NNF Reflection

]One of the main things I wanted to learn this unit was how to revise boring non-fiction using narrative techniques, and I needed to learn how to write proper research. Also, I was curious about Auschwitz, so it was interesting to research that topic.

The First Part of my Chapter

I learned many ways to weave narrative into my writing, and it made my topic much more interesting to read. It was fun to write after all my research, because all I had to do was tell the story like any personal narrative. The important part to the writing process was researching, because that’s where I had to collect all of the information. Inventing would have destroyed the non-fiction element of the piece, so that’s where I had to dig deep and find the best possible sources to base my writing off of. My multiple sources and images are in my bibliography, and I have an mix of primary and secondary. All of my learning was showcased when I put together my iBook. I can still continue to learn about these skills, but what I have learned so far will be really useful in the future.

The process wasn’t completely smooth, however, because I ran into a bunch of roadblocks. One of the main ones was finding a story to write about, because Auschwitz is a big camp, so I had to search for a unique story. When I struggled, I talked with my partner about my problems, and by collaborating with each other, we both found our stories. From then on, whenever I was struggling, I first asked my partner or teacher. For example, I couldn’t think of many historical signifiers, so I asked Mr. Arleth for help and he helped me figure out that I could explain the lack of medical advancement from those times. Also, the most useful resource that I used to revise my writing was the feedback I received, because I then understood how I needed to revise my work.

As soon as I learned more about the things that I needed, the writing part came more naturally, and I didn’t procrastinate as much. After I put the book together, I shared my book with seventh graders and received pretty good feedback. Overall, I think this unit taught me many valuable skills, and I enjoyed writing my iBook.