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classmates but the entire world to view. The paper is then commented on by the professor for the world to see and is almost instantaneous feedback on your work. The learning experience is very different in that you get to see how differently people see the world and how they express ideas so differently. I never saw or read a paper on any subject of another student when I took English in 1989. I think it was sad that we didn’t get to experience the different views on the subject matter and discuss them. I think the new way is a valuable learning tool as no one attacks the material the same way. I think it is frightening also to have people read your stuff though it motivates me to work harder. In the old days I wasn’t as motivated because only I would see the red pen marks and weeks later when I got my paper returned I might not even have cared about the results. I think the presentation in 2010 is teaching me more about writing even if it scares me to share my views with the world.
Well the type of work in 1989 and 2010 is as different as the Cindy I was then and the Cindy I am now. I did a compare and contrast essay and research paper but the subject was assigned and absolutely the subjects did not interest us or motivate us to share ourselves or our thought processes. I wonder how the professor read 60 copies of the paper on the same subject that no one cared about writing in the first place. I still am shocked in 2010 that we pick our own subjects, and use what we know to help us write. I feel like I’m in an alien world and for the Cindy I am now it is sometimes hard. It is easier sometimes to have set rules that you must write about a certain subject in 200 words. I see the difference is that yes it is harder but in English the first time I spent all my time focused on meeting the format. I would count the exact number of words and make my paper meet that number. I would follow all his rules of his format no matter how obtuse and not care about what the essay said or how I felt about the subject or how my experiences influenced the writing. I’m writing much better when I just jump into the alien world and write about things I’ve done or things I felt. I share part of who I am and I don’t count words or try to fit a format. I make complete sentences, mind my punctuation most of the time, and try to have a solid essay format. I think the old Cindy was excellent in English 101 in 1989 because I could make my writing match the format. I think the Cindy now is working hard on finding her voice, and enjoying the challenge though she occasionally misses the box that allows her more rules. I feel like I'm learning from others and about others. I fell more confident to try new ways of writing and exploring my freedoms of expression in written form.
The biggest difference I think is in the value of the work. In 1989 having to write an essay about a subject that made a professor happy didn’t necessarily make me happy or help me acquire better writing skills but I could do as I was told. I’m sure happiness was not his goal either and of course I tried to have all the parts like an introduction, supporting sentences and conclusion. I don’t think that was new from high school and I was a fairly good at spelling and grammar so I didn’t always use up all his ink. The stuff I wrote I despised and bored me to tears but I’m an expert at doing what I’m told. I think English in 2010 does teach us about intros, and outros and all the mechanics that make us good writers but it does so many more things. It allows us to stretch our boundaries. It makes us choose how we express ourselves while teaching us proper writing skills. It teaches us to apply what we know and new and creative ways. It makes us step out of our comfort zone and even in this online format it shockingly allows us to share parts of ourselves and interact with others. I learn a lot from reading and thinking about what all of you out there write. I learn new ways of looking at the same subject or format. I think stepping outside your box will help us in our careers. I think sharing with others and celebrating differences will help us with our interactions in our future jobs and relationships. I have not in 1989 nor now felt any value in researching how alcoholism is destroying society which was my assigned research