What have I learned?
For my favorite book and chapters, I honestly learned something valuable from each one. I really enjoyed the “They Say, I Say” book because it gave me practical tools that I can actually use in my writing here at Longwood. The part about juxtaposition, how to balance what others say with what I think is especially helpful. I learned that writing doesn’t always have to sound complicated or “academicspeak”; it can be more natural, like “normalspeak,” as long as it’s clear and supported by sources. I also liked learning how to include what peer-reviewed authors say and then respond with my own opinion, whether I agree or disagree. It made academic writing feel more like a conversation.
I also enjoyed “Understanding Rhetoric.” It reminded me of things I learned before, like ethos, pathos, and logos, but in a more creative way. Learning about kairos, the right time and place to say something, was new for me. I liked how the book showed that good writing means putting yourself into your work, almost like taking on a character. It made me think differently about how I communicate.
As for “Academic Writing,” I liked learning about structure, language, and references in different disciplines. I now understand how word choice can strengthen or weaken an argument depending on the discipline you’re writing for. That was very interesting to me.
My least favorite readings were also from “Academic Writing, ” not because they weren’t useful, but because there were just too many words! I’m the kind of person who likes things straight to the point. That’s why I liked “Understanding Rhetoric” more. I don’t always have time for long, wordy explanations; I’d rather have bullet points of the most important things to learn.
I still don’t feel completely confident in my writing ability. I’m a detailed and meticulous person, and I used to have a really good memory, one of the reasons I graduated cum laude in nursing school. But now, I feel like my pre-menopausal symptoms sometimes interfere with the details I try to remember. I can usually recall the main idea or the “gist,” but not word-for-word, which makes me feel less confident in my writing. My weaknesses are paraphrasing, grammar, and expanding on my ideas. My plan is to keep practicing, continue reading about grammar, and work on writing more regularly until it becomes more natural and I gain back my confidence.