I wrote 556 words.

This class did help me become a better writer.  I worked more on these papers than any paper I ever wrote in high school and felt pretty confident about them.  I really only learned a few new tricks to make my writing style better.  For example, I think my comma usage has improved drastically.  I have also learned to get over my irrational fear of using the semi-colon.  I even learned to use a semi-colon to make my thesis incorporate a second element.

Additionally, I have learned the value of transition statements when starting new paragraphs.  I used these statements anytime I began a new argument.  My quotations now have more consistent introductions rather than just existing as a sentence floating in the middle of a paragraph.  

In addition to my introductions, I have learned to not rely so heavily on block quotes to fill up space.  In high school, every paper I wrote consisted of at least one block quote to help me fill up space.  I would also double space my header to fill up even more room.  Now I find that if I think through my thesis and come up with logical arguments I have very little trouble filling up several pages.  I no longer use these petty tricks for that reason.  The fact that all the papers you assigned had a word count requirement rather than a page requirement may have also helped kill this habit.  

Overall I think this class has helped my writing evolve into a much more organized form.  I fill my papers with well thought out logic and refrain from using informal writing.  I feel prepared to write more papers next semester and earn good grades on all of them. 

In regards to the other aspects of this course, I found some of them to be tedious and unhelpful.  These blog posts are perfect examples of this thought.  I consider myself to be a good paper writer.  I think things through and use proper grammar (for the most part).  By having these blog posts simply be a completion grade it is allowing me to goof off and avoid working hard on this assignment.  I can honestly say that if I looked back at any of my blog posts over the past semester, with the exception of the Halloween one, I would be repulsed by the awful rambling quality they all possess.  My laziness thanks you for this wonderful gift.  

In regards to the readings, I can honestly say I read most of the time.  I also have the worst luck because every time I did not read we had a quiz.  If you quizzed every time then people may start to take these assignments seriously.  I would recommend you find a new book because the one we had to read was highly redundant.  There is really only so much you can say on the topic of rhetoric and the book finishes anything original after it defines the pillars.  The visual chapter was really nothing more than common sense. 

Boom!  I have officially exceeded 500 words.

P.S. You should make the class do more activities like the vampire vs. zombie debate.  Watching power points and videos tends to put people to sleep.  Force people to participate and they tend to do it.  

P.P.S. Thanks for all the baked goods!