Reading Reflection - Assignment Example

Reading Reflection: Looking for Trouble: Finding Your Way into a Writing Assignment I identify withSheldon’s situation of having to write because his life depended on his writing then. This is an ideal situation where one is working under pressure and has to deliver. It is also a situation where postponing does not cross one’s mind let alone thinking about it, even if one has no idea where to begin. When working under pressure and postponing is out of question, it means that one has identified a problem that has to be solved not just for class assignments but also in life and at stake is one’s personal and professional success.

For the successful, under pressure and problems, their integrative thinking is highly efficient despite the extent of complexity. Cultivating integrative thinking is possible when one views their problems as processes other than events, and problems as products. As a process, a situation makes it the responsibility of the learner to search for the problem without direct or indirect reference to the problem. Conversely, the product arising from the process of identifying the problem is also a problem because besides the presentation of the problem, raising crucial questions and identifying what is expected leads to a further problem to solve.

Although dealing with life problems maybe outlined in simple and motivating steps, I understand that the intensity of one problem differs from that of another. Consequently, I would be wrong to say that I have an ideal way of dealing with all my problems. However, with the right questions for each problem, identifying the right approach is easier, even though it is labor intensive. I have come to understand that despite my student life being a high pressure and high stake situation, I have never had the right approach nor known the ultimate expectations of my academic writing.

Actually, I have simplified by academic writing to fulfilling one of the instructor’s expectations. In some way, this approach has presented some pressure but, I have always performed just above average, and this is an indication that I missed some crucial steps. Average academic performance also implies that, my approach to the problem did not involve the hard work required to develop the complex idea in the problem. Consequently, I have failed to meet high achiever’s grades. In life situations, this would present me as a lesser competent person and could probably translate to less employability due to evident limitations in handling pressure.

Regardless of the inappropriateness of the question, I have learnt that the beginning of any academic writing or life situation is asking, “What is the problem?” For an integrative thinker, such a question is inevitable since it forms the basis raising additional fruitful questions and a search for what is at stake in the presented situation. Additionally, I have learnt that each assignment, the instructor presents the problem in varying ways that may range from direct identification of the problem to little or no hint of what the problem is hence requiring that I identify it.

This revelation has made me decide to always work on my assignments by first noticing the elements that standout, review what I have noticed and the details provided in the assignment, then ask fruitful questions, before identifying what the assignment is all about or central concept (Savini 56-60).Works CitedSavini, Catherine. "Looking for Trouble: Finding your Way into a Writing Assignment." Lowe, Charles and Pavel Zemliansky. Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Parlor Press, 2011. 52-70.