The Reflective Essay (ARTS 130)
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Jan 9, 2024
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The Reflective Essay
Dante Gebretsadik
ARTS 130- Language Matters
Dr. Elena Afros
December 4
th
, 2023
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Looking back on my first term of University, I would say that I made extensive progress
towards my academic goals. I had identified reading and writing strengths such as being able to
apply content and concepts found throughout the text to other examples or situations; along with
being clear and concise, with a variety of vocabulary. Additionally, I had identified reading and
writing weaknesses such as my engagement towards the text; along with my ability to adapt to
different writing styles.
To address, my weaknesses first; when I read text throughout the course, I often did them
in segments, to assist in understanding and engagement. The rationale behind this was that I did
not have to read for as long therefore allowing me to become more attentive. I feel that this
strategy helped me in understanding, and ultimately improved my engagement.
As to my writing weakness, I used the text “Language Awareness” (Eschholz et al.) to
improve my skills. Since reading this text, I have realized that there is a process to writing. There
are multiple drafts, edits, and once these steps are complete, the writing process begins (Eschholz
et al, pp. 226).
Furthermore, Eschholz et al. emphasizes writing for your audience; stating that the writer
must put themselves in the situation of the reader and ensure that they provide the reader with
information in an easily absorbed way that they either require or are interested in (Eschholz et al.
pp, 228). Throughout the term, I have worked toward improving this aspect of my writing, for
example ensuring the dyslexia article written earlier in the term was understandable to an
elementary school teacher as they were the intended audience for the writing piece. Even now,
writing for the professor (you), there is a sense of formality and performing at a certain
university standard. Additionally, during the term a scratch outline was introduced to us; for
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future writing assignments I will continue to implement this strategy as I find that this step in the
writing process benefits me in organization of my thoughts and ideas.
In the beginning of the term, I had set a goal to improve my critical thinking and
questioning. This is one goal where I do not feel that I’ve made extensive process towards. For
the future, I will look for ways to improve this skill. It is not necessarily that I lack critical
thinking, it’s the matter of questioning while reading, writing, and annotating. Implementing
questioning now, as the professor and a last piece of advice; how do you think I can improve my
critical thinking skills, any tips to do so?
Finally, when looking back at my goals I set in the beginning of the term, I mentioned
“fitting the university standard.” I feel that I am still working towards this goal, but I am very
close to achieving it. Despite not being quite there; as I reflect, a new goal comes to mind, that is,
to exceed the university standard. At the beginning of the term, I capped my goal at an 80 percent
grade. Within other courses, I have achieved well over this. My new goal is to work to the best of
my ability, aiming, but not limiting myself to an 80 percent. Overall, this course provided me
with immense benefits regarding writing at a university level, along with heightened awareness
concerning linguistics, rhetoric, and grammar. Thank you for this term, I wish you all the best in
the future.
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Work Cited
Eschholz, P. Rosa, A., & Clark, V. (2016). Language Awareness.
Reading for College Writers
.
226-230