Since the start of this semester’s English 110, I had already had a perception of what I’d be doing in this class. The many warnings from high school English would lead me to believe that this is going to be the peak precision in writing and reading that I would encounter. For the last year of high school, I would be granted training to combat the foe that is college. An appropriate adjustment to a new level. Was it exactly how I’d expect it from the first day? Not completely.

Driven by the first idea that I’d been plagued with was the fear of not being good enough, and quickly , that was dispelled. From the first meaningful assignment, setting the tone for the beginning of our semester, the reading “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan. It was the baseline for the introduction of English. The story itself was written to convey a message and an argument in which English has no ties with a singular, given right answer. Additionally, the concept has a multitude of ways to approach English. For example, someone who isn’t familiar with English can say something in slang that has its own meaning for an already existing English term. But that doesn’t make it any less valid if someone else understands it.

Aside from the reading, though, I’d gotten exposed to the Rhetorical Situation. Essentially, all the bits and pieces that would possibly tie to the author’s purpose in writing a certain text. One of those bits and pieces that captivated my attention, though, was the context and exigence. There is a natural curiosity when it comes to why an author might’ve written something a certain way or what can be going on in the real world while the author writes what I, the reader, am reading. It might also be because I am a psychology major. Especially when it comes to fiction books, authors often reference real world events like prejudices or political satire.

Something that’s not fully in my grasp, also, is catering to my audience. I’m sure there was a time when we discussed this, but I honestly don’t remember. I think we should be more exposed to college writing to get a sense of what this might look like for us, the students. Also, if there could be more inclusion in videos for the lessons, like the TED talks, it would be helpful.