Thinking Like A Critical Reader
Looking back on ENG 131, I have begun to realize all the true aspects of being a critical reader. Being able to look through a paper or poem and think about it critically was a struggle for me at first, as the class went on throughout the semester I began to look at things differently. Not only would I see things differently, I would think about them in way I never had before. But, in my earlier english classes they wouldn’t have.
In ENG 131, we created blogs on our blog we posted papers and different things about us. Writing in the blogs helped me allow more people to read my writing and comment if they wanted. Knowing that anyone and everyone could read my writing made me kind of uneasy. I am really shy when it comes to my work. Writing on the blog and having my professor grade it, people read it, and comment on it was a good experience. I think it made me more confident about my writing and I can proudly say I am not uneasy about it anymore. Thanks to Professor Lucas for pushing me through.
Professor Lucas has shown me new way of looking at writing. She has opened my eyes of many new aspects of english. In the excerpt “The Blind Side” Michael tells the story about two players running into one another and getting tackled and ending one’s career. Sad, yes, but the way he does it was so unique and made me realize the simplicity of writing that. All he did was count one mississippi, two Mississippi and so on. He caught our attention with counting and that blows my mind how all it takes it something as simple as counting.
This class may have been the most valuable english class I have ever taken. Not only has it helped me write but has opened my eyes to the more important parts of writing. And made me realize that sometimes less is more. Most importantly, your writing is never finished just nearly abandoned.
Work Cited
Lewis,michael. “The Blind Side”, 2006
Annotated bibliography
Lewis,michael. “The Blind Side”, 2006
Michael begins this excerpt of “Blind Side” very unusual he starts it off by counting how many seconds it may or would take to destroy a career of football. He explains how Theismann faced with an oppinate coming straight for him(Carson) and is tackled into the ground. He goes on to say how we would think how they do not get scared anymore, them being in the NFL they should not be scared of the tackling. He stated that they do think about it. They lay awake at night thinking about it, shaking and sweating scared.
Collins,Billy. “The History Teacher”, 2003
In the poem Billy Collins explains the ice age to his students, he tries to explain what happened on that day in the most innocent way possible. He tells them it was just a very cold and chilly day. He tells the kids things that they would be interested in the truth but not really the truth. He flips in the middle of the poem and turns it around. Saying what if the kids grow and do not know what really happened is he tapering with history?
Richtel, Matt. .” Blogs vs. Term Papers “, 20 Jan. 2012.
Blogs vs Term papers by Matt Richtel he explains the differences of the two. How blogs can be more free hand. Also, how term papers may not be something you like to do, strictly because they feel forced. Being in highschool I never really understood the importance of learning how to write papers. I would ask myself why? I do not need to know this. Now that I am in college and can see, Writing a paper is way more than just simply writing it takes time and effort. Students need to understand the difference and learn to do both fluently.
Twenge, Jean M. “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”, Sept. 2017.
Jean explains in “Have Smart Phones Destroyed the Generation” that she believes that smartphones have destroyed the use of real relationships and how people interact. The people do not interact with each other like they used too. Comparing this to my FYE class here at Lenoir-Rhyne we had to track how long we were on our phones for a day and I was on my phone for a total of 12 hours. I was shocked to see that I was behind a screen for that long. So I agree with her people don’t interact or have the relationships like they used too.
Collins,Billy.”Snow Day”,2001
“Snow Day” by Billy Collins is about how all the schools are out because of the snow. He sees kids playing on the streets and people playing all around. He says he is trying to listen for the sound of the snow. He believes that there’s a snow fight somewhere.
Kichener,Caroline. “Why So Many Adults Love Young-Adult Literature”.2017
She talk in the book “Why So Many Adults Love Young-Adult Literature” how you would think that teenagers would appeal more to the more teen books. But, adults tend to want to escape from whatever they are going through and take a stroll down memory lane. In books they make take you back to your very first kiss, slow dance or first date. Kichener says that’s why adults tend to appeal more the book for younger or late teens.
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