Reflection on Experience and Skills in English
Indeed, constant experience, practice, dedication, and passion eventually results in perfection in a certain matter. My writing career has not been easy when I started because I was lazy and passive when it came to actualizing the act of writing. It has taken support and devotion from my teacher who through various guidance and revisions has played a significant role in shaping my skills in writing. Besides, I have been able to acquire vast skills and experience such as critical thinking, writing, and reading effectively through various works in class and assignments from my teacher throughout the semester. The revision has formed the basis for my improvement as well as shaping and correcting my initial mistakes. Moreover, several practices and comments from my teacher concerning assigned assignments have paved the way for my perfection in the field of writing. Now, I can proudly state that through the assistance of my teacher, dedication, and willingness to work on my errors, I have become better and ready to face the next level with more motivation and ambitions (Iftanti 7). This paper seeks to illustrate my personal experience of learning through mistakes and revisions throughout the semester and acquiring vital skills in English 101 class.
Improvement in Reading and Writing Techniques
This semester has played a significant role in my writing career as I have been able to master various concepts, skills, and experience that will enable me to elevate my skills in the English language. Various assignments, classroom notes, and other resources have propelled me to master and be confident in English. Therefore, I have significantly improved in my reading and writing as well as in critical thinking, most of which I was not well equipped. To be honest, I was unable to communicate through reading and writing with active voice, but since enrolling in the class this semester, I have become better and motivated to improve more. Teacher’s comments, as well as various practices, have opened my eyes to more exploration in the subject. Besides, my poor grammar and reading skills are at another level now, given that I was able to do many practices through two assigned essay writings. For example, the assigned essay Smartness in Disguise shaped how I communicated through writing as it expanded my creativity in expressing ideas and facts.
Furthermore, the article formed the basis of my effective reading, critical thinking, and writing effectively. For example, after reading the assigned article, critically analyzing, and summarizing it in my own words, I have been able to explore my mind in various concepts such as paraphrasing, proper capitalization, proper sentence structures, and others (Iftanti 9). While summarizing the article, ‘Smartness in Disguise’, I was able to make corrections based on my teacher’s comments on areas such as proper capitalization and punctuation. For instance, ‘SMARTNESS IN DISGUISE’ instead of ‘Smartness in Disguise’, ‘to take their nonacademic interest as…’ instead of ‘to take their non-academic interests as…’, ‘School and college might be…’ instead of ‘school and college might be…’, ‘Graff compares the capabilities sports, and …’ instead of ‘Graff compares sports and …’ among others in proper punctuation and capitalization. Besides, my summarization and quotation of text have improved, as I have learned to be more precise. For example, summarizing Graff’s arguments with the right active voice something that was a challenge in the past. Moreover, I have improved in the use of proper tenses and the ability to avoid grammatical errors, for example, the use of present simple tense to apply facts to affirm a point in arguments. For instance, ‘he concludes that a person who has perfected in the sport is an intellectual in his own means’.
Critical Thinking and Argumentation
Initially, I was not well aware of critically thinking and argumentation in essay writing. However, after completing various assignments and reading class notes as well as other useful resources, I am now able to argue more effectively and efficiently using facts from reading. Fundamental concepts of critical thinking, effective reading and writing, and other skills can only be acquired through learning from mistakes and seeking improvement (Iftanti 12). Moreover, I can be able to utilize readings, find facts and ideas to apply in argumentation as well as proper in-texts and citations. For example, while completing the argumentative essay on the topic of college graduates and its benefits in real life, I was able to learn the utilization of borrowed work and proper citation to avoid issues of plagiarism. For instance, in the sentence ‘according to Hamilton’s project, the average earning of 18 to 21-year-olds who have only graduated from high school presents “an opportunity cost of $54,000” against those going for a four-year degree (Sawhill and Owen 210)’ to prove facts through statistically. Moreover, the utilization of proper and effective gramma in expressing information and expressing opinions has taken a new turn.
Furthermore, through essay writing assignments, I have been able to learn the application of preposition for proper expression in grammar. For example, ‘…knowledge on staying healthy.’ Instead of ‘knowledge about staying healthy.’. Additionally, I have learned how to best formulate a thesis statement and how to be more precise with the use of words to be clarity for my readers (Iftanti 12). In the argumentation essay, College title, and its benefits in life in general, through corrections from my teacher’s comments, I was able to come up with a logical thesis statement. For instance, previously, my thesis statement failed precision and clarity as seen in the sentence, ‘everyone should not go to college because it does not directly translate to higher earnings due to influence by school type and career.’; however, later I was able to formulate a more elaborate and clear thesis, ‘everyone should go to college because individual would make more money, get more opportunities, and live a better life.’. Therefore, through these experiences and practices, I have become more motivated and convinced that my grammar, as well as writing techniques, have tremendously improved. Besides, I am now hopeful that I will be able to tackle my higher English classes more effectively and efficiently.
Summary
In conclusion, I am really happy to notice my improvement and tremendous progress in proper grammar and mastery in skills such as effective reading and writing, summarization and quotation of facts, effective argumentation, logical use, and manipulation of various skills in English. The various essays completed in my class assignment have played a significant role in upgrading and bettering my English skills and proficiency. Besides, this has played a vital role in motivating me more while tackling my next higher English classes in the future. Therefore, as a result of this experience, I can bold attest that I am ready and focused to face my future English classes. Besides, I am now more effective and efficient in the manner of expression facts and opinions through borrowed resources. As a result, it has played an important impact in other areas of my life as it will be able to guide me in expressing myself through writings. Hence, generally, it will play a role in ensuring I achieve and accomplish success in pursuing my career. Finally, it has imparted the realization that it is through constant and consistent practice on a certain matter that will result in perfection and mastery of the skill or experience.