A Blabbering Reflection on Quite Possibly the Best Class I'll Ever Take

3.) The Question of Literature was written on January 28^th, 2012. It was my first response blog. I used it to discuss and explore the idea of literature. I did my best to answer questions that Beth and Hannah had.

2.) After Apple-Picking was written on February 23^rd, 2012. It discusses the poem by Robert Frost called “After Apple-Picking.” I used the template provided to do a close reading of the poem.

1.) On Becoming Invisible was written on April 5^th, 2012. It looks into the meaning of the first paragraph of the first chapter of a book written by Ellison called “Invisible Man.”


I have chosen these three because I believe they are best writing of the semester. I fell that way because I feel like I learned the most from doing them, and I had most fun writing them. All of them helped me to think though things differently. Even though my blog post on Frost's poem took me the longest into the night out of any poem, I think I enjoyed it most.

Over the course of the semester I feel like I gained a better grasp on what it meant to read into a text. I learned how to better look into a text and pull out different meanings. In “The Question of Literature” I talk about the idea that literature can't be held down by a single definition, that it is deeper and more shallow than we could know. I don't disagree with anything I said in that post, however, there are things I thought at the beginning of the semester that I don't agree with now that sparked some of the ideas in that blog.

For instance, I used to feel that any conclusion that somebody could draw from a text was just as valid as the next. I don't think that any more. Now I believe that there are different levels of validity. The more backed up an idea about a text is the more valid the idea becomes. So while the meaning of literature can be very subjective, the meaning that is drawn out must have some sort of foundation. Without a foundation ideas crumble.

The other two posts are good examples of my ability to read into a text and build up my ideas using the text itself. This is something I wasn't very good at before. At least not to the extent I am now. I only wish I had more time to dive into ideas. I'm looking forward to the summer. This will be first real break from school in a long time.


I feel like I've done really well in this class. I have put a lot of effort forward. I struggle with perfectionism, so I stay up all hours trying to answer questions adequately until my brain stops functioning and I am forced to post whatever I have come up with, which actually turns out to be pretty good sometimes.

I always think hard about the questions I'm asked, and every time I've missed a reading or a blog entry I am disappointed. This class is the one I have enjoyed most and it is the one I have received the most from, at least this semester, possibly my whole career as a student. It is certainly in my top 3, anyway.

I have loved this class, and truly feel that every time I miss something assigned I missing out, not just on a grade, but on a level of understanding, and a deeper education. I don't feel that way in any of my other classes this semester, not really.

My main strength is my ability to analyze, to look deeply into things for meaning. I'm afraid this is also my greatest weakness, because it keeps me stuck in one place for far too long. I love how I can dive into something, but it take so much time and energy, I don't know how to tone it down without completely giving up.

As far as a grade goes, I suppose I would give myself a B. I know I haven't always completed the readings, and that becomes apparent in my quiz scores. I've also missed several blog posts, and pulled an all-nighter in order to prepare a mediocre presentation.

Other than those things, though, I feel like I've done well. The assignments I completed I put myself into. I loved exploring the texts with my classmates and Scott. It was a blast. I feel like there were days when even contributed some pretty good ideas.

The truth is, I've really enjoyed this class and I know that I will miss it. I feel like I have been really lucky to take it when I did. The classmates I have in this class have been a blast. I love hearing all of their ideas. Nobody seems to take over. I've really enjoyed getting to know everyone. I'm going to miss the discussions. I've never experienced a class dynamic quite like the one in this class. I feel like the dynamic was possible both because of the unique blend of personalities in the class and the excellent way Scott facilitated the class. I don't know who should get more credit. Maybe it's 50-50, I don't know, I just know it was great. I learned a lot about how people see literature, and therefore, a lot about literature. I think I learned something about leadership, and teaching too, but I'll have to ponder that more. I know I saw good leadership and teaching, I'm just not sure how much I picked up.

I'm really going to miss everyone in this class. It's been a blast, folks.