Reflecting On My Progress

• Looking back at my first blog post, I believe that I am making great progress and achieving the goals that I wanted to complete at the beginning of the semester. I wanted to improve my vocabulary and writing as well, and I feel that I am following that road completely.
• I feel that the peer editing of our essays have helped me a lot and that it is very beneficial. Once I write a paper, I believe that it is near perfect until someone peer edits it. They point out things that I hadn't noticed, and that really helps. I tend to write a paper all in one sitting, instead of breaking it apart because I feel I get lost and leave myself hanging. So since I do that, its hard to reread a bunch of pages over and over to find mistakes, after I spent two hours doing the essay. My brain gets fried, and having someone point out my mistakes is refreshing. I feel like I learn more.
• I really like this English class, but I would like to have more homework. Even though most college students would think that was stupid, I think it'll help. Especially since our essays are pulled apart so far, this helps to keep things in mind still. Last time I completed my final draft two weeks before it was due, and even though we still talked about the topic, I felt disconnected because since I completed the paper, there was no reason for me to actually still think about the discussions. Having more assignments would really help to keep students focused more, and not to space out during lectures.
• I believe my writing progress have stayed the same since the beginning of the semester. I like to think of myself as a decent writer, and therefore I stick to my way of writing. I try to change it up sometimes, so I was rather happy when we got to use our opinions on the first essay that was done. Usually, we are told to just talk of the facts, that it is a strict paper, but to actually be allowed to talk about our thoughts was interesting. I really hope I get to write more papers like that in my future classes.
• I believe my writing has improved slightly since the beginning of the semester. Having more experience with using outside sources can always improve, and using the database was actually kind of fun. I have a nerdy side when it comes to English class, so I don't mind writing research papers and learning all there is to know.

Joining The Conversation

There are two points that involve the thought as to whether a bachelor's degree is worth it or not at all. Some believe that there are other ways to get a good job rather then having to spend another four years in school right after graduating high school. Because some sources will provide helpful information for alternative routs, people begin to undermine the actual significance of a bachelors degree, when in actuality, it is worth it. It is shown statistically that a bachelors degree will help to win someone a job upon complition of the four years, and that that person is going to make a bigger salary while working. Schooling isn't for everyone, but it is proven that it is a good choice when it comes to wanting to make more money and to gain a job that one is actually interested in.

Are Four Year Degrees Worth It?

People now in days are confused at to whether they believe a college degree at all is a
good one. Because of the cost of college and how much time it takes to pursue a
greater education, people don't think that it is worth it. I do, in fact believe that a
college education is worth while. Since I am currently a college student, I know the
pros and cons about getting this education and how much money this will take. Loans
are what gets me through the payments, which I know in the end will cost more for
me to pay them back. But because I am studying for a bachelors degree, that will help
me to get a job faster and be able to actually pay off the debts and loans that I owe.
Sitting in school for a whole four years wasn't what I had in mind after graduating high
school, but after I looked around at other kids my age with nothing to do with their life,
I knew that I didn't want to be like them. I wanted to better myself and with a degree I
know I have a better chance at getting a better career, easier and have my life set.
Because money is a big factor, it helps me to not want to pursue my education, but when
realizing that I will evenutally make enough to pay it off, it doesn't bother me as much
as some of my fellow students.

Practice Summarizing

One thing that I feel strongly about is the act of abortion and how I think it should not be allowed. I believe that some people abuse this, both killing the child growing inside them, as well as hurting themselves repeatedly. They need to learn how to use birth control or other means of protection from getting pregnant, rather then going to get an abortion. There are other options as well as adoption if they wont want to keep the baby, rather then murder. The only exception to this is if a woman is engaged in sexual intercourse without her consent, or in other words raped, and doesn’t want the baby for the fact of them not wanting the sex in the first place. If it is too painful for them to carry the baby around for 9 months, then I can see the reason as to abort them. But then again, that is killing and it is not the child’s fault for his or her parents action. It depends on the individual, but I for one do not agree.

Other people believe in free will and abortion should be remained legal. They think that it is the mothers choice, to abort the child if they are not ready. Although there are other means of not getting pregnant in the first place as I said before, or to give the baby up, people still insist that an abortion is easier and faster then having to carry the child around. Free will and the individuals beliefs is what truly matters to these people, not thinking that the baby should have a choice this early on. They may see the negative side of killing a child off, but people keep having abortions and as long as they keep going, it’s never going to go away.