Anderson 1

Introduction

Amanda Anderson

English 101.002

Ms. Angela Kennedy

December 9, 2010

Introduction

When I first signed up for this class at orientation I really did not know what to expect to

see in my online class. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to understand it, make myself get the

work done, or if I would even know how to access it. Obviously, this was my first online course,

and it was even my first semester of college in general. I was nervous and the thought of being

part of a course with no classroom made me worry that I will be able to fully understand what I

was being taught.

To me, the outcome of this class has been an extremely positive one. I feel like I

completely better understand the idea of literacy and how it applies to my life. I also feel that my

writing for school assignment type situation has improved tremendously.

At the start of this course I had never looked at literacy as something we have to use in

our everyday life to have a normal day. Through this class I quickly learned that literacy is

something I personally cannot avoid. Whether it is street signs, instructions, Facebook, or simply

locating a restroom the fact is being literate makes all of these actions possible. I cannot imagine

how aimlessly the world would walk around if it wasn’t for literacy.

Writing is something I have learned to look at in an entirely different way during this

semester. I used to think of writing as something that we had to do for a school assignment, or
 Anderson 2
Introduction

something that I was required to do when filling out paperwork. Through this course my eyes

have absolutely been opened to the huge role writing plays in my everyday life. Whether it is

jotting down a note, typing a text message, updating my Facebook status, or even rubbing a

message into the back window of a dirty car I have learned that writing is something I do all the

time and it something that people around me are doing all the time as well.

As far as my work goes as long as my audience keeps in mind the ways that I feel I have

changed in my ideas of literacy in writing this semester I believe my work will totally make

sense. I feel that it will be easy to see where I have improved in my ides and as a writer over the

course of the semester.

I chose to revise my assignments 1, 2, and 3. After completing all of them I then felt that

they were really better in the original version. I felt like the revised papers were entirely too

wordy and I felt like my ideas didn’t come across as well. I let my mom read both versions of

each of the papers and she too felt that the originals were better; therefore that is what I will be

submitting in my final portfolio.