Estimados Estudiantes,

First of all, CONGRATUALATIONS on standing up to Jay's English 105 Challenge -  Spring Semester 2023.

Today, I ask you to take a moment to REFLECT. 

Think of this as a way remember your learning in English105.  We covered a lot of ground this semester, in class and out.  I hope you realize that the strategies you learned and the techniques you developed will help you succeed on the next level.

• Your self-reflection writing will go INSIDE your PROJECT BINDER.
• Your moment of self-reflection may help you when you speak at Jay's Student News Conference.

Jay’s Tip:  Concentrate on  specific specific components/experiences of your English 105 semester.   This will make it interesting. Somewhere did you touch upon a challenge or a learning experience that you haven’t really seen in another class. Remember, your work will be on display.  Here you have a chance to add a personal touch.  Ask me for help.

Below, I provide you with a list of ideas and writing prompts that may help your reflections.  There is NO ONE WAY to submit a SELF-REFLECTION PIECE.  I encourage you to take time to develop your answers.  The purpose of this exercise is not to write award-winning material, but rather to write from within to get to know yourself better.

Do you remember:

• Thesis Statements, Topic Sentences, Paragraph Development
• Research Skills, Formal Outlines, Mind  Maps
• Jay's "About Me" Page.
• JAMBOARD and PADLET – SOMETHING NEW – A WAY TO CONNECT WITH YOUR CLASSMATES
• Summaries, Paraphrases, Quotations
• Quote Sandwiches, Definition Paragraphs, Character Analyses
• MLA Documentation, Punctuation of Quotations
• Visual Analysis – This was a COOL assignment – Everyone in the class brings something different to the table. 
• NEW TECHNOLOGY – NOW YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN USE EMBED CODES IN OTHER CLASSES.
• Making Your Presence Felt – This “I” Believe – Choosing your own topics based on your interests. Developing your ideas based on your beliefs.
• Publication!  Look forward to seeing your work in print – online!

Jay's Supplemental Writing Prompts:

• Think of a Spring Semester Class Memory that is very important to you. Write about this memory with as many details as you can. Describe the setting with colorful adjectives. Detail the other people who were with you, if there were others there. Paint a picture of how you felt at this moment in your life. Why is this memory the one you wrote about?
  
• Describe an  English 105 Moment when you felt proud of yourself. What happened? What motivated you to get through it?
• What are your goals for outside this class?  Think beyond the typical goals of grades, jobs, and test scores – Do you see  anything that you've experienced in this class that will help you succeed in Real Life?

This is what I ask you to do – Please take the time to respond to the following questions in the form of a paragraph.  Choose a couple, a few, or take them all – But, please submit 300 words.  I SUGGEST YOU BEGIN  WITH YOUR SIXTIES RESEARCH PROJECT.

• Then, you can mix and match your responses to the writing prompts available

1.  Explain you reason for choosing your sixties topic.

* What caught your interest

• Why did you think your subject would make for an interesting paper?

For example:

I chose to write about the life and death of Marilyn Monroe.  At the beginning of the semester, Mr. Lewenstein shared sixties research projects that his past students had completed. But he also showed us the mysterious way of how Marilyn died.  The short video we watched in class about Marilyn's death motivated me to learn more about Marilyn's life.  I learned she was a very serious actress.  But, most people will never see her that way.  I wanted to show the complexity of her life. 

2. Imagining your future studies here or elsewhere, which of our writing strategies or study skills (see above) do you think might help you succeed in those courses.  Choose one or two that made a difference for you.  Explain and give examples. 

For example:

* I'm happy to learn about the campus databases – Using Proquest will elevate my writing.  It give me more focus and saves me time.  Instead of wasting so much time sifting through the junk out there, Proquest can guide you towards professionally reviewed articles.  On Proquest, I used "Advanced Search." I was able to find information about Marilyn Monroe's childhood.  I was able to skip by all the sexual gossip and learn  how her upbringing may have impacted the rest of her life. 

3.  Think back to your Sixties History Research Paper– What do people need to know most about your topic?

For example:

I wrote about the misconceptions people may have about Marilyn Monroe's  life and her death.  I didn’t know Marilyn practically grew up an orphan.  When people think of Marilyn, they think of MONEY and FAME.  But, they don't understand the real person behind the image. 

My favorite part of my research may have come from Marilyn's dedication to her craft.  At one point in her life, she left the MONEY and FAME behind in Hollywood, and she went to New York to study acting with much younger students.  This must have been like a doctor or a lawyer going back to take classes at Imperial Valley College.  Why would anyone want to do that?  It's because she wanted to get better. She didn't care what other people thought. 

4.  What was a challenge to putting our  projects together?  Think about it.  This won't be the last time you will be asked to do a research paper.  Were you confused by MLA in-text citations?  Were you frustrated with the extra reading?    What did you get out of the process?

For example:

• I understand now that when I begin a research paper the next time, I most certainly will expect a ton of information available.  I mean, in today's internet age there is just too much.  It can be overwhelming.  You need to have a plan before you get started, or you just might get CRUSHED.
• I like the specific purposes Mr. Lewenstein gave us for each paragraph: Quote Sandwich, Definition Paragraph, Visual Analysis. That made things easier. 

  5.  Did you discover any sense of personal involvement in the topics we discussed this semester?  Did you connect with anything big or small.   It happens.  And when it does, it makes learning so much easier.

For example:

I appreciated reading the novel Motorcycle on the Sea of Tranquility.  I started my teaching career in San Diego.  I may have taught young girls like Yoli.  I probably had little perpective for the families of my students.  I often concentrate too much of what happens inside the classroom and not enough for what  happens outside of it. 

6. Has this class changed the way your approach or view your life in any way? How?  What can you say to summarize your paragraph?  Do you realize your strengths?  Do you know your weaknesses?  To become the best you can be, what do you need to work on?

* This will make a great THIS I BELIEVE STATEMENT:  

For example:

* I realize that for the rest of my life I will be working with people. Even thougth time was limited, Mr. Lewenstein encouraged us to participate in group activities at our tables. This means, we  had to balance our "listening to others" with "writing for ourselves."  I suppose these types of conditions may help us prepare for Real Life. I agree that it's better to work together than work in isolation.  But, you have to learn how to do it somewhere.