1st Quarter Reflection

       Over the first quarter, I’ve learned how to pick out certain special effects in movies, learn about the credibility of sources, and the effects of slavery and events thereafter. Normally, it’s very difficult for me to find credible sources, but using techniques such as “site: org” or “net” was helpful for me to narrow down reliable sources. I still struggle sometimes in determining whether a source is reliable or not, but this way I have an easier time searching for the right domain of sources. In watching movies, I’m able to look at all aspects of a good movie, and then smaller detailed aspects. I’ve learned about the importance of sound and musical elements, how to show the passing of time, and how directors use the emotions of an actor's face to convey a larger theme or problem. I am now able to look at a movie as a whole and critique or praise the movie for multiple features, and not just one little aspect of the movie. I've learned that movies are multisensory, and I had no idea of this before the first quarter of US History.  All technical aspects of the class have only improved over my first quarter experience and I use them in most every class now because I know the skill. The use of empathy in this class has helped me to identify situations where empathy is needed and has helped sharpen the meaning of empathy to me. I’ve learned more about slaves and the Civil War than I can remember, and I feel as if I could have an intelligent conversation with someone about the topics taught in this class. This first quarter has gone very well for me, even if I’m not at the grade that I’d like to be at, and I will aspire to get an A in this class second quarter.

     

      I realize that I’ve grown in some ways this first quarter, but I’ve also not grown in some that I’ve wanted to. I’m not very good at paraphrasing and I get very confused on where to put quotations. I don’t always know when it is appropriate to paraphrase, but I’d like to figure out how to during the second quarter. I feel that the art of paraphrasing can only come with more practice and I will practice and become better at paraphrasing. I hope to become a great US History student because I came into this class not knowing/remembering much about the country that I live in at all. I hope to learn more about the Civil War and all events that followed it and then Segway into current events. Though I am not the best at paraphrasing, I will become better over the following school year and try my hardest to become a good US History student, because history is important to me and I find it more interesting than most all other topics in school.