April 25, 2011
Ask Me What I’ve Learned
Don’t ever say, “I’m too old to go to school”. Going back to school after over 17 years has been a fun, but challenging experience that at times was very frustrating. There were moments that made me feel like giving up, especially when school was taking so much from family time, and sometimes even my work. I am so happy to have experienced school again and hope to keep it up and get my degree within my two year goal.
The first class of the two I have taken was English 102. Boy, was that a challenge. It has always been easy for me to talk, but writing everything down has been a crazy experience. I have learned to write in MLA format, thanks to Diana Hacker’s Pocket Style Manual and The Curious Researcher by Bruce Ballenger. The only downside was that I wasn’t able to learn APA format for some of my future classes. Another great thing that I was able to learn more of was how to investigate websites and learn the scholarly ones as opposed to bogus sites with misinformation or lack thereof.
I have always appreciated a good book and a good writer, but reading stories from The Writers Presence edited by Donald McQuade and Robert Atwan have been a wonderful learning experience. To have read Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail was very emotional and educational, to see how such an educated man wrote without one hateful or spiteful word, and yet get to the point was amazing. If I could just use half of what he was always able to utilize to get the word across the world. Miss Judith Ortiz Cofer taught me to be creative in writing about my own memories. It’s ok to twist the memories a little and get them out for the reader to enjoy. Henry Louis Gates also showed me that it’s ok to write, or tell a story along with “lies” (Writer’s 130). As a writer, James Baldwin’s feelings popped off the pages. If only, for one moment to be able to make someone step into one of my essays or reports as all these writers and more have done for me in this English class, that would be my very own A+.
Lastly, the investigating I did for my Global projects on AIDS was amazing. So many books and websites, along with helping organizations throughout the world were incredible. At times, I found myself engulfed in the reading and forgot to write crucial points. Thank goodness that reading was already a passion for me. If anyone who has thought about going back to school, but not sure it’s for them, “Do It”. It has been the best decision I have made.
Works Cited
Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Researcher. Sixth ed. New York: Longman, 2009. 1-366. Print.
Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual. Fifth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2008. 2-272. Print.
McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 130-31. Print. Rpt. of Henry Louis Gates Jr. on the Writer's Voice. 1995.
McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 50-53. Print. Rpt. of James Baldwin on Black English. 1979.
McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 72-74. Print. Rpt. of Judith Ortiz Cofer on Memory and Personal Essays. 1990.
McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 730-48. Print. Rpt. of Martin Luther King Jr. Letter From Birmingham Jail. 1963.
Yvette, Good job on your blog! I enjoyed your reflection page, and it is a breath of fresh air to know I'm not the only one who wanted to give up at times! I do think you may be missing a few things though! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job and good luck!
Lisa Garcia
Ivette,
ReplyDeleteReally like your blog, nice design, easy to read and follow! You have some great pictures to tie into your topic.
Nice Job!
Have a great summer!
Cassy :)
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