Blog #10: A "Look Back" Blog

15 weeks. More than 20 classes. And 4 essays. Throughout Writ 150, one thing has been constant, writing. Well duh, it's a writing class, Aaron... 

Okay, so yeah, that should be expected. 

But, what can't be extrapolated from the class' name nor anticipated at the beginning of the semester was the variety of writing topics we would be provided. I have learned a lot as a result of this class and though what I have experienced does not apply to my major directly, the experiences I have had and the lessons I have learned from this class will impact my academic future indefinitely. Not only has this class aided me in becoming a better writer, both in my creativity and formatting processes, but it has also aided me in better managing my time, keeping me up to date with assignments as a result of monthly assigned essays. Also, after having attended every class session this semester, the class has improved and challenged my discipline and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and reach out to my peers and professor for assistance. The class has taught me that I am a very hands on learner, and prefer to work on my essays from beginning to end rather than piece-by-piece. Additionally, I have found that I prefer to work on assignments that incorporate my opinion and personal experiences rather than essays that solely focus on outsider information and cold hard facts. Though I like using facts to bolster my claims, I find it more fun and intellectually stimulating to provide my own, unfiltered view regarding topics rather than ones that seek to persuade readers or follow the status quo.  

Furthermore, having been divided into pods in class since the beginning of the semester and consistently being placed into groups to peer edit essays, I have learned how to become a better collaborator and greatly improved my editing/feedback skills. At the beginning of the year, I was hesitant to provide negative/constructive feedback to my peers as I did not know them well and I hoped to avoid offending them. But, as the semester has progressed, I have gotten much better at integrating constructive feedback in my editing processes and making sure to debrief the person whose paper I am editing about the nature and meaning of my edits or comments.  

Specifically, Writ 150 has exposed me to a multitude of new and diverse social topics ranging from the impacts of stereotypes to the shortcomings of public apologies, and everything in between.  The research I conducted on these topics has opened my eyes to the implications of such social dilemmas and sparked my interests in following media events more closely, including the U.S's diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics and the implications of widespread social media usage among teens. 

In terms of advice I have for future Writ 150 students, I would advise them to plan out their essays before they begin drafting to get a good picture of what they will be writing about and from there they can plan accordingly. Additionally, I would recommend that students work on their essays incrementally, building off of the information they previously reveal. This will allow their work to flow and more effectively express their thesis. Not only this, but I highly encourage future students to reach out to their peers or professor for help editing and gaining ideas for their essays. Using your resources effectively is a vital aspect of excelling in college, and that starts with accessing those around you for help. 

As for now, this is my final blog entry. Thank you to my loyal readers who have stuck by me and continued to keep up on my weekly blog entries. You will be missed. 

Aaron Rubin signing off.