Amy Plastow
Professor Begert
English 10110 October 2015
Essay #1 Rough Draft
It’s the end of General
Psychology class one day and the professor tells us that we have four modules
to read in the next three days. I get home and I am immediately stressed out.
It takes me at least one hour to read one module. If it is an interesting module
then I won’t have an issue with reading it. If it is about history or something
that is not intriguing to me then it will take me longer. I feel like I won’t
have enough time to read them and then to catch up with the lecture slides in
class. I try to make my room cozy and have a relaxing environment, it doesn't
help at all. My attention switches back and forth to all of my senses. My
vision gets blurred while reading a page and I have to look away for a while. It’s
too much for me to handle all at once.
Psychology class one day and the professor tells us that we have four modules
to read in the next three days. I get home and I am immediately stressed out.
It takes me at least one hour to read one module. If it is an interesting module
then I won’t have an issue with reading it. If it is about history or something
that is not intriguing to me then it will take me longer. I feel like I won’t
have enough time to read them and then to catch up with the lecture slides in
class. I try to make my room cozy and have a relaxing environment, it doesn't
help at all. My attention switches back and forth to all of my senses. My
vision gets blurred while reading a page and I have to look away for a while. It’s
too much for me to handle all at once.
All I can picture when I read for a class is 2 years ago in English 9 at my High School.
We were having a discussion about one of the books we were reading. One of the 23 students in
that class had not read the two chapters we were supposed to the night before.
The teacher told him to go outside of the room and sit in the library and read
the two chapters because he wouldn't know what we were talking about if he
stayed and listened. Then the teacher continued to talk about her
disappointment in that student even after he left the room. From then on my
stress levels while basically being forced to read have increased tremendously.
I panic, I am scared that I wont finish the assigned reading and that I will be
that person getting sent out of the classroom because of it.
We were having a discussion about one of the books we were reading. One of the 23 students in
that class had not read the two chapters we were supposed to the night before.
The teacher told him to go outside of the room and sit in the library and read
the two chapters because he wouldn't know what we were talking about if he
stayed and listened. Then the teacher continued to talk about her
disappointment in that student even after he left the room. From then on my
stress levels while basically being forced to read have increased tremendously.
I panic, I am scared that I wont finish the assigned reading and that I will be
that person getting sent out of the classroom because of it.
When I get home my
parents want to spend time with me and hear about my day. I talk to them
briefly then go downstairs to do my homework. My mom always tells me not to
stress over doing a bit of reading, everyone has to do it and it will go by quickly.
I of course do not believe it. So I go downstairs and light some candles,
close my blinds and put on some sweats and a t-shirt.
parents want to spend time with me and hear about my day. I talk to them
briefly then go downstairs to do my homework. My mom always tells me not to
stress over doing a bit of reading, everyone has to do it and it will go by quickly.
I of course do not believe it. So I go downstairs and light some candles,
close my blinds and put on some sweats and a t-shirt.
I am lying in bed trying
to get cozy before starting to read. My heart is already racing. I look around
my bedroom and try to calm down by in taking my surroundings. On my bed and
floor there are textbooks and papers scattered about. A small pile of pickup
sticks made of pens and pencils waiting to be challenged. The walls are white
and bare, just like a fresh new layer of snow. My black curtains make the room
dim and dank. I see my bedside lamp illuminating my book that is propped
against my thighs. I see my phone lighting up, tempting me to check it. I
always get distracted while reading, sometimes I like the distraction because
it gives me an excuse to not read. But then when I don't have physical
distractions I start to focus on all the sounds catching my attention instead.
to get cozy before starting to read. My heart is already racing. I look around
my bedroom and try to calm down by in taking my surroundings. On my bed and
floor there are textbooks and papers scattered about. A small pile of pickup
sticks made of pens and pencils waiting to be challenged. The walls are white
and bare, just like a fresh new layer of snow. My black curtains make the room
dim and dank. I see my bedside lamp illuminating my book that is propped
against my thighs. I see my phone lighting up, tempting me to check it. I
always get distracted while reading, sometimes I like the distraction because
it gives me an excuse to not read. But then when I don't have physical
distractions I start to focus on all the sounds catching my attention instead.
My ears sense a low
muffled vibration coming from my dad’s TV show upstairs in the living room. The
neighborhood dog barking at the wind. The echo from the cars on the highway
hitting the rumble strips. The heat clicking on, then off, on then off, the
same pattern over and over… and over. I then hear silence as time goes on, each
minute slowly passing by. I hear my steady breath, I focus on that for a
moment. I slowly seem to be calming down but still I know I have reading to be
done, and I still feel tense.
muffled vibration coming from my dad’s TV show upstairs in the living room. The
neighborhood dog barking at the wind. The echo from the cars on the highway
hitting the rumble strips. The heat clicking on, then off, on then off, the
same pattern over and over… and over. I then hear silence as time goes on, each
minute slowly passing by. I hear my steady breath, I focus on that for a
moment. I slowly seem to be calming down but still I know I have reading to be
done, and I still feel tense.
