Sabitri Pant
Mr. Pankratz
English 250
Introductory Reflection
I enrolled in English 250 in 2019 Fall semester. Before enrolling to this course, I did not have good writing and speaking skills. For instance, if someone assign me to write an essay about certain topic, I just used to write some paragraphs without thesis statements, connective words, and even without proper conclusion paragraph. My essay used to be unclear to the reader. Similarly, talking about the speaking skills I did not have good eye contact, body language while giving presentation. I am very fortunate that I got chance to improve my writing, reading, speaking skills and got chance to work in ePortfolio from this course. The major skills that I have learnt in this course and areas that are still needed to improve are described in the following paragraphs.
The most interesting thing I have experienced in this course is working in ePortfolio. Instructor used to provide us weekly feedback in the ePortfolio from the mid of the class. He also provided us various ePortfolio related links and resources in our canvas page and that helps me a lot while working with the ePortfolio. In this ePortfolio there are several categories that will navigate to their sub-topics. For instance, there are six categories namely Intro Reflection, Written, Oral, Visual, Electronic, and Reflections. I also have a static Home page regarding Introductory reflection. In Intro Reflection category there is a sub-category About Me where I put brief introduction about me. In Written category there are three sub-categories namely Revised Paper, Reflection on Revision and A-5 Writing Materials. In Oral category there is a YouTube video uploaded which was provided Instructor Pankratz which is regarding the tips for making Presentation skill better. Similarly, in Visual category there are two links related to A-4 and A-5 presentation slide which I have uploaded on Canvas. Likewise, Electronic category includes three sub-categories that includes two social media related writing and one Photoshop activity. Finally, Reflections category includes reflections related to Assignment 1 through Assignment 5 .
Similarly, I learnt how to write an introductory paragraphs and thesis statement in it. Especially during second, third, fourth and fifth assignments I learnt writing thesis statement in introductory paragraph, using some connective words such as however, therefore, but, etc. Similarly, the instructions provided in these assignments and regular feedback from the instructor help me to restate my thesis statements properly in conclusion paragraph. I also learnt about describing and analyzing some place and arts from assignment two. Likewise, assignment third and fifth helps me to use primary and secondary sources and cite them properly.
Likewise, this course helps me to improve my reading skill in a significant way. Instructor used to assign us reading assignment usually in every week. That way of assigning reading works tremendously and I can now realize the improvement in my reading skills. Our instructor assigned us different reading topics which were very interesting as well as helps in improving our reading skill.
This course required us to give two presentation of the last two assignments. In the first presentation I was little bit nervous and I did not have to eye contact and body language. However, after realizing that I worked very hard to rehearsal myself in front of the mirror and my second presentation was very good. As a result, I score good in the second presentations.
In conclusion, this course helps me improve my writing, reading, and speaking skills in a grate extent. This course also helps me to operate technological site that is ePortfolio and demonstrate my writing skills through it. However, there are still some weakness in me that I am planning to improve in upper English courses. My planning is to focus in my speaking skills by practicing lots of presentation skills.