Nicole Lucero UNIV150

Journal 13- 

Overall this semester the writing skills I most improved on would be my revision, organization and grammar. I still need work on the areas I most improved on so I would say that I want to keep improving there. I will keep practicing by my normal course’s course work. The activities I think that helped most were the essays. Although I thought they were annoying because I was lazy, they really helped me out the most.

Journal 12-

We all collaborated as a whole for the OP#2, so the only thing I am responsible for is being a responsible group member. The easy part of the project is getting all the information for our topic. The information is stuff we’ve covered in class as well as knew before our UNIV150 class. What I find difficult however is communicating since we do not meet in class and solely rely on communication via Email. Our group plan for completing the preparation for OP#2 are pretty simple, just communicate and follow the set deadlines.

 

Journal 11-

The changes I plan to make to my Essay #4 is construct a more narrowed thesis statement and to organize my paragraphs more because as of now they are a little combined and unorganized. I plan to do this work this Sunday afternoon or night that is when I get most of my work for the week done. I did not attend the writing workshop in class on Thursday due to illness.

 

Journal 10-

The writing assignment I will consider for Essay #4 is my most recent research paper on the long-term effects Concussions have on football players. The writing for required for my research paper doesn’t differ in anyway from what we have learned during UNIV150 other then I will be preforming research using various sources. I would say the research paper has many similarities to the writing in our class. There has to be a structure as well as correct punctuation and use of grammar just as we have talked about. Mainly everything we have covered is transferable to my research paper.

 

Journal 9-

Based on the peer feedback, the changes I need to make are pretty simple. I had a couple of verb tense mix up’s, which I normally do not have an issue with. Other then that and adding some commas, I had no other problems.

I feel confident that my editing checklist is solid, and do not think I need to change anything around.

I plan on editing my draft tonight (Sunday 3/22), when I have plenty of time to read through again and make the necessary changes.

 

Journal 8-

So far in the UNIV150 course I would say that learning when to use a comma has been most helpful. I had a problem identifying independent from dependent clauses. The areas I feel I need more instruction in is how to stay on tropic and not to stray away. That is my biggest problem when it comes to writing. In class to further my skills I feel the journals and essays we have as homework is helping me greatly. Outside of class I can help myself by applying what I’ve learned in UNIV150 to my other course work.

Journal 7- 

Although not knowing the result of the midterm, I would like to think that my plan for taking it was effective. I took the midterm as planned in the library quietly with no distractions and used my essay checklist.

I do not think I will change anything for the Final because I feel I did pretty well. However, that may change after I get my score back.

The difference I see between a time limited essay and an untimed essays is the stress level. When it comes to time limited essays I feel it puts added stress on me as a writer. On top of the stress to make sure my writing is perfect, I am also making sure I am meeting the time requirement. The way I prepare for a time-limited essay is by making sure I have the time and quiet I need to get everything done within the given time. I prefer the untimed essay over timed.

Journal 6-

For our midterm the preparation I plan to take for a hopeful successful outcome, are to make sure the setting in which I plan to take the midterm is quiet with no possible interruptions present. I plan to keep my focus by making sure my phone is on ‘do not disturb’ and that I have set aside the proper time to complete the essay. I plan to use my time effectively by taking full advantage of the time given.

While taking the midterm I do in fact plan to use the editing checklist. I plan to go step-by-step to hopefully ensure a passing grade. I will read the prompts fully and pick the one that I feel is best for me. I plan to write a small outline just to keep my thoughts and words on track. Since there will be no peer editing on the midterm I will have to pay extra close attention to my editing and sentence structure, by reading it thoroughly a few times.

I feel confident that as long as I have a good writing environment, the right amount of time and refer back to my checklist, that I will get a passing grade for my Midterm.

Journal 5-

Thesis Statement: Due to the poor weather on Wed Feb 18, ODU made the correct call by canceling classes. Although many students live on or near campus,because there too are also many commuters who would have been in danger.

Topic Sentences

1- With the poor weather conditions at ODU Wednesday Feb 18, ODU made the correct call canceling classes.

2- Although many student leave on or near campus ODU made the correct call by canceling classes Wed Feb 18.

3- With many commuters at ODU, the correct call was made when classes were cancelled Wed Feb 18.

 

JOURNAL 3 –

Essay Check List-

 

• Thoroughly read the essay description and requirements before starting
• Actually planning an outline of my essay before I begin the actual essay
• Check to ensure proper paragraph formatting (Intro, Thesis, Body, Closure)
• Correct use and placement of punctuation
• Grammar check (!!Big one!!)
• REALLY review my essay
• Do not submit the final draft until it is my 100%

 

Whether it is submitting the rough draft or the final, when it comes to personal revision of my essays I feel there is a lot I can improve on. The checklist I have created are things I feel I should really make sure that I am going over before submission. If I were to actually sit down and take time to make sure I thoroughly understand what is expected of my essay as well as create an outline, I would be able to be more organized and leave less room for error. When it comes to going back over my essay and checking for errors, I will admit that I only lightly scan. I should really give the time to go back over and make sure everything is correct. I also really need to work on my grammar and punctuation.

 

Journal 2:

For our First Oral Presentation with our groups, I find that ease in that the topic of information on an on-campus building. What I find easy is that everyone in my group is well acquainted with our building choice, The Webb. What has been easiest is the fact that with working with a building we know so well is we have decent knowledge and do not need to research much about it. What had been difficult was choosing our places to talk about within The Webb; there is so much to talk about, but luckily we now have figured it out.

When it comes to what experience I have on presentations, I am able to say I have a good bit. Being a Communications major with an emphasis in Public Relations, I have taken classes where I have had to give oral presentations to lecture sized rooms, although I still get nervous (as anyone would) I am able to successfully present orally. I enjoy presenting orally rather then writing a paper. I feel it is easier to get my point or focus across verbally rather then written.

Although we are not finished with our presentation just yet, I would say my group is working very efficiently together. Even though we do not get a lot of time in class, the shared Google Doc is lots of help when it comes to working on the presentation. Being able to share my work and being able to see and add comments to my other group members work is very helpful.

 

JOURNAL1:  With the peer revision of our first Essay; Our Transition to College, I found the feedback I was given could have been more. I liked how the revision was via Google Docs rather then paper and pen. However, I feel since it was our first class essay, as well as most of the class took advantage of doing it from home, everyone was slightly unsure of what to write as good comments of revision. The feedback I received on my essay was helpful, but it wasn’t as constructive as I was hoping for.

As I revise my own paper with the help of the comments from my group, I am making sure my grammar is correct and that I have the proper format. I did not have a thesis in my draft, but I did have the other parts of an essay.

I have already revised my Essay so that I could enjoy my weekend. I like to get all my work out of the way whenever as soon as I can. I am finished with classes on Friday at two o’clock with usually nothing scheduled until later in the evening, so it makes perfect the perfect time to complete course work.