English 12 Writing: Self- Reflection

Curricular Response

Explain how this paragraph reflects both the strengths and the weaknesses in your writing. For example, what in this paragraph is good writing that you will continue make sure you do, and then what about this paragraph is something you might change in order to improve your writing.

I was not proud of my first attempt at this paragraph so when we were given the opportunity to revise it I gladly accepted. My strongest features of this piece are the phrase flow and concise wording. I believe that once I started editing my original work I focused heavily on those elements to build a strong paragraph. I am constantly trying to implement these components into my writing because I feel that they appropriately pull a piece together. If there was anything I would consider a weakness in this piece it would be my generalization and how it connects to the topic. I am happy with how I structured the generalization however, it does not directly flow into rest of the write. Overall I am quite pleased with my work and will try to take what I have learned from it into my next writing piece.

Core Competency Self Reflection

Think generally about you and writing: describe what writing is like for you? easy? Hard? Why is it easy or hard? Or what specific parts are easy or hard? Or what kinds of writing is easier or more enjoyable for you than others? Do you write outside of a formal school situation? How ? when? What is that like?

For as long as I can remember, writing has always been a powerful way of showcasing my thoughts, emotions, and ideas. I would never say that writing is an easy task for me because more often than not I do struggle to find the words I want to express myself. I struggle to overcome this, but I recognize that this challenge is a common aspect of the creative process. Embracing this difficulty allows me to refine and clarify my thoughts, pushing me to explore other ways to communicate my ideas effectively. However, when I am talking about a topic I am interested or connected to I notice how smoothly the words flow. I prefer creative writing where you have more freedom rather than heavily structured paragraphs because I feel I am able to be more innovative. I try to grow and advance my writing skills by editing my pieces a lot as well as reading books. I have found that when I read more my brain is quicker at building sentences and detecting strong word choices. As I continue on in life I want to take these strategies and techniques with me to continuously improve my writing.

Law – Criminal Law Inquiry Project

For this project, we had to create an inquiry question based on issues relevant to Criminal Law in Canada. We had to research our chosen question, explain why it was an issue worth conducting an inquiry about, and find evidence to back up our information. Then we were told to find solutions to our original question, explain whether these solutions were reasonable or not, and research other factors involved.

Core Competency Reflection

I can analyze evidence to make judgements. This project pushed me to strengthen this core competency because I was constantly having to analyze evidence and information. I believe I used a rational judgement to uncover relevant evidence to create a project I am proud of.

I can reflect on my thinking. By reflecting on my ideas I was able to take my project and edit it after I was finished to perfect and consolidate my ideas.

I can inquire into and present on topics of interest and topics related to my studies. I demonstrated this core competency by picking an inquiry question to research that was of interest to me as well as relevant to Criminal Law in Canada. My question of “what can prisons do to reduce recidivism” was very enticing and forced me to use my critical thinking skills.

I can persevere with challenging tasks and take ownership of my goals, learning and behavior. I found that creating an argument with strong evidence was a much more challenging task then originally anticipated. However, I was able to organize my thoughts and take ownership of my ideas to create a project that dove deep into my inquiry question.

I can tell the difference between facts and opinions. Going forward I would like to work more on this core competency and be able to differentiate the two better. I will do this by analyzing and rereading articles if I am not positive on its content.

Core Competency Reflection: Personalized Tile

Communication

This is how I select images and words to create an impact for different audiences: My choices regarding colour and shape are all connected to myself and how I wanted to create an impact for the individual looking at my piece. I selected lighter colours for the border and background because I wanted the theme of my tile to be calmer and more relaxed. I choose to create clouds and rain to express emotion and movement within my piece. I feel I selected a good amount of imagery, detail, and shape to represent me without being to overpowering or bold.

Critical and Reflective Thinking

When it seems the good ideas just wont come to me, I take myself out of a situation and try to compartmentalize my thoughts. I also like to ask my peers for their opinions or check Pinterest to help calm myself or create space in my mind to create new, better ideas. By using different sources I am able to relax, clear my head, and restart with a new mindset which helps me to generate new thoughts. I also like to look around at the areas surrounding me to pull inspiration from them.

IDS Inquiry Reflection

IDS February Monthly Log

My groups inquiry question is “How can an assembly celebrating and educating students on Indigenous history lead towards truth and reconciliation in our school and community?” We decided to change our inquiry question because we feel this changed one better encapsulates our goals and demonstrates how we want Truth and Reconciliation Day to go. I have spent every cent time with my group members and Ms. Razzell brainstorming, planning, and talking about how to create an inclusive, open school community. The resources I have been using week after week include Google, Office 365, YouTube, and EduBlog to help support me in my work. My group has tried to work through many struggles such as budgeting problems, time management, and engagement issues with students. We have done our best to overcome these complications and figure out ways to work around them. I have grown immensely in my Communication Core Competency by being a part of the Social Justice Committee and really feeling like my ideas and opinions are heard. Listening to other members opinions and suggestions has also helped me to be a better group member and collaborator. I will show my growth, understanding, and learning of my IDS project through Truth and Reconciliation week next September when my group and I are finally able to show our work. I will be able to have a final plan and schedule ready to present by May to Early June of this year to demonstrate my project.

