My introduction to the world of academic writing has greatly improved my scholarly resume. Consequently, I am no longer afraid of formal writing. My course materials have eased me into the exciting world of academic writing and they have consequently changed me from a novice into an intermediate. In the course of this learning period, I have managed to complete several formal and informal writing exercises.
The course has implicitly emphasized on the need for practice when it comes to formal writing. At the beginning of my writing experience, I dreaded every writing challenge that was presented to me even though I was already an avid reader. However, my brief training in formal writing has enabled me to synthesize and regurgitate information in equal measure. Now, it is possible for me to reflect on any academic article. In addition, I have learnt about methods of publishing individual research without ‘stealing’ from other scholars. Nevertheless, I have also had several negative experiences as a budding academic writer. This paper is a reflective self-analysis on my writing during this semester.
In the course of my writing, I have noticed that I have evident strengths that are adequately reflected in my writing experience. These strengths are important to my future college and career activities. My main strength in writing is the ability to organize and express ideas and explanations. After reviewing my past papers, it is clear that as a writer I am able to present an enviable level of professionalism in my work. For example, my rhetorical analysis paper consists of neatly arranged subtitles.
These subtitles are important because they enable the reader to understand my claims faster. My ability to organize ideas and explanations is reflected in my quantitative literacy essay. The quantitative literacy essay was the most challenging paper that I tackled this semester. However, the completed essay does not reflect this inadequacy mostly because of its professional arrangement (Quantitative Literacy Essay 1).
After I had conducted enough research, I was able to come up with an essay that displays my ability to organize ideas. Although the quantitative essay contains materials that are hard to synthesize, the flow of ideas that is displayed by my writing makes it easier to comprehend the essay’s subject matter. In future, I hope to hone my analytical and organizational skills by taking on more complex writing challenges.
My writing also demonstrates a superior ability in the use of Standard English. Although my initial English knowledge was not very strong, I have been able to master Standard English usage. This ability is reflected in majority of my work. For instance, the grammar level in most of my essays paints the picture of an English language master. An example of a sentence that highlights my grammatical abilities is this one; “the article is practical in highlighting the role that technology plays in the modern world” (Rhetorical Analysis Essay 2).
This sentence is a very simple statement but good use of grammar makes it synonymous with language mastery. In another essay, I wrote that, “it is evident that higher education is very important in the academic realm because it is not only an ingredient of academic prowess, but it is also a factor of social and economic development of a society” (Research Essay 4). Consequently, the ability to master Standard English has enabled me to venture into ‘flowery language’ as exemplified in the examples above. It is also important to note that in most of my previous essays my instructor has not cited me for any serious proofreading errors.
In writing, my biggest challenge lies in critical thinking. Although I am able to present ideas in an organized and palatable manner, I have never been able to present ideas in a third or a fourth angle. Most of the arguments that I present in my essays lack the originality that comes with critical-thinking prowess. For instance, most of my essays only present arguments and counter arguments of other authors. Nevertheless, the essays rarely deviate from the norm. In my past rhetorical essay, my task was to analyze an article. However, my analysis lacked ‘my’ personal input on the article’s argument.
My other shortcoming when it comes to writing is my overconfident approach leading to a general lack of commitment. Although this shortcoming is only manifested in a few of my essays, it is still undermining my writing abilities. For instance, I have adopted a writing strategy that only encompasses reading and writing. Consequently, I have overlooked important activities such as pre-writing and drafting. This shortcoming is revealed in my past research essay where the conclusion is evidently ‘rushed’.
My writing progress over the last semester reveals that my skills as a writer have greatly improved over the last few months. In addition, this self-analysis has enabled me to reflect on my main strengths and weaknesses when it comes to my writing abilities. My future as a master of the English language is very bright. In addition, it is evident that I have to work harder to improve my critical thinking skills. Overall, my improving writing abilities will enable me to obtain high grades. Consequently, the high grades will enable me to connect with first-rate employers who will in turn polish my future career prospects.
Works Cited
Quantitative literacy essay – Climate Change.
Research essay – Importance of higher education.
Rhetorical analysis essay- Article critique.