In the writing section of this course, we had to complete four major assignments. Our first assignment was a narrative paper, followed by an exploratory essay including a bibliography, critical research analysis essay, and finally portfolio and self-assessment. In both classes we learned new strategies and how to cultivate them. When I started this class I was very insecure about my writing, since it has never been my strong suit. Through these assignments, my writing style evolved, learned new things, and identified my strengths and weaknesses.
Our first paper was the narrative essay, and asked for the paper to be written about “an event that you have experienced where death occurs, no matter how large or small.” In my first draft, my main issue was many things were left unanswered, the point wasn’t able to get across. My narrative was simply a story of an event in my life, but it did not use enough literary strategies. When it comes to personal and emotional pieces, my writing is disconnected and I simply wrote what happened. I had not noticed this in my revisions of my first draft. Here below you can see my first draft, I submitted for peer review:
Below is the peer review, they noted how in my writing somethings were unclear. Even after personally reviewing my draft, I was not able to identify how I didn’t show how I felt. She reassured me in my writing I did well, such as my narrative following the narrative arc and had a good introduction. This informed me it would help my future assignments, to print my papers and manually edit them. And it is extraordinarily helpful to have another person edit a paper, since they are more neutral. They also noted I had to work on my body paragraphs.
We had a room description exercise that went along with this assignment. This assignment called for us to draw our room in two different views, and then write out how it described. This was very helpful, in my descriptive story telling. We were able to actively practice descriptive writing, being able to visualize rooms through the way I write. I used this practice to include more descriptive language in my narrative, which is helpful to immerse and compel the reader.
I submitted my assignment and the revisions made by Professor Metenko supported my thoughts on how revisions to my work is important. I had thought my addition of descriptive language was enough, I had not realized how important it was to add my emotions and continue to add descriptive language. My professor brought it my attention I would sometimes accidentally switch point of views. I also have the small tendency of going off topic or adding unnecessary parts.
Our new assignment after the narrative essay is the exploratory essay. Along with this assignment we had an accompanying assignment for the task. We were meant to find sources and explain how we would use the sources. This assignment made the importance of looking for resources prior to writing important because it ensures the sources used were a necessity and are strategized.
In my draft I submitted for peer review, I had not included any visuals, such as images and graphs. This essay requiring visuals is a vital skill I learned, I now know how to properly add visuals to my papers. I learned how I have to add captions to my images. In addition to that skill I learned how to add blocked quotes.
When Professor Metenko revised my final submission, he brought to my attention how I need to make more use of active voice. Also I need to make some of my quotes into block quote. Additionally instead of adding a direct quote, I should paraphrase.
The last assignment for this class was a critical research analysis. Although I had examples to follow that were supplied by the writing section, may of the supplemental readings were analysis, I struggled to write this essay. It was hard to come up with a thesis and purpose for my essay.
Now, that I have finished this FIQWIS I am glad I decided to choose this FQWIS, I was intrigued by the name Killer Stories. I had always preferred murder mystery writing, so I was influenced by my likes when choosing this class. The readings were interesting and helpful examples for future assignments. The readings were amazing examples of story telling. When coming into this class, I was not very confident in my writing, I am more confident now than the beginning since I have been equipped with many great strategies and practice.
