This year so far has been great. I have learned so much and made amazing friends. I have also experienced new things. The most important thing to me this past semester has been the professors. I have had nothing but amazing professors. I think that is a wonderful testament to Longwood as a school. The fact that the professors are so accommodating and love what they do. When professors love what they do, they convey their message to students so much better. Everybody has their own way of teaching and/or learning, so obviously not everyone will follow along with every professor. I know many people who can just take notes and get the topic down really well, however I am not one of them. I take notes so professors will think I am paying attention. I am paying attention even if I’m not taking notes, however sometimes in math heavy classes taking notes distracts me from paying attention to learning the process.

That brings me into my next point which is math class. I didn’t have any this past semester, but I do have Macroeconomics, accounting, and Statistics next semester. This being said I am very nervous for it. I have never been the kind of person who is good with math so I’m not really looking forward to it. I do know that there are many outlets to get help with these subjects, so that eases my mind as well as my mom’s. She always wants me to be successful but doing that in math has never been easy for me.

Going into next semester almost feels like it will be easier despite the differences in class difficulty. Now that I know how everything works like canvas (which I had never used until I came here), and all of the school portals for registration and all of that fun stuff. I feel like I will have more time to get out and do fun things because I now know my way around town and have more friends. So I hope everyone’s final stretch of this semester comes to an end in a wonderful way. As well as their next semester being fun and full of great adventures and good people and grades.

I believe that learning how to cite my sources while doing research has helped me better myself as a writer. Writing takes a lot of thought and concentration because it is a writer’s goal to keep the AUDIENCE engaged in the topic that is being talked about. Before I came to this class, I never thought about having an audience, my goal was always just to get my point across in a good way. However, taking into consideration about what the audience wants, is an easier way to organize ideas and make the topic more fascinating.
Another thing that I learned was that some genres are more common in specific disciplines than others, and that is the reason that many scholars write in more than one genre on a regular basis. In addition, scholars write for different rhetorical contexts all the time, and they adapt their writing to the audience, topic, and purpose of the occasion. Learning this helped me realize that scholars adjust their writing style and content based on who they are writing for, what they are writing about, and the goal they aim to achieve.
Academic fields within the humanities have at their heart the creation and interpretation of texts Meaning that the humanities main focus is on producing and analyzing written works or documents to understand meaning and context. I found this beneficial because it helps a writer develop critical thinking-skills and communicate ideas effectively through well-crafted texts. On the other hand, I think that this is going to help me become a better writer because it influences me to convey complex ideas and engage with the Audience.
Although writing is not my strong-suit, I feel as though I will get better the more that I practice. I also feel that learning about the different structures, formats, and how to stay organized is going to help me for future English classes. because it will help me present my ideas clearly and effectively. All in all, this class has taught me that there is a lot techniques, aspects, and practice that comes to being a successful academic writer!

As I came into this class I thought I was doing the best I could in writing. Turns out I was only doing the best I was taught how. When going through high school, many teachers who didn’t teach English or writing would only grade the content of the assignment but not the format of the way it was written. I was under the impression that I was an amazing writer that needed very little, to no work.

After this semester of writing work and learning about the different disciplines I feel as if I have grown as a writer. To me, my writing feels like a more mature showcase of my current and past education. Taking what I felt I already knew and what I have learned in English 165, I can extend my knowledge of how to write and put it to good use and many other aspects. These could include but are not limited to other assignments, classes, and professional outreach (Professional emails, resumes, etc).

Learning about the different disciplines and their different traits helped me decipher between what was being written based on what I know about how they are set up. Paragraph by paragraph have different pieces that come into play to tell you what disciplines scholars have written them. Based on where the references are in the paper as well as if they have a hypothesis or not can tell you from where the perspective is shown. Whether its natural sciences or social sciences there are many different ways to tell the difference.

Even though I have learned many things in English 165, there will always be a nerve wracking aura around exam time. People have many things to study for and prepare for, as well as the excitement of going home to spend time with their families for Christmas time. This is a busy time of year for everybody. That being said I feel prepared for the exam, yet still nervous and anxious. I obviously would like to do good and think I will. I believe that everyone in my class can do well and just needs to focus for this last 1 or 2 weeks depending on your schedule. Good luck to everyone with whatever they are doing.

Over the course of this semester, I have developed many new skills, not only as a writer but also as a reader, reviewer, and student. These improvements have strengthened my ability to engage critically with texts, analyze information thoughtfully, and communicate more effectively through writing. Each assignment has pushed me to refine my skills and approach challenges with greater confidence and curiosity.

When I first arrived at Longwood University, my confidence in writing was minimal, especially in formal writing. Academic assignments felt daunting because I wasn’t sure how to structure my ideas or effectively support my arguments. However, as the semester progressed, I have seen noticeable improvements in my skills. Regular practice, constructive feedback from professors and peers, and opportunities for revision have helped me identify my strengths and areas for growth. I now feel more confident approaching structured assignments, articulating my ideas clearly, and using feedback to refine my work.

Looking ahead, I plan to apply the skills I’ve gained—such as structuring my writing, using precise language, referencing effectively, and employing rhetorical appeals—in future assignments and personal writing. These tools will help me craft more impactful work and ensure my writing continues to improve. Whether I’m completing research papers, reflective essays, or creative projects, I will make a conscious effort to approach each piece with attention to detail and purpose.

