Friday
#10 - Overall Reflection
I was very lazy when it comes to writing since I feel like it's such a burden to me. However, now, writing is not a huge problem anymore. Throughout this semester, I experienced many new ways of writing different types of essays. The skills and techniques that I have learned are very useful for me to improve my writing and at the same time help me to increase my confidence in university level academic writing.
The first day I attend this class, I thought I knew a lot about writing. However, as it progressed, it soon became clear that I knew far less than I thought. At the beginning, I discussed about having problems with writing especially in getting the mood to start writing. However, this class kind of forced me into working at a faster pace and made me realize that it was my procrastination that was holding me back. This class has helped me a lot with handling my procrastination habits. I feel as though in the future this will help me with any writing that I will have to complete, and in my future occupation. This class has taken me farther than I thought it could.
One of the techniques that I learned in this class which I think is beneficial was the article analyzing. This lesson taught me how to get the main idea, and key points of an article. I know that if I practice this skill more often, it will be easier for me to understand what the writer is trying to say. I will be able to narrow down their arguments and analyze their supporting evidences with much more ease than before. This new skill will allow me to expand my mind to new ideas and facts. It is a good skill to have because it breaks down the argument into the most basic information.
In writing, I never realized the necessity of getting help from others. Writing class taught me that it is okay to have flaws. There are certain elements of writing that I had no idea I was messing up but the lecturer and my course mates have helped me a lot. Their help benefited my grade, my writing, and my confidence, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have the ability to see this change through the posts on my blog.
Although sometimes the work became tedious, knowing that I will be able to use the skills I have learned and practiced makes it worthwhile. I have gained so much insight in this class about my style and habits of writing. Ultimately, in applying the skills that I retained and constantly practicing them, they will become habits when I write. Overall, I would like to thank Dr. Sheena for helping my course mates and I in improving our writing. It was indeed a roller coaster experience.
Monday
#9 - Analyzing Articles
This week's class, we were assigned to analyze a total of five articles. We had to identify the thesis statement, vocabularies used in every paragraph, vocabularies that we did not understand, the transition words used and the main point for each paragraph. We were also had to do the outline based on the articles that we had read.
During the process of identifying those elements in the articles, the first article was a bit hard for me because I was trying to figure out how to identify the elements like how I was assigned to. However, it got easier once I moved to the second article until the fifth article.
From the task we did, I noticed that this method is very helpful because in order to read effectively and to gain some ideas, I will have to identify all these elements so that I will be able to understand what an articles is about even when they are written differently and by doing the same thing repeatedly, I will eventually require the skill of analyzing the articles.
Besides, while I was doing the task, it felt like the time was going so fast. Probably because I was too focused on finishing the task. All in all, it was a great session and I love it.
Sunday
#8 - E-learning Week
Week 8 was e-learning week for the faculty of languages and linguistics' students so all the lectures were conducted through Spectrum. Initially, I thought it would be fun since everything will be online and relaxing but the e-learning week turned out to be a little messed up.
There were some problems that my course mates and I encountered during the e-learning week and it happened to almost all lectures. First, I had trouble with the WiFi connection. I couldn't even load my browser because it was so slow.
Next, once I was able to land on the website, I had trouble trying to log in because as I mentioned before, the connection was so bad and it took me ten minutes to finally log in so I decided to reset the WiFi connection.
After a lot of disconnects and reconnects, I was then able to follow the discussions in the chat room. However, nothing lasts forever. I got kicked out from Spectrum and there was a pop out message said "Database Error". I tried to log in again but the same problem that I faced before happened and I was so pissed.
Not only that, whenever I typed something for the discussion, it took three minutes to be sent and by the time my replies were sent, the topic of discussion already changed.
Anyway, we were assigned to write a letter as a parent. It was interesting because I was able to imagine myself as a parent and at the same time put myself in my parents place. Somehow, it taught me to appreciate my parents more. At the end of this post, I've attached the letter that I wrote.
Overall, it was a great experience and I would like to suggest that each faculty should take turn in conducting the e-learning week so that the problems like I have mentioned will not be happening again.
Thursday
#7 - A Letter To Abby
DEAR ABBY : I was under depression due to the unrequited love for this one girl. My cousin suggested that I should attend the ball to meet her which I did.
However, during the ball, instead of meeting the girl, I met another girl and we had a good time together. I like her. No, I love her and I know she loves me too but the current situation is complicated. She is a daughter of my father's worst enemy. I want to marry this girl but her father is definitely hating me. Honestly, I am not interested in violence.
Worst come to worst, her father is setting her up for a marriage with another guy. I would rather die instead of living without my beloved girl but I also don't want her to get into trouble for being with me. What should I do, Abby? -Romeo
Friday
#6 - Online Shopping
What an interesting topic to be discussed huh?
Honestly, I am that person who always plan and list down what I want to buy. If I don't plan on buying that certain thing, I will not buy it. However...........
*Inserts massive giggling noises here* I am such a weak person when its come to shopping online. I don't really know why, though. Those items from online stores are just so tempting I couldn't resist but well, university life equals to money is crucial so I'm kind of holding back myself.
So far, I've bought skincare, backpacks, and purse from the online stores and I've never encountered any problem. Probably because I always do some research before buying anything. The items I bought online are usually happened in a sudden but I don't have any regrets.
