I am walking away from Prof. Barta’s First-Year Seminar with a radically different view of writing. I wrote fun, interesting and stimulating papers that I was passionate about and I am proud of. I would challenge the next class to pick exciting topics for their papers on which they can write meaningful papers. Be engaged, ask questions and wrestle with yourself to write about something you believe in. If you write papers you care about you will get a better grade, but more importantly you will develop as a writer. This is the beginning of your paper-writing career. Improving now will give you the motivation and skills to excel throughout this course and into higher-level courses. Our class came together as friends and Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 to 4:15 felt less like class and more like an educational hangout. If the next class can create an environment like we enjoyed this semester, the class will be rewarding and the legend of Barta Writing Seminar will live on.
I learned a lot about myself as a person from this class. This isn’t the typical English class you’d imagine when you walk in the classroom the first day. The professor does give you a good amount of work, but most of it is a lot of self-reflection type of work. The topic of authorship is very interesting, and surprisingly quite versatile as well. We explored different types of essays and writing techniques just to answer the question: “How does one author an authentic self?” This class really forced me out of my comfort zone as a writer because I had to think “informally” most of the time to complete a piece of writing. I am so used to academic research papers that creative writing, which is supposed to be easier, became surprisingly difficult. However, to conclude this, I have to say that this class will leave many unforgettable memories.
Professor Barta’s first year writing seminar is far from your typical collegiate English course. The class leads you on an unparalleled journey of self-discovery. From learning about authentic self on social media, to learning about how you write, the class covers the whole gamut. I left the class having a strong sense of self and a remarkably stronger writer. I challenge next semester’s class to keep an open mind, as much as the assignment may seem odd or out of place. I would challenge the next class to stay focused and engaged in class, but that is more of an expectation rather than a challenge. Professor Barta masterfully incorporates elements into the course that everyone can relate to, mostly because one of the main goals of the course is to allow the students the freedom to write about what truly interests them. This may be perhaps one of the most important aspects of this specific FYWS. By allowing the freedom to write about their interests, students are likely to be more engaged in the course. In turn, this allows them to expand and build upon their interests, all while becoming better writers. This was certainly my personal experience. Having identified my authentic self and improved my writing, I can confidently assert that all of my future writing will be “authored authentically,” to the truest sense of the phrase.
Like most college freshman, I don’t like writing about myself. It’s nerve-wracking, and there is an uncredited underlying feeling that I would be judged more severely for a personal narrative. The class put me out of my comfort zone, but I loved it. I have never enjoyed writing about myself more than I did with my personal narrative and rhetorical analysis. It provided enough guidelines to give decent structure, while still allowing the immense freedom of whatever the author wants to write about. Starting with the personal narrative and ending with a video project were perfectly designed aspects of the course. Above all else, a reachable and considerate professor made the class for me. I would encourage more free class discussion, as I believe it fits the dynamic of the social setting. Additionally, I think Barthes and Foucault could be replaced with less dry, yet equally academic authors. The research outlets, rhetorical techniques, and emphasis on self-expression all were positive outcomes of the class that I will utilize in not only my academic future, but my life as a whole. So should a version of this class be taught in the future? A definitive yes.
Every person has various things they are passionate about. For me that is math, the outdoors, football (soccer to others), and music. Most of my life I put English in the category of something I greatly disliked. That includes my whole first year of college, acronyms, and cheese. Growth in writing aside, the most important thing I learned from this class was there is a way to enjoy everything; even the things you dislike. Professor Barta helped instill this mentality in the class. No matter what your background you will enjoy the class if you fully apply yourself and do what you enjoy. In light of my math background, many would think I would lack creativity, especially in the field of English writing. I found this to be the complete opposite when I began to be myself and enjoy what I did in the class. In addition to becoming a much stronger writer, I believe I learned how to enjoy most everything I do. For those who are reading this and taking a class with the wonderful Professor Barta, I challenge you to enjoy everything you write. Some professors may disagree, but you will enjoy it and it will surely be a stronger paper because of it. I assure you that your skills as a writer will grow exponentially compared to if you did not write what you enjoy.
