Well, what a long, strange road it's been since V 1.0 of this topic. I have to be completely honest; I don't think many of my goals were met, despite maintaining a B or better the entire class. I had initially wanted to learn how to organize my thoughts much better. I feel with just the sheer number of assignments that required writing, I have achieved that goal to a certain, unavoidable degree. My structure became much better as the class progressed as well. Again, I attribute that to the number of papers that required one structure or another. I had originally wanted to acquire a much better understanding of MLA style, since I will be transferring in the spring. I knew I was required to have a much broader understanding of the style. This class was the next logical step. Again, I have to say I was a little disappointed. Although each of the (6?) or so essays required MLA format, I continually made one or more errors to the style. This part is ok; I assumed I would make errors. Second part is not so good. I have no idea where I made these mistakes. Now, I know it would be very difficult for a Professor to single out every MLA gaff for each student, I understand that. I would just like to know where I made my mistake so I didn't make it time and time again. I have my handy "The Brief Handbook" which gives me the information, so, all along I assumed everything was fine. I have no idea if it was the Works Cited missing a period somewhere or if it was a major error that needs a lot of attention. I guess that would be my one major gripe is the lack of feedback, because this was not a required class for me, I took it to make myself a better writer for the next level of my education, and I honestly don't feel that I am much better than when I started.
I do think I learned to focus my critical thinking through this class though. Many of the assignments involved looking in-depth into writings and such. I still love to analyze politics, though it has become so depressing that there isn't much to analyze, unless you consider grown educated people yelling at each other material to critically think about. I have begun to look at advertising with a sharper eye as a result of the assignments of this class. I found it to be a fun and challenging class that really tested my time management skills. I was a little disappointed with the lack of feedback on the papers, which are the main point of the class. But, all in all, a B is a B I guess.
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I definitely share with you my dilemma with MLA formatting. My computer has a different program, so I don’t have the Microsoft Word program automatically installed in it. Whenever we have to make an essay and our professor asks us to complete it in MLA format, I would always pray that whatever I’m turning in will suffice her standards of what an essay should be like (and in a specific format she asked). I believe if one would really look closely and examine the state of ones writing experience, critical thinking, and research techniques (to name a few lessons we’ve tackled) before s/he took this class, I believe that person would say that there is a bit (even if it was a tiny difference) changes in his/her own writing style from then and now. I do, agree that one semester is not enough to master critical thinking but you said so that is a start. An ending or product will not happen if there was no beginning in the first place, right? If you happen to find this class not that challenging perhaps you’ll find classes in the other college more demanding. I wish I can say the same thing from this class (obviously it wasn’t a piece of cake for me!). Best wishes to you and to your scholastic endeavors.
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