Metalwork Progress Reflection

Copper Rose Progression
Jewelry Torch

Critical and Reflective Thinking

Having never been in a metal class before, using the torches at the start was very intimidating. We were tasked with creating a copper rose using the Jewelry Torch but before we could start we had to do a demo on the Acetylene Torch. I was worried about using the torch, but knew I could to use my critical thinking skills to make sure I used all the correct procedures to keep myself and my classmates safe. Mr. Peterson (being the amazing teacher he is,) was able to prepare me to feel confident in my abilities. I successfully completed the Acetylene Torch demo and was then able start my rose. Reflecting back, I wish I had started sanding the rose with sandpaper rather than a file because I felt I had a lot more control once I switched. I have now moved onto the Jewelry Torch and am finding a lot of success in using it. I have observed and understood how to properly use it and now enjoy using it and investigating all the different colours I am able to create on the copper. I have a ways to go with my rose but am excited to continue the process and see what else I am able to make.

Spanish Dialogue

Collaborating and Communicating

I feel my group collaborated and communicated well, and that helped us to complete our first Spanish presentation smoothly. Working with others can be hard when you are not yet well acquainted with them, but my group persevered and we were all able to communicate effectively to get the job done. I believe for my first Spanish project of the year I did a proficient job, but have some areas of growth. My group members and I were able to share our opinions and ideas with each other to create a good project. If I were able to go back and change anything it would be to focus more on little mistakes in our script and the presentation because, I feel that would make the project more preferable. Overall, I feel for the first presentation of the semester I am proud of the outcome and am excited to improve on my Spanish presenting and writing skills.

English First Peoples 11 Reflection

My Artifact

Character Infographic on “The Mountain Legend” by Jordan Wheeler

Curricular Competency Reflection

Create and Communicate: What did you learn about Indigenous themes, issues, or perspectives during this assignment or task and how did you grow in your writing, speaking, or representing skills? 

In the process of creating this infographic for the main character in “The Mountain Legend” by Jordan Wheeler I believe I gained a lot of important knowledge. I feel I deepened my understanding of identifying a theme in a story; the theme of this one being the affects of peer pressure, mistakes and how they affect not only yourself, but the people you surround yourself with. Perspective is something that alters the plot of a story extensively. I am curious as to how different the story would be if it was told from the eight year old girls perspective instead of Jason’s, because the entirety of the storyline would be modified. I believe this assignment helped me to grow in my reading as well as my presentation skills. After reading the story I felt I had a respectable understanding of the storyline and the discrete notes hidden between the margins. I learned more about how important the reactions from others are and how they can effect a storyline entirely. I worked diligently on the layout, presentation and wording of my infographic so that it may connect with the story and so that the reader may be able to see my deeper understanding.

Core Competency Reflection:

Thinking Core Competency

I trust that I showed good thinking skills through this assignment and that such is shown through my project. I had to collect facts from different parts of the story to obtain enough information to write on the characterization elements I choose (actions, thoughts, and reaction from others.) To create this infographic I had to fully comprehend the characters and storyline to be able to make such a project. If I had the ability to do this assignment over I would try to expand and deepen my thinking towards Jason’s thoughts and identity.

Graphing a Parabola

Curricular Task

Having ‘a’ being negative determines that the parabola is going to face downwards. Having 0<a<1 also tells us that this specific parabola is going to expand by a factor of negative one third. When ‘h’ is negative it shifts right, so when h=-7 the parabolas vertex shifts 7 to the right. When ‘k’ is positive the parabola shifts up, so when k=1 the vertex shifts up one. Together ‘h’ and ‘k’ work to find the vertex of the parabola which is (7,1). Everything changed when my parabolas equation changed. I feel ‘a’ made the biggest difference because it changed to negative so that switched the parabola to face downwards.

Self Assessment

I represented the same mathematical equation (shown above under “Blue Parabola”) in graph form, writing the equation and through breaking down and explaining the equation is sentence form. I used mathematical vocabulary throughout my paragraph by talking about the vertex, horizontal shift, vertical shift and my parabolas function. I find keeping my work organized helps me to convey and portray my exact thinking in a clear and concise way. The size of graph I choose to how I laid out my writing all added to how I wanted to share my ideas and thinking.