Goffin 1

Taylor Goffin
Professor Griffith
English 113B- 11AM MW
25 April 2016
Taylors Evolution of Writing
Throughout my life, I have struggled with writing essays. In high school, English class
was my worst subject because writing analytical essays was very difficult for me. My parents
signed me up in a few writing classes hoping it would help improve my writing skills but they
ended up being unsuccessful. I began my freshman year of college terrified because I knew I was
unprepared. I knew I struggled very much with writing essays. I was aware that I had to work
hard in my English class because writing essays was not my strongest subject. Even though I
have struggled with critical thinking throughout my years of school, English 113A and 113B
guided me into completing successful college essays.
I started my first English class, English 113A with Professor Sabiaz-Birdsill. He taught
me to organize and structure my essays by creating outlines. Outlines were mandatory in this
class. The three outlines that were required before starting an essay were, brainstorming, writing
a simple outline and a functional outline. Writing out these three outlines helped me plan out
thoughts for my essay. Professor Sabiaz-Birdsill helped improve my writing skills by teaching
me to organize my thoughts on paper rather than creating an unstructured essay. The writing
skills and techniques I learned from my English class with Professor Sabiaz-Birdsill helped me
prepare for my second semester English class with Professor Griffith.
English 113B with Professor Griffith did not require outlines before writing an essay. I
was not motivated to write outlines before an essay in English 113B because it was mandatory.

Goffin 2

This caused me to become lazy with my first essay. Not preparing an outline me to struggle and
take longer with my first essay of my second semester. I realized that an outline was necessary
because it helped collect my thoughts. I used an outline for the other two essays for Professor
Griffiths class. Using an outline helps speed up the process of writing my essay. Therefore,
English 113A helped improve my writing skills so I was prepared for English 113B. While I have
learned great techniques, I still have multiple areas to improve.
A few of my weaknesses with essay writing that I need to improve are structuring essays
and being able to reach the page limit assigned. My essays are usually all over the place. It takes
me awhile to decide where main points or analysis goes in my essay. It is also takes a very long
time for me to write an essay. Because of this, it is hard for me to reach the page limit that is
assigned. I feel as if I am repeating main ideas. Therefore, leading me to find a difficult time to
succeed the assigned page limit. This causes me to procrastinate since I have a difficult time to
finish an essay. Although, I have found a few new techniques of writing that have helped
improved my writing over the last year.
My two English professors have helped improve my writing skills during my first two
semesters of college. I feel as if it is a little easier for my to write an essay. I know I am not a
perfect writing, but I have enhanced my skills. I am proud of what I have accomplished in both
of English classes. English 113A and English 113B has helped prepare me for the rest of my
college classes that require writing. I feel that I can take on the task of writing an essay now. I
have learned the techniques on how to gather my thoughts for my topic. I have learned that the
key to a great essay is to plan it out on a separate piece of paper with brainstorming topics and
analysis. I plan to use these techniques for the rest of my career at California State University
Northridge.