Bell 1

Sydney Bell

ENGL 2600

Professor Andrea Malouf

August 6, 2020

Final Reflection

Above all, this course has taught me how to think critically about information. One of Salt

Lake Community College’s learning outcomes is for students to think critically, and I have

learned to reason effectively from reading a text, take positions in my work based on evidence,

and engage in reflective thinking and expression through learning about literature. As we read

short stories, poems, and dramas in this course, I was able to read, “digest”, and analyze works of

literature for a deeper understanding using the skills of critical thinking.

Another of SLCC’s learning outcomes is for students to express themselves creatively.

Literature in and of itself is an extremely creative discipline and involving myself in this area of

study has enhanced my own creativity. As I have read pieces of literature and written about

them, I have found ways to be creative in my expression. With a variety of assignments, like our

virtual exhibit, I have also had the chance to explore creativity and new methods of learning.

My English 2010 course taught me how to write about topics using rhetoric and specific

organization. I was able to use those skills in this course as well. It has been neat to see how my

writing has changed and improved as I have continued my education at SLCC. I have also

learned how to see different perspectives through my previous philosophy courses, which have

translated directly into the way I look at the literary analysis theories and criticisms we have
 Bell 2

discussed in this course. Each of my past courses has helped build a foundation for more critical

thinking in this current course.

Before taking this course, I already had a love of literature. In high school, I took the AP

English and Literature class that was offered, which sparked my interest in this subject. That

class taught me to love analyzing literature from different perspectives and searching for themes

within the works. I have carried that same enthusiasm and passion about literature into this

course. This course has helped me deepen that appreciation for literature and given me more

tools to think about literature with.

One of the readings that was the most influential for my understanding of literature

during this course was, “A Hunger Artist” by Franz Kafka. I used this piece as the subject of my

signature assignment because of the way it impacted my understanding of critical theory. I loved

the way it was written, and I was amazed at how much depth there was in such a simple short

story. Through the analysis of this piece, I was better able to apply and understand how critical

theory is used to gain meaning from works of literature.

Through this course, I have seen the way literature has shaped history. I have come to

understand why literature is so impactful in the way we think and feel about the world around us.

I have learned that literature is a powerful tool in shaping minds and attitudes. I think that as

literature continues to be creative and expressive, we will see a lot of good produced in the

world. Something that may seem small and simple, like a short story, can have profound effects

on humanity as a whole.

In the future, I am sure that my appreciation for literature will continue to grow. I think

that as I keep up with my studies of literature, I will become more skilled at thinking critically

and improve the way I approach literature.