Table of Contents for Portfolio-Jordan Zapp

Table of Contents

Opening Piece- My Writing

This is my first piece of writing as a sophomore.  I would have to say that it basically reflects the kind of writer I was in the end of freshman year since I took this course over the summer.  Personally, I love it because it shows how much of an "eager beaver" I was at the beginning of this course.  The assignment was to reflect on the kind of writer I was after finishing my first year of high school.  As the piece mentions, I had a tendency to skip prewriting or any attempts at organization; I am sure that is evident in the structure.  That being said, I hope my passion for language is shown throughout this first piece, because I do feel that it embodies my spirit as a writer.

Composition- Two Lorries

This piece was a literary analysis of the poem Two Lorries by Seamus Heaney.  I had to show how it exemplified modern literature through the use of various techniques and themes.  I actually utilized organization in this piece, did some prewriting, had a Paul Simon jam session, and finally sat down and typed it.  Since this was one of my later pieces, I think it reflects my growth as a writer. Additionally, it is another example indicating a passion for fluidity of prose.

Research Paper- No Moooore Factory Farms

My research paper was just a basic research paper on the dangers of factory farming and how it affects our health, ethics, and the environment.  This assignment was the most time consuming by far.  There was pre-pre writing, pre writing, rough outlines, formal outlines, endless research, shocking findings, drafts upon drafts, and ultimately, a final paper. Again, this shows how much I have grown as a writer because I was forced to draft and prewrite and organize.  The final product was informative and insightful.

Writer’s Choice- Letter to Shakespeare

The Letter to Shakespeare was so much fun to write. I had never done a literary analysis like it before.  The assignment was to explain how the writing of Shakespeare, specifically Hamlet, exemplified the Renaissance. I chose to write the analysis through an informal letter to Shakespeare himself. I absolutely loved the implications of Hamlet as a character, so it was a pleasure to complete this piece.  This assignment shows growth in the creativity department, being a letter instead of a normal essay. 

Closing Reflection Letter- As I Gaze into the Glassy Water

Considering that I wrote this reflection approximately twenty-three minutes ago, there isn’t too much to say about it except that I thoroughly enjoyed writing it.  It was cool to go back and truly reflect on my writing over the past few weeks.  It is almost like analyzing text of another person, except you are more emotionally connected.  Sometimes, while reading an older piece of my own writing, I squint at certain parts and think, whoa, I wrote that? either in surprised delight or disgust.