DENI QUINTANA

Reflecting on My Writing
The writing process goes in a circular motion, constantly telling me something about the way
I organize my thoughts. It does not end when I submit an assignment rather it keeps reminding
me about my strengths and weaknesses as well as my progress on my writings. When I reflect
upon my writing I think about the hours spend researching my topics and finding credible
source to support my thesis and the varieties of skills necessary to communicate well in written
words. A series of writing assignments during this semester at a school let me into the
opportunity to study different kind of technique for writing academically. Writing that requires
critical thinking, and in-depth research in order to analyze the topic properly.
My first writing work was a flash memoir and it really introduced me into a field relatively
new to me because up to that point I associated memoir writing to amateur writers and
professional writers. That was I thought. But, after writing my memoir essay I figured that I
could write about any memorable events that have happened to me or that I have heard from
someone else. The skills that I learned with this assignment help me to understand how past
experiences can shape the view and perspectives that I have about the world and about what
happens within it.
My following essays were about racism. It is a strong subject within the social justice theme
and the cause for heated debates among politicians and social activists. I chose this topic
because of its significant importance in past and contemporary history, as well as a social issue
that can touch anyone in society. For these series of essays on racism I examined the lives of
importance figures from the civil rights movements. I viewed videos and interviews done to
some of social activists of the era and read articles on the effects of racism in society. Each of
the research done on this topic unfolded a big sheet with the cause and effects of racism, how
it shaped people back on the pinnacle of the civil rights movement, and how is the issue of
racism perceived today in our society. Did my writing on racism came about as expected? Not
yet, but further revision on them will give me a better understanding on how to structure them
correctly and how to compose them within each genres of writings. Because writing a
constantly renewing activity, my perspective when writing keep changing regularly and I feel it
is because my need to improve and develop as a writer put me into that situation.
For my magazine projects I am designing a guide-list with all the research source used as today
that will include all my essays-revised- as well as videos and interview that will help the readers
to have a better understanding on; the civil rights movements, its main figures, their ideas and
beliefs, and why racism can really affect the harmony, and learning experiences among diverse
cultures. After my first writing work- on the flash memoir- I selected racism as the main theme
on all my next assignments over other issues because it is a topic that interest me greatly and
because it represents the struggle suffered among the different races that integrate our
society-including my own family, who are latinos, and are therefore considered Minorities.
With my originals papers I can further develop them and adapt new media to them so
presenting a bigger picture of the issue, especially for the magazine project, that can enhance
its content. Integrating different media into my original works is part of the learning that I
acquired during the schools semester, and really have helped me to see the transformation
that a piece of writing can take when different resources are integrated within the work.
Collaborative work is fruitful and can help anyone to see how can that person contribute
within the group and how can others really help to clarify points that may need clarification.
Peers insight is a way to improve ones work and turn the project into a great learning
experience. On the magazine project I am contributing on the image part of it, and learning to
images and text together implies a lot of work of interpretations based on research in each
topic cover.