This class has changed the way I feel about writing and authorship. I always believed I was a great writer before college because I received the grades to validate this. Paper writing was like a science to me. I would write a paper the day before it was due, make a few edits, and be on my way. However, it became clear that this strategy would not work in this class. I was forced to make significant revisions to my papers and stop the habits I had perfected. I struggled with concision and repetition, but feel that I have improved significantly in these areas. After authoring myself in different ways throughout the course, I am more eloquent and persuasive. I loved being able to choose my own topics, specifically writing about Travis Roy and ghostwriting for the academic essay. He is very much alive, unlike Barthes suggests! The class succeeds because everybody has varying opinions of authorship. Many people, like myself, came into the course thinking an author was just a boring book-writer. However, this is not the case. I challenge the next class to really engage themselves with every aspect of authorship. I recommend that you revise your papers very thoroughly, but also take the time to perfect your Instagram pictures and video essays. These ways of authoring oneself are just as important and rewarding. Also, be prepared to take suggestions and improve as an author. I struggled early on to accept these comments, but they are extremely helpful. I will take many skills and great memories from this class and everyone in it. As an author, I want to leave behind these suggestions for future classes and some of my works.
First-Year Writing Seminar with Professor Barta was one of the most effectivecourses that I have taken thus far in my college career. I, like many others in the class, do not plan on pursuing a career requiring an English degree. Due to this, I had never been an enthusiastic writer. The most pleasant surprise that I received in Professor Barta’s class was the realization of the utility of the English language as a whole. Throughout this course I have used writing skills to tell stories, explain ideas, and convince arguments. This idea of utility and versatility apply to the main focus of the course: authorship. I am an author in so many ways. In everyday communication, writing, and social media, I authenticate myself through some means of conveyance. My advice to next year’s class is to continuously be open-minded. Authorship can be found in many shapes and forms. There is always a subject or category that can spur an interest and relate to your personal identity. Although some assignments can be intimidating, they can always be dissected. If you are determined to write about some topic of interest, showing what you know and how you know it, you will find great success.
I never thought that I would be able to use the words “fun” and “English class” in the same context, but when I think about having to describe this course as concisely as possible, “fun English class” comes to mind. It’s hard to hate writing a paper when you choose a topic that you are passionate about, which is probably why Professor Barta let us choose what to write about for every single essay in this course. Sure, like in most English classes, there were some dry parts of the course that involved reading complicated works from dead authors that I had never heard of before. However, at the end of the semester, it was cool to see how everything that we did fit together to form our own statements about authentic authorship. For every person in the next class, I urge you to keep two things in mind. The first is to take advantage of the power of drafting and office hours. Professor Barta will ALWAYS be willing to meet with you, look over your essays, and help you succeed not only in the course, but also as a better writer. The second is to come into class to have as much fun as you can. Before you know it, the semester will be over, and you will no longer have a class where one of the projects is to compile the best Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon moments into a video.
As somebody who has never enjoyed writing, I can honestly say that this class will give you an appreciation for the necessity of being able to express yourself on a page. Engage with the class, I know it sounds cliché, but you will only get out of it what you put in. Do not be afraid to disagree with what others say. Often the best learning takes place when opposing views meet. This class is not overly work intensive, but I would highly recommend starting work early. As someone who struggles to do this, I have finally accepted that my best work cannot be done at the last minute. It takes time to formulate ideas and structure them in a cohesive manner. Finally, Prof. Barta has put thought into the order of the syllabus and everything is there for a reason. Engage with each stage of the class as it is a process and understanding of each piece is essential to getting the most out of the class. Finally enjoy the class and chose topics which interest you for your essays. It is a lot easier to write well when writing about something you like.
As the year comes to an end, and I look back at the class, my first words of advice is to keep an open mind. It is an oft-repeated thing, I know, but especially in my case, it is true. I have never been a big fan of English, and so I had very low expectations for the class. As a result, I didn’t keep an open mind, and as such, didn’t take full advantage of the class. But that being said, I still got a ton out of the class. I loved the open discussion format. It was unorthodox, completely unlike any other English class I had ever had, and it was great. We had some great arguments, some great discussions, and part of what made it great was that people didn’t agree. Another word of advice: don’t be afraid to disagree, even if it just to play the devils advocate. It makes everything much more interesting, and a hell of a lot more fun. In terms of the essays, some of them will be hard, frustrating, and cause you to be sitting in O’Neill at 1:30 A.M. wondering if the teacher if actually sane, but if you go your own way, try to use each essay to write about something to you are interested in and want to explore, it will be bearable, and maybe even interesting. In addition, you will leave the class a better writer than you came in. I was also a pretty good writer, I won an award or two in high school, and when the teacher suggested I change my writing style, I puffed out my feathers and was rather offended. I rebelled, but after a little while I looked over it again and realized she was right. So don’t be afraid of criticism, and be willing to reexamine things you have been doing for your whole life. Overall, have fun with it.
