Reflection 

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     Before this class, I had not taken an English course in over twelve years. I was nervous about returning to college after such a long break, and especially about starting in an English Composition 2 class, as this is a subject that I've found difficult in the past. However, I quickly became intrigued by the short stories, films, and philosophies we explored during the semester. What started as fear soon turned into a rewarding experience that expanded my writing and research skills and taught me things that will be valuable in the future. 

 

     Throughout the process of writing project one, a rhetorical essay about the literacy epidemic in America, I learned how to find scholarly sources and use Point, Evidence, and Explain (PEE) format to build strong arguments in my writing. I found this essay much easier to write than Project 2, where I struggled a bit to connect the current illiteracy epidemic to Franz Kafka’s beliefs shared through his writings. Upon receiving feedback from Professor Hammett, I was able to better figure out how to make these connections and create an essay that flowed better from beginning to end. 

Prior to this semester, I had never heard of absurdism, now I find myself talking about it with my family and friends. Absurdism has given me a new view on the world around me and now I often stop and think about how the search for meaning in life sometimes feels pointless but is something we all experience. It was nice to explore topics I had never been exposed to and realize how much I could learn from them. 

 

     This course has boosted my confidence when it comes to writing and given me skills that will be useful for the rest of my college career and beyond! I feel more prepared than ever to tackle difficult writing assignments, even about topics that I’m unfamiliar with. I’m excited to keep improving and I look forward to writing more in the future.