Midterm Assignments

Dear Friend,

            So, in English 1102 we write…a lot. And I know some people hate the idea of writing so much and so often, but honestly you learn more than you know. I’ve always been a writer; it’s always come so naturally. But every time I take a new class on writing, I learn something more. In English this semester, I’ve learn that it’s natural to mess up and mold your writing into something better. I’ve learned that academic writing doesn’t always have to sound like a robot. I’ve learned that your writing should reflect some of who you are. I’ve seen that within my writing, someone else will connect to it or understand something more meaningful than just the words. I always wanted to be a writer that had a connection and a meaning. I wanted to somehow change someone’s life. I have seen that, through this class, I can do that with my writing. My words are not just words, but are something more. English 1102 has taught me that.

Sincerely,

Taylor

What is it like to be you? Paper one in English 1102. I wrote this paper in hopes that it would just be good enough to do the job. In hopes that my grade would be an A and I could move on. English is my strongest class, so I never have had to worry about my writing. Once I started writing and realized what I was doing, I knew this was no ordinary paper. I had pages to write, things to say, people to influence, or maybe just to explain. I have a life like no other, because it’s no other’s life. I needed to tell these people about the girl that I am and the reasons for that. I needed the audience to be affected and to enjoy my story. I wanted them to soak up the hardships, revel in the happiness, and stay seated at the edge of their chair wondering what was next. I worked on my ability to flow my story, since instead of just being a paper, this was a story. I knew that sometimes I can jump around, so I wanted to make sure there was some kind of flow in the work. While making sure I was flowing properly, I had to make sure it was all real and true too. I had to think back in time and remember who I was and who I did not want to be. I had to look forward and think I want to be and who I will be. I needed to make sure my life was on track, before sharing those intimate details. Writing my life was not difficult. I found ease in writing, but I just needed to remember everything. Without memory, there would be nothing to write about. Throughout the process, I wrote, re-wrote, and wrote again many passages. I wanted to make sure it flowed just right. I worked on my grammar. I tried to keep my paper exciting. I only thought of exciting things to put in. I wanted to make it fun to read. I tried writing about times in my life when I was sad and didn’t know what to do. I don’t like to rely on people, or to talk about it with others really often, so writing it to whoever wants to read it seemed nearly impossible. I managed to conquer it though! I hope that a reader reads my paper and sees me, sees that I’m actually a cool person. I hope that a reader sees something they can connect to and realizes that if anyone ever needed me, I’d be the first one to help. I want a reader to read the paper, and think that they want to be like me (personality wise) and want to be a strong person. I hope the reader reads my paper, and takes away a sense of strength and assurance in themselves because they found someone who went through something like that too. I want to make my final revision on some of the flowing and editing, maybe adding in one or two paragraphs.

Peace, Butter, & Jelly was a great book to read. I can say that I learned some things from David’s life, even if I don’t agree with him. I got to experience a book, and then a person from a different ideal and a different set of thinking. I know that on campus there are many of those, but it becomes different once you have read the writing of someone and then converse with them about that writing.

Haikus are so hard

I am no good at these things

Way too difficult