Participation in English 101A - Essay Example

December 11, 2005 Faculty Department Members, I have very much enjoyed my participation in English 101A and have gained the much-needed knowledge required to continue my English education. My skills with the English language now allow me to describe an experience with clarity and insight. I have the ability to portray a scene with subtle description as well as vibrant imagery. I would like to continue to build on this knowledge and work to sharpen my skills in the areas that are more difficult for me. I can sometimes be too wordy in my overzealous attempt to convey a meaning. The economy of words is a skill I still need to practice in my effort to be more concise and direct in my writing. It will require expanding my vocabulary and developing an understanding of when to use a correct adjective or the appropriate adverb. Beyond the creative aspects of merely using the language, I also need to learn the technique of proper grammar and punctuation. I believe I can accomplish these goals as I progress into my next English class. I am confident that I have the necessary basics to become a good writer. I also have a desire to succeed, which is probably the greatest contributing factor to becoming a good writer. I am willing to devote the hard work and patience required developing my talent and expanding my understanding of what good writing is composed of. When I began this class it would be a struggle for me to put my thoughts into words. I could imagine what I wanted to say, but writing the words would sometimes result in an awkward sentence that was grammatically incorrect. My overall composition lacked the needed planning and organization required to write an outstanding essay. My paragraph transition would suffer from a lack of the skill needed to make the connection from one paragraph to the next. I was coping with the language as well as the art of writing. As my skills slowly improved, the quality of my essays became more apparent. With better planning and organization the essays became more logically structured as the story would unfold from passage to passage. My essays are now a sensible progression of storytelling filled with lively scenes full of action that are pleasing to read. My essays are of far higher quality than they were before I started the class. Instead of the reader having difficulty reading my writing, I'm proud that they are enjoyable and informative for anyone. Having other people read and appreciate my writing is important to me. When I write, I know I'm leaving a permanent record of my thoughts and visions. I will be judged by the readers who share my writing and its important to me to be perceived as a competent writer. It gives me a sense of pride and a feeling that I have created a worthwhile essay. The hours spent formulating the idea, outlining, and drafting are hours well spent when I get a feeling of accomplishment at the successful completion of an essay assignment. I especially enjoy the ability to paint a picture, complete with sights and sounds, using only the printed word. One of my favorite descriptions came from an essay I wrote titled "Ocean City: The Best Place to Be!": Ocean City has street parties that cleans away the restlessness and replaces it with laughter. Cozy, Old World cafes touched with that European flavor give diners a feeling of sophistication and class; and spontaneous dancing venues with swirling lights, swimsuit-clad bodies, and reggae and salsa music encourage relaxation, celebration and fun. This description of Ocean City gives a feeling of being in the middle of the activity and spending a carefree day with the crowds. It invokes sight, sounds, colors and smells, I very much enjoyed writing it as I imagined myself at the beach. I have learned that visualizing the setting, the people, and the situation aids me in the ability to describe it. Another skill I have acquired that adds quality to my essays is knowing when not to write too much and conclude the essay with an appropriate closing. I have learned to realize when to terminate the story as well as how to craft an ending that will leave the reader with a sense of closure. I have included the ending from "Ocean City: The Best Place to Be!". After describing a perfect day at the beach, I leave the reader with the meaning that Ocean City has for me: For those who are still wondering where to go for Spring break, Ocean City is ready to embrace even the most particular visitor. Ocean City waits, to delight all vacationers, and erase their weariness. Ocean City is where families can play together; friends can be with friends, and memories can be made that will last forever. When I began writing, I would simply write down my thoughts and then check the work for spelling and punctuation. The finished essay would be poorly organized and rambling. I would often search for the correct words to describe an event only to find myself using inappropriate words or tired clichs. The finished essay would jump from passage to passage without the required transition it takes to make the reading smooth and uninterrupted. Thanks to the patience and encouragement of Professor Nake, I now take a much more studious approach to my writing. He has been a valuable help in teaching me to take a practiced and methodical approach to my essays. I'm able to conceive the story I want to tell, prepare an outline, and write a free draft. After reading, revising, and rereading I methodically work my way to the final version. I'm able to stay within the format and instructions for the assigned essay. My classmates have also been a valuable resource as I watch their process and appreciate their work. They have demonstrated that you become a better writer by writing and accepting an honest critique of your work. I don't have the false expectation of just learning to write. I expect to become a better writer by doing the writing that is required. Being a better writer has also helped me to become a better reader. I'm able to more fully appreciate other author's work and have gained a better understanding of their styles and techniques. As I have learned more about the art of writing, I have been able to more fully realize the fine craft great authors use to create classic literary masterpieces. I would like to further enhance my studies in English by learning the technical details it takes to take an idea from the concept stage and transform it into art. These techniques would include a better mastery of punctuation. I would like to work on using differing phrasing and timing in my writing, which often demands a thorough understanding of punctuation. Determining the correct use of commas, semicolons, and word placement in a sentence are areas where I need to continue to work to raise my writing level. I possess the necessary basics to continue to explore these areas. That I have an understanding of their existence and a willingness to work to understand them will make the study of those areas easier to master. I am quite adept at forming descriptive sentences as shown in the examples I've presented. I would, however, like to further investigate the correct place to break a sentence into two parts or join multiple sentences into one coherent phrase. These things will become a part of my writing by continuing to work at it as an art and not just a required assignment. I would also like to learn ways in which I can apply my improved writing to other areas of my life. I look forward to using my writing ability to enhance my writing in my other studies, in business correspondence, and personal communication. I realize it will take time, practice, and work, but I know I can accomplish this and be successful in my next English class. Having progressed as far as I have as a writer has increased my desire to become a better writer. I feel I have the required understanding of English writing and the necessary drive to do well. I have a sufficient command of the language to continue to write at a higher level. The opportunity of additional classes, the dedicated instruction, and the exposure to more complex writing strategies will be a great help in my goal of becoming a better writer and excelling in my next English class. I plan on diligently continuing my education and I feel writing is a necessary building block to succeeding in any class or profession I pursue. I would eventually like to expand my English skills and acquire the ability to apply them to different formats required in other aspects of life. Report writing, research, and short stories are all of interest to me. I'm also interested in learning how to present my writing to make it appropriate to a given audience. I plan to explore the methods of using persuasion without coercion and developing the context needed to capture the reader's attention and hold their interest throughout the piece. I'm confident I can do these things with the continued guidance and patience that I've been fortunate enough to have in my current English 101A class. I can assure the school and the faculty that I will work hard to succeed, not only because it is something I feel strongly about, but because it is something I enjoy and derive great self satisfaction from. Sincerely, Read More