Vincent Chow
ENGL 21001 P
Prof. Northrop
9/20/18

I think that writing and reading are nonessential past a certain age or grade level. Once we learn how to do both, if we aren’t trying to become writers, reporters, or any writing and reading research required job base I don’t think that we need to continue our education on it. I never had a book or any writing piece or literature that moved me or made me want to read or write more. To me reading and writing are only needed to a certain degree and anything past that isn’t important. I think that it should be optional depending on what that person is trying to do or become.
There are so many essays and reports that we all have to do and I never truly understood why. We learn how to read and write, however when have we really used these things in real life. I’m not talking the essentials parts of reading and writing, but things like writing formats, or how to read and interpret what a text is saying. Of course the basics of reading and writing are important however, why do we need to continue with it after we learn so. We spend a lot of time leaning all the different types of writing styles, formats, citations, but when have we used them is real life. If our livelihood doesn’t depend on that, when will we ever use these things that we have spend so much time learning. I have never had a situation where any message I got on any platform I wouldn’t be rereading the content over and over to see what is really being said and to really understand what there person is trying to say. Also, if I were to reply I wouldn’t be sending a message back in a certain format or style. I have never citied anyone beside for schoolwork so learning MLA, Chicago, APA were of no use at all. So why do we need to go through and learn more than we all need too.
I do think that reading and writing are very important to everyone, however when it comes to a certain point in ones life where if you don’t have a passion towards it, then we shouldn’t be forced to further learn. I feel that everyone should be able to pick whether or not they want to proceed with their education in reading or writing. I believe that if this is possible that classes would be more enjoyable and engaging. There wouldn’t be any people unless they feel that after they do they don’t belong, however if not it would be a class full of only students that find a desire to do so and have a passion for it. With that I think classes would do better grading wise and the student would at least try more and willing to do the things rather than those who don’t even want to be there to begin with. This to me would be a lot better than having a mix of students that care and don’t care; it would also help the professor or teacher because the class would be more participating with increased topic conversations.
This is also why I like Canada, even though it is a different country with different laws and systems, their college schools let you study toward your desired major. They would rather you take classes to your major than classes of humanities and I think this system is better and works more efficiently. If we all had the opportunity to pick I truly believe that school and classes would be more captivating for students to want to do more and give them a chance to actually meet others with same interest of majors rather than grouping up a bunch of different ones and not having anyone talk to each other in class or try to make friends. Reading and writing to me are really not that important after a certain time in life. It seems boring and has no growth potential for people who don’t desire to do so, then what is the point of it and why do we continue to do it.

Vincent Chow

ENGL 21001 P

Prof. Northrop

12/20/18

I think that this class taught me to be more open minded and think about different things in different ways and possibilities. In the beginning of this class I was hesitant and reluctant to think of this class as useful or a real learning experience as I have mentioned in my previous paper, I think that I have learned more and was shown what humanities really meant. Each paper we have writing were all very open and closed topics on how we as students saw things in a certain perspective. The Thanksgiving topic was a really interesting and actually made me think about how it really is and how we as people just ignore and go along with what fits best and to make a happy ending. This class has shown me to be less judgemental of things and try and understand what is really being said instead of just ignoring it completely. Even in class when we discuss certain topics and how we see how a painting or drawing is representing or what the author is trying to say from this literature, listening and hearing all the different  outlook on things when I just had a simple and few things while other got different and more. Other students helped me think of things in a more detailed and specific way as to even a shadow could be something. This class has really taught me something that I wouldn’t even think of, having being in this class has made me want to improve myself in terms on knowledge of humanities and how we as people see and view things in life. Classes like these help students learn more about themselves and help us understand things that we never thought of before or even seen before. This class helped teach me how to view the world in a different way as well as improving my writing skills as to describing and deciphering what I’m trying to or what is trying to be said by something.

Vincent Chow

ENGL 21001P

Prof. Northrop

12/20/18

How’s Your Professor?

According to the website ratemyprofessors, Martin Northrop’s total evaluation grade is a 4.0 with a 75 percent chance of students that would take his class again and with a 2.7 level of difficulty. This shows that Northrop is a very highly rated and enjoyable professor that is easy to take. However there are negative comments as well, with the most recent one from last semester on May 17, 2018 the student graded Northrop with a 1 overall grade and a 5 level of difficulty, the student also wrote “The class was very boring…He needs not to be a prof.” this student obvious didn’t care for the class one was in as well as for Northrop. It shows that the student didn’t pay attention or listen to what was being said. In my own experience with having class with Northrop it is enjoyable and it is true that he likes to talk, but its to help make the class flow and more enjoyable for the students to be more engaged. Even when reading the review of this student it does not make sense and seems to need help with writing and needs to be able to see things in a new way in which I believe is one of the things that Northrop does best.

Another comment made in the beginning of last year on January 1, 2017, the student gave Northrop a 5 overall grade and a 2 for level of difficulty and wrote “Martin Northrop is…I’ll be looking to take him again next semester, so should you.” this student seems to have enjoyed the class and would like to retake another class with Northrop showing interest in the way he teaches and directs classes. The comment made by this student really stands out as it relates to how I also feel about Northrop. It tells of how he is laid back and understanding as well as the urge to help with our grammar and writing skills, which he emphasizes in almost every class. His way of teaching helps students take feedback in a better way and in an easier way. With the grades and feedback about what a student has done wrong, it doesn’t make the student feel down or bad about what they did, instead it’s a way of thinking differently and viewing how to write in a different way so it’s not really a feedback as to what we really did wrong but as to a feedback of what else we could do or what if we did it this way or that way. Northrop makes you think and talk about your own interest and opinions and brings it all together to help look at a bigger picture.

With so many different professors and classes I would take another class with Martin Northrop as the instructor. In my own view and opinion I believe that the classes are straightforward and easy to follow. If you do what is instructed of him, any student would do fine and be able to pass the class. His feedback and grading are his own real thoughts and you could tell from the way he tells you his point of view to show us different ways to see things and write. His way of teaching is easy and flows nicely as he likes to talk and tell stories and try to make other students engage and be apart of the class. The papers are easy to follow as the instructions basically gives you freedom to write about a topic in any way one wants. He enjoys the many different thoughts and ways someone can view a certain thing. Like with the painting and poems he likes to keep asking what each student thinks about it and how they view it because he is interested in the way the student see’s the topic at hand as well as being able to inform and teach the student to see the topic in a new way and making it easier for us to understand and comprehend. Northrop is definitely a professor who I would take again if given the chance too, he is a very intelligent person who I believe could help and teach me new ways of reading and writing as well as just viewing life in general, for instance the Thanksgiving article really stood out to me and made me think about things in life in a different aspect. I think that the evaluation of Martin Northrop is a very good one and that students should take his classes as long as they will at least try and do what their told with that being said Martin Northrop is a professor who is very capable and very helpful as long as one is willing to listen and take in what is given.

Works Cited

Martin Northrop At Fordham University – Rose Hill

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=1843680

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