Portfolio:Final Exam Fram II

Some things in life can always use improvement; it never seems to be good enough, like writing for example. Writing is a process of outlines to drafts, to edits to make another draft, and so on until finally the final product is created. Optimism One says in his passage, that “the writing process can be greatly improved if students have a group of peers with whom they can share their writing.” In a sense he is saying that the writing process that everyone goes through can be better if that person interacts with others about their writing. Interacting with people does not automatically improve one’s work; one must interact with people who have feedback. So, working in groups is beneficial if each member of the group is open-minded.

Of course the benefit of a group is being able to share an idea, which is why it is so important to be open-minded. Optimism One’s describes in the passage “Punk Power in the First-Year Writing Classroom” that students in groups with peers improve in the writing process. He suggests that students talk to their peers about their writing, even if the other person does not agree the student gets feedback to better their writing. Also working in groups with peers allows each member to encourage the other to work hard and keep improving.

Even though I do agree that working in a group can be beneficial and a good support system, I have not always been fond of working with others. This last quarter in writing 101 the class has received three essay assignments. The class progressed through the quarter starting from working alone on the essay, to choosing to work with the partner assigned to you on the second essay, and finally working in a group of three or four on the last essay.

Admittedly, I disregarded working with a partner on the second essay, and it affected my grade in the end. Going through that essay with the mind set that working by my self was the best for my grade was wrong. I did not have that support group or benefit of partner. If I had used the benefit of a partner I would have realized all the ideas and the feedback I could have gotten from them. So when the third essay came, and I was assigned to my group of three members, I was prepared to take advantage of that benefit.

Indeed the third essay turned out a lot better than the second. I had support, I had creative ideas that came from all the members in my group, and in the end I improved not only on my writing process but on my critical thinking. With the group I came up with a lot of great ideas, and was able to form ideas off of others original thoughts. I’ve learned the advantage that Optimism One talks about in his passage of working with peers.

Although I now understand Optimism One’s viewpoint and agree it is a huge advantage I will not forget my idea of working alone. Some tasks are better done by one, not many. I have seen many times groups that fall apart because on member did not follow through. That will always be a fear for me, because I have always been able to rely on myself but to put my trust in another person’s work is difficult at times.

The upshot of all this is that everyone should take advantage of what is around you. Peers are there to support each other, and the benefit of that can help tremendously. Never neglect the benefit of talking with peers and using their feedback to better the writing process. Even if working alone is tempting and seems better than taking the risk of relying on others, step out of the box and try working with others. The end result could be better than it started.