Expanding My Freshman Composition Analysis

Thonney states, “a study of scholarly research articles from six disciplines provides insight about academic writing that composition instructors can use to prepare students to write across the curriculum” (2011 pg. ). Moving forward, Joseph Williams and Lawrence McEnerney’s essay, “Writing in College” targets students currently enrolled in college which is clear from the title itself and its first opening sentence at the beginning of the first paragraph. The author states, “Some students make very smooth transitions from writing in high school to writing in college, and we heartily wish all of you an easy passage” (Williams and McEnerney page 1). Throughout the essay, the author provides a set of structure and tips that first year college students should know when writing an academic paper. Among this paper, we are able to see that there are students whose instructors are dissatisfied with their paper because it is “lacking something” ( Williams and McEnenery’s pg1 ), it isn’t “quite there” or “You haven’t change”. Both passages consist of informative research that first year college students can identify themselves.

As the Fall 2017 term comes to end, I look back on what I have accomplished in this class. English 102 – Composition II was one of the most challenging and toughest class I have taken at UW-Stout, but feel as though it has helped me to improve my writing skills. Even before the semester started the feeling of anxiety had taken over, as writing has never been my strongest skill, but stayed positive and confident I would be successful. Much to my surprise, my instructor, Michael Critchfield quickly addressed that this class would not be easy and amazingly changed my views of writing throughout the entire semester.

In Freshman Composition I learned what metacognition means, and how it applies to academic writing. Next I learned about textual evidence and backing up your opinions with research. *I expect this class to help develop my writing skills, as well as find my voice in writing, all together I expect this class to be challenging but rewarding. Therefore I have set a few goals for myself, my first goal is to step out of my comfort zone and research topics I have never heard of before. My second goal is to not second-guess myself on my writing topics and/or choices. Furthermore I expect great things to come from this

irst-year composition should be a requirement for all first time college students at Sacramento State. A class such as a first-year composition course will be vital in guiding you throughout college no matter your major choice or career path. The course introduces you to what the process of writing at a college level means and it enhances the necessary skills that are already present in first year college students.

“The Novice as Expert: Writing the Freshman Year” reflected my writing experience while I transitioned from elementary writer to a critical writer. Sommers and Saltz write, “freshmen need to see themselves as novice in a world that demands ‘something more and deeper’ from their writing than high school” (Sommers and Saltz 134). This line highlights the hardship that most students face when trying to write successfully. My earlier written works were much weaker than my current pieces because I often wrote for the sake of passing the class. While developing my writing, I focused on the new ideas that were introduced rather than limiting my argument to familiar techniques and ideas. Because of my new attitude towards writing, I began to demand

Have you ever wondered whether a writer’s voice and the standard rules of academic writing can exist on the same page? According to Dr. Debra Pena, English Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Mathew Teorey, English Professor, University of New Mexico and the author of "Using Freshman Composition to Analyze What Students Really Know about Grammar" a writer’s voice and the process of academic writing can exist on the same page (Personal Communications February 13, 2017, Teorey 2). However, my first essay In Freshman Composition II titled, “Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE): Is it the New Death Sentence for Future Athletes Playing Sports in America?” where I lost the power of my voice to the process of academic writing.

Completing freshman composition is one of the greatest accomplishments I have achieved throughout my high school career. I have experienced an immense amount of improvement on my writing as well as a huge deal of stress throughout the semester. In the past, writing was never one of my strong suits; however, I have learned quite a bit, for example, how to use semicolons, write with metacognition, and how to correctly do a works cited. During my time in this class, I have: reflected, set goals, learned the writing process, tracked my progress, and learned a huge deal about myself, life and college.

