User:Kstekoll

=Analytical Writing=

Personal Essay
At first I didn’t want to write on my own group topic of homelessness, but then I realized that I had a lot to say. I realized in the last three to four years how much my prospective of homelessness has changed.

When I was in high school I studied the topic of homelessness in Juneau, Alaska. Then maybe because I was young, I believed that as a city we should do as much as possible to fix the situtation. In Alaska, many of the people had come to live there and in time lost their housing. So instead they lived outside in the cold, wet rain and snow.

When asked if they had a change to leave Juneau, would they, most answered yes. The problem with Juneau is that it’s land lock and the only way you can levee it by plane or boat. Most didn’t have enough money to leave Juneau; by the time they became homeless.

Now living in the Seattle area for two yeas my ideas have changed. Now when I walk downtown I don’t want to give someone money, I believe that person ended up there, because of their own actions. There is no such thing as bad luck. After researching and finding how many programs and services there are to help homeless in the area, I feel sorry that they can’t help themselves. I don’t stop to listen to a person’s story anymore, I just keep on walking.

After this class and having a quarter to think about it. I’m not sure where I stand anymore. I didn’t choose the topic for the group; the group chooses the topic for us. If anything I think my group’s topic made me less shallow in the end. Having to talk about where these people are coming from and what difficulties that those who have become homeless have gone to, open my eyes.

Seeing the basic rights are taken away from them, liking sitting on a sidewalk or having police tear down their dwelling. I wouldn’t like it to happen to me, and I wouldn’t want to be in their place. Knowing that many of the people that I see sleeping in the doorsteps of stores in the morning have an alcohol or drug addiction has made me a little less judgmental then I was even four, five months ago.

All in all I think that lessons can be learned. That the saying “never judges a book by its cover is true.” There is a story behind everything and to understand that story, you must listen and learn.

Self Assessment
"What did I learn in this class, and what do I have left to learn?" I think that I have a lot left to learn in writing. I’ve never tried to write a paper in a group before and I found it difficult. I found it hard, because no one has the same writing style and the layout of our group paper at first was everywhere.

"What did I do well in this class, and what could I have done better?" I could have been a better group member. I don’t feel like I put enough into the paper. I was there for all the group meetings, and did what parts I was assigned. Other group members added to other parts that they weren’t assigned and I didn’t do that.

"How do I feel prepared, or unprepared, to continue my studies at this point?" I feel prepared in the sense that I can work in a group better now, especially with people who are not in my major. I think that my writing improved a little, but I wish we would of done more writing.

"How did I contribute to the experiences of other students in this class?" I think I bought a new perspective to my group by not agreeing with the fact homelessness is bad and that we should try to fix it.

You are also encouraged to consider any other questions relevant to your experiences. I wish that you had made us do more writing assignments. I feel that you are a teacher who could really hope people improve their writing skills.