• Details can make a paper go from mediocre to a great paper/ It is one thing to say, "Jane was late." It would be better to say, "Jane was late because she forgot her assignment at home and had to turn around to get it and hit traffic." Details often help to make your thoughts and ideas much clearer to the reader.
• Outside sources can help to back up a paper and give more interest to the reader when you either make comparisons or list differences in your essay. Sources show that the writer put time into their paper because they had to research the topic to find additional information.
• Word choice is helpful when a writer finds themselves repeating themselves constantly. When you find other words to use it can help one either be informal or formal throughout their paper.
• The thing most easiest for me while writing a paper is outside sources. I am good at finding things on the internet that can help back me up to make my essay stronger and more formal. The hardest thing for me is details. I feel that I can be more detailed if I tried, but I worry about ranting on or just saying things to add space to a paper.

Assignment #2- Generating Ideas

• I may discuss the very last paper I had to write in my English class at UIC. I signed up for the class only choosing it based on the time it was at to work into my schedule. I walked into the classroom the first day of class and the first question the professor asks is why we chose the topic of the course. I sat there confused because little did I know, each class had a set topic that you decide on when picking classes. Just my luck, no one raised their hand to answer the question so the professor turns and points to me, and I just stared unable to answer. I unknowingly chose the topic of gentrification in New York. Not only was I unfamiliar with New York, but i had no idea what the word gentrification even meant! 

• The pros for writing about this topic is that it happened very recently so I would be able to remember a lot about what happened that semester. Another pro is that I could find a way to make it comical or an interesting paper for my audience to read. A con is that not many people know about the gentrification of New York so I would have to explain in great detail about it. 

• Another possible topic is doing poorly in my English entrance exam into college. I got placed into a remedial English course that counted as no credit. I was frustrated because it would set me behind in completing my gen ed's and possibly set me back from graduating in four years. I worked hard and participated more than anyone in my class and ended up being qualified to jump to English 102. I was so thrilled that I would no longer be behind. I later decided to transfer from UIC to Northeastern, and because I jumped from a remedial English class into English 102 I had to retake English 101 because of transfer requirements. 

• I could show how even though I was embarrassed from being placed into a remedial course, with hard work I was able to prove how an entrance exam does not determine your intellect or who you are as a student. However, a con would be that it is confusing to an outsider because they might not understand how I completed English 102 and not 101. 

• Lastly, I'm considering writing about the very first time I created my own personal blog. At first, I thought that blogs were kind of weird and pointless. Then one of my good friends created a blog and I realized how fun and cute it could be. Having a blog liberated me and helped me to express myself with words and pictures, and I realized didn't have anything to feel embarrassed about. It is a lot more personal than Facebook and Twitter because I have control over how everything looks. 

• I could express how fun and liberated having a blog could be as a writer. Because it is on the internet, there is no proper way to write so you can write as one would speak in real life. A con would be not having enough information or story to complete the required 3-4 pages. 

Assignment #2

For our very first blog assignment, we were asked to describe why taking English 101 is important. It is a general requirement for the College of Education that we all take and pass this course. Even though it is just a Gen Ed, I can see why it would be a requirement for the college. English 101 helps to give us the tools and information we need in order to write papers at the college level. Personally, writing has never been one of my strengths in school so for me this course will be helpful so that I can be able to research different topics and be able to incorporate it into an essay with ideas and facts to back it up. One of my weaknesses that I've come across when writing is citing different works into my paper. Since I know this is a problem I can pay close attention in class during this topic and be sure to ask questions and take notes.


Lastly, another reason I believe that this course is important to take is because of our careers. I am hoping to become an Elementary School teacher and writing will be something I will encounter every single day. Whether I am making lesson plans, sending parents a news letter, or creating assignments, I will need to be able to not only be grammatically correct but also know how to write formally or maybe even informally if I need to relate to my younger students. Before I even get a teaching job though, I will need to learn how to sell myself on my resume and make sure it looks professional and formal. In conclusion, English 101 is important for all students to take because everyone can use help to improve their writing skills.