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Strengths in writing classes
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This unit, the major analysis essay was based on the book, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. The class has spent many weeks preparing for this essay by reading the book and analyzing it, both at home and in class. Writing the Things Fall Apart literary analysis essay allowed me to check up on my strengths and weaknesses and discover what I have improved on or have ceased to improve on in my writing. My essay was an example of my current strengths and weaknesses in English classes, because of the complexity of the prompt. By writing this essay, I have determined some of my strengths in my writing. In this essay, my main strength is grammar. Back in middle school, my English classes always focused on grammar, so I learned the proper way …show more content…
As I wrote my Things Fall Apart analysis essay, some of the writing just came easy to me. Writing the conclusion was the easiest part of the essay because it allowed me to wrap up my thoughts. I was able to summarize what I had written and finish the essay, which I had learned how to do a long time ago. However, some parts of the essay caused me difficulties and I struggled to accomplish them. Coming up with my thesis statement was very difficult. Even though I had an understanding of the gender roles, it was a struggle for me to connect them to the deeper meaning of the book as a whole. This caused me to have to rewrite my thesis multiple times before writing the rest of the essay. The socratic seminars, however, were the main lesson that helped me to understand the meaning of the book slightly better than I had before. Eventually, with the help of my knowledge from the socratic seminars, I was able to come up with a proper thesis …show more content…
For the Things Fall Apart literary analysis essay specifically, my word choice and grammar have improved. Even though my word choice is changing in minimal amounts, it is improving as time goes on. My grammar has also improved as I develop a better understanding of how punctuation and words work together in sentences. Even though I have improved in some ways as a writer, there are some parts where I have stayed stagnant. I am stagnant in my vocabulary and finding the deeper meaning of figurative language. Even though we have learned new vocabulary, most of the words do not fit easily in my writing, especially if it does not relate to the topic. As for figurative language, I have always had trouble discovering the “deeper meaning” behind what the author is trying to say, which causes problems when I have to write papers about it. I have always seen novels as more black-and-white, with only the surface meaning existing. This has yet to improve, because it is difficult to try and make me think differently than I always
In Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, Mr. Brown, the first missionary in Umuofia, was a kind and respectful man. Not to say that Reverend James Smith was not, but his degree of kindness and respect were present in a whole different level. They both wanted to convert the lost, all those in Umuofia that were not in the church. Mr. Brown made friends with the clan and “trod softly on his faith,” (pg.178) while Mr. Smith told them how things were in a harsh voice and tried to force his religion on the people of Umuofia. The impacts the two had on the people and the church were exact opposites.
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart the life of a man named Okonkwo and the tribe of Umuofia is depicted in three chapters which each represent a significant era in the tribe. In the first chapter, Achebe describes the life of the native African tribe before the coming of the white man. This chapter enables the reader to understand and respect the life of the Igbo. The second chapter describes the beginnings of colonialism and introduction of the white man. Suddenly, the Igbo way is questioned. The natives lives are turned upside down as they search for a way to understand the new religion and laws of the Europeans. The third chapter describes the effect of colonialism on the Igbo tribe. This section explores the many ways which the Igbo people try to adapt to the new society. From the suicide of Okonkwo to the abandonment by other tribe members, it becomes apparent how difficult it was for the African’s to adjust to the change. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness tells of an English man named Marlow and his journey into the Congo and interest in a colonist named Kurtz. Marlow is the narrator of the novel. He describes the natives and the Europeans from a somewhat objective view. He finds colonialism questionable, but also cannot relate to the Africans. Kurtz is the antagonist who exploits the Africans to make money by selling ivory and subsequently goes insane. Both novels depict the colonization of Africa, but each has a markedly different perspective on the African’s lives which were irreparably altered when Europeans came to conquer their land and convert them to Christianity.
Regardless of all of these improvements, I know my writing is still far from perfect. My arguments still lack the emotional appeal that, if present, would make my audience consider my arguments a lot faster. My analysis still lack development because often times I just state what happens instead of explaining why. In general, I need to work on controlling my voice and tone throughout an entire essay, which can be fixed if I choose my words more carefully to make sure my diction is uniform. Despite all of this, I am satisfied with myself, I am satisfied with the ways my writing has changed, with the way my writing skills have grown. Why? Because I am learning, and I know that I will continue improving as long as I take chances.
My development as a writer has flourished throughout this semester. The first week of this fall semester started out with writing responses from our readings in the textbook. Looking back through and analyzing my reading responses at the semester to now; I noticed a substantial improvement in not only my grammar skills, but also my summarizing, and in-depth studying of writing adeptness. Another way I have progressed this semester is the vocabulary of my writing has significantly improved and become more scholarly. Another advancement I noticed was that the content of my work has matured, along with my organizational adeptness.
