Caleb's+Reflection

Which did you enjoy the most: writing on your own, small group writing or whole class writing? Why?

My personal favorite had to be group writing as a whole class, simply because of the fact that with google doc’s it was as so simple writing and getting together, plus it added the feeling that if you mess up writing or with spelling than you have someone there to correct you and help you. Another reason I really liked the group writing is that it made me feel more immersed in the story, and with google doc’s and the chat boxes, we didn’t have to all be in the same class to get together and build a world together, or share witty banter about the story, it was all very conductive, even though I won’t lie, I would occasionally get caught up in all of it, but overall I felt that writing as a whole class was a great and fun experience that I would gladly do again.

What do you think was your best piece of work this year? Why?

My personal opinion on my best piece of work probably had to be my character’s first quest, as it allowed me to fully develop a character that I would spend the rest of the class narrating and evolving until I had the character just where I wanted it. Another reason I loved the first quest so much is because it allowed me to explore and create my characters origin, and get to “know them better” by actually creating said character, and their history and previous experiences in the world we created as a group. My final reason for liking the first quest so much is the level of independence I was given with something that could greatly influence later events in the class based on what I did with the character, and even though this goes against my first answer on which form of writing I liked most, I still love the level of independence I was given.

What did you struggle the most with in this class? Why?

No doubt the thing I struggled with most was creating Nathan (my character), as it was so hard to create something perfect, as I’m sure many people would feel the urge to do in this class, and then have to throw flaws of the characters into the mix, not only to make them more interesting and captivating, but to make them more human and relatable. Another reason making my character was so difficult is because when you turn it in, at the end of the day it is an assignment that all your classmates are going to look at and criticize, so you feel it is very important to get your character just were you want them as a “person”. The reason you want to get your character perfect is not only because of your classmates, but because of yourself, as you put a little of yourself into your character, and you want to covey the idea of your character perfectly, but that is nigh impossible to do, so you just have to be satisfied with what you can do.

Reflect about your character and region. How did your character change over the course of the year (or semester)? (You may want to look at your original character ideas). Did you like how it came out? What could you have improved or changed? What would you have needed in order to improve or change it?

I feel that as a character Nathan retained a lot of the traits he had at the start of the coarse, but overtime because more cautious and hardened by his environment, and matured as a character in the sense that he was now concerned with the actions of others (namely his ally’s), and showed more emotion whereas before he was a cold, “lone wolf” of a character, but when he joined a group he was forced to recognize that he did have teammates who’s actions were just as important as his own. As for my region, which was made by my classmate Dakota Arsenault (no relation), I felt it was the perfect setting for the story of Nathan Clarke, and I likely would have came up with a location very similar to Esperia, had Dakota not done it first.

What suggestions do you have for this course for next year?

My best suggestion is that this coarse shouldn’t be a half year coarse as an option, this coarse needs time and attention that a half year coarse just doesn’t allow. I feel that it isn’t because of any of the classmates I shared the class with, nor the teacher, but simply the fact that the work is somewhat demanding in the fact that you are literally building a location and a character inhabiting said location. That’s asking quite a bit, and takes quite a bit of time, so by the time thats done you are pretty much just trying to make sure that your character makes frequent appearances, stays relevant, and that your location and character capture the attention of any readers, all while trying to make sure the character stays true to themselves and fits into the journey you are writing.

How do you see the role of the teacher in this class?

I see the role of the teacher as that of one of the students in a way, and visa versa, as the goal of both the teacher and students in this class is to build a character and location, and then go from there, while helping those around you (which is certainly more the teacher than the students), and I feel that both the teacher and student can learn and benefit from this class.

What would you like to see MORE of or LESS of in this class for next year?

Nothing, I feel that this class was greatly balanced, the one thing I feel I would change again is probably not making this a half year coarse, and keep it a full year coarse.