Cooperation

 This unit, we were tasked with commenting on the learning plan of a partner. While there were some logistical difficulties with this in my case, I really liked this addition to the class. By having another person to bounce ideas off of and critique work, I found myself trying to create better assignments. This kind of learning has helped me address some of the problems I have had with regards to direction and focus within a unit. I also thought that it benefited me to look at another person's interpretation of a similar theme. My partner approached the text in a very different way than I do and I feel that it helped me to understand my own books in a new way.

I wish though, that I had been able to participate more in this addition to class. I think that it is a good template for the next unit. I would love to be able to collaborate with my classmates and improve my writing in a less independent way. I have always done my best work when pushed by others, so I think that this will serve as a benefit for me in the last unit.

Narratives

In this unit, I will be focusing on narrative writing for my standards as well as my full length piece. This presents unique challenges to me as the method and systems of writing narratives have never been fully taught to me. An avid reader, some of the key components of good narration have sunk in, but I find myself at a disadvantage when it comes to articulating in and building upon my work in this portion of the class.

It isn't that I do not understand how to write a narrative, the concept its self is fairly simple. I have not, however, needed to acquire any sort of mastery in this style. Not once in the past 8 years of my schooling have I had to utilize the skills and nuances of fictional or narrative writing in any context other than a college essay. I'm not about to spend this time complaining about how the school system has failed to instruct me in this writing (although I could, and with good reason). Instead, I will reflect on how this discovery has impacted my learning now.

Reviewing some research on the basic components of narrative writing, I had one of the fabled "ah-hah!" moments. It seemed as though everything I had suspected about books that I loved and hated were displayed on the page and elements of plot, character and development seemed to click the more I looked at material. It came to me just how much we learn without actually trying. While I still can't twist my words with the skill of Douglas Adams or weave plots like Tolkien, I am finding ways to better my own writing through the examples of other, far greater authors.

Beginning to understand the elements of narrative writing has truly helped me understand literature in a deep way. I am starting to understand the implications of subtle changes in tone and description and grasp the true greatness of many works that I have failed to appreciate in the past. Despite its dubious beginning, I think that this unit will really help me to advance as a student and as a reader.

Wrapping Up

The end of this unit has been surprisingly bitter sweet. While I'm excited to move forward with the class and begin looking at new time frames, I am going to miss looking at Victorian writing. I found a passion for this unit that I hadn't had for any of the other times. This is the first unit that I have felt a real connection to the characters, and have been truly invested in the books. This, I believe, had a major influence on the word I did. Developing a better understanding of the characters and background helped me to do better work.

This unit has also presented me with new challenges, and shaped the way that I view the class. As I become more comfortable with the independent style of  learning and find new ways to express what I discover with activities, I find that I am becoming a better student. This unit in particular tested my ability to stay on task. However, I was able to solve my problems without needing to take drastic measures. This has helped my to be accountable for my own work no matter how I feel about it. It has also helped me find new ways to keep myself on task. By helping me to take charge of my own learning, this unit has helped prepare me for further exploration.

Deadlines :/

Anyone who knows me personally will tell you that I procrastinate. It's not that I'm totally unwilling to put effort and time into my work, I do, I'm just horrible at spreading work out over time. I tend to work better when forced to sit down and just write. If I have three weeks to do something, I know that it will get done in the last few nights because I'll have been sitting at my computer rewriting the first sentence for the two and a half weeks, that's just how I work. So when we got this unit and had such a sprawling due date, I ended up with way too much work to do this past week. On one hand, it has been really effective in getting me to appreciate the time we get to work in class (I don't think I've ever been this productive before), but it's not great for my stress levels.

These past few weeks, it has been especially hard for me to spread out my work. Mountains of extra-curriculars and cramming for the upcoming SATs have left me with little time to do anything but play catch-up with all of my classes. It's not an excuse for the early stages of my work, but it is part of my problem.

I do far better in classes with short-term due dates, and since I have found that these  three week deadlines are not working for me, I have decided to put matters into my own hands. When I realized that I was falling behind, I decided to set my own personal checkpoints and timelines. I gave myself a goal for each day, and so far I have been able to keep up with my plans. Using my new time charts, I should even be done with my unit on time, something that I wouldn't have been able to accomplish just a few months ago.

So I may not be totally over my habit of cramming, but I think that this unit has helped me reach a better place with my time management struggles.