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Ulises Celestino
Stephan Topf
ENGL114B
7 May 2014
Self-Analytical Reflection
The content, as well as the procedure utilized in order to formulate a good paper can
always be modified and/or improved. Writing is a form of expression that is used in all aspects of
life. It is a critical form of communication; it is universal and may be executed according to the
individuals style. This is what has made writing so compelling to me. I am able to non-
physically generate feelings and gestures when writing a paper. The process that I use to generate
papers is different than many others. Although it may conclude as being effective, it lacks more
depth and effectiveness. These flaws are reflected upon the content of the work that I produce.
There are certain things that I must scrutinize with more caution in order to properly address a
particular topic. I found it greatly useful to effectively learn the skills of rhetoric in order to
convey a message convincingly in an almost subliminal manner. My body paragraphs often are
not synchronized with my main arguments as clearly as they should be. In particular, there is one
essay which I felt lacked more analysis and clarity. Although I may begin my writing process by
having numerous ideas, which I would like to convey in a paper, I often find it difficult to
express them in an orderly fashion.
Often times I find myself with an abundance of ideas that I find useful in order to support
my argument or topic. The issue arises when it comes to laying the ideas out in a structure that is
both effective and arranged properly. Switching from one topic to another is an exhausting
process for me. It seems as if I address a topic too quickly and then abandon it without a clear
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justification. This occurs when my ideas are scattered throughout my paper, it is difficult for me
to grasp all of the ideas at once and make them flow in conjunction with the topic I am writing
about. Often times the amount of outside information is clear to me: however, it becomes an
issue when having to explain the relevance it has to my paper. This was a crucial weakness to all
my papers. The academic resources were a very strong form of logos. The way in which I used
quotes was effective but not done as well as they should have been. In order to make sure the
quotes are both relevant and effective, I have found that I must first properly address my topic,
then follow with a quote, and end with a proper and strong justification. It was easy for me to
explain my standpoint when it came to an argumentative topic. I feel as if the way in which I
stated my arguments was very confident and somewhat stubborn, as some might say. Despite the
confidence, I still maintained professional composure.
The way in which I come about an essay is unique. I go through the revision and
analytical process but I am very lenient about the way I state my material. This means that I get
straight to the point. After an approximate 20 to 30 minute brain storm I begin to write my
paper. I compose a physical written outline of how my essay will look. Under each main or
crucial topic I begin to generate a list of subtopics that will serve as support for the main
topics. This is a process that I have been using since I could remember. It has improved
throughout the years, in particular this year. My English professor, Professor Topf, further
elaborated my flaws by stating that I lack clarity and that at times the way I explain certain
aspects comes off as unclear, incomplete and even ambiguous. In order to avoid ambiguity I will
make sure I lay out the information that I will provide alongside the outline of my paper. I paid
attention to the mistakes I've made in order to become a better writer and to improve my
weaknesses. Self-analysis is a crucial thing to do in order to reach a state of improvement. In an
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article based on the importance and study of self-reflection called Reflective Writing: A
Management Skill, by Barbara Anne Sen, Sen states that A greater awareness is needed of the
levels of reflective writing and the benefits to be gained from reflecting and writing down those
reflections.
One big issue I found myself attempting to conquer was deeply questioning and
analyzing material I read. Although I was able to capture the information given to me by the text,
I was unable to generate an opinion and a deeper analysis based on the overall theme. I was
driven mostly by instinct and by the information that the article or book provided to me. For
example: when reading The Postmortal, a dystopian novel filled with social criticism, by Drew
Magary, I was not able grasp certain themes that the book was addressing. It was not until
Professor Topf elaborated that I figured out certain social criticisms that the book made evident.
This was caused by a lack of outer investigation. I now know that in order to obtain a clear
understanding on certain topics, I must first look more into depth and begin to question the
abnormality that some texts possesses. Another example was when reading the article License to
Drink, by Mike brake. License to Drink was an article based on a man whom wanted American
citizens to be required to have a license to consume alcohol. Although Brake gave a numerous
amount of reasons why a license to drink would be effective, his overall claim was not plausible.
It was not until a second reading that I began to realize this. His use of rhetoric had me
convinced that everyone should have a license to consume or purchase alcohol.
One paper that I felt I needed to greatly improve on was my Project Space paper. At first
I felt as if it was solid and was effective in both description and analysis. I felt as if I addressed
both the space portion, which required me to analyze two different spaces and vividly describe
its attributes, and the argumentative portion, which required me to develop an argument based on
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my spaces observation and space analysis. It was not until after Professor Topf revised my paper
that I realized that I did not address the argumentative portion correctly. Although my paper did
do a good job at analyzing the space attributes of the two locations I chose, it did not tie along
with the argument that I attempted to present. The argument I presented was very weak because
it lacked clarity and elaboration. After reading it and taking side notes to find my flaws, I
conclude that my argument was unclear because I did not present my argument properly. In order
to have a stronger argument I would have to insert a second or third paragraph with an in depth
standpoint and explanation on my standpoint. The argument I attempted to present was also
missing a strong support base. I used a lot of statistics in order to make my argument strong:
however, it still failed to make it clear.. This caused my essay grade to drop greatly.
The use of Rhetoric was by far the most effective way of argument I have come across.
It is effective and it can be used in many different ways. Rhetoric was something that I found
myself improving on. At first I was first unclear on what it was, after some practice, it became
clear to me how to use it effectively. Looking back at all of my older work, I am able to see the
improvement that I have made. I am able to fix my flaws in order to improve. Making sure that I
did not ignore my mistakes was crucial in improving. Barbara Anne Sen, the author of, Reflective
writing: a management skill, lists a number of outcomes from reflective writing. She States that
these outcomes are "academic learning; non-academic learning; recognition of the need for self-
development; actual self- development; critical overview; own processes of mental functioning;
decision making; and emancipation of empowerment". That is exactly what I have gained from
this paper. The ENGL114B course has taught me to use my writing skills to my advantage. I
have learned ways to address topics effectively and professionally. I feel prepared to move on to
a higher level of English. As Barbara Anne Sen stated, through the building of confidence in the
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individual enabling them to produce better work. I will carry on the skills and notes that were
given to me by Professor Topf in order to generate better work in the future..























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Work Citation
Sen, Barbara Anne. "Reflective Writing: A Management Skill." Library Management, 31.1/2
(2010): 79-93.