Before taking this course, I would find the process of writing stressful and confusing. I never ceased having ideas in my mind of what I needed to say, however, I could not arrange my thoughts logically. It was especially difficult to get going on the essay and I could barely believe myself until I got going. During the semester, however, I have come to understand that there is much more than talent that makes great writing because there is a particular process and a manner in which ideas resonate. The course has equipped me with skills of planning, organizing and developing the essay in a way that ultimately made me understand that writing is not a huge task. One of the significant benefits I’ve gained from this course  was learning to be prepared before writing instead of my usual start and figure it out method and  hoping that it would go well but I was taught to take time and plan my ideas using outlines and brainstorming. This altered the way I used to handle assignments since I was not lost halfway through a paragraph. The structure also made me feel more focused in my writing and I did not feel that I was re-reading myself or losing my point. The task of writing a paper has become less daunting when I realized that the key to a good essay is organization.

The second other valuable learning I came to realize was that writing has different sounds as per the assignment. At some point in my academic life, I was under the impression that every essay should sound similar and so my writing became the same and bland to an extent and  in this course, I came to understand that every paper may have its voice in relation to purpose, audience, and topic. This realization enabled me to be more open and adaptable as a writer. I did not work at imitating an ideal academic voice anymore but rather aimed at expressing my thoughts in the clearest and most effective way.I also read and worked with other texts that contributed to the improvement of my writing. Through the research of how the authors organize their arguments and how they promote their ideas, I learnt the techniques that I could use in my essays. I started to be more attentive to introductions, transitions and conclusions, which enhanced the overall flow of my writing. Another area that I improved in was research. Initially, locating, and utilizing the sources were very daunting but understanding how to identify credible sources, and how to integrate them into my statement made the whole process less daunting. I also have been able to trust my ability to prove my ideas through evidence as opposed to using my opinion alone.

 On the whole, this course transformed my thinking regarding writing. Though I am still having a hard time with writing occasionally, now I have the techniques that can make me be organized and focused. I also got to know that it is a process, which involves planning, revision and patience in writing. Above all  I know I will be leaving  this class with a better idea of how I could go about doing essays and with the confidence that I can become a better writer.