Canisius College

I had found it very strange, that after nearly a whole semester of college, I had not had a “real” (a.k.a. scary) college assignment.  I have had to write a couple of papers, but the longest had been only two and a half pages.  One of my biggest fears upon entering college had been that I would be forced to write a lot of long formal papers.

Near the end of the semester, my English professor gave me my first research paper.  It was open topic, anything you wanted to write about.  I hate when they tell you this.  I go brain-dead and therefore can’t think of anything to write.  I needed at least four resources and none of them from the internet. 
This was hard, because all the research I had done before had been online. 

So, I went to the college library website (still unfamiliar ground), and looked up books to use as sources.  It wasn’t too difficult thankfully, and I was able to find two books full of information that I could use.  After this I managed to stall for another week, but then I had to get down to work.  I tried to plan out my paper as well as find good quotes to use.

Writing my paper was surprising less difficult then I had imagined.  I managed to easily write the required six pages and could have even written a few more.  I didn’t though because I was afraid that I would start to ramble and drift.  I had everything I needed.  It was time to edit and revise.  This in my opinion is the hardest part of the entire procedure.  If I have one weakness, one thing that I’m worst at, it’s grammar (I’m sure that you have been able to figure this out by reading my blog).  Commas, in particular, confuse me to no end.  I never know where to place them and where not to.  I took my best guess and prayed that I had gotten it right.

I was finally done.  It had been an experience, but not as hard as I had previously imagined.  Having completed this paper, I now feel as if I have passed a very important point in my college career.  With the end of my first semester, I think that I have really stepped into my new college life.

-Mary

Mary's August 2005 Journal
Mary's September 2005 Journal
Mary's October 2005 Journal
Mary's November 2005 Journal