One of the most valuable insights I’ve gained this semester is the importance of tailoring my writing to fit the conventions of different disciplines. Each field has unique expectations for structure, language, and references, and understanding these differences has been an eye-opener. This knowledge will be especially helpful throughout my college career as I encounter a variety of writing styles and assignments. Whether I’m writing a formal analysis, a scientific report, or a narrative essay, I now understand how to adapt my approach based on the audience and purpose.

This understanding of discipline-specific writing will also serve me well in my future career. Effective communication is vital in professional settings, whether it’s through reports, emails, or presentations. I feel better equipped to adjust my writing to suit different audiences, ensuring clarity and professionalism in my work. Additionally, the ability to critically analyze and organize information will be an asset in any role I pursue. The skills I’ve gained this semester have laid a strong foundation for success in both academic and professional contexts, and I’m eager to continue building on them.

This semester has been full of headaches and stress but I’m so proud of myself for making it this far. Although I do not look forward to having all of my exams next week, I am looking forward to the end of the semester. Even though we just had a break, I am looking for to our winter break because we do not come back to school until January 6.

I plan to go to my cousin’s house over winter break and see some of my friends that I have not seen in a while. On Christmas Day, I plan to watch the Chiefs and Steelers play. That game is going to be a Christmas gift to me because I have been anticipating that game all year long. Even though I’m going to be enjoying my winter break, I am still going to be thinking about the classes that I have next semester because it’s going to be a full work load.

One of the classes that I am a little worried about I accounting. I have some mix feelings about it because some people say that it is easy while others say that it is hard and professors assign a lot of homework. My main thing is that, I do not want it to end up like my coding class. I thought that I would be fascinated about learning the different algorithms in side of a computer; however, it turns out that coding is very hard to understand even if a student pays close attention to it.

As I look ward next semester, I hope that “marketing” can be a major that I can stick with but if things do not work out, I may consider going back to graphic design. Sometimes, I regret leaving graphic design because it was a lot easier than computer science and it did not require as much time as computer science.

When I first came to college, I had chose graphic design because I enjoyed making art. When I thought about business and art, I considered doing graphic design; on the other hand, my second option was computer science because it talks about how a computer functions. Turns out, graphic design was the better option because I’m good at art and I’m not good at coding or anything else dealing with computer science.

Even though I regret my decision, I am glad that I gave computer science a try because I would have never known how I felt about it if I would have never took a coding class. Luckily, I am passing my coding class but I have an exam this week and a project that comes with a final writeup due next week. I am worried about the project because I have not started on it yet because I do not know how to do it. My goal is to go to the QR center this week and get help so I can finish the semester strong!

Now that the semester is coming to an end, I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve improved as a writer. At the beginning of the semester, I often felt unsure about my writing. I wasn’t always confident in how I expressed my ideas and I struggled with organizing my thoughts. But over the past few months with practice and feedback, I’ve definitely seen myself grow. One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is in my confidence. At first, I would second-guess myself and get nervous about assignments. But now I feel more sure of my writing. I’ve learned how to structure my papers better, make my ideas clearer and stay focused on what I want to say. This new confidence is something I plan to carry with me as I continue with school and into my future career. I know I can handle more complex writing assignments now.

Another thing I’ve learned this semester is how writing can be different in each subject. I always knew that different classes required different types of writing but now I really understand what that means. For example, a research paper needs formal language and strong arguments, while writing in other classes sometimes require a more casual or creative approach. Understanding these differences will help me write more effectively in future classes and even in my career. Next semester, I’m taking Introduction to Media Writing and I’m really excited about it. This class will teach me how to write for things like websites, social media and other forms of media. I think everything I’ve learned this semester will help me in this class. I’ve gotten better at organizing my ideas and writing clearly which will definitely be useful when I need to write for digital platforms.

Looking ahead I know writing will be important in whatever job I get after school. Whether I’m writing emails, reports or social media posts. I’ll need to be able to communicate well. The more I improve my writing the better prepared I’ll be for these tasks. By learning how to write in different ways for different situations, I’ll be able to succeed in the future. Overall, I’m excited to keep improving my writing skills. Everything I’ve learned this semester will help me feel more confident in my writing and prepared for whatever comes next.

During this semester being a sophomore and taking English 165, I have learned a lot about myself through writing. When I would write before I would usually just free-write my papers. I did not take enough time doing them and I did not have any structure to my writing. Since taking English 165,  I have learned to structure and take time writing my papers. I have now figured out how I can write efficiently and get my papers in on time. Since I found my groove in writing, I have gained confidence in the process. Before, I would turn in my papers right when they were due. I had no time to review my paper or get my paper peer reviewed. Since I have now learned to manage my time, I get my papers peer reviewed, I learn from my mistakes in previous work, and I improve from there. Since learning about each discipline, I have begun to understand what type of writing I should do within my major. My major is accounting and in accounting, there is not a significant amount of writing besides word problems. When I have to write statistical papers within accounting, English 165 taught me that I have to use an APA format. With the language in accounting, you have to be clear and concise with no extra frills or flare. Then in the reference section, all that you have to do is follow the APA format. All of this new knowledge is going to help me with my accounting career in college and when I graduate from college as well. For example, the type of work that is going to include this kind of writing is financial statements that have to be precise because you are turning them into the government. One wrong word in them and you will have the IRS knocking at your door. Overall, I greatly value what I have learned in this class and look forward to implementing it into the rest of my education and career.