Reflective Essay

In this Introduction to English Literature course, I have learned how to correctly punctuation sentences, write various types of papers, and how to mold my papers to suit my intended audience. In high school, I was taught how to write in a specific style where essays were composed of an introduction paragraph followed by three body paragraphs, and lastly a conclusion. In this course m, I have learned there is no set formula to an essay. Paragraphs can be long or they can be a few sentences. Before taking this course, I only knew how to write a generic paper, but my knowledge has been expanded to elaborate on my essay writing skills. I now know how to alter my writing style to appeal to my audience. 

My writing process has stayed consistent, but with this course I have added to my process. Before writing an essay, I create an outline. I have found that adding descriptive details in an outline has helped my vocabulary when writing. I have also learned that when writing an outline, it is necessary to identify all parts of a prompt. This has always been the case when answering a prompt, but it is always important to identify what must be answered. 

Unfortunately, I still struggle with punctuation. When writing future papers, I will use resources around me to improve my punctuation. My writing style has improved throughout the course. At the beginning of the course, my writing was missing fluidity and emotion. Now I am able to transition from paragraph to paragraph without leaving unanswered questions. I am also able to adjust my vocabulary or essay structure to elicit emotions to emphasize the essays’ purpose. 

I aspire to be a dental hygienist, and may even work in the nursing field. Even though the healthcare field is more hands-on, writing and grammar are still used. Nurses and hygienists write reports about their patients. This is one of the most important aspects of being a healthcare provider. Their reports provide all necessary information about their patient. Such information needs to be informative, but also detailed. With what I have learned in this course, I will be able to write detailed reports that are concise as well. 

Before taking this course, I had always thought that I was a terrible writer. I believed that my writing was stiff and lifeless. My confidence in my writing has increased because of the many opportunities there were for constructive criticism. My peers have pointed out that I struggle initially with providing sufficient details and with phrasing. They have given advice on how to strengthen my weaknesses. With the help of others, I was able to improve my writing skills. I am also more comfortable with playing with my writing style. 

I have been able to apply what I have learned in this course to others. I have been able to play with my writing to suit the genre in which I have been writing. It has helped in science based courses and as well in other English courses. Lab reports rely heavily on the details you obtain from an experiment. It is important to note all and any observations. This course has helped improve the quality of my lab reports. This course has been helpful in developing my writing skills. I am now a confident writer and will continue to work on my writing skills.