Portfolio Essay
“You are the Vanguard Class of 2020,” said Lieutenant Colonel Cross after a long first day at USMAPS. In July 20, 2016 this phrase did not mean much to me. I completely ignored the definition of what a vanguard is. By definition a vanguard is a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas. After three semesters of rigorous academics and military bearing, I now understand and know what it feels like to be a part of the Vanguard Class of 2020. Throughout the course of this year I developed many learning skills in which will definitely help me succeed in my upcoming years downhill at USMA. In the beginning of the academic year, I did not like to read nor write. My grammar needed a lot of help. Therefore, the first semester I focused on specifically grammar and writing. The first paper I ever wrote and turned in for a grade at USMAPS received a 72%. Being Mr. Mediocre I was completely content with not failing. In all honesty, the Little Brown Handbook saved my life. Every grammar, formatting, writing element you need to be a successful college writer is in this book. It is incredible, breathtaking actually. I started to really enjoy to write. Revising not so much because it is a lot of work to rip apart your essay and rewrite the entire thing and I am lazy at times so it becomes a hassle. I saw improvement in my grade gradually. I went from not knowing what a simple comma splice is to acing my grammar quizzes. The course reader is an extremely helpful tool because at the beginning of the book there are about 12 chapters of grammar quizzes and mastery tests. I completed all of them, and when checked by my instructor the first semester he saw much improvement from me as a student. I started to engage in class and not just settle for an average grade. From C- papers to C+ in the matter of a couple weeks. I am actually learning how to write. Although I could still need a lot of help, I have come a long way and am content with my progress so far. Before USMAPS, I could not write a legitimate thesis for a college paper. …show more content…
My organization improved and my so did my vocabulary. The course reader is a book full of short stories and poems. Having read almost the entire book by now, I have obtain much knowledge in different ideas in American Literature. My favorite short story in the course reader is easily “The Open Boat,” although the ending is not to my liking it is an entertaining story about brotherhood and unity in order to survive. Second semester my class did not just read the story. We read it and had a group discussion all class about what happened in the story and took into account all the internal and external factors of each story. I will be honest and say I have never analyzed anything before this critically. It is absolutely incredible what one can analyze in a simple short story. By far my most entertaining and helpful way to read and learn what the author could be saying. I became a much better reader through this process. The biggest challenge I overcame this year is poetry and understanding Shakespeare. When we first received the green sonnet packet Mr. Salisbury told us to analyze it and paraphrase each line. I did my best; however, I came nowhere even close to understanding what Shakespeare meant. As each class went by we practiced and practiced and toward the last couple sonnets I began to paraphrase and understand the material much better than before. If fact I felt comfortable enough with my understanding of the sonnets that I wrote my English mid-quarter paper on three sonnets and received a B-. I am happy with myself for achieving this grade and I do not expect less than a B- next time. A couple small factors I would like to change this year is the fact on how in the beginning of the year I was lackadaisical and just a simple mediocre English student. Not that I am much better now but there is a huge improvement and my teachers can testify to this. Another thing I would like to change if I got to redo this year is
“You are the Vanguard Class of 2020,” said Lieutenant Colonel Cross after a long first day at USMAPS. In July 20, 2016 this phrase did not mean much to me. I completely ignored the definition of what a vanguard is. By definition a vanguard is a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas. After three semesters of rigorous academics and military bearing, I now understand and know what it feels like to be a part of the Vanguard Class of 2020. Throughout the course of this year I developed many learning skills in which will definitely help me succeed in my upcoming years downhill at USMA. In the beginning of the academic year, I did not like to read nor write. My grammar needed a lot of help. Therefore, the first semester I focused on specifically grammar and writing. The first paper I ever wrote and turned in for a grade at USMAPS received a 72%. Being Mr. Mediocre I was completely content with not failing. In all honesty, the Little Brown Handbook saved my life. Every grammar, formatting, writing element you need to be a successful college writer is in this book. It is incredible, breathtaking actually. I started to really enjoy to write. Revising not so much because it is a lot of work to rip apart your essay and rewrite the entire thing and I am lazy at times so it becomes a hassle. I saw improvement in my grade gradually. I went from not knowing what a simple comma splice is to acing my grammar quizzes. The course reader is an extremely helpful tool because at the beginning of the book there are about 12 chapters of grammar quizzes and mastery tests. I completed all of them, and when checked by my instructor the first semester he saw much improvement from me as a student. I started to engage in class and not just settle for an average grade. From C- papers to C+ in the matter of a couple weeks. I am actually learning how to write. Although I could still need a lot of help, I have come a long way and am content with my progress so far. Before USMAPS, I could not write a legitimate thesis for a college paper. …show more content…
My organization improved and my so did my vocabulary. The course reader is a book full of short stories and poems. Having read almost the entire book by now, I have obtain much knowledge in different ideas in American Literature. My favorite short story in the course reader is easily “The Open Boat,” although the ending is not to my liking it is an entertaining story about brotherhood and unity in order to survive. Second semester my class did not just read the story. We read it and had a group discussion all class about what happened in the story and took into account all the internal and external factors of each story. I will be honest and say I have never analyzed anything before this critically. It is absolutely incredible what one can analyze in a simple short story. By far my most entertaining and helpful way to read and learn what the author could be saying. I became a much better reader through this process. The biggest challenge I overcame this year is poetry and understanding Shakespeare. When we first received the green sonnet packet Mr. Salisbury told us to analyze it and paraphrase each line. I did my best; however, I came nowhere even close to understanding what Shakespeare meant. As each class went by we practiced and practiced and toward the last couple sonnets I began to paraphrase and understand the material much better than before. If fact I felt comfortable enough with my understanding of the sonnets that I wrote my English mid-quarter paper on three sonnets and received a B-. I am happy with myself for achieving this grade and I do not expect less than a B- next time. A couple small factors I would like to change this year is the fact on how in the beginning of the year I was lackadaisical and just a simple mediocre English student. Not that I am much better now but there is a huge improvement and my teachers can testify to this. Another thing I would like to change if I got to redo this year is