I feel like I am being
pushed to the limit, like I don't have enough time. I can’t focus on anything I
read. I keep having to re-read the same paragraph again and again because my
mind won’t retain the information. I feel like I have to keep taking breaks
even after reading for a couple of minutes because of the pressure. The
blankets are making me to warm, but my room is too cold. The baggy clothes I
have on feel like they are suffocating me. I cannot get comfortable enough to
read. I try to tell myself once more that it is just a few pages and if I can
convince my mind that it is interesting stuff in the book maybe I will be more
excited to read it. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
pushed to the limit, like I don't have enough time. I can’t focus on anything I
read. I keep having to re-read the same paragraph again and again because my
mind won’t retain the information. I feel like I have to keep taking breaks
even after reading for a couple of minutes because of the pressure. The
blankets are making me to warm, but my room is too cold. The baggy clothes I
have on feel like they are suffocating me. I cannot get comfortable enough to
read. I try to tell myself once more that it is just a few pages and if I can
convince my mind that it is interesting stuff in the book maybe I will be more
excited to read it. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
The aroma of spices with
some sweet accents fill my bedroom. That is the candle that I lit in hopes of
loosening my nerves. I smell fear because I do not want to be that person
getting sent out of class. I will not be that person. I can also smell the
pages of the new book I am holding. I am tasting apprehension, as if I will
never get this reading done. My mouth gets dry and so I drink some water. I can
taste the lingering aftertaste of coffee with French vanilla creamer. I drank
some coffee in hopes of awakening my senses and being able to focus on the
topic I am reading about.
some sweet accents fill my bedroom. That is the candle that I lit in hopes of
loosening my nerves. I smell fear because I do not want to be that person
getting sent out of class. I will not be that person. I can also smell the
pages of the new book I am holding. I am tasting apprehension, as if I will
never get this reading done. My mouth gets dry and so I drink some water. I can
taste the lingering aftertaste of coffee with French vanilla creamer. I drank
some coffee in hopes of awakening my senses and being able to focus on the
topic I am reading about.
All of my senses calm me
down and I can finally read. It always takes me a while to focus on the book
and start reading. All of this is out of fear of being behind in a class. This
whole process that I go through when reading specifically for a class is why I
don't like reading when I have to. Why do I have such a big problem with it?
What makes me so nervous about falling behind? Why do I feel like I have to go
to bed by 10, therefore making me finish the chapters before that time? All of
these questions I would love to know the answer to. But I think that this is
just a stage in my life. I won’t always be having to read for a class. I do
however love reading books that I pick out from the library. I know my
interests and so I can really get into whatever book I choose. But there is
just something about being forced to read for a History class or an English
class that really pushes my buttons.
all A’s. My lowest grade in my life thus far has been an A-. I have always done
well in school so when I feel like I won’t, I panic. It scares me to think that
I struggle so much with reading for a class but not with doing math or science
homework. I am a successful student who does great in all classes. Knowing the
thought that if I don’t finish a reading assignment it could potentially have a
consequence, whether if it if from the teacher or from myself personally. Once
I am done reading I feel a big weight being lifted off my shoulders, only to
come back the next day.
1. What was
your main point (thesis)? “The Moral of the Story”
your main point (thesis)? “The Moral of the Story”
My main point
was why I don’t like reading for a class
was why I don’t like reading for a class
2. Who was your audience? What did you assume about
them? What “audience needs” did you have to consider in writing the
paper? How did you tailor your writing to them?
them? What “audience needs” did you have to consider in writing the
paper? How did you tailor your writing to them?
My audience is anyone
who feels the same way I do about reading for a class. I had to
make it as realistic as I could so they understand how I feel.
who feels the same way I do about reading for a class. I had to
make it as realistic as I could so they understand how I feel.
3. What feedback or reactions did you get at various times while
composing this paper, and how was this helpful? What other kinds of input
or support did you get from classmates, teacher, tutors, others? Were you
able to make use of it? How, or why not?
composing this paper, and how was this helpful? What other kinds of input
or support did you get from classmates, teacher, tutors, others? Were you
able to make use of it? How, or why not?
People thought I over
reacted about my situation but I really do hate it and I do get really bad
anxiety while being forced to read. But other than that my classmates were very
supportive of me. I took what advice they gave me but I did decline some of it
because it is my piece of writing, I can do and say what I want to.
reacted about my situation but I really do hate it and I do get really bad
anxiety while being forced to read. But other than that my classmates were very
supportive of me. I took what advice they gave me but I did decline some of it
because it is my piece of writing, I can do and say what I want to.
4. What did you find interesting about the process you went
through
in writing this paper, and what did you learn from it?
through
in writing this paper, and what did you learn from it?
What I found interesting
the most is that I really got to focus on how I feel while reading for a class.
I never knew exactly that I did all the things I did while trying
to focus on the book. At first I couldn’t think of a specific time that made me
hate reading for a class but then I remembered my freshman year in high school.
That isn’t the first experience that has made me realize I despise reading for
classes but it the one that stands out the most.
the most is that I really got to focus on how I feel while reading for a class.
I never knew exactly that I did all the things I did while trying
to focus on the book. At first I couldn’t think of a specific time that made me
hate reading for a class but then I remembered my freshman year in high school.
That isn’t the first experience that has made me realize I despise reading for
classes but it the one that stands out the most.
5. What questions do you have for me about the paper? (What
part(s) of the paper would you like me to focus on? What do you see as
the paper’s strengths, and what areas are you unsure
part(s) of the paper would you like me to focus on? What do you see as
the paper’s strengths, and what areas are you unsure
I know that I didn’t
focus on why I hate reading for a class that much but I figured
that describing what happens to me is more personal and effective. I think my
descriptive parts of the paper are my strengths. I am unsure about the
introduction, just because I know that they don’t send people out of the room
in college. But right now I am taking that class and I still have a fear that I
will be sent out. Even though it is not necessary to read the material beforehand.
focus on why I hate reading for a class that much but I figured
that describing what happens to me is more personal and effective. I think my
descriptive parts of the paper are my strengths. I am unsure about the
introduction, just because I know that they don’t send people out of the room
in college. But right now I am taking that class and I still have a fear that I
will be sent out. Even though it is not necessary to read the material beforehand.
My notes that I am going to use for revising my blog are:
I will double space my essayFix some of my words by replacing them with other words similar to them.
I will be adding one more sentence to my conclusion.
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