Final draft

Here is my final draft
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Af6i16cwRwAqZGNwM3I1a2JfNWRmbmhjNWRx&hl=en

The Semester is Almost Over?

I vividly remember my first few weeks at the University of Louisville. Most of the time I felt like I was trapped on a treadmill that was at full speed. I kept up, but just barely. Now that finals week is upon us, I cannot believe that it is already over. As I begin to look back over the semester, I recognize how much I’ve learned and grown as a student. This class played a major role in that development. Rewriting by Joseph Harris helped me strengthen my writing in many ways. My research became more focused, because I began to use the techniques he discusses, especially ‘taking an approach’. I’ve been able to comprehend and apply the texts I read on a deeper level. My revisions have also improved dramatically. In high school, I proofread and edited countless papers, but I never really learned how to revise. Now, I understand that when revising you have to deal with thoughts and concepts that make up the paper, not just the wording. I also really enjoyed studying the news sphere. Before this class I rarely paid attention what was going on in the world. I have enjoyed learning how stories form and develop. I am more interested in current events and how they affect me than I have ever been before. Reading blogs and articles also helped me put things into perspective. I remember following a story in the Times about a reporter who was held captive in Afghanistan for almost ten months. It made my Chinese test seem pretty insignificant. I remember thinking to myself that if people can cope with imprisonment and tragedy around the world than I can surely pass my test. My views on writing and what it means to be a writer has also changed. Before I took this course, I thought that blogging was a form of online whining. After reading the Daily Dish and other blogs, I have a new appreciation for blogging. It is a great form of expression, a new form of writing that is virtually instantaneous. One writer can reach thousands of people in a matter of minutes. It is a revolutionary way of communication that in many ways transcends nationality, race, and age. I have learned a lot about writing and reading in this course, and it will continue to affect the rest of my academic career.