This class in itself taught me many things. I’d say I improved a bit from the writer I was before coming into this class. I admit I could have done better and put more effort into my essays. This class helped me improve in critiquing and giving back feedback to my peers. The different essays helped me as a writer see what I was capable of. The narrative helped me open up about moments in my life that I don’t talk about a lot. The exploratory essay helped me focus on a specific topic and do research on it alongside a partner while taking in different perspectives. The critical analysis essay helped me create analysis for a story I read during class and using my in class knowledge in my essay.
Our first assignment was the narrative essay. I personally had a struggle coming up with my topic because I’ve never experienced a death or the grieving of one but I have experienced being on the brink of it and losing myself as my mental health deteriorated. I thought that my idea would be mediocre compared to everyone else doing an actual death so I didn’t really have confidence on my essay.
![[image 1] - My first draft](https://sherlinhuerta.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/36143/files/2024/12/narrative-essay.png)
After I got my feedback I read my essay a couple more times and decided to work on what I got feedback on so I fixed some things. It was not perfected and very flawed still but it was better than the first draft. My peers had also commented on adding more detail into my essay. Prof. Mentenko gave more feedback after my first draft and where I could’ve improved. In high school I rarely did essays about my own life experiences so I had difficulty trying to make it flow and send out the message and how the picture I wanted to.
The 2nd assignment was the exploratory essay. For this we used CCNY library, we went to the library and got lessons on how to use it and how to search up specific phrases in order to get the maximum amount of information we could.
I had struggles trying to find evidence for my side of the essay which was against gun violence and implementing gun usage in general on ccny library especially newspapers about it since it didn’t have what I specifically was looking for.
![[image 2] - ccny library](https://sherlinhuerta.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/36143/files/2024/12/gunn-1024x836.png)
After we turned in the draft (me and my partner), we got feedback and I saw everything I was unclear of and doing wrong.
![[image 3] - exploratory essay](https://sherlinhuerta.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/36143/files/2024/12/exploratory.png)
I needed to spend more time explaining and connecting the information I presented in my essay. It was important for me to thoroughly break down each quote so the reader could easily understand its relevance. I also had to be mindful of the information I included, ensuring that I was specific and clear about my sources.
Lastly, I did my critical analysis essay. This essay wasn’t a struggle as the others because I actually had an idea about how I would format this essay because it was based on what we were learning in my literature class. I did the stories “The Lottery” By Shirley Jackson and “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” By Ursula K. LeGuin. I actually enjoyed these stories and understood it due to discussions in class.
![[image 4] - annotations](https://sherlinhuerta.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/36143/files/2024/12/IMG_7425-875x1024.jpg)
These were my annotations from class although there was so much more being discussed. Just a few things that stood out and ultimately was used in my essay.
In the beginning of this essay I had an idea on how my essay would be formatted but my thesis and intro had me struggling a bit. I had gotten feedback but was still unsure and it was not my best work.
![[image 5] - thesis](https://sherlinhuerta.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/36143/files/2024/12/IMG_7421-1024x768.jpg)
During the process of my essay, we did peer review and this helped me a bit understand how other people viewed my essay. This class definitely helped with taking feedback from others and giving it as well as we are all trying to improve as writers.
![[image 6] - peer feedback](https://sherlinhuerta.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/36143/files/2024/12/IMG_7422-1024x768.jpg)
At the start of this class, I didn’t have any specific expectations for myself as a writer. I’ve always considered my writing to be average, so I approached the class with an open mind and a willingness to try new experiences. Throughout the course, I engaged with my peers, experimented with different essay styles, and explored various themes. I gained valuable skills, such as mastering transitions, understanding MLA format, and learning how to properly cite sources. I also discovered how to utilize online tools effectively to find credible sources and evidence for my essays, which will be invaluable for future assignments.
In addition, I improved my ability to review and critique my peers’ work, which sharpened my analytical thinking and gave me new perspectives on writing. I practiced refining my essays to make them flow naturally and sound cohesive, ensuring that each idea connected seamlessly to the next. Overall, this class has been a transformative experience for me, and I feel much more confident in my writing abilities. I’m excited to apply everything I’ve learned to future projects and continue growing as a writer.
