Zoey Weir

AP Language

Mrs. Stephanie Tatum

15 December 2019

Portfolio Reflection

Although sometimes quite painful, the work I endured in the class AP Language has

made me a better writer. The class AP Language as a whole challenged by literature abilities,

prompting me to advance my writing with additional strategies. These techniques included

coping with time management skills for writing rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and argumentative

essays in a time span of forty minutes. The class assessed not only time management but also

technical writing abilities. For several writing assignments, we were instructed to review our

papers and make sure the evidence connected with our thesis which earlier this year I found

challenging. Throughout my time spent in AP Language, I have developed more constructive

thesis statements and better syntax in my papers that have improved my writing making me a

better textbook writer who is comfortable with these techniques.

The first essay for AP Language I wrote the summer before the semester; it was a piece

that I am not fond of acknowledging. The sentence structure was despicable and the vocabulary

was elementary. However, in comparison to the main research paper we wrote throughout the

semester, there was a drastic difference between the two. In my research paper regarding editing

softwares effects on youth, I included better syntax with a clear understanding of semicolons and

colons in addition to better vocabulary. These techniques advanced my writing making it appear

more sophisticated and formal.

 In my past writing I had also struggled with relating my points back to my thesis in

supporting paragraphs. Although, after writing several essays throughout the semester and

gaining insight from my teacher, I could format my thesis to connect its points all throughout my

paper. By the use of this technique, my writing illustrates strong structure in which I demonstrate

a clear understanding of the subject I am speaking about. This is a strategy that I will use heavily

in future college literature classes. Due to the amount of writing in AP Language, I learned the

technique of being able to connect my points of each paragraph clearly with my thesis.

Experiences are important for overcoming challenges. Although the amount of work in

the class AP Language was difficult, it has progressed me to the writer I am today. Including

semicolons, colons, and intellectual vocabulary my writing appears more formal. More

importantly, due to this experience I can relate my thesis to my main points in my essays. AP

Language taught me the skills and techniques to become a better writer, giving me experience to

what college writing will be like. These techniques will help me reach my goals throughout the

rest of my academic career: making an A in AP Literature which I now feel comfortable taking

my senior year of high school, and achieving good grades in any of my future college literature

classes. Thanks to my professor Mrs. Tatum, I will be prepared for my academic future.