Course Projects

Unlike the typical English class that relies on reading, writing, and over-analyzing, English 109H is made up of four major projects: controversy postmortem, rhetorical investigation, a public argument, and a reflective self-assessment.  Each project will allow us to creatively explore different genres, and in the process help us find our writing processes.  

Woodzing, Serge "Lars Jacob as Comedy & Tragedy" 07-14-15 via Wikimedia Commons
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported 

• What are you confused or most nervous about in regards to the four major projects?

I am most nervous about the interview portion of the rhetorical investigation project. I really haven't started any classes in my field yet so it will be tricky finding someone to interview for the project. I am also worried about the grading. I am not entirely sure what needs to be included or excluded in regards to each project.

• What are you most interested in or excited by in regards to the four major projects?

I am most interested in the controversy postmortem project. I am really excited to research the different controversial topics in my field.  Public Health is such a vast field that offers a plethora of topics to explore and so I think I will be able to find multiple topics that I will be interested in writing about.

• Based on your understanding of the major projects, what are the elements of this course that you have to plan ahead for? How will the coursework described in the four project assignment sheets challenge your time management skills this semester?

I think each project this semester requires it's own level of planning. The first three projects require extensive research. I will have to really make sure that I find reliable and informational sources to use for each of the projects. Project 2 ( rhetorical investigation) requires two separate interviews. I will have to find someone to interview, find a time to meet them, and prepare interview questions. All of the projects will be a challenge to my time management skills. I will really have to be on top of my assignments.

How has your past English coursework in high school or college prepared you for the challenges of this course? What skills will you bring into the course with you?

I think the writing portion of my high school course work has prepared me for the writing aspects of this class. However, in high school I did a lot more reading and analyzing and in this class I feel that it is more creative and heavily relies on exploration. I am given much more freedom and the different genres that we have to work with are also new to me. I will (hopefully) bring basic writing skills to this course.

• Do you have any questions about the four major projects that haven't been answered by the assignment sheets? What do you still want to know?

I don't have any questions as of right now. However, I am sure as I go along and start each of the different projects that questions will come up.

Reflection:

After reading Amelia  and Missy's blog posts about the course projects I came to realize that my classmates and I are all in the same boat. We are all worried about the interviews for the rhetorical investigation, and we are all anxious about our time management skills. I was able to take a sigh of (semi) relief after this great realization. In respect to my own writing style I learned that I have been writing very formally for a blog post. I have come to the conclusion that I could/should be much more open in my posts. Let my creativity and personality lose! (beware)