Analytical Reflection

Learning Process 1 & Outcome 1

I understood that I wanted to deliver an experience that went beyond just text—something where people could feel what I was feeling when I was writing it. With the help of a good friend who's a great web developer, we coded a website together. Even though I took AP computer science in high school, it was much harder than I expected and took four times as long as I thought it would. I also realized editing audio was way more complicated than I anticipated, so I reached out to another friend who has audio experience.

This whole process taught me that it's okay to ask for help when you need it, and actually, getting help lets you learn even more. I could have struggled alone, but collaborating made the final product better and taught me skills I never would have developed on my own.

Outcome: I created a website with audio components that could be experienced through multiple senses—listening, seeing, and reading. The portfolio became something people could navigate and interact with rather than just read.

Learning Process 2 & Outcome 2

Through workshop sessions, I definitely became better at showing rather than telling. When I compare my older pieces to the newer ones, I give much more concrete examples instead of just explaining concepts. I also picked up a lot more technical terms to bring to my next cocktail party.

What really helped was hearing my professor and classmates explain their thought processes—both when they discussed their own work and when they gave feedback. Learning by watching others give live feedback taught me to be a more analytical reader. I used to read texts almost blindly or heavily based on my gut feeling, but now I can't unsee elements like the concreteness versus abstractness scale or Vonnegut's storyline theory. I especially like identifying the turning points in texts now.

The workshop sessions also exposed me to different cultural perspectives through my peers' writing. Pieces with historical references to the Soviet Union and the Holocaust gave me a more European view of these events. I'd only gotten the US version of history before, so hearing from people whose relatives have been directly impacted by conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine War helped me understand how these conflicts actually affect families. I wouldn't say my views dramatically shifted, but being in this class increased my awareness of world events and my own underlying biases.

Reading Jamaica Kincaid's "A Small Place" was a perfect example of this. I'd never really thought critically about vacation destinations before, but now I consider viewpoints and interests beyond my own. It definitely showed me the other side of traveling.

Outcomes: I became a better, more knowledgeable world citizen and a more intentional reader who approaches texts with actual analytical tools.

Learning Process 3 & Outcome 3

I went above and beyond to get more knowledge from Professor Thomas about writing structurally sound poems. According to workshop feedback and my own reflection, I realized I was writing pieces that were emotionally compelling but structurally all over the place. I needed to learn how to write pieces that considered format alongside content.

Professor Thomas recommended I read "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg after I went up during break to ask more questions about poem structure. I was genuinely curious about how to organize poetry better, and that book was really interesting to study. This whole experience taught me that just going up, asking questions, and being genuinely inquisitive when you're confused is one of the best ways to learn.

Outcome: I became a more professional writer who understands how to structure poems and organize my ideas more effectively rather than just writing emotionally and hoping it works.