Class Reflection

CLASS REFLECTION

 

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     For my English 102 class this semester we worked on blogs to help us understand our readings better.  This will be my 15th and last blog.  I cannot say that my blogs have improved in time because, to be honest, there were times i waited for the last minute and just wrote anything just to get it done.  There were a few topics that did catch my eye and I actually spent my time wirting about it though.  Most of my blogs were written in a clear, easy-read-style.  I also tried to organize the writers ideas around a main point.  I didn't want to drive myself or the readers crazy.  Having class discussions was also a big part in helping me write my blogs.

     Writing online was a different experience for me.  Especially the fact that other people can see what i'm writing.  That made me feel a bit vulnerable.  I was used to writing a paper and handing it in,  but I guess this experience made writing in a way more fun.  I dont think writing blog entries really helped improve my writing ability because I felt as if I was just talking to people when I would write.  Whatever was on my mind I would just jot it down.  In essays there is more of a thought process the style and format is different.  Sometimes I read other students work to either give feedback or compare their work to mine.  I noticed that the other students would also read my work sometimes.  Their feedback was very helpful.

     Overall, my experience in this class was very different from any other English class i've ever had.  It had its ups and its downs.  Some ups would be watching the play, "Much Ado About Nothing," or playing the Jeopardy game, that was a fun group activity.  I would also say that that was the most memorable moment for me.  It was a day   It helped us reflect on the play some more.  Some of the down times for me were writing the papers and some of the blogs also.  I got stuck a few times trying to put words on paper without sounding less sophisticated.  For any students who plan on taking this class next semester, i would recommend staying on top of the work.  Getting assignments done on time is extremely important or else you find yourself backed up with work.  English 102 was a good experience and Dr. X was a very helpful professor.  I will miss her.

BLOG 14

BLOG # 14



    On my fourteenth blog I will be choosing one of my blog entries written about Shakespeares, "Much Ado About Nothing," to explain the reason why it is my favorite and why I am most particularly proud of it.  When we first watched this play it was kind of difficult to understand the context so writing blog # 11took me some time to write.  I dedicated a lot of time into writing this blog but it helped me to understand the story.  Once I understood what the story was about it became easier for me to write blogs  12 and 13.

     In this section of my ENG102 class we have done many activities about writing about drama.  These activites have helped give me a greater understanding about this subject.  The Literary Quiz helped me learn the meanings of literary terms in a play.  The literary terms also helped me with the play "Much Ado About Nothing" because i got more of an understanding on what i had watched.  Having class disussions with Dr. X probably my favorite part.  She spoke about the metaphors and similes in the play and opened my eyes to a lot.  Dr. X makes the class see thingsin a different way.  In the future when I read or watch a play I will be able to really understand it.

BLOG #13

BLOG #13

     The symbolic meaning of the unmasking ceremony in 5.4. 52-66, in "Much Ado About Nothing," is to make Hero reborn.  Because of the false accusations made by Claudio in front of all Messina, Hero was sentenced to death.  She was never actually killed but they made Claudio believe she was dead.  When the truth came out, clearing Heros name, Claudio promised to do whatever it took to make things right with Heros father, Leonato.   Leonato told Claudio that he wanted him to still marry into his family but he would not see his wife until after they were married.  When Claudio unmasked his wife and seen that it was Hero it was a symbol that the old Hero had died being accused of awful allegations, and a new pure Hero was born.
     Claudio is also reborn because I believe this is a lesson learned for him.  He will now be the type of person that gets all the facts straight before jumping to conclusions.  He will not be so naive anymore.  Also, Leonato and all of Messina is giving him a 2nd chance, so for them to forgive and forget the past he has to be reborn.
      Benedick and Beatrice are reborn at the unmasking ceremony because they are now showing Messina that they are capable of loving another, especially eachother.  Im not sure if these 4 characters being unmasked means that these are their "true selves," but I do think the ending was perfect.  I believe that Benedick and Beatrice all had these feelings for each other deep inside and it was finally a relief for them to be able to say it out loud.  Claudio and Hero were both almost cheated out of love but the story shows that in the end love conquered all.

Blog 12

BLOG # 12

     In my 12th blog entry I would like to continue talking about William Shakespeares, "Much Ado About Nothing."  Claudio and Hero attempted to get married but the wedding was a failure.  Benedick and Beatrice have a meeting afterwards and their love is tested.  Beatrice wants Benedick to kill Claudio because Claudio slandered Heros name in front of everyone at the wedding.  Claudio and Don Perdo were fooled into believing that Hero had cheated on Claudio the night before.  Beatrice thinks that Hero is falsely being accused and wants revenge on Claudio for his false accusations against her cousin.  Beatrice wants Claudio dead and she wants Benedick to kill him to prove his love to her.  

     When Beatrice asks Benedick to kill Claudio she is risking losing him.  One way she might lose him is by him saying no, and another way is to lose him to death.  Just because Benedick challenges Claudio does not mean that Benedick will win.  At first she tells him that doing such a deed is not his job because she feels like he doesnt owe her anything.  Once he professes his love to her she wants him to prove it by doing her this favor.  Once Benedick accepts her request, he risks losing a friend and possibly losing Beatrice.  If Benedick kills Claudio he may regret it later on and feel resentment towards Beatrice, and then their relationship would never work.  He may gain Beatrices love and respect but I don't think he would be able to look at her the same way and love her back. 

     I don't think that Benedick should kill Claudio.  Claudio did not ruin the wedding because he is a horrible person.  He was tricked into believing that Hero was cheating on him.  He saw the proof with his own eyes even though who he seen was not Hero.  It was not his fault.  If Benedick would have killed him, it would have broken up the relationship between him and Beatrice.  In the end the truth came out and Hero was alive.  Claudio would have felt guilty for what he did and he would have blamed Beatrice.

BLOG 11

BLOG # 11

     Today I will be discussing a new play we are reading in my English 102 class.  The story is called "Much Ado About Nothing," written by, William Shakespeare and it reflects on a few topics: power, betrayal, manipulation, jealousy, and definitely LOVE.
     Beatrice is a strong woman who is not afraid to say what is on her mind.  Benedick is a clown.  He is arrogant and cocky and we learn in the story that Beatrice and him clash.  They just can not get along.  In Act 2.1, Don Pedro says that Beatrice would make "an excellent wife for Benedick," and Leonato tells him that "if they were but a week married, they would talk themselves mad." (265-7)  I agree with Don Pedro because Benedick needs a strong woman in his life to put him in his place.  Benedick likes to make fun of people and look down upon them, as he did to Beatrice on the beginning of the story. Beatrice did not stay shut when he would treat her this way.  She had a lot to say and they were constantly battling.  Once Benedick was fooled into believing that Beatrice was in love with him,  he treated her differently.  He respected her and gave her his love.
     Even though I agree with Don Pedro, a small part of me agrees with Leonato.  Just because Beatrice and Benedick are now in love and happy, they still have the same personalities.  I believe there will be plenty of battling between the two.  They both always want to be right, and it is hard for either one to give in.  At the end of the day Beatrice is the perfect woman for Benedick.  Only a strong woman could put up with what Benedick     has to give.