Well, this semester is nearing its end and I must say that it's been an eventful four months (boy, did it end quickly!) As a result, it's time to unveil my English 1102 Portfolio to the world. This was my first time using Wix to design a website, and so I apologize in advance for any of the quirks one stumbles upon while browsing my portfolio. For one thing, I'm pretty sure that the font sizes are inconsistent and the alignment may be off from one item to the other along a given page (I wouldn't normally say this, but I wish I could've used CSS to reduce the amount of trial and error). As for the content, I did my best to make everything flow and to inject some reflective humor rather than just embed my assignments and do the bare minimum. Perhaps I could've spaced the information out better to avoid walls of text (that's part of the reason why I used images), but I must admit, it's tedious work. I admire good aesthetics but I can't say that I do a good job of it myself.

 

Now, there isn't a specific way one needs to navigate this portfolio, so going through the pages in sequential order suffices. (One can just follow the trail of hyperlinks at the bottom of each page) Many of the homework responses coincide with the assignments, so if you want, you can also cross-reference the assignments as you read through the homeworks. I think the assignment one extras was the most interesting for me to write up, but I'm the most proud of my assignment two final draft (the research paper).

 

As for what I've learned by doing this portfolio, all I can say is not much! (Kidding, kidding) I've gained an appreciation for writing one's thoughts down and being able to articulate them in a cogent manner. It's something I've always struggled with, but am slowly learning to overcome. Another thing I've learned is how important it is to label and keep track of everything you work on. Making this portfolio would've been a nightmare had I gone the lazy route by not saving my homework responses to word documents or by not labeling the different copies of my assignment drafts. I'm learning about version control for programming, and the same principle applies. (Honestly, a version control system for English assignments would be a godsend) I've also come to enjoy writing reflections for the various assignments, and it has gotten me into the habit of truly thinking about the things I've done well and what I could work on. Normally, I would just finish an assignment and move on (because who cares about the past anymore), but that's a silly way to approach doing work because it impedes improvement and growth. So overall, this portfolio has been a cool way to showcase my work over the semester, and it has been a good experience for me to think more critically about my thoughts, ideas, and modes of communication.