English has not always been a favorite of mine what so ever. I have never excelled at reading or writing. However, this class has given me the opportunity to explore my writing, improve it, and learn how to organize my thoughts a little better.
With the numerous essays and blogs that the class was assigned to do, I was able to explore different writing styles. I don’t recall ever having to write an argument paper before, and it was fun to be able to research my topic, which I feel very strongly about, and write my thoughts on it. Also, I don’t think that I have had to give a speech on a writing I have done. It was much easier to put together the speech and presentation with having written an essay and having pages of outlines and brainstorming. I think that the research argument paper and presentation will surely help me in my future English classes that I have to take.
I learned that organizing my paper before I write it makes it much easier to do. Having an outline or a paper for brainstorming gives a better pathway to the entire paper. It also made it very easy for me to know where to add more information if I needed to.
With help and constructive criticism from friends and peers I was able to see what I was doing wrong, what things I needed to add in different places, and what I rambled on about. Spell check certainly helped also. However, I do not think that we had nearly enough time to peer edit in class. When we did peer edit, it was only for what seemed like ten minutes. That was defiantly not enough time to read, understand, and edit a long essay. With this lack of time, I received very few comments and corrections on my argument paper, which I could have used more. I believe that if we had more time in class to peer edit I could have corrected many errors on my papers that I am sure I probably missed and could have gotten marked down for.
I really liked writing the first essay, the diagnostic essay. I probably only liked it because it was on a topic that I really like, vacation. That vacation was the best, and having to write that paper brought me back to the warm memories from the cruise. I got to look though pictures, ask my wife about the details I forgot, and wish that it was as nice here as it was in Mexico. It was an easy paper for me to write, because I had previous background knowledge on the topic, which helps tremendously.
All in all, I think that it was a good class and a good fit for me. It was easy to follow along, stay awake, and if I forgot what we did in class I could always look it up online. Having the convenience of being able to read every assignment description was great. Also being able to communicate easily with the professor was a nice thing I haven’t had before in a class.
So between bettering my writing, writing papers I actually could think of topics for, and being able to take things away from this class, made it a good experience for me and I would recommend it to the next student in line for ENG 111.
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Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Final Diagnostic Essay Draft: Western Caribbean Cruise
Western Caribbean Cruise
By far, the finest retreat I have ever been on was a cruise to Jamaica, Haiti, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. It was my first real vacation out of the country and the first in the company of my wife. It was tranquil, the sights were phenomenal, and the food was just amazing.
I’ve never been pampered anywhere like I was on the cruise. It was nice to be able to relax whenever and wherever I wanted to. Never did I have to clean, cook, or worry about anything. The waiters at dinner treated everyone like royalty, and the housekeepers made sure we had everything we needed, including extra chocolate.
Next, all of the places we visited were unlike anywhere I’ve been in the states. Between the Mayan ruins in Cozumel, the waterfalls we got to hike in Jamaica, and the snorkeling with tarpin in Grand Cayman, the best was the zip line over water in Haiti. This zip line was 2,600 feet long and 500 feet high. It is also the world’s longest zip line over water. When we took the trip up the mountain we saw a lot of the locals, showing the poverty of the country, including the safety precautions, shot guns, they use to protect us from them. Once we got to the top, we harnessed up, and jumped off the platform in the jungle, soon were over the water, then landed on the beach. I will remember that forever.
Finally, the best part of the vacation was the food. Eating incredibly delicious food for every meal, every snack, and anything I wanted in between, was so good to my stomach. The steak, fish, dessert, drinks, pizza, and breakfast were all so excellent. Even the chocolate that the housekeepers left was first-class. I wish I could eat like that everyday. Eating food from the different countries, and eating food prepared by gourmet chefs was a treat I am not accustomed to.
This journey was the best I have ever been on, and would like to go again as soon as time allows. If I could, I would try to live that good and that adventurous here, but Virginia surely isn’t the Caribbean. I will remember the ports we went to, the leisure and the food as if it were yesterday and not last year.
By far, the finest retreat I have ever been on was a cruise to Jamaica, Haiti, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. It was my first real vacation out of the country and the first in the company of my wife. It was tranquil, the sights were phenomenal, and the food was just amazing.
I’ve never been pampered anywhere like I was on the cruise. It was nice to be able to relax whenever and wherever I wanted to. Never did I have to clean, cook, or worry about anything. The waiters at dinner treated everyone like royalty, and the housekeepers made sure we had everything we needed, including extra chocolate.
Next, all of the places we visited were unlike anywhere I’ve been in the states. Between the Mayan ruins in Cozumel, the waterfalls we got to hike in Jamaica, and the snorkeling with tarpin in Grand Cayman, the best was the zip line over water in Haiti. This zip line was 2,600 feet long and 500 feet high. It is also the world’s longest zip line over water. When we took the trip up the mountain we saw a lot of the locals, showing the poverty of the country, including the safety precautions, shot guns, they use to protect us from them. Once we got to the top, we harnessed up, and jumped off the platform in the jungle, soon were over the water, then landed on the beach. I will remember that forever.
Finally, the best part of the vacation was the food. Eating incredibly delicious food for every meal, every snack, and anything I wanted in between, was so good to my stomach. The steak, fish, dessert, drinks, pizza, and breakfast were all so excellent. Even the chocolate that the housekeepers left was first-class. I wish I could eat like that everyday. Eating food from the different countries, and eating food prepared by gourmet chefs was a treat I am not accustomed to.
This journey was the best I have ever been on, and would like to go again as soon as time allows. If I could, I would try to live that good and that adventurous here, but Virginia surely isn’t the Caribbean. I will remember the ports we went to, the leisure and the food as if it were yesterday and not last year.
Links to check out:
This link has good pictures of the zip-line:
Royal Caribbean's Newest Ship, my next vacation:
Image courtesy of :
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