Weekly posting has given me the ability to further analyze a text or a theme of a text, and make connections. In addition to writing strengths, learning about a culture or an era in history such as the Buddhist religion, the “floating world” of Japan, respectively, has also broaden my spectrum of knowledge as to how I can connect a text or a theme to an idea. Making connections helps me better understand and interpret the texts we have read and discussed in class. Sitting in a circle in class and being able to listen to different outlooks on an idea or interpretation of a text, also helped me study for my final. The free writing that we also do in class, although the thoughts are not well organized, it provides guidance and ideas for posts, and recently the midterm exam. I would always like to improve my analytical skills, being that it is a skill that I can also apply to real life. There are times where I read, and I oversee a phrase that may symbolize something greater. I wish not to always depend on other people’s perspective, in order to see things differently.
4 Responses to Rosshelle- March 24th post
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I understand where you’re coming from because I’m feeling the same way. I feel like there are times we would rush through the context without analyzing the deeper meaning behind it. One way that helped me, a little bit more, to understand the context and not misread anything was re-reading the text again. Re-reading the text helps me to just be focus into what the author really wants us to know instead of us wanting to find out what’s happening later on in the chapters. If there’s anything that’s confusing or I’m curious about, I usually google the deeper meaning in it to understand why it’s being mention in the text.
Hi Rosshelle!
I agree and completely relate to your post! Reading texts like Journey to the West, gave me a better understanding of buddhism. I never knew much about it, but learning their culture and reading from it as well helped me understand more about it and the nature it comes from. It also helped me to have a clear mind when reading these kinds of text. At first Journey to the West was very difficult to understand because I did not know anything about buddhism. So when they were on their journey I was able to not judge the readings before hand and really analyze the text afterwords without any bias standpoints. To give you some advise with analyzing the text better, it helps me to reread some parts were I felt as though there was more to get out of. If you see a recurring theme, just take time and read it over. For example, for me Bartleby was challenging and I couldn’t get over the fact that he kept stating ‘I prefer not to’ than once I reread some scenes from the text I was able to analyze it better and see things more clearly.
Jonathan, I see you rely on the internet to help you interpret the text but I do not recommend this technique. The same reason why police do not want the witnesses of a crime, to speak to each other, is the same reason why looking onto the internet for guidance is wrong; speaking to others or reading other’s description of something they saw or read can change what you actually saw or thought. Therefore, I believe that your thoughts and point of view of the text is your own and should remain centralized regardless of other interpretations.
Roshelle,
I strongly agree with your point that the works we’ve covered this semester have definitely broadened the spectrum a little bit. Further, I personally did not utilize the free writing aspect of the course so strategically, and think that’s a great idea moving forward. As far as not depending on other people’s perspectives, might I suggest not spending quite as much time worrying about the fictitious source of classmates’ interpretations, and placing a greater emphasis on thinking through the themes you’re now able to connect as they pertain to the storylines themselves.