Looking back at the first paper I wrote for class; Mirror, Mirror, I see now how badly my punctuation was. My grammar wasn't too bad. My structure wasn't so good. This course is mandatory for me to take per my entrance test scores. I had said that my goals were going to do my best in the class and maybe skip the next English class and move on to a college level English course. At this current time, I don't think that is going to happen. My other goal, a personal one, was to be on the Dean's List for once. I don't think that is going to happen either. I am doing the best I can, and so far in my other classes, I am doing very well. Ok, this is a new goal, and it is being obtained. My writing skills I feel have not improved, I am still everywhere/scatter brained. I have to come up with a different strategy, because nothing is working for me so far.
I am still struggling with my writing. I suffer from test anxiety so, every writing assignment, it is like I am taking a test. I get nervous, go blind per se', and remain scatter brained with my ideas. It is extremely frustrating. I have taken the advise of Prof. Simon about putting what I have written away and coming back to it and then edit what I wrote. That isn't working too well for me. I see what needs to be changed, added, punctuated, but I am unable to see that my thoughts are everywhere or I totally miss the subject. I did go to the tutoring center, but I was even more confused after the session. My next step, going to Prof. Simon. She has already told me that I was going to fail if I didn't change my writing... I spend hours on my writing assignments, I try to do my best, and I am still fraking it up. Am I anywhere near my goals I listed on day one? Frak no! Am I going to give up? Double Frak No! I am pissed off, and ready for a fight, so look out.
I originally was going to put my first essay into my portfolio, but I have decided against it. My original thought was, those who were going to do the readings would see where I was and then where I am now with my writing. The reason why I decided against it is, the first essay has been totally revised, and no longer reflects a true first writing. I am not sure what I am going to put into my portfolio yet. I will make that decision soon, so that I don't get strapped down later trying to make a decision
I am going to try other writing strategies. I have ideas that may or may not work, but I won't know until I try them. After all, I have rewrites to do. Something is bound to work allowing me to win this battle of writing. I will keep going to the writing center, and visiting Prof. Simon, so look out everyone, here I come.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Frak! What a week
For those of you that watch scifi tv. shows you know what FRAK means. For those of you that don't well, let's just leave it that way. So, FRAK WHAT A WEEK!!!! It is Friday. Blessed Friday!!! After a week of midterms, this week of hell is finally over. I had 4 tests which to most people isn't a lot, but it is a nightmare to someone that has test anxiety.
Spanish went surprisingly well, my preliminary comment was, with a heavy natural accent, "you did petty well" per my instructor. I memorized the body parts, pluralized verbs (we won't go there about conjunction verbs). I can't do that in English, so how am I supposed to do that in Spanish? I know it will be safe to say that my English in class essay was not very good. I am still learning how to write "properly". I used to be able to write fluidly, but that went to hell quickly, and is slow to rise. I am trying my damnedest to get better ratings on my papers. I did feel pretty good after taking my math test yesterday. I am scared over that one though. In the past, everytime I thought I did well on a test, I usually bombed it. Math is not my strong suit. I have a wonderful instructor. Instructors like him are hard to find. He definetely has a gift, God bless him.
As for Psych, I really think and have a feeling I bombed it. It was my final test of the week at 8:00am (Friday). Nathan and I went to a movie last night, our first nighttime movie together ever. We got home late; 11:45pm. I had a couple of beers and then went to bed. I set my alarm so it would go off at 6:00am. I was awake at 4:00, 4:40, 5:00, 5:30. I refused to get out of bed to get ready for my 8:00am class. I got out of bed at 6:02am, showered and took the kids out to be pottied. After pottying them, I grabbed my coffee, boy it was good, just right. I then proceeded to my bedroom to review. All was going well. Time passed (not much) and now it is 7:00am and I am hungry. Don't mess with me when I am hungry and have not had enough coffee.
I nuked one of my Aunt Jemima breakfasts, sat down on the couch with my 2nd cup of coffee and my breakfast. Sorry Prof. Simon, "Omnivores Dilemma" be damned. I love the book and I am fascinated by it, but I love my premade breakfasts. I had 2 English Muffins as well. One had butter and the other had peanut butter. I needed the extra protien. I should have gone to Carribou Coffee for my favorite coffee, White Chocolate Mocha, double shot. I would have been ready to take on anything.
I tried taking the bus to school, but as usual, I missed it. One of my Psych classmates wandered into the bus stop later that I did and was going to take the metrobus. I suggested he save his money and we would just drive up. This suggestion made him very happy, he would finally get to ride in The Quinn (I named my Smartcar Quinn, long story). He told me that he had taken pictures of The Quinn and had sent them to his girlfriend but now, he was riding in it! We got to the college garage and parked and headed to class. That boy can walk faster than me. I was trying my hardest to keep up. I would give in to being slower than him, male pride thing. We got to class with about 10 minutes to spare.
Prof. James began passing out the scantron sheets. I have always hated those stupid things. I want to play "connect the dots". Not a good idea when trying to take a test. Once I got my test, I began scanning over the questions. This was not going to be an easy test. There were too many words that had nearly the same definitions, I was doomed. I read the questions, sometimes 2 and 3 times prior to filling in the dot, finally did so and moved on to the next question. Literally half way through the test, all of the pent up stress and frustration from the entire week left me. I felt like I had had a wet wool blanket lifted off of me. I became so sleepy. The words went blurry, becoming this nasty mess of black and white fuzz. I fell asleep right there taking my test. I know I did because I woke up before my head hit the desk. Now I was struggling to stay awake and couldn't remember anything, so I had to quess. Hope I didn't fail the test. When it is finals week or the next round of midterms next semester, you can surely bet that Carribou Coffee's stocks will rocket!
