Throughout this semester, I have been involved in a variety of assignments and projects that have been important to my progress in the areas of writing and reading. Three projects stand out as being of vital importance among all the activities in this course. The first was the writing of a letter or a speech, the second was the writing of an annotated bibliography, and the third was the multimodal project. These activities have had a profound impact on my understanding of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Through this reflection, I will explore the highs and lows of the course, the lessons that have had an impact on my mind, and the challenges that have pushed me to grow.
Among the assignments and projects that I enjoyed the most throughout the course was the Unit One project. In this project, we had to choose between two different options. In doing so, we analyzed two readings, the first of which was Frederick Douglass’ speech on the Fourth of July. In the speech, Douglass used vivid and emotive language to contrast the celebration of freedom for white Americans with the harsh reality of slavery for African Americans. The second piece of material was the dedicatory letter written by Mary Wollstonecraft, which focuses on the struggle against the inequalities between men and women. I chose to write a letter and used Mary’s letter as the inspiration for my letter entitled “Letter on Abortion.” In this letter, I address the implications of eliminating the constitutional right to abortion in the United States and its effects on women’s autonomy and health for both American and Dominican women. This was my first attempt at writing a letter in English, which added an extra layer of complexity to the process. Some of the challenges were to maintain a serious but friendly tone and to add truthful and scientific information to support my arguments. I consider this experience a valuable writing exercise. It allowed me to explore a different genre that helps make certain topics more accessible.
The second project I had a lot of fun with was the multimodal project. This involved combining images, sound, and text to convey a message. After we had read and studied the Greek tragedy Antigone, I had to connect the social and ethical issues of Antigone to the issues that we are facing in today’s society. I chose the topic of women’s bodily autonomy and created an informational poster called “Navigating Women’s Bodily Autonomy, Antigone’s Echo in Today’s World” for high school students. The poster incorporated images generated by artificial intelligence, colors that were attractive to the audience, and language that was easy to understand. Since I enjoy painting, crafting, and art in general, I enjoyed the process of creating the poster.
Although each assignment presents its unique challenges, the annotated bibliography was the most challenging for me. I chose to focus my research on the bodily autonomy of women, with an emphasis on the right to abortion. Finding legitimate sources without biased opinions, identifying repetition of information, and synthesizing disparate data into a coherent narrative were formidable challenges.
Working through the annotated bibliography underscored the importance of interdisciplinary research. A nuanced approach was required to navigate contemporary debates about abortion in the United States and to make connections to the ancient Greek story of Antigone. This process reinforces the value of examining an issue from multiple perspectives. Combining historical context, literature, and current events to gain a comprehensive understanding of social issues.
Of all the assignments we have worked on in this course, the ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles has had the greatest impact and teaching power. This story offers profound insights into personal values and ethical beliefs. Beyond the surface exploration of a classic text, the lessons derived from the story of Antigone extend to areas of ethical complexity and the continuing relevance of literature over time.
Antigone’s unwavering commitment to her brother’s burial, despite King Creon’s order, powerfully reminds us of the ethical complexity of personal beliefs. The clash between personal morality and societal norms is as relevant in ancient Greece as it is today. It prompts a deeper examination of one’s ethical values. This exploration has encouraged me to question the norms of society and, when necessary, to challenge them in the pursuit of justice and ethical responsibility.
In addition, the study of the Antigone play has reinforced the power of storytelling to convey complex moral dilemmas. The ancient story serves as a timeless vehicle to explore fundamental questions about human nature, morality, and the consequences of challenging authority. This understanding underscores the enduring power of narrative as a medium for conveying profound ethical lessons. It transcends culture and time.
The exploration of the story of Antigone has shown me the value of an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of complex issues. The connections between ancient literature and contemporary debates on issues such as bodily autonomy and women’s rights have been an enrichment to my perspective.
Over the semester, several challenges have presented themselves that have helped me both to recognize my limitations and to work harder to overcome them. The first challenge is in the area of punctuation and sentence structure; the use of tools such as Grammarly and the Microsoft Word editor has proven to be invaluable in providing guidance and correction in this area.
Learning the complexities of MLA citations has been an ongoing challenge. I have made progress. However, gaining ability in this area is still a work in progress. I am committed to continuous improvement in this crucial area, recognizing the importance of proper citation to academic integrity and credibility.
Another challenge that I have faced throughout the course and the semester has been getting my ideas down on paper. The expression of my thoughts and feelings through writing has always been difficult for me, especially in English, which is my second language. In addition, the limited vocabulary has a significant impact on this situation. This course has been a great help in providing me with the practice and improvements I need to overcome these difficulties.
In conclusion, English Composition II has proven to be a transformational journey in which each assignment has contributed to the evolution of my understanding of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Each assignment has left an indelible mark on my academic trajectory, from the complex art of writing persuasive letters to the liberating expression of multimodal projects. The challenges I have faced have become stepping stones for my improvement.
