Essay or paper writing is a skill that anyone can learn and perfect the art of piecing together information or data to analyze and formulate a logical and chronological argument about a particular topic. It is what gives the author or a writer a platform to explore and express their arguments, criticisms, reflections, and discussion or general observations on any subject. Practically, writing itself is a skill that requires proper training before one perfects such an art. It is notable that an essay has to be in prose, flowing logically, and have a thesis statement as the backbone. I began WRTG 101 with inferior writing skills, and my papers would score poor grades. Grammar Lab has been of help to me as it has allowed me to understand grammatical errors such as sentence fragments and run-ons as well as understand how to gather my thoughts on paper and eliminate words that I did not need. I learned what a thesis statement is, discovered that contractions are bad for academic papers, and I learned how to end a research paper with a conclusion properly.
From my elementary classes, high school and when I joined college, I have encountered and acquired a lot of writing skills. However, noteworthy, my writing has been made more shaper, sophisticated and crystal clear throughout this long semester that I have been engaging in practical writing of essay and other related papers. Interestingly, before this semester I had been writing on a false assumption that the skills or the content would matter basically because it was only going to be presented to by class tutors and at most my classmates. However, the semester's experience made me understand that a good paper has to be presentable. Preventability in this sense implies that an article has to be well-organized ideas flowing logically, and also have the artistic skills of composition writing if not literary skills (Staples , 2016). Fundamentally I have learned that well planned and adequately organized idea makes the paper presentable at any level.
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Previously, formulating grammatically correct sentence, and gathering relevant content and information and formulating a thesis statement was my main challenge. I used to piece up information and throw in related words that appeared suitable for the sake of completing the writing process. My sentence structure were pathetic, and basically, my paragraphs were a forest of words and a desert of points if there were any. However, it is notable that my engagement with the grammar lab throughout the semester. I significantly learned how to avoid sentence fragmentations, run-ons and how to formulate thesis statement which is the core part of writing an essay. In the same breath, I also learned how to research, analyze and collect data, sieve the most important, and primarily ignore the irrelevant content from various scholarly articles, journals, and books (Staples , 2016). The most crucial part that sunk well into my head is the contractions; this was one of my major problems. I was taught that contraction is not allowed or on the face of it not desirable while writing an essay or an academic paper. Noteworthy, there is no doubt that I have chiefly acquired skills that are essential for today and the future, writing is a day to day practice and fundamentally forms part of human engagements in any transaction.
In the same breath, I had a major challenge in identifying a proper thesis statement. My thesis statements were a jumbled up and meaningless words. My problem revolved around formulating and distinguishing between analytical, argumentative and expository paper thesis. Significantly, I have learned this art conclusively as a valuable aspect of writing throughout the semester. Importantly, I learned that a thesis ought to be specific and fundamental cover what I will be discussing in the whole paper and also supported by enough evidentiary information (Staples , 2016). In the same breath, a good thesis statement comes at the end of the paragraph after the introductory paragraph.
Comparatively, I have also learned vital skills and strategies that involve in writing academic papers. These literal skills comprise of prose, grammar, the use of transitional phrases, paragraphing, parenthesis, research, analytical skills among others. From this aspects, I learned that the core skills needed in writing papers include objectivity, preventability, and clarity in the flow of ideas. Properly structured paragraphs, phrases, and sentences are essential aspects. Similarly, logical presentation of ideas from the introductory part, body, subtopics and the conclusive part of the essay plays a key role in producing an excellent academic paper. Noteworthy, the semester learning and engagement in extensive writing has enabled me to identify proper strategies in writing. I learned that the starting on time, having proper diction or choice of words lets me have the articulate comprehension and grasp the main topic of the essay. Similarly, using short and concise paragraph are core values towards ensuring that there is a presentable paper. In the same breath, reading through, proofreading and re-reading the essay is one of the core strategies in writing (Staples , 2016). Indeed this is the core skills, strategies that may not only apply to academic writings but may be applied anyway in the aspects of communication in the future away from school set up.
In conclusion, it is notable that writing is a skill that one has to pay attention to learn to be a good writer if not a professional one. In the same breath, my tutors in this came in handy, more so grammar lab significantly assisted me. Through the course, I learned that integrating my work with relevant sources in support of my ideas, starting off earlier and conducting extensive research was the best skill and strategy. Illustratively, I engaged my tutors on writing a rough draft before editing the final copy, simultaneously I also engaged my fellow mates to give their opinions and feedback which enabled me to identify my strengths and weaknesses. I also focused on revision after getting direction and feedback an aspect which made me widen my scope of thinking and writing. I believe that the skills and strategies I have acquired throughout the course have enabled to build myself my confidence and writing capabilities. There is no doubt that now I can produce a credible academic paper with so much ease, a character that I intend to utilize as writer today and in the future.
References
Staples, S., Egbert, J., Biber, D., & Gray, B. (2016). Academic writing development at the university level: Phrasal and clausal complexity across the level of study, discipline, and genre. Written Communication , 33 (2), 149-183.
