Adam Kassem Jessica Camargo English 1101 Final Reflection Three months ago I wasnt aware of how important

writing could be in my life. I didnt know what to expect at the beginning of the course. All I knew was that the class was writing intensive. I figured we would just write papers without any real cause all semester. I imagined the class would focus on structure and rules alone, not furthering my actual writing ability. I have never truly considered myself a writer because I didnt see how it connected to other areas of my life. I never understood the real use for it outside of an English classroom. I was, however, confident in my ability to generate interesting ideas, but I needed to learn how to articulate those concepts. Doing that in a compelling and meaningful manner, in which a reader could relate to and understand, was not my stronghold. After being introduced to the class and learning what it was all about, my views of writing became optimistic. I wanted to be able to write with confidence and the knowledge that I would be able to clearly express my thoughts. A regular class activity that help me progress was the quickwrite. Since these writing were timed, I had to think of my ideas on the spot. At first it was difficult, as I had never done anything like it before. In the beginning of the course, they were usually very brief and empty. Over time, I began to notice a change in quality and length. Peer workshops were useful too, as I was allowed to utilize multiple perspectives. The advice of my peers was thoroughly helpful. My group

members helped me strengthen my papers by providing me with ideas on how to be more descriptive, showing me what worked and what didnt and pointing out parts they liked or disliked. A piece of advice from Ms. Camargo that stood out to me was that you cant just be short and sweet when giving feedback. She explained that the writer needs specific details as well as praise and criticism in order to better their work. A concept I really appreciated was that of the Shitty first draft. I was used to making a first draft and revising along the way. Shitty first drafts taught me that its okay to make mistakes on the first run, so long as your ideas are written down. I had never used this method before and its something I will most likely utilize throughout my life and in all future writing pieces. Before this class, I had no idea of what Discourse community meant or what it was or anything about literacies. I learned that to be literate means to be knowledgeable, not just about language but about most anything. It is also tied to discourse communities. These are groups of people who share a set of goals, working together and communicating to reach those goals. To be literate in a discourse community means that you understand the jargon and ins and outs of said community. One assignment that was particularly easy for me to write was the literacy memoir. It was easy for me to write because it was mainly about my experiences. It was also fun because I never had the opportunity to talk about those things until this class. I still feel like I could still work on it even after doing three drafts but I am satisfied with what I have at this point in time. I like that it shows my experiences

and values to the reader. In writing my narrative, I learned that I dont have to use the five-paragraph model in my writings. These topics have influenced my perspective on writing in general. It has made me realize that writing is not some daunting task. It has helped me in how I go about writing. From what I have learned in class, it has helped me with my writing process. My writing process now includes writing a Shitty first draft, a first draft, a second draft, and a final draft. In the future, I will use this model to organize my writing. With my degree I plan to ultimately become an interpreter for the United States government. When I graduate, I plan on going onto graduate school to gain my masters degree in a foreign language. My goal is to become an ambassador for a foreign country as an interpreter. Like I stated in my literacy memoir, my great aunt Khadiga is the main reason I am interested in cultures and languages. Another reason I am so interested in my field is because of my traveling experiences. In five years, I see myself in graduate school studying my intended foreign language while working on my masters degree. In ten years, I see myself with a stable job that I like, traveling. I will get there with my hard work and determination as well as my new writing skills. I consider myself a friendly person and this will benefit me as an interpreter because my job will require me to communicate with people on a daily basis. I really enjoyed the ACIP project because it made me do a little research on translating and interpreting which strengthened my desire to pursue a career in international affairs. If I were to become a translator, writing would be the most important part of my job. I know that when I am trying to attain

my masters degree in my intended foreign language, I will have to write to show that I am proficient. This makes me nervous, but with my determination and new writing skills in mind, I will be able to do it without a problem.