The title “Freshmen Writing Seminar” doesn’t do the class justice. Rightfully, it does involve writing and freshmen, but the class isn’t nearly as bland as its title portrays it to be. More appropriate would be “Freshmen Writing Fun,” or possibly “Fun Writing, Freshmen;” I haven’t decided which yet. Luckily, I’m not paid to make such important decisions. Aptly, I have two challenges for the next class. First, find which title sounds better. Second, challenge yourselves until you the title fits the class. I’ll leave behind my doubt that writing could ever be enjoyable, knowing it’ll be picked up by the next English cynic. I can’t imagine that they’ll hold onto it for much longer than I did though.
To the future class of Professor Barta,
First Year Writing Seminar was the course that prevented me from enrolling into another class that I had wanted at the time. I made numerous attempts to switch out of it before the semester began, but it was to no avail. However, I could not be more pleased that my schedule stayed as it was. I have always enjoyed writing, but this class was by far my favorite. Professor Barta teaches in an incredibly engaging way that conveys useful information without becoming dull. There are never any busy or mundane essays. I hope that I leave my one-draft essays in the past and continue with the multiple revisions that Professor Barta encouraged. I hope going forward I can express myself more clearly and keep in touch with my entertaining classmates. By the end of the semester, I was proud to say it was my favorite class. I am truly excited for whoever has Professor Barta next.
Dear Professor Barta’s class,
You are SO lucky to have Professor Barta. After a rough first semester in college, I chose my schedule wisely for this spring. However, the only class I was worried about was First Year Writing. I heard that it all depends on your teacher, and I couldn’t fit any other section into my schedule…so I took a shot in the dark. After the first day of class, I already knew I was going to love it (as I’m sure you’re feeling now, too). Professor Barta’s enthusiasm makes coming to class enjoyable through the very last day of the semester. She truly cares about every one of her students and their growth as both writers and as people. Please don’t take this for granted. Get to know and love her. I challenge you to come to class ready to talk. Make the classroom a welcoming environment, but don’t be afraid to challenge each other’s opinions or ask questions. Ask the girl or boy sitting next to you if (s) he wants to get lunch. Make friends. There aren’t many classes like this where you can get to know your classmates so well, so take advantage of it. From this class, I will take a newfound enjoyment out of writing. For the first time in my life, I didn’t absolutely hate writing essays. I got the opportunity to write personally because hey, not all of us are meant to love research-type academic essays. After struggling my whole life with academic writing, I’m happy to have learnt that I have a skill of rhetoric and storytelling. I don’t want to leave anything behind. I can truthfully say that I will desperately miss Professor Barta and each student I had the pleasure of taking this class with.
Dear future students,
As someone who is not a fan of English and literature, I can truly say that this class was an absolute blast. The assignments were creative and challenging, the small class setting allowed for class discussion and camaraderie, and Professor Barta created a perfect classroom atmosphere. Do not fall for the stigma that comes with a typical writing seminar. There is no busy work, assignments are not due every class, and the material learned is truly interesting. The assignments challenge you to integrate class concepts with your interests while at the same time allowing for open-endedness. Above all else, this class challenges you to find yourself not just as an author or writer, but also as a person. Coming into freshman year is a huge transition and can change someone significantly. Looking back on the beginning of the year, even the beginning of the second semester, I am a completely different person. In many ways, this class has come to shape my identity and authenticity as a writer and a student. Freshman year has taught me to keep an open mind and to not be afraid to take risks. First year writing seminar displays the same idea. Beginning with the personal narrative, I took a risk in writing in a completely new style. Although I did worry about the resulting grade, I have never had more fun in completing a writing assignment. From there, I entered each assignment with an open mind, not disregarding any possible idea. While you are in this class, do not be afraid to stray slightly away from the rigid essay format you have learned your entire life. Challenge yourself to be challenged and take risks. You won’t regret it.