a new year, a new experience

Although I did not take ENC 1101, I took AP Language and Composition my junior year and AP Literature my senior year. I got a 3 on both AP final exams and the Lang test gave me credit for ENC 1101. A 4 on the Lit exam would have given me 1102 credit but unfortunately I came up just a bit short. However, I did gain a great deal of experience and learned a lot from those two courses during the last couple years of high school. AP Lang helped get me into reading more as we dove into classics like the Great Gatsby and Their Eyes Were Watching God as well as one of my personal favorites, The Kite Runner. Free reading book report assignments were given as well, reinforcing the importance of reading constantly. Additionally we covered several different types of essays and worked on developing the skills necessary to write them. AP Lit was very similar in structure to AP Lang, however the writing was less mechanical. Encouraged to write less analytically I was forced to extend myself. The experience showed me how much I enjoy writing when I sit down and actually do it. I have since found a passion for it and look forward to continually developing my writing in the future.

As for ENC 1102, I have heard mixed reviews. Many have told me it’s a very easy course, while others contrastingly say it requires a great deal of work and dedication. Based on what I’ve heard combined with the syllabus and what we’ve gone over in the first week, I feel that its not going to be an easy course, but as long as I am willing to work hard and stay on top of my assignments I should be able to find success in the class. Regardless of what I think about it, I realize by the end of the semester I am going to have put it a lot of time, effort, and work and have no doubt I will have learned a great deal.

I have high expectations for myself this semester, and ENC 1102 is no exception. My hope is that I will be able to continue to refine my writing skills and improve my overall diversity as a writer. As I continue to write papers for other classes and this one, I trust that this course will improve my writing ability in many ways. I also look forward to putting more color into my writing. The English language is a beautiful thing and does not need to always be maintained within the black and white boundaries college classes often require. Personally I know that I feel comfortable and safe within those boundaries and rarely allow myself to use my imagination. Hopefully through this course I will be able to let my mind open up more to writing the creative styles, techniques and ideas that I have so often limited myself to in the past. These things and more should ultimately lead to a great semester in this class.