Best of/Worst of...

What was your favorite poem? Your least favorite poem? Why?
My favorite poem was "We Real Cool" because I thought it was relatable and it was simple. My least favorite was "Ode on a Grecian Urn" because I found it hard to understand.

What was your favorite short story? Your least favorite short story? Why?
My favorite short story was "The Things They Carried" because I think it gives you an inside to what military is like and how there are thinking and feeling. My least favorite was probably "Bartleby, the Scrivener" because it was kind of slow and hard to stay with it.

Should next semester's ENGL150 students read Death of a Salesman?
I think so, yes, there is a lot of interesting aspects to it that are important and still relatable to today.
How did you feel about watching Hollywood versions of Bartleby and Death of a Salesman? Is there utility in seeing a visual version of something you're responsible to read?
I think watching the films helped bring the understanding together and gave me an aspect of looking at it that reading them just doesn't give you. It was helpful in bringing together the discussions as well.

What was your favorite in-class activity? What was your least favorite in-class activity?
My favorite in class activity was being able to get into groups to discuss what we read. I think this gives you a chance to get new information that you may not have gotten yourself from the readings. My least favorite activity was the whole class discussions because I think a lot of people didn't feel comfortable talking but in small groups it wasn't as intimidating. I am guilty of this as well, I always do better sharing ideas in smaller groups.

You'll notice that I didn't have your small groups present (even though the syllabus claimed you would). Did you miss that? Would you have rather that whole-class discussions were led by students doing presentations?
I did not miss that, I don't think having to present material would have been any more beneficial than just discussing it. I think whole class discussions can maybe be started with individuals bringing up their P assignments and talking about what they wrote about but I don't think they necessarily need to do "presentations". I do think that each person should have to talk about a P assignment though. I never did but I would have if I had been called upon to discuss.
Finally, what are your feelings on the creative blog entries? Which entry did you enjoy most? Least?
I thought the blog was an interesting aspect to the class. I really didn't mind doing any of them, I haven't had to do any creative writing for quite some time so it was kind of fun. My least favorite blog entry was the sestina/13 ways because those were tricky poems to write. My most favorite was probably the faux Facebook because you had to get into character and relate to the story.

"Grandpa" Willy

Biff telling his son about Willy.

Well son, your grandpa was a complicated man. He was a man with a lot of pride, and he worked hard all his life to try to give me and your Uncle Happy the best. Growing up he was gone a lot, he was a traveling salesman you see, so he wasn't home very much. When he was home though, he was always talking about how proud he was of us. We would help him and Mom out with chores, and he seemed to always like that. As he got older though, it was harder and harder to be around him. I don't know where he went so wrong. I guess I shouldn't bother you with all that, but what's important is that he was a proud man, and he loved what he did. Have I ever told you how proud of you I am? I hope you know that, Grandpa seemed to forget how proud he was of me as he got older. I hope I never put you through what I went through. I still loved him though. He was my pop, just like I'm your pop. You will do good in life, I can tell. No get going on that Chevy, remember how I showed you?