Learning the Art of Writing

Never have I heard the phrase ‘wallow in complexity’ in my life until I took this class. I never would have thought that allowing myself to be confused and overwhelmed could help me conjure new thoughts and ideas. This phrase has taught me to appreciate writing and reading more than I ever have. Rather than stating the obvious, I have learned to extrapolate and expand on ideas I abhor English classes primarily because I am a more logical person that loves math and science. Creativity is something that I have always lacked, and this class has allowed me to develop unique ways of thinking. Although this class has helped me develop skills to express myself, create arguments, and think with more complexity, I cannot admit that I thoroughly enjoy the chore of writing.
Ever since I began taking English classes, I have always disliked going to class because in English, you perform two tasks: read and write. After attending this class for four weeks, I can honestly admit that I look forward to exploring the different readings assigned. Class discussions inform me on what everyone else thinks about the reading or topic in general which broadens my view on it. Being able to see how others viewed the topic lets me view many different perspectives. Also, the various readings such as the one on Facebook or the one on politics and athletes interest me because they are relevant in my life. I believe that teachers sometimes fail to realize that the best way to get students to do their work and to learn is to make it relevant to the students’ lives. Although my interest in writing has not changed, I believe the content of my writing has improved because I am beginning to take a small idea and expand it in more detail. Project one allowed me to test my ability to ‘wallow in complexity’. I chose an event that many people would find hard to make an argument about, but this just made the argument even more interesting. Overall, my ability to think more critically and analytically has improved, but my drive to write has remained steadily near zero.