When it comes to writing, students need to be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses. An in-depth evaluation of our abilities helps drive us to greater heights with our writing material. It allows us that space to be more confident in our abilities in the future. At the beginning of the semester, my confidence in my writing was already low. After receiving a D in my FIQWS class, I thought I would never understand the fundamentals of academic writing. I knew I had weaknesses that I needed to improve on, so this class was the perfect opportunity to challenge myself. I always gravitated more toward the STEM field as my confidence in my writing was always low. I excelled in math and science throughout high school while other English department courses were lackey. Picking this course gave me a sense of comfort because it involved an area I excelled in naturally.

Throughout the semester, the course learning objectives I utilized the most were 6 and 7. I always found it challenging to write research papers, especially when using a textbook or a small excerpt from one. The information never seemed straightforward and felt like a scavenger hunt to find essential quotes or evidence supporting my thesis. Last semester in my FIQWS, I was introduced to the ccny library portal. This method made attaining textual evidence more efficient for ccny students as it was a database that provided information right away. I never could take advantage of this due to our professors at the time giving us an in-class text to cite evidence on. However, in this course, I encountered the challenge of selecting a specific message or goal for my assignment before delving into choosing sources to support and enhance my stance. Despite initially feeling uncertain about the adequacy of my research and identifying potential flaws, I bolstered my confidence by actively utilizing feedback from my peers and studying examples of their work. This semester has been instrumental in effectively highlighting the diverse approaches required to convey specific themes across various types of literature.

My perspective on literature has evolved significantly, particularly in recognizing the complex nature of literature and the diverse forms in which it can be demonstrated. Collaborative work with peers has significantly enhanced my writing and presentation skills and provided valuable insights into assignment structures. The rhetorical analysis assignment, in particular, allowed me to accomplish course learning objectives 3 and 8 successfully. By analyzing visual components and their relevance to conveying specific messages or controversies, I further honed my ability to formulate coherent ideas and engage readers effectively through proper summarization and techniques.

My view of literature has changed. I used to see it only from the author’s perspective, focusing on how they use different techniques to express their ideas. But now, I’ve learned that literature is complex and can take many forms. Working in groups and getting feedback from other students has helped me understand how to structure my assignments and improve my writing and presentations. For example, in the first assignment, a rhetorical analysis, I had to analyze visual components and their connection to the overall message. This helped me improve my ability to organize my thoughts and use proper techniques to engage the reader. It also provides emotional perspectives and outlooks toward the reader. This felt vital because it allowed my audience to identify my persuasive and analytical language use.

Overall, this course has allowed me to view my value as a writer. Understanding that it’s not about whether you’re a great writer or not, but it’s about how much you are willing to improve on the skills you possess as a writer. Can you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and are you willing to challenge yourself?