ENG4UE
IMPROVING ✦
IMPROVING ✦
AS A ★
AS A ★
WRITER ✹
WRITER ✹
IN SEARCH OF GREATNESS
PROCESS WORK ✧
PROCESS WORK ✧
FINAL DRAFT ✦
IN SEARCH OF GREATNESS REFLECTION
Having completed the assignment In Search of Greatness, I have felt and understood a great deal of growth as a writer. Post watching, I made summaries and notes which streamlined the writing process as this gave me a general idea of what I wanted to write about. This inital step was essential to avoid aimless time wasting.
Writing the essay challenged my ability to explain my ideas clearly and detailed. I needed to be able to present my points and analyze details from the film in order to back up my arguments. This skill also made me improve my skills of writing persuasively by improving more clarity.
Throughout the first portion of the semester, I believe this was my best writing piece. When I look back at my writing this assignment, I am most proud of my success in the flow and my ability to express opinions and make well argued analyses. If given an opportunity to revise this paper I would make use of quotatoins taken directly from the film to backup my perspective even further.
In summary, I can state that my writing skills effectively have improved massively in the course of this assignment. The skills that I acquire are certain to make changes in my writing for the next analytical assignments.
“THIS I BELIEVE”
FINAL DRAFT ✦
“THIS I BELIEVE” REFLECTION
The This I Believe assignment was a great chance for me to improve my writing by focusing on drafting and revising. Starting with an initial draft, I was able to get all my ideas down without overthinking, which helped me create a solid foundation for my beliefs. This brainstorming phase was valuable because it let me express my ideas in a raw form, making it easier to refine them later.
The strict word limit made the assignment challenging because I had to be concise in ways I hadn’t tried before. For the first draft, I wrote down everything, then edited once to ensure there are no glaring issues. However, at this point I had too many words compared to the 500 word limit, so I had to carefully decide which ideas were essential and which could be cut. I wouldn’t say this is the process of turning a “defromed potato to a golden french fry” since I edited and revised the first draft, but it was more like cutting down an “overgrown garden into a simplistic yet beautiful one”. This process taught me the power of conciseness and how impactful emphasizing certain points are versus others that are not as important.
Reading the mentor texts was also helpful because they showed me new techniques and styles that I wanted to try in my own work. I especially liked the poetic language in these examples, which inspired me to use more vivid imagery and emotion. In my essay, I aimed to capture the feelings I experience playing badminton, the thrill of a good shot, the rush of competition, and the moments of calm in between. When I was speaking about the experience on the court, I attempted to focus on the dramatic effect present intending to make the reader feel like their in the same sitaution.
Overall, this assignment helped me express my beliefs more clearly and concisely. If I were to do it again, I’d spend more time brainstorming and get feedback earlier to make my writing even stronger.
BEARTOWN PERSONAL RESPONSE #1
FINAL DRAFT ✦
REFLECTION
Writing the Beartown Personal Response #1 challenged me in ways that highlighted the differences between opinion-based and analytical writing. I’m generally more comfortable with analytical writing, where I can break down themes, character motivations, and story structure using clear evidence. However, the personal response required me to share my feelings and opinions in a less structured and more subjective way, which made it harder to express my ideas with the same clarity and confidence I’m used to in analytical pieces.
One thing I noticed was the difference in quality between my personal response and my analytical writing. My second paragraph in the analytical piece was much stronger than anything in my personal response, showing a logical flow and solid support with evidence from the text. This contrast led me to think more deeply about my writing process and consider why I found it easier to organize and express my ideas in an analytical format compared to a personal one.
To understand this better, I went back to my personal response and reviewed my ideas, as well as the feedback I had received. I realized that even though I had strong opinions about the characters and themes in Beartown, I often didn’t back them up with enough evidence from the text. My opinions came across more as statements than as well-supported arguments. Recognizing this showed me the importance of including specific examples and quotes to strengthen my points.
I also saw that my personal response could have used a clearer structure. Unlike my analytical piece, which had a logical progression, my personal response felt a bit unorganized. In particular, the ideas were thrown all around the place, and sometimes I would repeat the same point in another way. I reflected on how I could arrange my thoughts better to create a more convincing argument. This self-reflection helped me understand how important it is to think critically about my own writing and structure. Additionally, I considered that more planning, a draft, would have helped significantly.
