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Alex Paquette

May 12, 2019


McFadden
Synthesis Essay
I began this class like any other new class—having little to no expectations for what is to come
beyond what former students have passed on. I heard this class was like no other and would be one of the
hardest, most frustrating classes I would ever take. Though this statement does hold true, it was not a full
and complete representation of the class. This English class challenged me beyond what I had originally
thought possible. It taught me skills and life lessons that are more valuable than any grade I received.
Likewise, it showed me that my identity is not rooted in the grade I receive and that every grade, whether
it be good or bad, can teach a lesson and be learned from. So I wish someone would have told me this
“though this class is challenging and at times frustrating you will come out a better, more knowledgeable
person gaining priceless skills both in and out academia.” I can wholeheartedly agree to every word of
this statement and though this was not its intended purpose, I began enjoying English as a subject. As a
result of this class and the work assigned within it, I have learned how to attack any and all situations, ask
purposeful questions to receive the answers I need and do what it takes to be successful.
The first semester was centered around preparing us as a class with the needed skills to be
successful. This was illustrated immediately. In unit one we began the class with diagnostic’s such as the
synthesis diagnostic. Though these did not hold any graded weight, as aforementioned, what was learned
from it was far superior. I personally learned that I lacked structure when it came to writing and it was
only through the diagnostic breakdown that I was able to see this. I was then taught how to write a
successful synthesis paper and what the expectations going forward would be. The rest of the first
semester was no different. Unit two showed me the skills needed to interact with others both inside of
class and out. Through this, I learned that I viewed the world around me, as well as, the people on a
surface level. For this reason, I began analyzing the world on a deep, more critical level. This was applied
in the “A New Perspective” assignment. I was challenged to sit down with someone I thought I knew and
learn about who they truly are and what makes us different. Unit Three extended this a step further. It also
gave me the tools to attack assignments through things such as the “annotated outline.” In each of these
situations, I grew as a person overall and though the minute skills I learned in each were different the
bigger picture remained the same. I learned more about myself and who I am, as well as, how to attack
each assignment different and how to better prepare myself to be successful; how to ask questions to
understand what was expected and what I could do to better myself going forward; and how to continue
doing what I need to, to be successful. However, my growth did not stop there.
The second semester was when the training wheels came off. It was now time to apply what I had
previously learned and grow on my own much like you would in the real world. Though it may have been
mentioned at the beginning of the semester, this was something I learned in unit four. Overall, during the
second semester, the biggest thing I learned about myself was that I lacked strong communication skills to
work well with a partner outside of class. Each of these three units within this semester all included
assignments that challenged this deficit of mine. These included in class task lists, dialectical journals,
and group written constructed responses. Each time we worked as a group I was able to grow stronger in
an area I knew I was lacking, and much like last semester, I learn a lot about myself and continued to
grow because I had already been given all the skills needed to succeed. It was through the application of
these skills that I felt comfortable using them and became more independent. Furthermore, during this
English class, there were also assignments given that did not fall into a unit category.
These assignments taught me that I am a naturally stressful person and that stress is not a step in
attacking a problem. During the IRP readings, for example, I was already given a large workload, not to
mentioned the added assignments that would follow. I would then become very stressed over the fact that
I thought I could not accomplish all of this at once. However, I applied what I had learned and attacked
this situation like any other, one step at a time. For this reason, I not only learned that stress is not a step
in attacking a problem, but that I am capable of so much more than I thought. It was only throughout of
unit assignments that forced me to time manage and work harder than I ever had before that I was able to
see this.
Since the beginning of the semester, all of these skills have grown tremendously. I have become
more confident in my writing and now have a new perspective on English, as well as, life. I learned that
everything has a purpose, and though it may be unknown at the time it is truly evident later when looking
back. This is a class I will never forget and from the challenges, I was able to learn a lot about myself.
This is what I feel aided in the immense amount of growth I experienced. I also learned skills within this
class that will be ones I use for the rest of my life to help me succeed no matter what the task at hand is.

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