When initially going into this class, I expected lots of papers on random topics that would

ultimately demonstrate my ability to research and report on my findings or conclusion, though

my time throughout this half of the semester has already proved this course beneficial to all

aspects of my writing. I have found myself developing concepts that assist my growth and

advancement in other writing assignments, as I am also taking a Writing Intensive course this

semester, so I feel I am able to practice and apply the concepts we discuss in class to better my

skills in my other classes, even though it is a course on Russian history. Reflecting on our

syllabus goals listed at the beginning of the course, I think we have had a good focus on the

overall goal of developing writing and rhetorical strategies, as I find myself analyzing my

writing more deeply in order to better construct my overall argument. When looking back on my

initial feelings on my writing habits, I feel that I have actively worked to address the problems I

have when explaining a topic by implementing the strategy of developing a plan that will help

me guide myself along the statements I am trying to articulate until I make my main point. This

can also be related to my process when writing or dissecting the structure of an argument, as it

takes time to accurately guide the reader along the point of view that you want to convey while

also ensuring you develop a clear and cohesive piece of work. I have tried to better this sense of

smooth thought and transition in my writing, as I believe my feedback has shown that my high

level of formality throughout my works can benefit in being informational and to-the-point,

though I must also work to distinguish when this style of writing is more appropriate. Though I

consider myself who is more generally reserved to be a first-year college student, I am proud of

the connections I have made in this class through my in-class participation, as this is something

that is often missed out on in a larger lecture hall, so I have enjoyed benefitting from the direct

and immediate feedback of my peers who are so similar to me. I am also proud of the progress I
have made as a writer, even in the first semester of this class, as I believe my schedule has given

me ample opportunity to expand my skills through a variety of different writing methods and

outputs which provide a diverse set of quality work that I can reflect on and appreciate for years

to come.