Ira Sigman

Ms. Gilchrist

ENC 2135

30 April 2017

Final Reflection

In this final stage of reflection of the past semester of writing I can say with confidence

that I was exposed to more literary depth than I have experienced in any previous class. As a

programmer by hobby and trade, and a Computer Science and Mathematics major scholastically,

I am not required to do much writing (at least in English).

For this final e-portfolio I made significant edits to both the literacy narrative and to the

research paper based on comments given with the as-is grade. Notice the more-well rounded

approach to introducing the topic in both papers as well as improved convention and style.

Its nice to take a detour from compiling scripts to have creative writing space. At the

same time, I ran into a couple key difficulties in this course, specifically with conventions in

writing. I had never used a full MLA format until this class while in the past I was required to

use the specific styling for the heading. I spend a significant amount of time styling in my other

fields, specifically mathematics, and I had never thought the rules and conventions were so strict

in composition.

Another eye-opening factor of this class was the level of scholastic research that goes into

writing even the most elementary of papers. There is a very specific way to do things in English

and until I was exposed to these rules I didnt know they existed.
 It was nice to have a class outside my majors as all of my course overlap the same people

in the same line of work, with the same interests, doing the same things. While this is a good

working environment it was refreshing to have a class with an array of majors and backgrounds.

I made some friends and met some people I would have never otherwise met.

I have extrapolated elements of the peer editing and writing process that we did in class

into writing programs. I will find myself doing a couple minutes of breathing before taking on

some simple exercises that slowly become more complicated, until I can calmly take on even the

largest of tasks.

It was hard to adapt and although I will likely never have another English or composition

class I was happy to experience this one. I have learned some valuable lessons on work ethic and

the value of undivided attention. I have done more critical thinking in and for this class than I

ever have for an English class. As a final thought on this past semester I would just like to say

that I found out the hard way that I am not, nor will I ever be a morning person Id rather burn

the midnight oil.

-Ira D. Sigman