Martinez 1

Amanda Martinez

Professor Beadle

English 115

2 December 2017

Determination Is Key

Is it truly possible to become a better writer within a semester in college? In my opinion, it

is. I have learned many different things in the course of the term, that has allowed me to become a

stronger writer. The style of writing that was introduced was not what I was shown in high school

and was not something I could have mastered on my own. This writing course has challenged my

writing skills, expanded my creativity, and mind. Initially when I started English 115 I did not

believe I would become a better writer but to a certain extent I have. The three essays that I wrote

in this class challenged me to improve my writing. I acknowledge there is room for improvement

to become the best writer I can but the skills I have learned in one semester allowed me to be aware

that I can grow and learn as a writer and analyzer of my work.

Looking back on this class, I have realized just how much my writing has improved since

the beginning of the semester. I went from being a writer that was not confident in her work and

over-thought everything into someone who found her own writing style. I feel that the College

Writing course benefited my ability to write and increased my confidence about college level

academics. In my first assignment Bedtime Terrors I did not clearly state my opinion to the

prompt and lacked the communication of my argument. I used a large amount of description in my

sentences in the belief it would make my essays vibrant but ultimately lacked organization and

structure. As the weeks went by and in the class discussions we reviewed the topics in depth and I

went to the office hours. I was reassured my writing will and could improve. It was not until the
 Martinez 2

second essay, Is Godzilla the Solution to All? that I knew I was headed in the right direction in

my writing career. This essay challenged me to critically analyze another authors work. One thing

that this essay taught me was the importance of multiple drafts in the writing process. Although I

would receive some feedback that did discourage me, I used it to the best of my ability to apply it

to future works as a way of improvement and what to avoid. Due to the fact I reached out for help

and took the time to make sure I had answered all parts of the prompt, allowed my writing to not

only improve but lay out a platform for my writing to grow consistently. Both of my essays

displaced my writing improvements especially in making a stronger thesis and the effectiveness in

stating an argument.

Writing is an opportunity to take a clean piece of paper and create a personal

masterpiece. Although a prompt is meant as a guideline to have the essay be structured,

understanding the prompt can be difficult. Especially in Project Media for it did present a challenge

in itself, to know what to write about and the style in which it should be written in. The prompt

connected all concepts of the prior two essays into one challenging prompt. I was fully aware I

needed to focus on having appropriate support for the main points I would be making, with reasons

and explanations. I had applied all that I had learned throughout the course to this one essay in

hope of redeeming myself of the other two pervious essays. I had specifically used my evidence

to support my claim and provide analysis that strengthened my argument in my position that

women did represent characteristics of a vampire. But knowing I could apply what I had learned

to essays allowed me to be aware that my writing skills had ultimately improve. I found that writing

my essays had become sufficiently easier in the approach of the effectiveness in my argument and

the supportive claims. Despite the fact that the grades I had received on my first two essay was not
 Martinez 3

a sufficient difference, it was still a difference between the two. This had given me hope that my

writing will improve.

During my academic journey in this course I learned how to better support my ideas by

integrating sources the way that I could in my writing. Conducting research all throughout the

drafting process helped me make decisions about the organization and logic of my essay. In the

awareness of evidence allowed me to notice the gaps in my logic and narrowing my search to

sources that would further help explain my argument. For my first essay, I had learned the

importance of clearly stating my opinion, while in my second essay I recognized the importance

of revisions to have an effective argument, and the third one taught me in importance of applying

what I have learned to present a paper I could ultimately be proud of. Overall, the lessons I have

learned in the essays have allowed me to become a stronger writer. Where I can present a strong

argument and critically analyze my evidence that supports my topic. Along with, the improvement

of focusing on syntax and diction to allow the reader focus on the claim being made as opposed to

being confused.

Ultimately my writing has made significant improvements thought this semester. I

wouldve never thought that college would be where my writing would make an improvement of

such magnitude. Not only has my writing improved, but this course has aided my understanding

of certain aspects of writing I had never understood before. I am confident that I can now express

my ideas far more effectively in my future college classes after taking this class.