The essay topic given was a very broad subject on
globalization. Having such a broad essay topic has its benefits and drawbacks. For instance, it allows students to select specific negative consequences of globalization
that have made impacts on their daily lives and focus on developing the essay
solely on that topic. Additionally, it reduces topic overlap amongst students. However, the
broad scope also made it rather hard to pick out an area of interest to focus
on.
I faced a lot of trouble selecting a topic in the beginning
of the assignment. I couldn’t think of a good and focused topic during the
class discussion and brainstorming session. In fact, I had swapped topics a number of
times before finally settling on ‘gaming addiction’, the very night before the
first essay guideline was due. I chose this topic as I found gaming to be
increasing evident in the lives of many teens. With globalization and the
constant advancement of technology, risks of addiction would only increase in
due time.
Though the topic was decided on, it was hard for me to organize
and develop a convincing essay. I felt that my first two drafts were
disorganized in structure. Many sentences did not flow well, and I had trouble
connecting the ideas together smoothly with my limited vocabulary. Furthermore,
since it’s a non-credit baring module, I did the drafts rather half-heartedly,
with the goal of completing it quickly so focus could be placed on other credit
baring modules.
The consultation with Brad allowed me to identify areas for
improvement and structure the essay better. Comparing draft 2B with earlier
versions, I see significant improvements in the organization and presentation
of ideas. Previous assignments such as the summary and reader response also helped me to improve my writing skills and prepare for the essay. I found the peer in-class review to be quite effective in enhancing our learning. It allows us to get feedback from classmates and trains us to read and analyse articles critically.
In conclusion, though the essay assignment required a lot of time and effort, it was a good language learning experience that allowed me to improve my essay writing skills.
In conclusion, though the essay assignment required a lot of time and effort, it was a good language learning experience that allowed me to improve my essay writing skills.
Thank you, Kelly, for this detailed, honest reflection. I appreciate the way you really explore the essay process in terms of what has helped you and what challenged you.
ReplyDeleteI’m just curious though: Was there any part of the instructional process that you think could be improved, reworked or even discarded. What might I have done to have helped you more?