September 26, 2011
Class has been heavy on emphasizing the need to "learn how to learn". I'm glad we're starting with this because great basic skills help make the much more challenging aspects of class less formidable.
Annotating works is one of my favorite skills, I really stay engaged through underlining and making notes. In my eyes a pristine page equals laziness. Essay prompts are probably the most helpful things to annotate, it's easy to forget a key part of the response. I view the thesis as the most important, but most challenging part of an essay. Sometimes it's hard to keep it concise while hitting all the aspects of the essay.
I completely agree with you over annotation of prompts. If we hadn't spent time in class breaking apart multiple prompts I wouldn't have even started getting the hang of trying to construct a worthy thesis statement. Something I still struggle with are those darn hidden "so what?" questions! I just can't seem to wrap my mind around where they come from and how to answer them. All in good time I suppose. Without annotation I'd probably be asleep about half the time I'm supposed to be "reading"- i totally agree with you on "a pristine page equals laziness".
ReplyDeleteHey, where's DIDLS or poetry or techniques and all that good stuff? I do like the acknowledgement of "learn how to learn". (Though it is slightly sarcastic seeming.) I think you could start to connect these ideas on a higher level though because you certainly applied them in your other posts well.
ReplyDeleteAnnotating is the best way to stay engaged and practice the skills that we are spending so much time learning. (I enjoy annotating as well :)
ReplyDeleteReading your comment on annotating prompts reminds me of how much I need to remember to do this so I don't forget! With the thesis statements just remember that if your essay goes on to argue another idea, you can always change your thesis statement.