Overall, this experience taught me that opinion-based writing can be more challenging than analytical writing for me, requiring thoughtful expression and solid support for my views. It also helped me see the different skills needed for each writing type, giving me a deeper understanding for both forms.
PERSONAL RESPONSES
PERSONAL RESPONSE #2✧
PERSONAL RESPONSE #3✦
PERSONAL RESPONSE REFLECTION
Reflecting on my personal responses, I realize that connecting the story to my personal experiences was something I initially struggled with. Last term, I often found it difficult to dig deeper and relate the themes and characters in the stories to my own life. My responses tended to stay on the surface, focusing more on analyzing the story itself rather than how it resonated with me personally. However, this semester, I made a conscious effort to push beyond that limitation and develop a more personal and reflective writing style.
For instance, in my responses to Beartown, I managed to connect characters like Amat and Maya to my own experiences, such as moments when I’ve struggled with speaking out or felt conflicted about doing the right thing despite the risks. Writing about these connections didn’t come naturally at first—I had to sometimes rewrite entire sections to ensure I was truly engaging with the text on a personal level. This process helped me not only improve my ability to relate to the story but also understand myself better as a writer and as a person.
Over time, I noticed that my writing became more thoughtful and nuanced. Instead of just summarizing or analyzing the text, I started adding in my own experiences and emotions, which added depth to my responses. I also worked on being more specific in my reflections, which made my connections feel more genuine and grounded. This shift required a lot of practice and introspection, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
Overall, I feel I’ve grown as a writer because I’ve learned to balance analysis with personal reflection. By actively working on this skill, I’ve not only made my responses more meaningful but also developed a stronger, more authentic writing voice. This improvement reflects my dedication to growth and my willingness to challenge myself as both a student and a writer.
BEARTOWN ESSAY
FINAL DRAFT ✦
REFLECTION
Reflecting on my essay, "Vengeance vs. Healing: Is Revenge in One’s Interest?," I recognize the progress I’ve made as a writer, especially in my ability to integrate multiple sources—Beartown, Hamlet, and real-life examples—into a cohesive argument. One area where I improved significantly since the beginning of the term is my ability to balance textual analysis with critical thinking while connecting these ideas to broader themes.
In this essay, I effectively used a multitude of sources to deepen my analysis. For example, by citing Maya’s family’s emotional struggles in Beartown, I showcased how vengeance can blur the lines between justice and personal retaliation. This connection was further strengthened with psychological research and studies, like the evidence showing how revenge negatively impacts emotional well-being. Additionally, my use of Hamlet illustrated the destructive cycle of revenge, emphasizing how the consequences often extend far beyond the initial conflict. Pairing Shakespeare’s themes with modern examples of conflict escalation brought support to my argument, showcasing my ability to synthesize different types of sources effectively.
One of the major improvements I see in this essay compared to earlier work is how I used real-life examples to make my points relatable and grounded. The Cherokee proverb about the two wolves not only introduced my essay but framed the thematic discussion in a way that felt personal and universally applicable. This was a step forward in my writing, as I had previously struggled to blend literary analysis with broader societal ideas. Using examples like Alexander Graham Bell’s quote about focusing on open doors instead of closed ones helped me create connections that resonated beyond the books themselves.
Another area of growth was my ability to structure and articulate my ideas clearly. In earlier essays, my arguments often lacked clarity or focus, but here I was deliberate in writing paragraphs that were well-supported by textual evidence and secondary sources. For instance, I drew clear parallels between Kira’s actions in Beartown and Hamlet’s journey in Hamlet, demonstrating how both characters became trapped in the cycle of revenge. I also improved my transitions between ideas, creating a logical flow that guided the reader from one point to the next.
Finally, writing this essay challenged me to take my analysis deeper by exploring the emotional and psychological parts of vengeance and healing. While in the past I might have stayed focused on plot or surface-level themes, this essay allowed me to explore how these concepts affect individuals and communities alike. This personal growth is a reflection of the time and effort I’ve put into improving my writing and analytical skills throughout the term.
Overall, this essay represents a turning point in my writing journey. It highlights my ability to effectively use secondary sources, connect themes to real-life experiences, and present my ideas with clarity and depth. These improvements not only demonstrate my growth as a writer but also my increased confidence in tackling complex ideas and making connections across texts and concepts.