1) I think this project was very challenging for me because, I had a seeming heavy work load. I probably think this because I rarely read on my own anymore. It was interesting having to balance the work and reading. Sometimes it was hard hating to articulate my feelings about quotes that I felt were important and the writing cam out sounding forced, yet sometimes I felt like I explained myself very well. The book I read was very descriptive, like The Great Gatsby, and I found it challenging to keep up and understand the passages. The emotional sections were very difficult to keep reading, because they would effect me, and I would have to take breaks. The experience of reading the book was well worth the time I spent reading and annotating it.
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2) The easiest part of the project was the potluck and the Banned Book Video. The potluck only took a morning of preparation and was very fun to make. I also think there could have been a large gap in creativity in this section even though I didn't express it. Not everyone has a talented parent, like my mom, to help them cook for your school. If I didn't have my mom to help me I probably would have brought a much more bland food. Tortellini was definitely a good option. The video was harder to make, but I easily videoed it the night before. I think the hardest part was trying to compact all of the information I wanted to explain into a smaller video. I had many messed up takes, and definitely a weird camera angle, but It still didn't take as much effort as the other work done in this project.
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3) The video was strange to try and create. I found myself sitting in front of a camera repeatedly clicking the start button and making mistakes, then restarting. I wasn't very comfortable talking to the camera, and it took concentration to not ramble about my book. the hardest part during filming the video was trying not to speak in monotone or having a lack of emotion in my speech. The many takes became very frustrating. I was about to finish an organized well explained take, but my mother started yelling at me to do the trash. This video would never be seen by anyone while I'm alive. It would look extremely unprofessional and embarrassing. I didn't enjoy listening to my voice playing back to myself, and the awkward ways I would try to explain my story.
4)I didn't receive any feedback to help me improve my work; I just tried to make each book response better than the last. We didn't really use time in class to give feedback in class.
5)Like I said before, I wasn't told that we were supposed to give or get feedback. The only time we talked about our logs in class was when we had to choose a partner and discuss the first entry. We weren't given the chance for feedback. I didn't know it was required.
6) I read my book whenever I had time during school days, when I finished homework, and during weekends, hour and a half a day. At first the book was confusing in its description, but I found a pattern in the writing. From this I was able to see more themes in the writing, like when it was describing actions, the characters feelings, and narration. I had finished my book a week before the due date and was a little disappointed by the story's build up, then anticlimactic ending. I just didn't feel like socialism was the answers to all of Jurgis's questions. I understand that most of the book is a metaphor for showing that capitalism is corrupt, but "The Jungle" could have worked to a better ending.
7) I think I deserve an A because I spent the time and effort working on this project to get it. I believe this project was one of my most dedicated pieces of work I have done, because I was constantly immersed in the Book, and its ideas. The amount of thought that put into the text in the book was much more than any other I have read. I don't necessarily enjoy reading, so when I became interested in this book I was surprised. I usually don't find interest in literature. I made sure I spilled my feelings into the reading logs and tried to put as many of my thoughts down.
8) If I could change anything in the project, I would implement more class time for peer critique. I do feel like this is an important part of making better work.
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