Final Reflection #3

Oliver Robinson English 1101X Dr. Reiman Final Reflection As I look back on this semester I feel accomplished in many different ways. At the beginning I never knew that I could take a piece of writing and write essays that do not require a syllabus and where I can voice my own opinion. Inquiring and interpreting were two ways of writing essays that I knew nothing about, but now I want to do more of them and explore new essay writing techniques. As far as becoming a true academic writer, this course has helped me greatly. Last year I knew very little about academic writing and this semester’s class has allowed me to find out what it is, and has also given me key tools to become one. My day book will never be thrown away and more than likely added to as I explore new ideas and techniques in further writing courses. In the past my English classes have been straight forward classes with assignments that did not allow for too much creativity, this writing class was truly a new take on writing that I both enjoyed and learned from. I mentioned in my mid-term reflection that I improved my note taking abilities and that I have improved my essay writing abilities, as the semester progressed I continued improving on other areas of the class. One such area is my role in peer our workshop groups. It took me a while but I realized the true potential of learning from my peers and also helping them in any way

that I could. As I read other peoples pieces of works it allowed me to add or exclude certain parts of my own essay. Reading my peers work also helped me understand a better language to write in that could benefit me later on. If I were to look at myself as a writer from the first week to week sixteen I can see a definite change in my confidence towards new challenges such as how to attack a new type of essay. This is evident in not only my essays throughout the semester but the entries in my day book. The length and quality changes which lets me know that even in class I can draw from my new techniques. This sixteen week course has truly benefited my writing abilities. I have learned new techniques I mentioned above and I learned how to use these techniques with different styles of writing. My abilities to take notes and use quotes affectively in essays has also been improved to the point that I am confident to put quotes in any piece of writing and help those who do not. Peer Workshops have allowed me to become a more observant writer and editor not only for my own pieces of writing but for others as well. In the future I will look at my first college writing class with a positive view due to the fact it has helped me so much.