English 121: Reflection Papers

Reflective Letter #1

Dear Marlen,

As I reflect upon the past weeks of this English 121 course this fall semester, I can’t believe that we are already halfway over.  I remember waiting for someone to drop this course so I could take their spot when scheduling.  I was excited to take this course based on my prior learning experience with you in English 101.  I remember buying Watership Down in the summer so I could get a head start reading because I knew what I was in for with this course.  After reading Watership Down, I felt bored.

Watership Down was a boring read to me, and I don’t know if it was just my own preferences, or if I’m just “crazy”.  Personally, the book had a similar feel like Robert C. O’Brien’s “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh”, except I found “Nimh” to be more interesting, possibly because I felt “Nimh” had more of a dramatic/mysterious feel behind it. Possibly replacing Watership Down with Nimh would be a good touch.

The course as a whole so far, I feel had made me understand the various archetypes used in mostly all stories I have read or will read.  The only thing that I feel about this course is that it isn’t as enticing as your 101 course.  In your 101 course, it was always learning something new about yourself as well as different people, and things around you.  The class was very interesting all of the time, as compared to this 121 course, I feel it has good days, as well as “off” days.  Again, this is just my opinion, so take it as you will.  I feel that spending an entire semester on just archetypes slowly becomes a drag. I don’t know if it is because I already know in at least a small understanding of what the ending is going to be, as compared to the 101 course when I had no idea what to expect next.  This is in no way in cause to your teaching, or methods, I think it is just the topic itself that has become a drag for me.

With that being said, I do enjoy a lot of the readings, and the in depth look at stories, film, and I personally like the musical theater genre thrown into the mix as well.  I really enjoyed depicting all of the symbolism in certain stories, and film. The time that sticks out to me the most is when we depicted the symbolism in the movie “Cast Away”.  I have learned that I actually like to write more than I like to read.  Hopefully I can find common ground of love for both of these forms of expression.

In closing, I really do enjoy this course for the most part.  If I compare it to your 101 course with the “What is I?”, and the senses, the 101 course wins.  This course has shown me a lot about many of the stories around me, and the stories of my own life.  I look forward to what more this course has to offer me, and expect the ending result to be something that really affects my thinking, or my actions. You’ve done it before, and I know that by the end of this course, I will have learned something new and gained a lot out of this experience of learning from you.

Thank you,

Jeffrey R. Veach

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Reflection Letter #2

Dear Marlen,

As I reflect upon the past weeks of this English 121 course this fall semester, I can’t believe that we are already halfway over.  I remember waiting for someone to drop this course so I could take their spot when scheduling.  I was excited to take this course based on my prior learning experience with you in English 101.  I remember buying Watership Down in the summer so I could get a head start reading because I knew what I was in for being as you were my instructor.

I am glad that I have made it through two classes with you.  I would first like to thank you for what you have done this semester. I realized just how much you care for students, and why you teach.  You are the epitome of the word “teacher.’’ I realized this especially when you had to travel to Florida, and you still taught with a webcam. I highly doubt any other professor I have had would have done that.  You show me that through hard work, there is a prize at the end. I just want to thank you for being someone I can look up to, and respect.  I only hope that someday I can be just as good of a teacher as you are.

The course this semester was a good mix of a variety of thoughts and ideas, but still maintaining the first point (monomyth).  I personally liked all of the deep thought discussions you would have the class perform.  I loved how you are not afraid to “push the envelope”,  dealing with religion, or topics like sex, drugs, etc.  I think it is always good to ask questions about a variety of topics, because without questions, there would never be answers.

My personal interaction within the class was great in the first half of the semester. I felt that in the second half of the semester, I wanted others to speak so they could break out of “their shell”.  The blogs were interesting to write, and the poems are a great.  I wish I were better at being able to write poetry.  I can never seem to get the right words whenever I am thinking about writing a poem.  On a good note, I have never written poetry before, so this was a great introduction to writing poems.

My last point is the movie “Henry and June”, and the book “Middlesex” along with the term queer theory.  I absolutely loved that you brought this whole topic up in class, and that you showed the movie in class.  I believe that people, although most have sex, never want to talk about it in public, or look at it.  I think I enjoyed this topic of sexuality more because it took everyone out of their “comfort zones”, and had them think about something they more than likely would never have to think about in an English course.  Even if the students agree with it, or not, that is the beauty of showing them new ideas and thoughts.

Overall, this course was excellent.  Halfway through I thought it was going to be a boring course, but you switch it up at just the right time.  The moment it starts to drag, you give us all a bitch slap, and wake us up with different topics and viewpoints, while still keeping the idea of the monomyth intact.  I personally have tried hard at this course to gain respect from you, my peers, but most importantly, respect for myself as well as find something new within myself.  I am so excited to take Research Writing with you, as I am more than willing to take on another round with you.  I am glad that I have taken this course with you, and have learned so much.

Thank you,

Jeff Veach