When I first began this course, I thought writing would be as easy as verbalizing one's thoughts. I came in prepared to write my ideas and follow instructions on how to write. However, a few weeks into the semester, I realized that although writing and speaking may seem the same, both are still very different when it comes to expression of thoughts, choice of words, and content of information shared. For one, verbalizing one's thoughts only requires the use of conversational English, which is not commonly allowed in formal writing. Composition writing is a series of writing and revising steps to create a clear and concise output.
I learned that there are various types of writing styles and that depending on the topic and requirement, I may opt to write a narrative (describes a series of events), an exposition (explains or instructs about an idea), a persuasive paper (influences readers to agree or act a certain way), or a descriptive paper (paints pictures of people and events). I learned to be more particular about spelling, grammar, punctuations, and vocabulary, unlike before when I just wrote down my thoughts without regard to the final output of my paper. In addition, I also learned that writing should follow a structure in order to make the paper clear and coherent, instead of simply combining words just to come up with a finished material ("How to Improve Your Academic Writing", n.d., p. 14). One of the best lessons I got from the course is the amount of preparation I should put into the paper – beginning from the pre-writing stage to the actual writing up to the revision portion of the paper. If I cannot get someone to proofread my paper, I should always approach my revisions and rewriting with fresh eyes to ensure that I see the mistakes I made on the paper ("How to Improve Your Academic Writing", n.d., p.13).
These skills are important for me because I am aware there will be more papers and essays to write regardless of the course one enrolls in. I can even apply the knowledge on websites or blogs that I can do on my own. Also, all these information will be put to good use when I begin working considering there would be times when I will be required to make papers, reports, and other similar forms of communication.
It also helps to know about various research methodologies that help me develop my thoughts and gain deeper understanding about the subject I write. I realized that the more time I spend on research, the more the paper becomes a credible source of information. I now know how to find good writing sources as well as ensuring that all information lifted from another source are referenced correctly. In addition, through research, I had the chance to observe and analyze other writers' work as well, and with the knowledge I gained from the course, I am able to pinpoint what improvements can be done on their published work. But most importantly, I can now point out mistakes I unconsciously make on my own academic papers.
With all these positive experiences, I believe I have become more confident with my writing skills. I may have started certain that writing is easy, but this was prior to the knowledge I learned from the course. I realized that my earlier thoughts about writing were correct, but what I did not recognize was that it takes a lot of practice to gain mastery of my writing skills. Thus, I have resolved to myself that I will always write and revise my papers as needed. With this, my confidence in my own writing has doubled as I have noticed that expressing my ideas concisely, clearly, and effectively now come naturally to me.
References
How to improve your academic writing. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.essex.ac.uk/myskills/How_to_improve_your_academic_writing.pdf
