JJ's+Reflection


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

I enjoyed all of these situations where we were writing. The one that I enjoyed the most was with the small group that I wrote with for the Quest to the North. I enjoyed writing as a small group because not only did I get to see the way others wrote and have my ideas heard by others, I also got to know my self a little bit better as a writer in while writing with others.

2) What do you think was your best piece of work this year? Why? I feel my best work this year came near the end, Duri’s only scene where he was falling towards the ground in the final battle was one of my favorite things to write. It was awesome because I was able to pull the things out of the darkest parts of my mind and imagine what it would be like to be in that situation. Rather than Duri simply doing what he was told this was Duri’s first time to truly shine on his own. Because I was put in this place as a writer I feel like this one section of writing was the best I had done this year.  I struggled the most with getting going. In the beginning of the class I honestly had no idea what was going on. I was supposed to create a character, know everything about him, and then make it work. I started out a little worried. It was shortly after that point of, //oh my God what am I doing here?// That was when I truly got to see why I was actually here. Mac and Eric with nothing to do decided we would be going on a quest. At first I wondered what a quest was. It would be in this quest that my character would develop himself, and without knowing it I would develop a little bit as well.
 * 1) What did you struggle the most with in this class? Why?

Duri started off as a small man who’s only goal in life was to work. By the end of the year Duri had become a small person who held the titles of two great regions. In my character sheet we learn that Duri was destined to become a king of some sort. By the end of the year that dream had inadvertently become a reality.
 * 1) Reflect about your character and region. How did your character change over the course of the year? (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 entered mid year as a group of three, yet today I am the only one of those //ad-ons// who remained. I am actually not sure why. Maybe the **writing** in creative writing is what scared them away, actually I am pretty sure that was it. For next year I would suggest less devious chats in hallways and more group discussions, Rather than the class wide writing turning into a scream fest I would like to see it set up as a discussion where everyone has a chance to get their ideas in.
 * 1) What suggestions do you have for this course for next year?

In this class the teacher is a kind hearted friend, she shares the love of writing and even instills it at some points. But where she shares and instills, she was also there at some points to keep the peace. When I first enrolled I thought this would be a strictly run class with Mrs. Doughty handing out rules for exactly how things were to happen, yet by the end of the year I noticed that it was not indeed true and Mrs. Doughty was actually little more than a fellow writer to the class. And well... I will miss her. Madame Cho the great friend to all driven by Mrs. Doughty.
 * 1) How do you see the role of the teacher in this class?

For next year I would like to see more character centered pieces, I feel like for me it was hard to get to know Duri for a while. I think a game or something like that where the writer must think like that character would be a cool way to get the year started. As well as character involvement it would be nice to get a little more region involvement. I would like to see less confusion and more inclusion, with the final battle it felt like most of the class spent quite a few days sitting back and watching. Were it not for Duri’s leap of faith ;) I fear I would have met the same dilemma.
 * 1) What would you like to see MORE of or LESS of in this class for next year?