Metacognition: Jane Eyre Writing Assignment

To me, the most important aspect of this writing assignment was working together as a group. It is a skill that we don't practice very often, and this project was a good opportunity to work on collaboration skills.

It was difficult to adapt my writing style to fit those of my group members. It's hard to mesh the ideas of three people into one coherent piece. It required more work, effort, and time than an independent writing assignment would have. But, we did manage to fight through all the distractions and create a nice transcript.

Working with other people is a skill that I wish I was better at. I know that it will become an important skill for the future and will determine any one's success. I often like to do things by myself and not have to deal with other people, but I know this is not a realistic way of thinking. I hope to change my thinking in a way so that I become more compatible with other people.

Overall, this was a good working experience and a nice way to practice our collaborating skills for the future. I believe that the learning from the writing process was of equal, if not greater importance than the intellectual learning from Jane Eyre.

Metacognition: Jane Eyre

Reading Jane Eyre was a refreshing change to the previous books we have read this year. Unlike Sophie's World and Heart of Darkness, it wasn't overwhelming. I didn't dread having to read it every night, and the storyline was captivating. I couldn't help but wondering why this book was so different.

I have decided it is because of the overall slower pace of the novel. Not every sentence was jam packed with information, and many pages were devoted simply to the setting and descriptions. The slower pace obviously slowed my thinking, allowing more knowledge, feelings and opinions to be absorbed while reading the text. It was a nice change to not feel so rushed while reading.

I was surprised to find out how engulfed I became in the story. I felt both sympathy and anger towards the characters, which usually doesn't happen to me while reading school books. Being so involved in this story greatly improved my comprehension, and with increased comprehension comes increased overall enjoyment.

To improve my thinking, I wish I had annotated my book with more care. When the time came for small group discussions, I felt as though I had forgotten my initial reactions and thoughts, and it was hard to look back and know what I was thinking.

Overall, reading Jane Eyre was a good experience with many opportunities to relax and fully enjoy and interpret the story.

Metacognition: First Semester

This first semester has taught me that there are two ways to handle our English class. Some find it easier to slump down in their chair and completely zone out, mentally leaving the room all together. These people stare down the clock, watching the second hand ever so slowly click round and round, wanting time to fly by. On the other hand, you can remain active and actually focus. Speaking aloud or avidly listening, these people know what is going on. They know there is never enough time to discuss what truly matters.

Sure, the first option seems infinitely easier than the second. Everyone has those days when they can't deal with school at the moment. But, in reality, you have to sit class no matter what your situation, so it truly is your choice what you make of it. Letting something as beneficial as a good class discussion slip by unnoticed is much worse than being bored for an hour. During this first semester, I have grown as a thinker. Personally, I prefer to take the easy way out of things. Yet this mindset is changing, for I have realized that you miss far too much learning and profound thoughts through the easy way.

I know that I still don't speak very often in class. But I feel as though it is unrealistic to determine whether someone is active in a discussion solely by the amount of times they raise their hand. Your thoughts are what really matter, and being constantly and actively listening allows you to be present in class. For me personally, I often have those philosophical thoughts, yet choose to keep them to myself. These beliefs are often unique to me, something personal that doesn't need to be shared in the classroom. When teachers count how many times a student speaks, they are trying to measure the unmeasurable.

This does not mean that I refuse to attempt to participate more, for that is something that I know I must improve on. I have a long journey ahead of me to become a better student, and as each semester passes, I am closer and closer to becoming the best student I know I can be.

Metacognition: Kite Runner Essay

Chronological order has often been difficult for me to follow. In turn, while writing my Kite Runner essay, I struggled to write the essay in a correct order of events. I was surprised to find out that my mind often doesn't think in sequential order. Sometimes thoughts come in a random string, all relating to one another rather than coming in the order the author presents them. From this, I speculated whether there actually was a "correct order" of thinking. I find that the author spits out their thoughts in a pattern that makes sense to them. From there, the reader can then judge and rearrange their thinking to fit into their own individual logical mindset. This is a skill that allows any piece of writing to be universal, for the reader can make the ideas and their sequence all their own, which is very effective. I have come to appreciate this quality of my thinking, for putting your own twist on the ideas presented in the book can make the whole story become new again.

Yet when one changes the order of events, the flow and rhythm can often be obstructed. This is something that I would like to improve on in my own writing. Transitions are key to having good beats and pulses in writing and there presence in every paragraph is paramount. In the future, I hope to be able to have more efficient and powerful transitions from paragraph to paragraph and idea to idea. This should enhance the overall progression of the paper, making it more pleasing to the reader.