Final Reflection

Lee Mandon Dr. Rieman English 1101x December 6, 2009 Semester In Hindsight Writing is not always as black and white as we were taught, and sometimes you can’t fight the flow of your writing. That is the biggest lesson I have learned this year and it is one that has helped my writing dramatically. Rather than focusing on grammar and punctuation, I have begun to write my papers first, then going back through them to revise and repose. At the beginning of the year I was very aware of the technical side of my writing, but throughout the semester I have changed my approach. I have been less worried with how it looks, and more focused on the content and persuasive aspects of my writing. It has helped dramatically in creating a more fluid script and enabling me to stay on topic. One of the biggest problems I have had in the past is jumping from idea to idea without any support. After reading through my mid-term reflection I noticed that my ideas were often left open-ended and did not have any real conclusions. One of the biggest areas I was working on around the mid-term reflection was organizing my ideas. Since then I have improved dramatically and I think my essays now have more than enough support for my ideas. Discussing the weak points of my essays with my peers was enlightening and enabled me to see their perspectives on the issue. Once I was able to see the subject from multiple perspectives, I became a much stronger writer. The daybook entries were also helpful this semester because it kept my writing sharp and I was able to stay on top of my vocabulary without working outside of class to do so. This meant that

when it was time to write my essays, I did not have to concentrate on my grammar. I was able to focus on my organization and support throughout the papers. As an english student I have come a long way with my writing. I came away with a better understanding of the process of writing, as well as my strengths and weaknesses as a writer.