Requena 1

Aislinn Requena Mendoza

Professor Collins

ENGL 1301

8 May 2018

Reflection Essay

Before this semester I knew very little about academic writing. This was my first

composition class I have taken since I graduated from high school. I felt like I was not prepared

enough, but this semester of composition one has helped me become better in academic writing.

During this semester I gained more knowledge about academic writing and improved in

organization, ratiocination, and cite sources through the report essay.

The “MEAL plan” was a helpful tool to use during this semester, it helped me become

organized with my body paragraphs. The “MEAL plan” outline is broken down into sections the,

M stands for main idea, E is evidence that supports the topic, A is analysis the research, and L is

to link the paragraph back to the thesis. In the beginning I did not like the “MEAL plan” but once

I stared using it in my writing it became easier. These steps allowed me to finish my essays

without overwhelming myself, and guided me to know what I had to write next. This tool has

helped my academic writing and helped me improve my writing than what I was used to. The

“MEAL plan” will help me in my future classes to become successful.

Ratiocination is a tool that was helpful to use when revising and editing the essay. This

tool helped me in the report essay because the essay could not have any bias words, or where the

audience can tell what side you choose. Ratiocination has helped me become better at revising

and editing to carefully review and find little mistakes I had. Ratiocination helps to look for
 Requena 2

every “be” verbs, and count how many I had in total. This step helped me go back and review

my essay carefully because once I would look back I would find several “be” verbs. Also

highlighting every other sentence was very helpful because I could see if my sentences where

run-ons or need to be fixed. Ratiocination was one of many helpful tools I used during my

academic writing, and helped me become better in my editing skills.

During composition one I learned how to cite sources properly. Professor Collins wanted

the last page of the essay to be our works cited, she showed each one of us how to cite our

sources professionally. When I would cite a website, I would simply copy and paste the link and

thought I was done. I was confused at first when professor Collins explained, because it was not

as easy as I expected. I have learned how to cite sources properly, and the method professor

Collins showed was very helpful.

I have learned so much about communicating through academic writing, and how to use

tools in essays or any assignment because it is very important to know how to make writing

sound professional. The knowledge I have now about academic writing will help me in my future

education and in any assignment. Some changes I would make if I were to take this class again

would be to use my time wisely, and try not to write the essay all at once. Ask help from a

professor or a tutor to pre- read the essay, to help find mistakes and make changed by doing so I

will be improve my writing skills.