Success in Honors Lit Comp II
... Stackhouse 2 business field. Debates also can be a useful tool in helping students make informed decisions through the art of persuasion, for it allows them to hear the arguments of the opposing side, which may trigger ideas that were never thought of before to help limit narrow-mindedness. Another key factor that plays an important role in terms of optimizing a class environment is the level of cooperativeness that reigns throughout. Students should enthusiastically be willing to aid each other whenever possible since it not only benefits the student who needs help, but the peer who offers help, since teaching others is an effective method of gaining a clearer understanding of the information being taught. More importantly, it is every students' duty to perform their unique task whenever they are assigned group projects. In previous classes, I have been placed in groups with indolent pupils who do not take group projects seriously, and can honestly say that they are not only risking the group's potential for earning an 'A' or 'B,' but the loss of respect in the eyes of diligent pupils. Finally, another key trait that should be present in every competent classroom is inspiration and encouragement to sustain perseverance. Students should encourage each other whenever they make mistakes to promote motivation and teachers should be praiseworthy whenever their students are deemed worthy of such praise. A well-regulated and inspiring classroom should project a sense of order, cooperativeness, and respect so that students are comfortable working on an assignment or freely expressing themselves. Besides the necessity of an ideal learning situation, another aspect that will greatly impact my ability to attain success in Honors Literature II is the teacher's willingness to aid students in comprehending state curriculum while maintaining a positive attitude and persistent organization habits. To some students, the ideal teacher would be one that is exceedingly kind and who rarely gives homework, yet since that is far from realistic, especially in an honors course, I must stick to legitimate profiles. First of all, it is important to realize that although an insouciant instructor might be propitious in the short-term, in the long-run a teacher who is too lenient could be detrimental to a student's success in the future which consists of more challenging coursework. Moreover, it should be the teacher's number one priority to Stackhouse 3 adequately prepare students by challenging them with grade appropriate material which will force them to cudgel their brains above the level they are used to. An effective teacher must also point out a student's weaknesses and thoroughly explain the steps needed to demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency. In the long-term, most students who have a desire to learn will be grateful for the criticism they received for it will have saved them a great deal of trouble in more challenging courses that demand a much greater level of competency. A teacher who has the ability to maintain a positive outlook during the most trying situations and the capacity to stay organized even during the most hectic schedule is also favorable, since students are inspired to look up to their teachers as role models. A teacher who lectures in monotone creates dreariness and students begin to lack focus, whereas an enthusiastic teacher with a smile frequently painted across his or her face looks professional, sparks interest, encourages participation, and is considered approachable. Although a classroom that inspires creativity with no drawn boundaries and a teacher who is meticulous in fulfilling students' individual-based needs are advantageous, in reality, the true determinant of my success lies within my own prowess- my ability to complete assignments thoroughly in a time-efficient manner, to stay organized, and to maintain studious work habits. A disciplined focus on my studies and an ample supply of diligence allotted to every reading and writing assignment, no matter what the level of difficulty or the amount of time needed to perform a thorough job, is sure to make me successful so long as I abide by all the expectations. From past experiences, I have ascertained that procrastinating will never allow optimal results to shine through since students who wait until a hair's breadth before an assignment is due find themselves rushing to meet an imminent deadlin...