1

Landon Middleton
August 27, 2014
Draft 1

Literacy Memoir Rough Draft

Comment [W1]: Creative title? Check this out:

http://classroom.synonym.com/write-creativetitle-essays-2152.html

Throughout my life reading and writing has have been undemanding for me. It
wasnt my favorite subject but I made enjoyable. I like to put my thoughts down on paper

Comment [W2]: Word missing

and come up with images created from the books Ive read. It is a topic that still gives me

Comment [W3]: This sounds like youre trying

to write about images youve read about in books.
Is that what youre trying to say?

the encouragement to become more intelligent and confident in my own literacy. With
that being said, I had one English class in high school that made me question my own

Comment [W4]: What is? The pronoun

reference is unclear.
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/gr
ammar/pronouns-and-antecedents

comprehension of the English language.

My junior year in high school was filled with dismay and irritability. I had a great
ordeal of tests, which gave me the opportunity to apply to college and make my way out

Comment [W5]: Youre not quite using this

word correctly.

of school. I had never felt so much displeasure of stress and my teachers were not making

Comment [W6]: The tests gave you the

opportunity? See comment W4.

it any easier. Unfortunately, the greatest cause of my stress was my English teacher,

Comment [W7]: Wordy

whom I did not get along with. It was hard for me to understand what I was doing wrong.
Everyone that understands me knows that I am very quiet, yet completes every
assignment.

Comment [W8]: You arent using this word

correctly.
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/gr
ammar/weird-coordinating-conjunctions-yet-forand-so?page=1

Week-in and week-out I was being assaulted with essays, projects, and loads of
homework. I feel it was astonishingly way more than the average college student could

Comment [W9]: Since you wrote the paper,

you dont need this.

handle. I would go to her after class and try to make sense of her work assignments. I

Comment [W10]:
Comment [W11]: redundant

explained to her how I was in Honors Chemistry, Honors U.S. History, and Honors
Algebra II. On top of all those classes, I was playing soccer for the high school team. She
listened to me and explained that reading and writing was essential to being successful in
life. I decided to try my best and cope with her class.

Landon Middleton

August 27, 2014

Draft 1
I noticed my grade wasnt improving. I accept now that I was immature at the
time but my friends and I started doing homework together. We thought it would help
because if we didnt keep our grades up, we wouldnt be on the soccer team. My English

Comment [W12]: Consider avoiding

contractions, especially in academic writing.

teacher found out we were doing homework together and decided to give us three each
zeros. As you can imagine, I was so upset. My world was coming to an end. I stayed after

Comment [W13]: Very overstated and clich .

class and tried to handle what had happened. I begged for a redo and she know I took
school serious. Finally, she gave me sympathy and allowed me to make up for it.

Comment [W14]: Please read and correct this

sentence.

She assigned me a five-page essay on why reading and writing is beneficial to

ones life. I did a lot of research and realized that its a key factor on how successful you
are. We use literacy in everyday life. Without it, no one would be nearly as successful.

Comment [W15]: When Word underlines a

something, its usually a good idea to click on it
and decide if you should change it or not.

Strangely enough, completing this particular essay changed my perspective on how we

use reading and writing to its full advantage. Sometimes the teacher we dislike the most
can end up having the biggest authority on our lives. As I was writing the essay I realized

Comment [W16]: This sentence seems out of

place and lacks explanation.

I needed to step up because life is all about challenges and overcoming them. I turned in
the essay and she was thrilled over the effort I put towards it.
Overall, I am glad to have a different look on literacy. It is great to have the

Comment [W17]: Awkward word choice

power of reading and writing at stake. It helps you grow as a person and connect with the

Comment [W18]: Awkward word choice

world. You will never like or get along with all your teachers, but sometimes they might

Comment [W19]: Avoid 2nd person.

http://english.tjc.edu/jbru/grammar/second.htm

be the best person for you. English may not be my favorite subject, but it definitely
helped me to better my intelligence and confidence as a student.

Comment [W20]: How? You didnt discuss

this.