In life people are very rarely, if ever, purely good or evil. In novels authors tend not to create characters with an obvious moral standing not only to make their novel more applicable to the reader, but also to make the characters more complex and dynamic. Chinua Achebe uses this technique to develop the characters in his novel, Things Fall Apart. The main character, and protagonist in the novel, Okonkwo, is very morally dynamic showing some sensitivity to his family and friends, but in an attempting to rebel against his father, Okonkwo also exhibits the tendency to lash out violently.
Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart is a narrative story that follows the life of an African man called Okonkwo. The setting of the book is in eastern Nigeria, on the eve of British colonialism in Africa. The novel illustrates Okonkwo?s struggles, triumphs, and his eventual downfall, all of which basically coincide with the Igbo?s society?s struggle with the Christian religion and British government. In this essay I will give a biographical account of Okonwo, which will serve to help understand that social, political, and economic institutions of the Igbos.
As my English 101 class comes to an end, I have realized how much I have transformed as a writer. In this essay, I am going to explain what I realized my strengths and weaknesses are as a writer and how they have manifested themselves throughout the quarter. I was skeptical at first coming into this class knowing that English takes formidable work and dedication, but I am very proud of the progress I have made. We completed a great deal of work throughout the quarter; from grammar exercises, summary reviews, and two challenging essays. Throughout the quarter I found myself improving in each category. As a writer, my skills and confidence have developed into more clarity and thought, something I have always wanted to be, as a result of a well constructed class that led to a superb educational experience.
In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, Achebe tells the story of an indigenous man, named Okonkwo, and his surroundings in an Ibo village in Nigeria. Through the use of gender roles, traditional and cultural aspects, the author explores how the environment around Ezinma, one of Okonkwo’s daughter, shapes her moral traits. Throughout the novel, Achebe illustrates the ways culture affects characters and their qualities, which reveals the struggles one may face when considering change and is forced to break the tradition. Through the use of traditional aspects, the author reveals that in The Village of Umuofia, women were seen as the weak gender. Throughout the novel, Ezinma is treated with more privileges than the children around her, which made her develop a level of confidence that was not the expected behavior of a girl in her traditional community.
One more culture lost Colonization once again erases another culture. Colonization is taking control over the indigenous people of an area. This can be seen in the novel, Things Fall Apart, the village Umofia is colonized by the Europeans and their institutions are lost and new are brought upon. In Things Fall Apart, the Europeans dismantled the Ibo structure by replacing their judicial system, religion, and education.
In life, people of different gender or ethnicity are segregated based on just their physical features, and no one pays attention to the outcome. Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart incorporates many aspects of the Ibo culture into this novel. This novel shows how one village moves through life from the aspect of where it can be productive or harmful. One of the highest ranking leaders of the Village of Umuofia, Okonkwo has a family of many wives and children. Okonkwo goes through thriving in the village into falling to the bottom of the pyramid, as he becomes exiled.
Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe takes place in the 19th century, during the pre and post European imperial era. It is based on the Igbo civilization, traditionally known as traders, farmers and craftsmen with a great social organization. Their culture was rich with traditions with a great emphasis on justice and fairness.
In every culture there are universals, these are the building blocks to the foundation of a society. Universals dictate how the people who live in the culture interact with one another. Things Fall Apart is set in Umuofia, Africa(now Nigeria) and makes observations on the cultural universals of the Igbo people which are much different from the Zulu people another african tribe who live in Zulu(now South Africa.) We can further understand other societies ways of life by making observations about these natives rituals, supernatural beliefs and gender roles within the society.
There are multiple frames of reference through which to look at the world, but the differing views may often lead to tension and conflict. In Achebe’s book, Things Fall Apart, Achebe symbolizes the tragic fate of the Igbo culture as it was encountered by Western missionaries that had a skewed perception that the Igbo population is a primitive society. The different perspectives identified by the clash of the two cultures is emphasized in Achebe’s article, named An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’, to justify himself in order to remove racial stereotype present in the novel. Furthermore, although Igbo culture is perceived to be primitive by the Western Civilization, Uchendu’s article, The Igbo World, discusses the
Strengths and Weaknesses Throughout the Mid-SEE I have written reflections on my writing and participated in group activities. I have received comments from my peers and suggestions to help with revising my paper. With the help of my professor, Professor Church and my classmates, I was able to comprehend their suggestions to me to make my essay better and by revising my classmate’s essays, I was able to point out mistakes that I might have made in my essay, which made me go back to my essay and check and see if I had mistakes that just flew by my eyes. I have come to understand what my strengths and weaknesses are in my writings. What I tend to do wrong in my papers is trying to get the topic to stay on the topic throughout the paper.
Looking through my past submissions and pieces of work throughout this past semester, I have made many realizations in regards to my progress as an English student. Through re-reading my writing, and reviewing the feedback I have received on my writing, I can recognize my growth as an English student. In addition to realizing my growth, I am also able to see a lot of areas that still need work. This past semester I have faced many challenges, I have pushed myself to go outside of my comfort zone, and I have excelled in several areas. After analyzing my past works from this semester, I have identified many re-occurring strengths and weaknesses from each unit, as well as challenges and goal assessments for myself in the future.