English 101 Reflection Post! :)

Being in Mrs. Thomas’ English 101 class has been such an awesome experience. She makes learning interesting and fun instead of dull and boring. I have learned so much in just a few short months. Before coming here, I thought that my high school English classes had prepared me well, but I was so wrong! English classes in college require a lot more critical thinking than in high school. That was something I definitely needed to work on and I feel that my critical thinking skills have improved. I ask questions about everything I read. Instead of simply reading a text, now I read it, interpret it, and analyze it.  I have learned to read between the lines and not automatically assume things based on the surface.

                I know that I am a good writer and I have the potential to write great papers, but I have a few downfalls. I have always struggled with creating a thesis statement and I still have a few issues with it. I tend to be a little too “wordy” when I create a thesis statement. So, I still have to work on making my thesis statements direct and to the point. My researching skills have definitely improved. I used to have so much trouble trying to find sources for my papers, but now I am able to go on the library database or Google and find what I need. Oh, and I cannot forget about Bridging the Difference! That book literally became my Bible this semester. I was always referring to it and checking myself.

                The fact that we are able to use technology in the classroom was really cool. I am not the most tech savvy person out there, so being able to use technology often has definitely helped me. I like using the blogs to post our thoughts and ideas because it was kind of like posting an outline for everyone to see and give their opinions on. I also liked being able to see other people’s ideas. It is good to see different ideas from a different point of view. And I absolutely love that we could submit our papers through Blackboard. It is so easy and convenient to do. I also liked doing the infographics because they were actually really fun to do. It gave us a chance to show our creativity while presenting research for a topic.

                I have learned so much in this class that will benefit me in the future. I am so glad that Mrs. Thomas was my teacher because she is just the best. Any questions or concerns I had, (and trust me, there were plenty) she was there to answer them. I would recommend Mrs. Thomas to any incoming freshmen. So, thank you Mrs. Thomas for making my first semester of college a great one! I’ll see you in English 102 next semester!