Throughout this semester, I have been involved in a variety of assignments and projects that have been important to my progress in the areas of writing and reading. Three projects stand out as being of vital importance among all the activities in this course. The first was the writing of a letter or a speech, the second was the writing of an annotated bibliography, and the third was the multimodal project. These activities have had a profound impact on my understanding of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Through this reflection, I will explore the highs and lows of the course, the lessons that have had an impact on my mind, and the challenges that have pushed me to grow.
Among the assignments and projects that I enjoyed the most throughout the course was the Unit One project. In this project, we had to choose between two different options. In doing so, we analyzed two readings, the first of which was Frederick Douglass’ speech on the Fourth of July. In the speech, Douglass used vivid and emotive language to contrast the celebration of freedom for white Americans with the harsh reality of slavery for African Americans. The second piece of material was the dedicatory letter written by Mary Wollstonecraft, which focuses on the struggle against the inequalities between men and women. I chose to write a letter and used Mary’s letter as the inspiration for my letter entitled “Letter on Abortion.” In this letter, I address the implications of eliminating the constitutional right to abortion in the United States and its effects on women’s autonomy and health for both American and Dominican women. This was my first attempt at writing a letter in English, which added an extra layer of complexity to the process. Some of the challenges were to maintain a serious but friendly tone and to add truthful and scientific information to support my arguments. I consider this experience a valuable writing exercise. It allowed me to explore a different genre that helps make certain topics more accessible.
The second project I had a lot of fun with was the multimodal project. This involved combining images, sound, and text to convey a message. After we had read and studied the Greek tragedy Antigone, I had to connect the social and ethical issues of Antigone to the issues that we are facing in today’s society. I chose the topic of women’s bodily autonomy and created an informational poster called “Navigating Women’s Bodily Autonomy, Antigone’s Echo in Today’s World” for high school students. The poster incorporated images generated by artificial intelligence, colors that were attractive to the audience, and language that was easy to understand. Since I enjoy painting, crafting, and art in general, I enjoyed the process of creating the poster.
Although each assignment presents its unique challenges, the annotated bibliography was the most challenging for me. I chose to focus my research on the bodily autonomy of women, with an emphasis on the right to abortion. Finding legitimate sources without biased opinions, identifying repetition of information, and synthesizing disparate data into a coherent narrative were formidable challenges.
Working through the annotated bibliography underscored the importance of interdisciplinary research. A nuanced approach was required to navigate contemporary debates about abortion in the United States and to make connections to the ancient Greek story of Antigone. This process reinforces the value of examining an issue from multiple perspectives. Combining historical context, literature, and current events to gain a comprehensive understanding of social issues.
Of all the assignments we have worked on in this course, the ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles has had the greatest impact and teaching power. This story offers profound insights into personal values and ethical beliefs. Beyond the surface exploration of a classic text, the lessons derived from the story of Antigone extend to areas of ethical complexity and the continuing relevance of literature over time.
Antigone’s unwavering commitment to her brother’s burial, despite King Creon’s order, powerfully reminds us of the ethical complexity of personal beliefs. The clash between personal morality and societal norms is as relevant in ancient Greece as it is today. It prompts a deeper examination of one’s ethical values. This exploration has encouraged me to question the norms of society and, when necessary, to challenge them in the pursuit of justice and ethical responsibility.
In addition, the study of the Antigone play has reinforced the power of storytelling to convey complex moral dilemmas. The ancient story serves as a timeless vehicle to explore fundamental questions about human nature, morality, and the consequences of challenging authority. This understanding underscores the enduring power of narrative as a medium for conveying profound ethical lessons. It transcends culture and time.
The exploration of the story of Antigone has shown me the value of an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of complex issues. The connections between ancient literature and contemporary debates on issues such as bodily autonomy and women’s rights have been an enrichment to my perspective.
Over the semester, several challenges have presented themselves that have helped me both to recognize my limitations and to work harder to overcome them. The first challenge is in the area is punctuation and sentence structure; the use of tools such as Grammarly and the Microsoft Word editor has proven to be invaluable in providing guidance and correction in this area.
Learning the complexities of MLA citations has been an ongoing challenge. I have made progress. However, gaining ability in this area is still a work in progress. I am committed to continuous improvement in this crucial area, recognizing the importance of proper citation to academic integrity and credibility.
Another challenge that I have faced throughout the course and the semester has been getting my ideas down on paper. The expression of my thoughts and feelings through writing has always been difficult for me, especially in English, which is my second language. In addition, the limited vocabulary has a significant impact on this situation. This course has been a great help in providing me with the practice and improvements I need to overcome these difficulties.
In conclusion, English Composition II has proven to be a transformational journey in which each assignment has contributed to the evolution of my understanding of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Each assignment has left an indelible mark on my academic trajectory, from the complex art of writing persuasive letters to the liberating expression of multimodal projects. The challenges I have faced have become stepping stones for my improvement.
©2023 Ruth
