We learned multiple valuable skills throughout the semester, and starting strong with the challenge: do not write an entire essay the night before its due! This is something many students struggle with, procrastination. In my class this semester I learned to start with an idea, and draft up to around 400 words, then later come back and try to reach 800 words, and again to 1200 words. The first time we took on this process it took a few weeks, and by the end of it I was proud of my developed work. This recursive process is a great example that requires substantial revision of drafts in content, organization, and clarity. This is because letting yourself take a step back from what you wrote, reviewing it and coming back later, actually makes the writing process much better to comprehend. Through it I was able to see what was and wasn’t working, and have enough time to fix and revise before it was due. The key point is to start this process with ample time before the project is due. 

Comparing specifically my first and final draft of my chosen work sample, project three, I found that I looked outward for help revising. After a personally unsuccessful peer review, I felt unsatisfied with my work. I turned to resources such as the They say I say book which helped me a lot with meta commentary, something I lacked in the first draft. Being reminded of this skill ultimately helped my writing become much clearer in a global way. I also learned and grew to find help when I needed it most, especially when it comes to revising my essay. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to have my professor review my essay, because I feel much more confident in project three. Project three reflects my development as a writer in thoughtfully reviewing my own work.