Despite of having the urge to buy things online, I will never buy any types of clothing because I have trust issue with the size. Sometimes the measurement is different from the shirt we always buy at the stores outside and I don't really have the time to measure myself using the measuring tape which is kind of troublesome for me.
I find online shopping can be very relaxing as you don't have to go out and walk from one store to another store to find the things you want. It's very easy since you just have to use your fingers and some knowledge because obviously you have to make sure those things are worth buying.
That is all from me. Adios.
Monday
#5 - Book Review : The Parasite by Arthur Conan Doyle
After a long, exhausted week, I am finally done with this
classic literature novel titled The Parasite.
The Parasite is about a young man named Austin Gilroy who
studies physiology. Being a physiologist, Austin Gilroy is unconvinced
that the occult is real. However, his friend happened to be Professor
Wilson, someone who is studying the occult. Gilroy is introduced to a
middle-aged woman known as Miss Penclosa, who has psychic powers. She is a friend
of Wilson’s wife.
The sceptical Gilroy's fiancée, Agatha, is put into a trance
to prove Miss Penclosa's powers. This succeeds and Gilroy begins to go to the
Wilson's house where Miss Penclosa practices her powers on him. The effect is
that Gilroy, although still skeptical, now concedes that there is more in the
matter than he at first believed.
Miss Penclosa then falls in love with the Gilroy but it’s
impossible for him to like her. During my reading, I find that it's very awful when
he keeps on saying how ugly and deformed Miss Penclosa is because she uses a
crutch. Miss Penclosa starts to use her powers on him to make him caress and
utter sweet nothings to her. He loses his temper once he discovered and rejects
her love causing her to play tricks on him with her powers and almost kill
Agatha.
Upon finishing the story, the ending felt unsatisfying. It's
a pity, because, up to the last couple of pages, the book is well constructed
and holds the attention. But, to be fair, it was one of those endings that make
you think, after the fact, about what happened so you eventually feel satisfied
upon realizing what happened.
This story tells us that we should not misuse the ‘power’ to
get what we want. All in all, I can say that this is a story that shows how far
science and med has come. What very little understanding they had of hypnosis
back then, and how impossible this situation would be.
Tuesday
#4 - How do you think you can improve your writing?
It's the third week of effective writing class and we are assigned to write on the topic mentioned above.
How do I think I can improve my writing? Very hard question.
Firstly, the surrounding. I am someone who prefer a quiet place or with a soothing music background when I write. It helps me concentrate on my writing and allow me generate ideas.
Next, something I am sure that can help me improve my writing is by achieving a high level of grammar knowledge. It's cliche but admit it, a knowledge on grammar and the ability to apply it is very important in writing. Wrong grammar can be a turn-off for readers, don't you think?
Other than that, I think I can improve my writing by reading. By reading, I can expand my knowledge and my brain will be able to produce a lot of ideas. Not only that, by reading, I think my vocabulary will be improved because you people know how much bombastic words we can get from the novels.
I guess I will stop here. More updates coming soon!
Thursday
#3 - Reflection on Pre-writing
The class was great. At first, we were told to write a blog entry titled "The Kinds of Writing I Like Doing" and what I love the most was the fact that we were given the chance to do a writing personality test which then I discovered that I am the ISFJ type or The Defender.
What is ISFJ? Click here and perhaps you will get to know me better. Aha! *winky face*
Truth to be told, I was a bit surprised at how the result was very accurate, surely not 100% but most of them.
Next activity was a group task. We were told to pick a topic that we preferred and to do pre-writing based on the topic. The result from the group discussion can be seen in the picture below.
Thanks to Aina's handwriting everyone gets to read what we discussed. Lol. I'm sure that by now, everyone knows pre-writing will be very helpful in making a writing more organised.
Tuesday
#2 - The Kinds Of Writing I Like Doing
I don't have any specific type of writing that I like doing. Perhaps it is because I haven't been writing anything that is presentable. What I mean by presentable is a writing for people to read. Not that I don't write any though. I do write for my blog, and essays– yep, back then when I was in school.
I would like to write something but I don't really know what should I write. The type of writing that I know I might enjoy doing is the descriptive writing. I love how things are well-described. I want to try to play with words although I know my vocabulary is not in that impressive level yet but hey, I'm working on it.
Another type of writing that I might like to do is the narrative writing. However, I have to be the one who decide the genre because obviously no one want to write something they don't like. I have to admit that narrative writing gives my mind the chance to wander. I can narrate my own story which is pretty much interesting– for me, at least. This kind of writing will have no one questioning what you write because well, it's my story. I guess that's why I think I might love narrative writing compared to those factual essays which you have to get every facts correct or else you're doomed.
So yeah, I guess that is all I can write about the kinds of writing I might like doing.
#1 - Reflection Of Me As A Writer
Honestly, I think myself as an amateur writer because there are still a lot of things I must learn in order to become a good writer. Not only that, I don't have the experience in writing except for those essays I wrote during my school life.
My strength in writing is I have the passion. I enjoy writing although I know my writing is actually not good enough and I don't have the confidence. In fact, writing is the way I express my thoughts when I find it's hard to speak.
Despite of the passion I have, there are some weaknesses that I am trying to improve. One of them is that I am always unsure of what I write, I am not confident with my grammar and vocabulary. I always have the thought of someone who is going to read my writing will never finish reading it, simply because my writing is not that interesting.
Well I hope I'll be able to be a good writer soon. XO.