I barely made it home and now I hardly remember driving. I walked in the door and was greeted by my kids, Nathan was on the couch working on another story. He asked me how it went and told him what had happened. After a quick telling of the event, I went to back to bed. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I didn't even get undressed. I woke up after a wonderful 3 hour nap We are going out to lunch. We are going to hit the Blue Pearl in Downtown Silver Spring. I love cheap Chinese food. Heck you can't hardly beat $8.11 for an all you can eat lunch.
The major stress of classes and test is over now. I still have a great deal of writing to do for next week and to work on my psych project. This is going to be a breeze in comparison to this past FRAKIN WEEK.
Spanish went surprisingly well, my preliminary comment was, with a heavy natural accent, "you did petty well" per my instructor. I memorized the body parts, pluralized verbs (we won't go there about conjunction verbs). I can't do that in English, so how am I supposed to do that in Spanish? I know it will be safe to say that my English in class essay was not very good. I am still learning how to write "properly". I used to be able to write fluidly, but that went to hell quickly, and is slow to rise. I am trying my damnedest to get better ratings on my papers. I did feel pretty good after taking my math test yesterday. I am scared over that one though. In the past, everytime I thought I did well on a test, I usually bombed it. Math is not my strong suit. I have a wonderful instructor. Instructors like him are hard to find. He definetely has a gift, God bless him.
As for Psych, I really think and have a feeling I bombed it. It was my final test of the week at 8:00am (Friday). Nathan and I went to a movie last night, our first nighttime movie together ever. We got home late; 11:45pm. I had a couple of beers and then went to bed. I set my alarm so it would go off at 6:00am. I was awake at 4:00, 4:40, 5:00, 5:30. I refused to get out of bed to get ready for my 8:00am class. I got out of bed at 6:02am, showered and took the kids out to be pottied. After pottying them, I grabbed my coffee, boy it was good, just right. I then proceeded to my bedroom to review. All was going well. Time passed (not much) and now it is 7:00am and I am hungry. Don't mess with me when I am hungry and have not had enough coffee.
I nuked one of my Aunt Jemima breakfasts, sat down on the couch with my 2nd cup of coffee and my breakfast. Sorry Prof. Simon, "Omnivores Dilemma" be damned. I love the book and I am fascinated by it, but I love my premade breakfasts. I had 2 English Muffins as well. One had butter and the other had peanut butter. I needed the extra protien. I should have gone to Carribou Coffee for my favorite coffee, White Chocolate Mocha, double shot. I would have been ready to take on anything.
I tried taking the bus to school, but as usual, I missed it. One of my Psych classmates wandered into the bus stop later that I did and was going to take the metrobus. I suggested he save his money and we would just drive up. This suggestion made him very happy, he would finally get to ride in The Quinn (I named my Smartcar Quinn, long story). He told me that he had taken pictures of The Quinn and had sent them to his girlfriend but now, he was riding in it! We got to the college garage and parked and headed to class. That boy can walk faster than me. I was trying my hardest to keep up. I would give in to being slower than him, male pride thing. We got to class with about 10 minutes to spare.
Prof. James began passing out the scantron sheets. I have always hated those stupid things. I want to play "connect the dots". Not a good idea when trying to take a test. Once I got my test, I began scanning over the questions. This was not going to be an easy test. There were too many words that had nearly the same definitions, I was doomed. I read the questions, sometimes 2 and 3 times prior to filling in the dot, finally did so and moved on to the next question. Literally half way through the test, all of the pent up stress and frustration from the entire week left me. I felt like I had had a wet wool blanket lifted off of me. I became so sleepy. The words went blurry, becoming this nasty mess of black and white fuzz. I fell asleep right there taking my test. I know I did because I woke up before my head hit the desk. Now I was struggling to stay awake and couldn't remember anything, so I had to quess. Hope I didn't fail the test. When it is finals week or the next round of midterms next semester, you can surely bet that Carribou Coffee's stocks will rocket!
I barely made it home and now I hardly remember driving. I walked in the door and was greeted by my kids, Nathan was on the couch working on another story. He asked me how it went and told him what had happened. After a quick telling of the event, I went to back to bed. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I didn't even get undressed. I woke up after a wonderful 3 hour nap We are going out to lunch. We are going to hit the Blue Pearl in Downtown Silver Spring. I love cheap Chinese food. Heck you can't hardly beat $8.11 for an all you can eat lunch.
The major stress of classes and test is over now. I still have a great deal of writing to do for next week and to work on my psych project. This is going to be a breeze in comparison to this past FRAKIN WEEK.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
This writing thing ain't easy.
When I write I become engrossed in it. I am blind and deaf to my surroundings and have gotten the (unmentionable) scared out of me.
I tend to sit down at either my laptop or my desk top and begin to write. As I writing, I am envisioning what I am writing. I have a VERY difficult time making outlines, I am dense when it comes to doing them. I am trying to fix that. Anyway, I write/type whatever comes into my head pertaining to the subject, generally adding too much information.
After I written down everything, sometimes in the middle of my writing, I will print out what is there and proof read it. I will look for errors, things that I need to elaborate on, get rid of or clarify. I tend to do this a couple of times throughout my paper. This is my general way of writing
I tend to sit down at either my laptop or my desk top and begin to write. As I writing, I am envisioning what I am writing. I have a VERY difficult time making outlines, I am dense when it comes to doing them. I am trying to fix that. Anyway, I write/type whatever comes into my head pertaining to the subject, generally adding too much information.
After I written down everything, sometimes in the middle of my writing, I will print out what is there and proof read it. I will look for errors, things that I need to elaborate on, get rid of or clarify. I tend to do this a couple of times throughout my paper. This is my general way of writing
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