Writing Adventure By: Michaela Wheeler

1. Writing AdventureBy: Michaela Wheeler English 101-025 Cindy Bateman Self-Reflection Collage December 3, 2011

2. Beginning • At the beginning of the year, I felt almost confused about my writing. I could never write what I was exactly thinking. Almost like a flat tire on a car. I wanted to go somewhere with what I was thinking, but couldn’t move. “I had the most trouble with throwing my thesis in, the hook, and how to elaborate on my thesis.” (Reflection on First Essay, September 21)

3. My Past Adventure • My past with writing essays hasn’t been the greatest. It was always really difficult for me to write papers in high school, because I felt that I had to fulfill my teachers personal wants and likes in writing. Which left me with little room to really express myself through the paper. “As soon as I would get used to the way a teacher wanted me to write, I would be told the next year that the writing style the previous teacher told me to use was wrong or just not the way she wanted me to write.” (About Me, August 30)

4. Changing the Flat • After my meeting with Cindy, I started to feel more comfortable with writing. After she told me to sit back and relax, and write what’s on my mind, it all started to really come together. “..come to view writing as a means, an opportunity, for expressing yourself.” (comment on Reflection on First Essay, September 22) “No, Michaela, you’re grade will “suffer” if you don’t find your own voice.” (comment on About Me, September 6)

5. Detailing • The only thing left to do was the detailing. Just like we get our cars detailed, that was all that I had to do to my papers now. I did this by making some changes to my writing. “This year I am not worrying about the length and I’m trying to make myself more laid back.” (Reflection on Essay #2, October 19) “It has helped to get the rubric sort of writing out of my mind [while writing.]” (Reflection on Essay #2, October 19)

6. Upgrading • When I first came into class and I was informed that would we would also be analyzing the environment, I was dreading it. But after a few class periods, I jumped right into it and really enjoyed learning and figuring out ways to make our environment a better place. I have noticed how we mistreat our environment. “We take the easy way out. Such as recycling and not taking the right way out.” (The X-Files, October 24)

7. Ready, Set, GO! • Throughout the semester, I have learned how much we really mistreat our environment and how we need to become more responsible with our ways. When it comes to my writing, I have learned to relax and first write what is on my mind, and then go through and fix all the minor mistakes. I started off with a flat tire with my writing, but after this semester I have become a new car, with new and improved writing style.