This semester proved to go much better than last semester. Not only did I obtain an A on every single paper, but I managed to write about what I liked more than last semester as well. I really enjoyed writing my product evaluation paper with Mike and my Literary Analysis essay. Unfortunately, I had a mild struggle with the Rant' N' Rave paper and my Research Paper.
Our first paper, the product evaulation paper, was a blast to write simply because we were allowed to write about one of my favorite topics: Music. I love to write reviews for CD's and the opportunity to write about five genres of music I liked made this less of a chore. I enjoyed Mike's comments on the albums as well and though twenty-five CD's may have been a little much, they were almost all enjoyable to listen to. This was the only paper I obtained a perfect 100% grade on and I'm happy I did. Putting pictures on the blog was an extreme hassle totalling to about seven hours. Overall, this was my favorite paper and I learned how to write an effective review. Most of my classmates checked out and liked the music we recommened.
The Rant' N' Rave was a bummer for me. I thought I wrote a clever paper, but it wasn't that special in terms of my grade. I did stray from the norm in what a paper like this should sound like, but I don't know if I could have written it any other way. I felt catharsis while writing this and the events that preceded it definitely drove me.
The Research paper was close to a disaster with how disorganized all my information was. Sadly, I apparently did poor on my citations. On the other hand, the paper had to be cited in APA format and the unfamiliarity definitely cost me a few valuable points. It was definitely a reality check on how difficult it is to write a convincing, professional research paper, but I learned from my mistakes. Next time I write one, I will definitely lay out my information in a more organized matter. I was deeply interested in my research topic though, and my eyes have been opened to some new theories and ideas.
Finally, my literary analysis paper was a breeze because of last summer's online lit class that was full of these type of essays. Reading Ulysses will be one of my proudest achievements for me as it is the second hardest book in the English language and though I may not have read as much as Joyce would want the reader's of his book to have read, I deciphered what I could. I may read it again in hopes of understanding more of this deeply philosophical story. The exposure to Joyce's book showed me how to be an effective writer without always having to follow the general rules of the English language.
Overall, this semester contained some of the funnest papers I have written and has taught me more about the English language and other topics as well. It was definitely better than last semester as I felt I had a since of direction while writing these papers. This shows that as I've gone through this semester, I have grown as a writer and I thank Mr. Schelle for pushing us all to do our best and for the helpful advice he gives when we feel lost. Many say they didn't learn much, but thats because they don't take Mr. Schelle's advice or don't push themselves to figure out exactly what they want to say. Writing about a topic you enjoy helps too. I'm going to miss this class, especially the teacher. Good luck to future seniors and do your best to make writing fun, not a chore. Check out Catch-22 too, if you hate to read this book will feel make you think twice of hating books.