I am currently a freshman here at IUPUI and as a freshman I was very worried about this class. The reason why is because I took this same class my senior year but didn't receive the grade I wanted to. This W131 class is very different from the one I took and I honestly enjoyed this version then the last and not only did I enjoy it I learned a couple of strategies which I think strengthen the way I write. Over this semester I completed three writing projects which integrated strategies I learned in the class such as revising, having a target audience, and to read with greater confidence.
The first writing project was a bit challenging for me but after moving forward and learning new things I am able to go back to revise it and make the writing stronger. Revising has helped me improve my reading skills and analytic skills. I learned to challenge my own ideas, deepening and strengthening my argument. Doing these revisions helped me find my weaknesses in my writing.
Our first project had to do with watching a documentary of our choice that relates to our immersion experience. I chose to watch a psychology documentary called, "The Imposter" which told a tale of Frederic Bourdin who's a con artist that seemingly deceived a Texas family into believing he was their missing son. With watching this documentary I did other research, analyzing other articles that were commenting on the documentary to write my review. Doing this has improved my confidence in reading, writing. While writing the film review I had to think about who my audience were and write around that idea. This has helped shaped my writings and be more clearer.
These assignments throughout the semester was a bit challenging but has helped me use these sources and putting them into my writing. I can say that I learned much more than in highschool and as a bonus can say that I really enjoyed doing this. What I do want to add are skills that I still need improvement on. I want to improve my communication in my writing. I want to add more interesting details to make my writing even better. I want to improve on comprehension. I want my readers to be able tp read my writings without being confused and thinking they can't read on. Taking this class has helped me in several ways yet still need improvement. There's always room to improve and I'm okay with that.
This class has been the most challenging but enjoyable writing class I have taken while in school. I really appreciate the discussions and small assignments throughout this course. It has build my confidence sharing my ideas and writing and also receiving feedback from other peers instead of just receiving them from the teacher. This will not only help me share my work without feeling doubt but help with communicating professionally.
For this Multi-modal project, I have spent numerous hours trying to develop a page to feature my ENG 131 writings. I did my best to make making this website very organized but appealing for any of those interested in Psychology. The purpose of making this website was to share my eportfolio for any job that I want to get into in a more professional way but also to share with others my experience and hopefully get others more encouraged to learn about psychology. Making this site has helped me gain more creative ways in creating portfolios and different ideas I can do with my writings. It has gave me insight on how to make my writings more pleasing to read and they different ways to get readers attention.
I have never made a WIX website or anything like this. Once I got the notification of building a WIX website I was very confused and had some thoughts. I wasn't sure exactly what a WIX website was but I had a feeling that we were obviously going to make our own website but for what exactly? I wasn't too fond of the project. A part of me was somewhat excited but bummed because I thought it wasn't going to be fun and I wasn't going to have a lot of creative ideas. After getting into the site making I was actually having fun and it made me want to do more for whatever reason.
The very first thing I did to create this website was pick a simple template. The reason why was to become more familiar with the navigations and just making it easier on myself since it is my first time. I chose the Demi Watson design because it was highly recommended. I have added a home page that shows an overview of all of my projects but also a little introduction about myself to get an insight of why I'm making this website and how it'll help me in my future career. I made sure to insert buttons to take my readers directly to that certain writing project to make it easier for , not only myself, but readers to navigate instead of getting confused on what is what and how to get there.
After I added a few pages in the navigation bar and inserted my writings, I went back to revise and add images, videos, hyperlinks, etc. This really helped make the pages POP. The hyperlinks helps readers to get more information which directs them to a new webpage giving them that information on that specific topic. Adding in pull out quotes is a really good idea in this type of project. It gets the reader to read the most important text not once, but twice. This idea is to make sure the reader notes the important texts out of the writing and not overlook it.
Three Drafts of Writing Projects
Reflection draft
Multi-Modal draft
These crises, far from abating, seemed rather to increase. One day, while I was in the principal’s office, suddenly the room became enormous, illuminated by a dreadful electric light that cast false shadows. Everything was exact, smooth, artificial, extremely tense; the chairs and tables seemed models here and there…Profound dread overwhelmed me, and as though lost, I looked around desperately for help. I heard people talking, but I did not grasp the meaning of the words. The voices were metallic, without warmth or color. From time to time, a word detached itself from the rest. It repeated itself over and over in my head, absurd, as though cut off by a knife.”
I am mainly focusing on the mental health portion of psychology. As I took notes reading and doing my own research I found out how psychology came to be. According to the book (stated from above), Kurt Lewin, today known as the father of modern social psychology, was an influential psychologist. Lewin developed a theory inspired by Gestalt psychology that stressed the significance of individual personalities, interpersonal conflicts, and situational variables. By building upon Gestalt ideas and adapting them to human behavior, Kurt Lewin contributed to Gestalt psychology. He was also one of the first psychologist to examine human behavior systematically, shaping social, experimental, and personality psychology. He developed this simple formula, B=f(P+E+PE). This is used throughout the whole psychology field which means "that an individuals behavior (B) is a function (f) of the person (P), including their history, personality and motivation, and their environment (E), which includes both their physical and social surroundings (World of Work project)."
Psychology plays a big role in our lives especially our mental health. One may ask well what does psychology have to do with our mental health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. This all relates back to that formula (B=f(P+E+PE). People are believed to experience emotional difficulties when they hold irrational beliefs about self and the environment. As I'm sitting in my oversized bean bag chair, I lean back and think to myself. I have experienced multiple emotional difficulties, especially when it comes to school. I wouldn't necessarily say that I have fell under depression but close to it. Just being under so much stress really lowers my self-esteem and it just affects my everyday living. A couple of ways I do to handle my stress is exercise or listen to music.
In the past, mental health therapists dealt primarily with psychiatric disorders and the health problems that resulted from them. Their emphasis was less on individual variables such as motivation, emotional flexibility, and more on the mental illness symptoms exhibited. Mental disorders activate neural connections that trigger negative thinking, behavior and emotions. For disorders like schizophrenia and depression, cognitive behavioral therapy helps people recognize and alter negative or counterproductive patterns of thinking and actions, replacing them with more precise thoughts and practical behaviors. It can help an individual reflect on current issues and how to fix them. In the "real world" it requires learning new skills. I think that these therapies really make a difference in those who experience mental health issues. My relative has attended therapy for some years now and I can honestly say that she is doing a whole lot better with what had happened to her family in a tragic accident.