Reading with Awareness - Essay Example

As a freshman, I was afraid that this would prove to be an insurmountable obstacle in my pursuit of academic excellence. However, I have been very fortunate in overcoming this handicap, and making great strides in improving my command of the English language, in quite a short period of time. Of course, I have put in a lot of hard work, and can take credit for being an A student. But this would never have been possible without the strengthening of my English comprehension and writing skills. I am deeply aware that my success is in large part due to my enrollment in the Introduction to College Level Reading and Writing course.

The factors which facilitated my improvement are the gradual progression from simple texts to more complex ones, the application of critical thinking, the adoption of thesis-based writing techniques, and the awareness of my learning processes. The gradual progression from simple texts to more complex ones has been a great facilitator in my path to the mastery of the English language, particularly in my writing of the essay, “The Stories Can Save Us”. If I had been plunged into a complex essay, such as Heroes, in the very beginning, I would definitely have been tempted to throw up my hands!

My confidence would have been eroded, and it would have made the course very stressful. Beginning with the simpler essays, such as the Advertisement, was a great way to gradually lead me into deeper waters. This gave me the breathing space to consolidate the gains I have made in English, to gradually add to my vocabulary, and to take time to absorb the significance of my reading material. What is even more important to me, this gradual progression has helped me to learn to enjoy English writing, without it becoming a tedious classroom chore.

The application of critical thinking to my reading followed from my growing confidence. What at first appeared to be just straightforward stories, changed contour with repeated reading. I have learned not to take any writing at face value: just as the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes cautions people to think for themselves. My instructor’s guidance has made me understand that there are several messages the writer conveys through a story, and an in-depth study is necessary to make these messages evident.

I have learnt to ask questions regarding what the author is trying to say, the motives behind the writing, different shades of meaning, the importance of things left unsaid, and the use of different writing techniques to achieve the desired effect in a story. In short, I have learnt to ask the question, “Why?” when I read. This has made my reading a much richer experience than it was before I started this course. The adoption of thesis-based writing techniques has been a major gain for me.

Earlier, I have been accustomed to putting down my thoughts on paper, as and how these occurred to me. Writing within the framework of a thesis has given my essays and research papers a clarity that has lifted them to the next level. I continue to be amazed at the difference that can be made by adhering to the simple structure of an introductory paragraph with a clear thesis, body paragraphs, and the conclusion. This structure has given coherence to my writing, helped me to write logically, and taught me how to build up and substantiate my point of view.

This was my main strength in writing the essay, “The Stories Can Save Us”. I must acknowledge that the awareness of my learning process was made possible only through my continuous interaction with my instructor. Although I was conscious, in a very general way, of the great improvement I was making