Transcript
Kendra Casper
Writing 121
December 6, 2018
Student Self-Evaluation
In this course, the most important lesson that I learned was to write concisely and clearly. Instead of just using fancy words, I was able to practice stating my opinion’s and analysis’s in a straight-forward fashion so that my writing could become much more wholesome. I discovered that I responded most readily to the first personal essay that we wrote, as it was easy for me to make connections from my personal life to the works that we analyzed in class. Out of all the essays and short stories we evaluated, I was most easily able to relate to Rebecca Solnit’s essay, “The Mother of All Questions.” Solnit’s essay focuses on a women’s rights to pursue happiness, even if that happiness does not align with societal ideals of domesticity. The essay stated that women should not have to answer questions that invade or violate their right of privacy, as what they choose to do with their lives is personal to them. I can easily relate to this situation, as my family’s condescending questions and remarks to my decision to become an equine farrier were both unnecessary and rude. This class helped me learn how to organize my emotions and desires for my future to write an essay in accordance with this short story to advocate for the respectful and equal treatment of all women. On the other hand, the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’ by Joyce Carol Oates was my least favorite work, as it showed the slow disintegration of Connie’s common sense and morals. After constant persistence from the stereotypical “bad boy,” Connie allowed herself to be manipulated by Arnold and eventually consented to run away with him despite her conscience warning her against such a rash decision. While reading Oates’s essay, I could not determine a clear message or purpose to the story amongst the several paragraphs regarding Connie’s emotions and jumbled thoughts.
Throughout this course, I have really enjoyed talking with the class about how the culture in Ireland has been shaped by the Catholic church, the impact of female authors, and the purpose behind Joyce’s decision to write “Dubliners.” These class discussions and lectures helped me develop a deeper understanding for all of the readings, which allowed me to improve my choice of diction, arguments, and syntax with each essay that I wrote.
