Major goals for WSC 2 are:
- to learn how to respond to writing assignments using an appropriate style, structure, and voice
- to apply editing, proofreading, and revision strategies.
Within these main goals, there are several smaller, yet still significant, objectives for WSC 2 that I also wish to achieve.
First of all, writing well means writing creatively. That is why I have set the aim of learning how to craft exciting pieces of writing that will engage my readers.
The next important goal is to learn how to write persuasively. I want to be able to present a clear argument and convince the audience that my position is the best. So far, I do not feel confident about my skills in being able to convince people through my writing. I would like to develop this ability as I feel that it will make my writing more powerful.
I also wish to make my writing concise and to the point. So far, I find it difficult to delete parts of my writing because I cannot discern which of them are more important and which are less important. During WSC 2, I hope to learn how to differentiate between the primary and secondary elements in writing. Thus, I have a goal to acquire the basics of laconic writing.
This goal is opposite to the previous one. The skill of making a paper long enough without filling it in with irrelevant or repetitive facts is also a crucial skill to master. I would like to know what techniques might be employed to make a paper longer, if necessary. I want to learn how to express my thoughts to their fullest extent.
Writing honestly is my next aim within this class. I wish to become a writer who is not afraid to express his thoughts. I want to concentrate on my own opinions rather than be overly distracted by worrying about what the readers may think. Of course, it is important to gain the audience’s respect. Still, I am convinced that people are more likely to enjoy reading something sincere rather than something that only intends to flatter, or comes across as disingenuous.
Another goal is to arrange points into coherent arguments. Quite frequently, I know what I want to say but struggle to come up with a productive structure to organize my thoughts into clear assertions. I hope that WSC 2 will enable me to become better at putting my thoughts in order.
The next goal is to learn to maintain focus on the key point. It is easy to get distracted from a topic and start writing about unrelated things that have only a vague connection to the paper. Thus, I would like to be more consistent in my writing and not forget where I started.
Coming up with a good thesis statement is a crucial goal for WSC 2. Students frequently experience problems when crafting a thesis and also when elaborating on the topic sentences connected with it. I want to learn how to formulate a well-organized and captivating thesis statement that will engage readers and secure their interest in reading the whole piece.
The final goal is more concerned with the formal aspects of writing rather than creative ones. However, I feel these are also essential to master. I would like to have a better understanding of different citation styles. I am well-versed already in the use of MLA and APA, but such styles as Chicago or Turabian still present some difficulties.