Writing Retrospectives
Final Essays: A Look Back
Embedded Files
"When I was in fourth grade..."
"When I was in fourth grade..."
From the author's reflection on this piece:
As I brainstormed about the different kinds of writing I had done, I realized what a sharp distinction there was between my writing in high school and middle school, and that writing could be a useful tool by which to examine the changes I underwent as I went from middle to high school. Although the assignment initially sounded like it should be about the writing, I realized it might actually be more inventive and interesting if I used the writing as a lens by which to examine a larger shift in my personality.
"I used to love to write..."
"I used to love to write..."
Here, we have a Google Site that presents the author's writing as context for her retrospective. Load the website through the image. The retrospective essay has a direct link below:
Click for Meagan's site.
"Words are easy..."
"Words are easy..."
The slideshow uses that format to highlight and analyze many of Natalie's writings, with insight provided throughout. A selection from her reflection on this process is below.
Junior year has been a very different year when it comes to writing. My junior english class was a self directed class. The assignments were posted online and it was my complete responsibility to complete them and hand them in before the GAP panel was due. Most writing that I completed throughout this year were metacognitions. I became extremely good at writing about reading, and writing about writing. It sounded weird when I first entered the class, but it actually became extremely helpful to take time, debrief, and talk about my writing pieces. This year gave me the most freedom to write about whatever I wanted, and then still turn it in to receive credit. I like this way of learning because I find that when I am forced to write about certain topics, I quickly lose interest and get sidetracked.
"Yet I've grown..."
"Yet I've grown..."
Another clever interpretation of the prompt is this prose poem. The writer, Rachel, has her novel featured as the first Pareto Project on this site:
"No other desire than to read..."
"No other desire than to read..."
One student, Kennedy, settled on a reading retrospective in lieu of a writing-based one. Her final essay goes with a list of the books she read for fun as a freshman and a list of the books she read for fun as a junior.
"Just as interesting..."
"Just as interesting..."
Colleen's retrospective has a great line in its intro: "[A]s much as I wish that my passion was writing, it is just as interesting to me that it isn't." This is the reason metacognition drives so much of what we do -- it's the key to growth, as this book trailer suggests, and lets us find insight in the unlikeliest places.
"My whole perspective on writing has changed..."
"My whole perspective on writing has changed..."
This retrospective focuses more on this year's growth, but it's the student's sense of self-efficacy that matters: Nick expresses how important it is to believe that writing has power and importance beyond a grade.
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