Looking
back on how I used to write essays, I am baffled that I managed to get this
far. My standard style of writing is basically last minute, with little room
for editing and correction. I just get into the mood for writing and then write
till I am done. Right before I print my work for submission, I read it
once over and that’s it. This has pretty much been the routine that I adhere to
whenever I have to write lengthy assignments. This method of writing essays had
worked well for me during my polytechnic years. However, in University it was a
totally different ballgame and I realized that I could improve my writing
process. I also recognized that my haphazard way of writing has made me suffer
greatly during examinations. When pressed for time and under pressure, I seem
to perform horribly, often regurgitating what I had memorized with little
grammatical considerations or structure to my answers. I desperately wanted to
improve my standard of English and was looking forward to ES1102, as I felt it
would provide the foundation I needed for writing well.
Through
ES1102, I learnt how to structure my essay well and also understood the
importance of writing drafts. I believe it was my first time writing multiple
drafts for an essay, and it truly gave me the opportunity to review my mistakes
and improve on them. Besides learning the basics of writing an essay, ES1102
also spurred my interest in improving my grammar. I went on to purchase grammar
and vocabulary apps on my phone to practice whenever I had free time.
Even
though I felt dreary half way through this module as other heavier modules
started to take its toll on me, I am glad I managed to complete this course.
There is no doubt that mastery of the English language is crucial for
university students who intend to be professionals in the future. I also felt
that writing modules such as these should be made compulsory for Arts students, and I would definitely benefit from such modules.
Lastly,
it wasn’t just the writing skills that I took away from this module, I also met
wonderful people and grew with them throughout the course. I loved how we could
display our vulnerabilities in a safe space, where we were given constructive
feedback on improving ourselves. For once, there was no judgment and no ridicule;
there was just love, compassion and a shared desire to take our English language
abilities to the next level.
So
thank you Brad and all my other classmates for your effort and determination in
completing this course. Hope you guys had as much fun as I did. See you around
school.
many thanks, Elizabeth, for your effort with this detailed reflection. You do a fine job of focusing on where you were with writing before taking the course and where you are now. I'm glad that skills learned in the course are useful for you. I also appreciate your recommendation. Like I said, it surprises me that in FASS a writing mod has not been included in the curriculum.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the Gibb's model of reflection, is there any area that you feel you will need to do work on in the future?
In any case, all the best as you continue your learning journey!