Abstract

This reflection highlights the growth I experienced during a writing course, where assignments like a position paper, poem analysis, and sustainability PSA improved my drafting, research, and audience-awareness skills. These projects reshaped my perspective on writing, making it a more meaningful and rewarding process.

Milenka Izquierdo 

FIQWS 10108

Proff. Carpenter 

Dec. 13, 2024

Final Self-Assessment Essay

Throughout this course, I’ve discovered new aspects of myself, my skills, and my interests as a writer. At the start, I had relatively low expectations because writing has never been my favorite subject. However, this class has shown me that writing can be both manageable and meaningful. While the workload was reasonable, the assignments still pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to improve. I was introduced to methods and approaches that I hadn’t tried before, which shifted my perspective on writing. I realized that writing doesn’t always have to feel like a burden; it can also be a tool for personal growth, self-expression, and exploration of ideas.

One assignment that significantly contributed to my development as a writer was the position paper. This task helped me improve my drafting, revising, and editing strategies while strengthening my ability to use sources effectively. In the past, I often rushed through my writing, focusing on finishing as quickly as possible rather than taking the time to produce a thoughtful and well-structured piece. The position paper process was different because of how Professor Carpenter structured it, breaking the workload into smaller, manageable tasks. This gradual approach made what initially felt like a daunting assignment much more achievable. We started by drafting individual body paragraphs, focusing on organizing our ideas and integrating evidence. Next, we tackled the introduction, conclusion, and counterclaim. Breaking the assignment into these steps allowed me to focus on one part of the paper at a time instead of feeling overwhelmed by the entire project. The research was a major component of the position paper, and I spent several class periods finding credible and reliable sources, including news articles, scholarly papers, and academic journals. This process helped me better understand how to use research to strengthen my arguments and taught me the importance of critically evaluating my sources. What stood out most about this assignment was how much time drafting saved in the long run. Once I had completed all the smaller sections of the paper, assembling the final draft and editing it was far less time-consuming than I had expected—just 1–2 hours. By breaking the paper into parts, I was able to refine my arguments and proofread for grammar, clarity, and proper citation. This experience taught me that writing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming and that drafting and revising can make the process smoother and more effective. It also helped me discover that I genuinely enjoy the research aspect of writing, especially when it relates to topics I care about, like environmental issues and sustainability.

Another assignment that helped me grow as a writer was the poem analysis, where I focused on Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese. Unlike other tasks, this assignment required me to analyze a poem I had no prior knowledge of and develop my own interpretation of its message and themes. At first, I was intimidated. Poetry analysis seemed abstract and subjective, and I worried about being “wrong.” However, as I began to dig deeper into the poem, I realized that writing isn’t always about finding the “right” answer. Instead, it’s about forming an interpretation and supporting it with evidence. In Wild Geese, I found a message of authenticity and belonging that resonated deeply with me. I connected the poem’s themes to my personal experience of adjusting to life in a new country. During that time, I felt uncertain about my identity, detached from my roots, and overwhelmed by the challenges of fitting in. The poem’s lines, especially “You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves,” reminded me of the importance of self-acceptance and embracing who I am. This assignment showed me how writing can be a reflective process, allowing me to explore the work I’m analyzing and my life experiences. It also reinforced the idea that effective writing is not about memorizing answers but about developing ideas, articulating them clearly, and backing them up with thoughtful analysis.

The sustainability public service announcement (PSA) was another significant moment in this course that taught me how to balance my writing goals with audience expectations. This assignment required me to consider genre conventions, rhetorical situations, and the best ways to engage a specific audience. Initially, my teammates and I struggled to connect with our intended audience. While our original idea aligned with the assignment prompt, it lacked a clear message that would resonate with our peers. After brainstorming and receiving feedback, we revised our approach, ensuring our message was clear, engaging, and relevant to our audience. This collaborative process was valuable because it taught me the importance of teamwork and constructive criticism. By sharing ideas, identifying weaknesses, and building on each other’s input, my teammates and I created a PSA that effectively delivered our message. This assignment also highlighted the importance of considering audience expectations when writing or creating, whether it’s an essay, a PSA video, or any other form of communication.

Overall, this course has not only strengthened my writing skills but also reshaped my perspective on writing as a whole. Through assignments like the position paper, poem analysis, and PSA, I’ve learned to approach writing with a new mindset. I now see writing as a process that involves drafting, revising, research, collaboration, and audience awareness. Each of these skills has helped me grow as a writer and a thinker, allowing me to engage more thoughtfully with the topics I write about.

In conclusion, this course has been transformative for me as a writer. I entered the class with low expectations and a limited view of what writing could offer, but I’m leaving with a stronger skill set, new confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the writing process. Writing can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding, meaningful, and even enjoyable when approached with the right mindset. The position paper allowed me to refine my research and organizational skills, the poem analysis helped me connect literature to my personal experiences and articulate a stance, and the PSA taught me how to tailor my writing to a specific audience,  I now see writing as a tool that allows me to express myself, connect with others, and explore issues I care about and gained valuable skills that will stay with me in future classes and beyond.