Opening Reflection
It can be difficult to see improvements being made when they happen over a long period of time, such as over a semester, but when you compare before and after products, the improvements become clearer to see. While reviewing my work from this semester in English 250H, I have noticed growth in my writing. Throughout this course, my conclusions, introductions, and usage of MLA format have improved greatly.
One of the my greatest improvements in this class was in writing introductions. I've learned to write introductions that include something to catch the attention of the audience. While my introductions at the beginning of the course included the required information, they lacked life, intrigue, and style. The following is an example of one of my early introductions: "I will begin by summarizing E. B. White’s comment about the future of reading. Then I will explain why I agree with White about the importance of reading and the impending disappearance of the printed word, but disagree with his assertions that we must be prepared for only five percent of people to be reading." This introduction includes a thesis and explains where the essay is going. It is also extremely boring. This introduction is not likely to strike interest in the audience. The introduction, below, however, contains a lot more color. "Oh no! Here comes another lecture about why we need to recycle! I know this may be what you are thinking, but relax. This article is not another recycling lecture. While recycling is important and does have a lot of positive environmental effects, that’s not the focus of this essay. I’m here to tell you why you should promote a simpler recycling system. Complicated recycling policies result in lower participation in recycling, and thus, negatively impact the environment." This introduction is written with the audience of middle-schoolers in mind. It explains why they should care about the topic and read the essay. It is much more successful at capturing the audience. The improvement in my introductions is clear and makes a big difference in the success of my writing as a whole.
My conclusions have also improved significantly throughout the course. At the beginning of the course, my conclusions had the same issue as my introductions. They lacked expression and style. The following is an example of one of the conclusions I wrote at the beginning of the semester: "Although E.B. White was correct about the disappearance of printed materials, he was incorrect in assuming that reading would disappear along with print. Reading mediums may change, but reading will not cease any time soon. We simply depend too much on it." This conclusion is very boring. It mirrors the introduction as conclusions should, but it lacks any implications for the reader. It doesn't incite any action or thought in the reader. It does not tell the audience what they should do with the information they have learned throughout the essay or how the information applies to their lives. Look at the following conclusion to see the improvement in my writing: "So what can you do to promote recycling and thus help our environment? You can advocate that more places use a commingled recycling system that will bring more participation, because it is easier for depositors to use. I know I will be advocating a change in policy at my school. You can do the same in your own community or wherever you go." This conclusion also mirrors the introduction and includes the key ideas from the essay. In addition, this conclusion calls upon the audience to act. It explains how the essay can be applied to their lives. It has so much more life, style, and function. The improvement is easy to see.
Another improvement in my writing has been in the proper usage of MLA format. One thing I learned and applied in my writing this semester is titles of magazines, books, newspapers, and websites should be italicized. Previously, I thought titles were placed in quotation marks, but I've learned that only titles of short works such as articles and essays are placed in quotations. Another thing I learned about MLA formatting is numbers should be written in words only when they are the first words in the sentence or one word long.
Thus, my writing has improved greatly over the course of the semester. My conclusions, introductions, and MLA formatting have been strengthened. In order to see more of my work this semester and reflections regarding my work, browse the rest of my portfolio.
One of the my greatest improvements in this class was in writing introductions. I've learned to write introductions that include something to catch the attention of the audience. While my introductions at the beginning of the course included the required information, they lacked life, intrigue, and style. The following is an example of one of my early introductions: "I will begin by summarizing E. B. White’s comment about the future of reading. Then I will explain why I agree with White about the importance of reading and the impending disappearance of the printed word, but disagree with his assertions that we must be prepared for only five percent of people to be reading." This introduction includes a thesis and explains where the essay is going. It is also extremely boring. This introduction is not likely to strike interest in the audience. The introduction, below, however, contains a lot more color. "Oh no! Here comes another lecture about why we need to recycle! I know this may be what you are thinking, but relax. This article is not another recycling lecture. While recycling is important and does have a lot of positive environmental effects, that’s not the focus of this essay. I’m here to tell you why you should promote a simpler recycling system. Complicated recycling policies result in lower participation in recycling, and thus, negatively impact the environment." This introduction is written with the audience of middle-schoolers in mind. It explains why they should care about the topic and read the essay. It is much more successful at capturing the audience. The improvement in my introductions is clear and makes a big difference in the success of my writing as a whole.
My conclusions have also improved significantly throughout the course. At the beginning of the course, my conclusions had the same issue as my introductions. They lacked expression and style. The following is an example of one of the conclusions I wrote at the beginning of the semester: "Although E.B. White was correct about the disappearance of printed materials, he was incorrect in assuming that reading would disappear along with print. Reading mediums may change, but reading will not cease any time soon. We simply depend too much on it." This conclusion is very boring. It mirrors the introduction as conclusions should, but it lacks any implications for the reader. It doesn't incite any action or thought in the reader. It does not tell the audience what they should do with the information they have learned throughout the essay or how the information applies to their lives. Look at the following conclusion to see the improvement in my writing: "So what can you do to promote recycling and thus help our environment? You can advocate that more places use a commingled recycling system that will bring more participation, because it is easier for depositors to use. I know I will be advocating a change in policy at my school. You can do the same in your own community or wherever you go." This conclusion also mirrors the introduction and includes the key ideas from the essay. In addition, this conclusion calls upon the audience to act. It explains how the essay can be applied to their lives. It has so much more life, style, and function. The improvement is easy to see.
Another improvement in my writing has been in the proper usage of MLA format. One thing I learned and applied in my writing this semester is titles of magazines, books, newspapers, and websites should be italicized. Previously, I thought titles were placed in quotation marks, but I've learned that only titles of short works such as articles and essays are placed in quotations. Another thing I learned about MLA formatting is numbers should be written in words only when they are the first words in the sentence or one word long.
Thus, my writing has improved greatly over the course of the semester. My conclusions, introductions, and MLA formatting have been strengthened. In order to see more of my work this semester and reflections regarding my work, browse the rest of my portfolio.