Final Reflection

Final Reflection

On the first day of 3360 my definition of composition was: “Anything that can be written. For example- a book, a play, a movie, or a soundtrack. I also think it should serve a purpose.” However, coming down to the last week of class I think my definition has changed considerably. Many different issues and themes that we have discussed in class and in assignments have helped shape and mold my new definition of composition. For me, the most important thing I have learned is how valuable rhetoric is in the writing process. In class on January 22nd, we watched the Foundation for a Better Life videos. Watching these examples of rhetoric, in conjunction with the Toulmin Model helped me grasp the understanding of the proper ways to use ethos, pathos and logos. With this new found and refreshing understanding of how to effectively use rhetoric, I was able to compose a successful rhetorical analysis on the Sun Angel tanning bed. By analyzing the Sun Angel website, I saw different ways that rhetoric can be used to appeal to all different audiences; but I also saw a great example of how the internet and technology has changed composition.
During class, we discussed TOPIC, ICON, and Web 2.0. Thinking of technology as a form of composition had never really occurred to me before. The most significant way that technology aids composition is the wide audience it can reach. The internet provides a cheap, easy, and fast way to reach people all over the world. It allows universities to teach on-line classes through MOO and get mass numbers of papers graded through TOPIC, although this system may or may not work fairly or precisely for each student, it still provides a way to reach a large amount of people in a quick and efficient way.
Another important topic that we discussed in class was about why people hate English. Having never really thought about this issue before, it was intriguing to me to see the list that we, as a class, compiled. After giving it some thought, I came to a personal conclusion on this matter. Although the list of reasons we complied in class was relevant and valid, I think that the majority of the issue lies within two separate problems: the grading system and laziness. Because English is so subjective and imprecise, it is hard to label a body of work that is full of many different components, with a single letter or number grade. From the articles that I researched for the final paper, specifically an article entitled “Why I (used to) Hate to Give Grades” by Lynn Bloom, as well as articles from class presentations, it really struck me how student composition can be affected by grading.
As for the second issue, I also think that laziness is a reason why students hate English/Composition/Language Arts classes. This problem, I think, is largely due to the increase in technology and availability of technology. Despite the fact that it is unlikely to teach without technology in the 21st century, it can also hinder the learning process. Rather than going to the library, reading books, or working out problems, students can simply “Google” solutions and find an immediate answer or solution to their problems. Rather than finding printed information, analyzing it and collecting their own hypotheses for a problem, it is just simply easier and faster to find out what other people think on the internet and go along with it. The fast-paced and hectic lifestyle that children and students lead these days makes the internet a speedy tool for doing homework and writing papers.
Finally, I found the Cannibalism article “Born Cannibal” by James Miles, very interesting. I wasn’t sure when reading this article how it had anything to do with composition directly, but now at the end of the course if it easy to see how composition sets us apart as humans, and makes me wonder how we could ever get from cannibalism to Humanism.
I think that what’s most important now, as a future teacher, is getting an understanding of an effective way to teach composition in the 21st century. Although I don’t think the use of technology can be avoided, and most likely usage will increase if anything, I think as future teachers we need to find a way to help students enjoy composition, feel comfortable with the grading process and use technology as a resource, not the sole source. Hopefully I will be able to use some of the knowledge I have gained in this course in my future classroom.