Shiv Gandhi

English 1213

Professor Hammett

Reflective Essay

December 11, 2024

Word Count: 420

     When I started this course, I wasn’t confident about college-level writing. As a high school senior, I felt out of my depth with all the rules for formatting and citations. Looking back, I can see how much I’ve learned as a student and myself. Starting off the semester I had little to expect of what was going to be asked from me. 

     The first two essays in this course was an argument about solutions to the suicide epidemic and a rhetorical analysis of Franz Kafka’s views on suicide. In the first essay, I learned how to build a strong argument using PEE format, which ended up helping me stay organized on the project. By the time I worked on the rhetorical analysis, I felt more comfortable analyzing texts critically. That essay taught me how to evaluate rhetorical strategies and think about an author’s purpose and audience. Together, these two essays have strengthened my ability to research, organize ideas, and write for an academic audience.

     However, not everything came easily. I did poorly on one of my earlier assignments because I didn’t know the correct formatting for citations. I didn’t use APA formatting correctly, and my in-text citations were a mess. I hadn’t realized how much proper formatting mattered, and it showed in my grade. Thankfully, Professor Hammett allowed multiple attempts, so I revised my work using her feedback. That experience was frustrating at first but I kept working through it until I got the score I wanted. It taught me the importance of paying attention to details and how formatting can impact credibility.

     I also learned how to distinguish between websites that are scholarly and those that are not. I had trouble at first locating trustworthy references for my essays. This course taught me to stay away from websites like Wikipedia and blogs and instead look for reliable academic sources. I was able to make better arguments and use facts more skillfully after I realized this.

     This class has been a journey of growth. From fixing my formatting mistakes to analyzing complex texts, I’ve learned valuable skills that will stick with me. Additionally, I have become a faster writer because of this course, and I have learned how to organize my ideas more effectively. Writing about the epidemic of suicide and about absurd authors reminded me of how writing can address real-world issues, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. This course was incredibly beneficial to my writing and critical thinking, and I wouldn’t hesitate to take it again.