Rivera 1

Brianda P. Rivera

Professor: Lawson

English 113B

Reflection Essay

May 9, 2017

Word count: 740

College Life

As my first year of college comes to an end, I have realized what type of student I am. In

high school, I have struggled in my English class, since I recently moved here from Mexico 4

years ago. English has never been my favorite subject, I have struggled in my critical thinking

abilities, writing processes, grammar, and developing my paragraphs. I did not have much

confidence in me when it came to typing an essay. My first year of college has taught the true

definition of studying and focusing on my homework assignments. In my first semester, my

English class did not go so well. I did not grasp enough information for my second semester, so I

was nervous for my second semester to begin.

As my second semester was approaching, I was hoping that my English professor would

be somebody with a different technique of teaching English. The first day of class has finally

came, after going through the syllabus and looking at all the assignments and I think negative

about my abilities. At the start of project space doing my ethnography on a restaurant that I love

was not so difficult. The place/space analysis essay was obviously the difficult part for me, trying

to meet the word count was my main struggle. I did not know how to use my critical thinking

abilities, nor I did not know how develop more my paragraphs. My SI leader help me create a

stronger thesis and gave me tips to meet the word count.

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Project web was not so difficult for me to do. Although I had trouble doing the rhetorical

analysis and was a bit lost on the theme I chose for my final essay, I was still able to manage my

word count. I understand that by having a strong thesis, it will help me have better developed

paragraphs. The rhetorical analysis did not connect in any way with my final essay, and because

of that aspect it was hard for me to even begin this assignment. After I chose my topic, I finally

was able to conduct more research about my subject. Project web contributed to my knowledge

and helped me learn how to gather proper information, rely on credible websites, and search for

sources that are relevant to my topic.

Project text was my longest and final essay for this semester. This last project I was ask to

do an annotated bibliography, argument proposal, and final essay. The main aspect that help earn

an excellent grade was that I did not procrastinate during this project. The most difficult part for

me was to pick a topic and claim my argument. I was obligated to go to my professor office

hours and staying after class with my SI leader to understand more the prompt and my argument.

With the help of my SI leader and my professor, I finally was able to understand my claim and

construct a strong argument. Once I was done with my final essay, I was nervous to turn it

because it is double the points of my pervious essays.

I have learned new techniques and skills for English this semester. All three projects

tested my mental and physical skills. In project space, I mastered my critical thinking abilities by

expanding my details. In project web, I was challenged my research skills and the abilities to

identify a relevant website. In project text, was my biggest challenge of the semester was having

to type my longest and most difficult essay. In each assignment, I was able to overcome a new

obstacle, so once I came to my last essay I was able to put all my knowledge too work. Each
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project has taught me different methods to develop a well thought essay, it has taught how to

construct a strong thesis or argument, grammar, developing my details, and much more.

My writing skills has made great progress in my first semester of college. All my

assignments have taught my something new. My writing technique has evolved since my first

semester of college, now I do not fear when any other professor tells me to write 5 or 6 page

essay. Although I still have much to learn in typing an essay, but with my first semester I have

mastered the principles of writing a college essay.