expectations.

What do I hope to gain from taking English Composition 1101?

Let me start by saying: I am not a person who is against writing. In fact, it used to be one of my major hobbies. I, however, am not an English major. So, automatically, I regard this course with less excicement than say, Biology. This isn't to say I feel the same groaning dread coming into this class that I feel when dragging my feet into my 8AM math, because I definitely do not. I genuinely enjoy the act of writing, putting my thoughts down in some structured form, and sharing them with those who care to read. I purposefuly took Speech Writing and Writer's Workshop in high school. In fact, I was the chief editor of our litery magazine. Writing just hasn't been something I've had time for recently.

I do hope to gain something from this course, even though it is a core class and has little to do with my major (which, by the way, is pre-licensure BSN). I recognize and respect the importance of English, since I have to speak (and in this day and age, write/type) it daily. Although this is composition, the way one writes is typically similar to the way one speaks, which is of vital importance. I understand that the most writing I'll do in my profession will be medical charts, but I hope to further structure my speech (and writing) in a way that inspires respect from both colleagues and patients.

Correct grammar and spelling are actually very important to me. When I see a large chain store (I am looking at you, Taco Bell) use a comma to make a word plural, I instinctively begin to complain to whoever is unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity. I clench my teeth when someone says "ax" in place of "ask", or "mines" for "mine". When I end a sentence with a preposition, my face gets red with embarrassment (although I am fairly confident nobody notices these days, or that some even know what a preposition is).

So, for this class I am excited. I love the English language, and copyediting is in my top 10 list of dream-jobs. My love for the written word is second only to my love for medicine (third comes art, but that is a topic for another post). I hope this course will improve not only my writing, but my speech and articulation. I would like to (and fully intend to) take full advantage of what this course offers.

So, here's to English Composition 1101. Here's to the end of ending sentences with prepositions. Here's to everyone developing some form of respect for the great English language.

... and here's to leaving class and getting a coffee, because I got up at 8 this morning for a math class, and I am exhausted.