essay that was assigned I found new ways to incorporate my self so that I would try my best in each subject, this is also due to the methods of teaching.

I often loose track of details as I find my self focusing on writing the essay portion rather than taking my time and seeing things as they are. My previous observational essays were mostly on set topics rather then free range. In this class essay topics were very easy to come upon, as almost everything was free range. Gathering skill and ideas from class and the assigned readings allowed me to practically check list my ideas and provide clean and vibrant observations on things that I wouldn’t normally even glance at. In my Observational Essay I described the security guards at the entrance of a building, focusing on the factors that I normally would just state rather than describe. “Each guard is dressed in the typical generic looking uniform, a blue or white collared shirt with a black or blue over jacket and black slacks. A cheesy-chromed badge covers their lower left chest and wobbles back and forth as they walk around.”
The assigned readings showed me how to encounter each situation and observe everything that was or would be relevant to my essay and take note of it, like mindless ramblings of what ever I saw. With these simple techniques I am now able to use description in my essays in a fluid manner with out over or under doing it. This makes writing easy to read and very fluid as it does not obstruct the reader and bombard them with too many visuals, which is something that I used to do.

A thesis is what makes or breaks a piece of writing no matter the skill of a writer. From my very first post to my last, it is clearly visible that my writing skills have almost completely changed, but I think I have become most proficient in coming up with an elaborate thesis that leads to a good paper. In my very First Post I was asked to find a subject and a site in which I could relate to and write about. I did so but in a such a bad fashion that it is extremely choppy to read. “Skatboarding is a sport that is to soon be reckoned with as it is up and coming.”
Although a thesis is something that can be revised and revised until it is perfect, then revised some more. Over the coarse of this semester I have become accustomed to asking that all important question, “SO WHAT???” and by doing so I have been able to write and add more context to my thesis’s in each paper.
In my Rhetorical Analysis I used that all important “so what” factor and came up with a thesis that couldn’t be defined in one sentence as it linked the argument of a picture to one of my own. “Police have been around since laws have been established. They have the sworn duty to “protect and uphold” justice, but what happens when the term justice is taken out of context and bent to where it hardly resembles justice at all. Further more how will this corruption deceive to the younger generations views on Justice?”
Although this in its self is not nearly as developed as it should be, it is a complete turn around compared to the way I used blatantly state my thesis. Developing good thesis skills will come in handy through out the rest of my life, especially in my writings, as I will be able to connect with my readers on an intelligent level with out losing their attention.

Using the information I have gained from this coarse I feel confident that my writing skills have returned and have grown. I hope to encounter more interesting and fruitful classes, which will better my writing, but now I can walk confidently and write just as bold.