Reflective Essay: Improving Writing Skills

Throughout the semester I was able to improve my writing skills through a variety of ways. I learned many new skills and techniques to help improve my writing skills. I learned that I need to continue working on my grammar: first, correcting run-on sentences and fragmented sentences, second, improving my understanding of the readings to help connect ideas, evaluate examples, and develop details, and finally improving my public speaking skills.
Beginning of the semester I was having numerous problems with the grammar of my papers. Since I had trouble with grammar among other problems I would receive low grades on my papers. Most of the time run- ons and fragments were the culprit. Dr. McCormick comments, “You struggle with run-ons and the occasional…

Shortly after the English Presentations I had a Sociology Media Presentation in which I was supposed to present three articles about the criminal justice field. The feedback I found useful was, “I also have a note that you need to take off your coat before you talk next time. It shows respect to your audience—even if you are a bit cold” (Presentation Feedback). I remembered reading this and before I was to present my research I took off my coat. However, I would have liked to have kept it on. Also, I the writing of the script was useful. Dr. McCormick states, “The script was effective, and you were one of the best prepared speakers, which means the script did its job, very well” (Presentation Feedback). I agree and disagree. I agree with the fact that the script help me outline what I was going to say. However, I disagree with “being one of the best prepared speakers” simply because I rushed the night before to find pictures, and add to the script of what I was going to say. Christine Jackson said, “At some points I felt you lost your train of thought” (Presentation Feedback). I agree. Toward the end of the presentation, I forgot what I was going to talk about with one of the slide because I didn’t prepare well enough to talk about each slide and the…