Final Exam Essay
Lauren Marks
ENG 1023.17
Instructor Blackwell
3 May 2007
Final Exam
Before this class, I had never used a blog. I did not even know what its purpose was but I knew I would become more familiar with it throughout the semester. You can call me technologically illiterate, but this was the first internet program of this kind that I have experienced. My initial reaction to writing and submitting all of our documents in a blog was that it sounded like a good way to improve my writing. Previously, I had only used paper and pencil and Microsoft Word to create my writing assignments. I thought that these were the best ways to develop as a writer. I began to realize, however, that using a blog to express myself was a more sufficient way to learn. Using a blog this semester was a good way to be both in and out of class, and still complete the assignments. I could also compare my reasoning to other students after assignments were due and see how they responded to the coursework. My blog was a personal place where I could write anything and create my own style. It helped me realize what I was doing right and what I was doing incorrectly throughout the semester. It was very helpful to get Instructor Blackwell’s feedback on what we had written at least once a week. Then, I was able to reflect on and take into consideration what she wrote to see what she was looking for in my writing. She gives suggestions to become a better writer within my papers.
Also, when commenting on other students blogs, it was beneficial to see what they thought about my ideas and how I could expand my ideas. Other students brought mistakes, I was making, to my attention so I could fix them. Not only did they give me guidance, but they a lot of times had a different way of looking at what I was trying to portray, and gave me other possible options. By giving my peers other suggestions, they too were able to enhance their topics and create better papers. Not only was the blog helpful in my English class, but it also expanded my knowledge in all other courses. I am now able to express myself more clearly over the internet so people can better understand where I am coming from. For example, when Instructor Blackwell had our class create introductions, conclusions, and an audience for our research paper, I was able to write a better paper because I knew what I wanted to say and who I wanted to say it to. Also, the example Argument and Counterargument helped me weed out unnecessary information so I presented my ideas clearly to the reader. In the past, I was unfamiliar with creating a strong argument to back my point up, but now I can produce a stronger side to my argument.
Having our lesson plans online was an advantage as well, so I could prepare for our class ahead of time. I enjoyed knowing what we were going to be discussing in the next class and being informed of when the next assignment was due. Being able to look back on past weeks objectives was beneficial too, incase we had missed a class. Some people may be absent for medical purposes, family issues, etc. and this was a good way to get in touch with what the class had been doing in the previous week and what our Instructor was expecting of us. The Advice Links were convenient to me because I am a freshman and blogs are new to me. Talking to a professor can be intimidating your first year, but these links were a good place to find out easy information without bothering my Professor. Submitting our coursework on the blog was effortless. I was given ample time to complete assignments, and posting them on my blog could not have been easier. Being informed of deadlines in advance gave me a huge advantage. I could even submit my homework early and then be relieved. There were never any complications with posting a blog, so homework was not stressful. Usually, courses require you to submit assignments to the digital drop box and you can never really tell if the Instructor has received your work. It may say that you have sent the document, but you cannot go back and check if it was confirmed. With the blog, you can always go to your own site and check what you have posted. It is a more convenient way of submitting homework because you can be sure that it is published and you can see exactly how it looks.
Overall, WordPress was a great way to write this semester. I not only learned a new program, but I learned to improve my writing. Technology is improving so rapidly, and in so many ways now, that I am sure that many more teachers will start to use this exceptional method of teaching. Technology is the gateway to our future. We can learn something new every day from the internet. Not only is WordPress a great place to blog, but it was a great approach for distance learning. For us students who commute, we could take advantage of this online opportunity and use it to benefit us. It was a convenient way to learn, and be taught, while away from school. The only disadvantage that I discovered from blogging, was that my published information was out there on the internet for anyone to read. The public could view my blog, and criticize my ideas, if they felt the need to. Not only could they criticize a blog, but they could bash blogs with a close minded attitude, even though the writing on a blog is your own ideas and everyone is entitled to write what they think.
I personally would not change anything about the blog. It has been a helpful tool for the whole semester and will probably come in handy in the future. It has also helped me develop as writer by realizing my mistakes and improving them to become a more precise. It arranged all my assignments in an orderly manner and made this class less stressful. I will eventually engage in a blog, in the future, because it has assisted me so much so thus far in this class. I enjoyed getting my ideas out on the internet more than writing in a word document. It is a way to get my feelings out on paper freely without being stressed. My own personal blog may be hard to keep up with though, because it is not required for a class. I would definitely recommend this technique to other Instructors because it was so useful to me.