Before this semester, I didn’t know what was expected of me in a college writing class. I thought there would be tough requirements and the professor would assign around five to ten pages for every assignment. However, this semester isn’t as challenging as I thought and did make me feel prepared for the WRT102 class next semester, like accessing to the university’s library’s database, making a works cited page, and knowing the format for college papers. I actually liked this year’s writing class compared to the ones before, the topics are different and more interesting. My strengths in writing would be the organization of my ideas and how they are presented to the reader. Before I write, I would write out a simple outline for the paper. My

The first few years of college student’s lives are not necessarily the most enjoyable time, having to take the basic core classes. Unless someone is planning on getting their degree in something that involves the basic core classes like; Math, Psychology, any Humanities, or English. English has not been my strong suit and I know that I still have work that needs to be done to make me a better writer, but I believe that I was able to meet and achieve the goals and requirements of this Composition two class.

Coming into freshman comp at the beginning of the semester I was worried this would be my hardest class and that I would hate it. Walking in the classroom on the first day and hearing the words, “you will be writing a 10-12 page paper by the end of the semester,” gave me so much anxiety and made me very nervous for the class. As the class is now coming to a close it has made me realize I should have never been so worried about this class and that I would learn many new things I did not know about writing such as writing strategies, metacognition, and how to write a good research paper.

This semester was my very first semester as a college student. Being the first, it was probably the semester I would learn the most in. I learned the expectations for writing that I will have to live up to for the next four years of my college career. Though my high school teachers were usually demanding because I was in the Honors English section throughout high school, writing in college has still ?raised the bar? for me. Also, in high school, we would have weeks to pick a topic, create a thesis, outline the paper, write the paper, and then revise the paper. In college, the time restraints are not quite as lenient. I?ve had to learn to manage my time and be more productive with what free moments I

When I went into my first English composition class I was very intimidated by all the stories I heard about college. I heard about how stressful college was and how one had to write a lot of papers that had a high page length requirement, which I hadn’t done in high school except for one or two assignments. Once I got into the class and was assigned the first essay which was a narrative, I found it very daunting because it had to be at least three pages in length. “How could I ever write about one story for three pages without going off topic?” I thought. Once I got the essay started, I found out that I needed to describe the story so that anyone without background information could tell what was going on. As we were assigned more essays, I found the same concept in every single essay, I had to be able to describe what was going on in great detail, without including irrelevant information. In high school, I usually filled the length requirement by including information that was irrelevant, but I quickly figured out I could no longer do this in college which is one way I think I have improved as a writer. In this class I learned that I needed to stop making assumptions in my writing, keep my descriptions very specific, properly elaborate on quotes, and how to brainstorm a paper before I start writing.

Entering English Composition I, was stressful knowing I have attempted twice failing. It was still like driving a car wearing a blindfold. Knowing I struggle with spelling and grammar, I am determined to accomplish this class due to my personal and professional growth depending on it. I started this English class because I needed the credit to have my two-year degree, not to become a journalist. I have never enjoyed English, I am not one to put my feelings on paper and do not enjoy the hours of dreading writing a long paper with a due date. I feel I am a detailed person that cannot make it sound correct on paper. Lacking confidence plays a major role in the writing process. Although my papers started a bit scattered,

As the semester comes to a close, it is always interesting to look back and reflect on the events and opportunities my English class has given me throughout my first semester as a whole. At the beginning of this semester it was evident that I was feeling uncomfortable due to the adjustment that I was going through as a student moving to college. It was very difficult expressing myself through my writing since I was nervous about good impressions and my good grade. While this class was one of the most difficult courses that I have taken this far, it has become quite evident to me that I have grown a substantial amount as a writer and as a person; Especially, when it came to explaining my ideas, writing academic essays, and making arguments.

I believe I have achieved most of the course learning objectives as I pass this class with a c or higher. I undertook the writing process we learned in class and it has helped me become a better writer. Before I entered my freshman year of college I didn’t know how to write. But as I undertook the writing process I was taught in class I now know how to write. First when it came to writing my assignment papers for my class I grabbed a notebook and did prewriting . I brainstormed a list of ideas for my papers. I then had a plan on everything I was going to write about. I then sit down and write my first draft. I make sure my first paragraph is a strong