Student’s Name Jun hao Chen
Instructor:Benjamin Swett
Due Date:5/19/2022
Reflective Letter
I did not get the allure of reading books. Each project required me to read one after another, and I had no idea what the excitement was about. After taking this course, my literary eyes were opened for the first time. It made me fall in love with books that I did not know existed. In this essay, I will reflect on what I have learned this semester, synthesize those lessons in writing, and discuss how I intend to build on them as a literature student.
Throughout this semester, I made tremendous improvements in my academic writing. The area where I recorded the most improvement is in writing my introductory paragraphs. There have been significant improvements in my introductory paragraphs and thesis statements compared to my previous essays. The introductory paragraph was weak in my first final essay, a personified fish. The lecturer indicated on the notes that I should review the past feedback on my introductory paragraphs. Building from this, I made significant improvements to my introductory paragraphs, reflected in my second final essay (Essay 2 Final Draft). In this essay, the lecturer acknowledges the effort to improve my introductory paragraphs. He indicates a strong introduction and commends the excellent work put in the introductory paragraph.
I credit this crucial improvement to the class handouts on introductory paragraphs and solid literary theses. Apart from these handfuls of handouts, I also read through some novels while paying attention to their introductory paragraphs. Unlike my previous understanding of introductory paragraphs, I now clearly understand why an introductory paragraph should be brief and catchy. If it is too detailed, the reader will be bored. On the other hand, a brief and catchy introduction is likely to capture the reader’s attention and trigger them to read more of the document. Despite the improvements realized in my introductory paragraphs, I am still working hard to make my introductory paragraphs more refined, catchy, and appealing to my readers. As a result, I plan to improve my opening and thesis statements in my introductory paragraphs.
Despite making some notable improvements in my academic writing, I struggle with close reading and identifying interpretive problems in literary papers. Considering their close association, I have been having trouble identifying interpretive problems after close reading. In the last paragraph of essay one final draft, a personified fish, the lecturer indicated that the idea in that paragraph was promising but underdeveloped. To improve this, the lecturer suggested that I improve my understanding of interpretive problems and the central questions. This aspect is also emphasized in the formal draft of Essay 1. The instructor notes that I should be able to identify an interpretive problem and not deviate from it in my writing.
During this semester, I had reading materials and assignments addressing the aspect of interpretive problems in writing. Compared to my prior lack of knowledge on this topic, I have considerable improvements in identifying interpretive problems in writing. However, there is still much room for improvement in this area. One such area is ensuring that the interpretive problem is related to the central question before introducing them. As a result, I plan to challenge myself to do several out-of-class tasks that require the identification of interpretive problems. Through close reading, I believe that I will be able to achieve this feat of ensuring that the interpretive problem is related to the central question in the essay.
Of all the essays that I submitted for assessment during this semester, I consider Essay 2 final draft as that which I am most proud of from this semester. Why is it so important to me? This essay is reflective of all the progress that I have made in my academic writing. Compared to my previous papers, this essay is my best one so far. In this essay, the lecturer noted the improvement in my introductory paragraph. In the first paragraph of this essay, the instructor indicated that the introduction was solid and sound. In future essays, I want to reduce the weaknesses highlighted in my essay to increase the quality of my writing.
On the other hand, I was least satisfied with Essay 1 final draft. It was, without doubt, subpar. Reflecting on this essay, I had a weak introductory paragraph compared to the essay 2 final draft. In the third and fourth paragraphs, the lecture notes that they should be condensed into a single analysis paragraph. The lecturer also indicated that I had not written a required minimum of 5 analysis paragraphs. Moreover, the instructor indicated that I kept repeating the same point throughout the essay without arriving at any particular insight. As a result, I plan to improve on the weaknesses mentioned in the essay so that my future essays will be more satisfactory.
What do I think about my writing process? While evaluating my writing process, there are several improvements that I am proud of. Even though they might seem like minor achievements to established writers, all the improvements I have made throughout this semester have played an enormous part in making me a better academic writer. Compared to when I joined this class, my academic writing skills have improved tremendously. Most of these improvements can be credited to using the feedback from my previous essays to build on my next ones while also consulting with other experienced readers. In addition to the efforts mentioned above, I also took advantage of office hours and the Writing Center to polish my writing skills.
Due to the continued effort to improve my writing skills, I can confidently say that my efficiency has significantly improved. Even though I would not describe my writing process as ‘effective,’ I can promise that I am close to it. I feel closer to being effective every day. In the future, I plan to increase my reading habits and regularly use the lecturer’s feedback notes to improve on my weaknesses. Moreover, I plan to keep improving on every writing aspect relentlessly—even those noted as satisfactory by the lecturer. Indeed, I dream of being a proficient writer and reaching new heights in the writing field.
Reflecting on my writing process has demonstrated both positives and negatives that need to be worked on. I noticed a significant improvement in writing introductory paragraphs, whereas I noted an apparent weakness in identifying interpretive problems throughout my essays. Comparing my essays, the first final draft is the one that I am most proud of since it reflects my improvements throughout the course. Based on my strengths and weaknesses revealed in this essay, I plan to improve on my weaknesses and become even better in the areas that are already promising. Through relentless efforts, I believe that I will achieve my goal of being a more effective and proficient writer.
