Letter to My Professor

Dear Dr. Shea,

As I reflect on my learning at the end of the semester, I find myself genuinely engaged with American Literature in ways I did not anticipate. This letter serves as my assessment of the progress I have made toward the course learning objectives and my growth as a student.

Learning Objectives Assessment

Of the course learning objectives, I am most confident in my achievement of objective (b): recognizing the capacity of literature to provoke thought, grow the imagination, and deepen an understanding of the world and self. Through our weekly work and class discussions, I have come to appreciate how American authors use their craft not merely to tell stories, but to challenge readers to examine their own beliefs, identities, and place in society. The texts we have studied have genuinely shifted my perspective on what literature can accomplish.

I am also confident in my progress toward objective (c): thinking creatively by engaging original questions and ideas. The Author's Presentation on Willa Cather pushed me to explore her work deeply and present my findings in a creative, engaging format. This project required me to move beyond surface-level analysis and develop my own interpretive lens.

The objective I feel least confident about is (e): articulating connections between Christian faith and the arts/literature. While I understand these connections exist and have explored them in our discussions, I sometimes struggle to articulate these relationships in a nuanced way. I hope to strengthen this skill in the second half of the semester through more intentional reflection during our readings.

Self-Discovery as a Reader, Writer, and American

As a reader, I have learned that I benefit most from slow, careful engagement with texts rather than rushing through them. Close reading has taught me to pay attention to details I would have previously overlooked—word choice, structure, and the silences between what is said. As a writer, I have grown more comfortable expressing my interpretations, even when they feel uncertain. I have learned that literary analysis is not about finding the "right" answer but about constructing a thoughtful argument.

As an American, this course has deepened my understanding of national identity. The literature we have studied reveals the rich tapestry of voices and experiences that have shaped what it means to be American. This has reinforced my appreciation for the values and traditions that define our nation.

Classroom Activities and Learning

The close readings and discussion posts have helped my learning the most. The close readings force me to slow down and truly engage with the language of a text, while the discussion posts allow me to process my thoughts and learn from my classmates' perspectives. Together, these activities have made the literature feel more accessible and personally meaningful.

Collaboration and Support

Honestly, I am not entirely sure who in the class has helped me the most or who I have helped in return. What I do know is that I have pushed myself to try my best, to engage honestly with the material, and to contribute meaningfully to our discussions. I hope that my efforts have, in some small way, contributed to the learning environment of our class.

Growth Through Reading, Note-Taking, and Discussion

Through the processes of reading, note-taking, and discussion, I have learned to trust my own interpretations while remaining open to other perspectives. Note-taking has helped me track my evolving thoughts, and discussion has shown me that multiple valid readings of a text can coexist. I have grown more confident in voicing my ideas and more curious about the ideas of others.

Three Words to Describe My Learning

I would describe my learning this semester as challenging, rewarding, and transformative. Challenging because the texts and assignments have pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Rewarding because that effort has paid off in genuine insight and growth. Transformative because I see literature and myself differently than I did at the start of the semester.

Anticipated Grade

I anticipate earning an A in this class. I believe I have consistently engaged with the material, completed my assignments thoughtfully, and pushed myself to grow as a reader and writer in this class. I am committed to maintaining this level of effort through the remainder of college and hopefully carry these skills with me into my future past college.

Thank you for a meaningful semester and course, you have been a great professor and I have learned a lot from you.

Sincerely,
Alex Georgeff