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Deja Corley

Professor Cuddy

Written Communication I

02 December 2019

My Experience in Written Communication I

Overall my experience in written communication was very pleasant. Before entering the

class I had a few false assumptions. I thought that we would have to write 10 page papers on

boring topics, which was not the case at all. All of the writing we did was less than 4 pages and

we had some sort of freedom in what we wanted to write about. I also assumed that we would

have to read a lot of long pieces of literature. Most of the readings that were assigned were of a

reasonable length. There were skills that I feel I masterted while enrolled in this course and there

were some concepts that I struggled with. Even with struggling with some concepts, I am

satisfied with my performance in this course and I have made some goals for the second part of

this course, in written communication 102.

I have mastered a few skills while being enrolled in written communication I. So far

while being in this course I have had three writing prompts. Each of these prompts required us to

learn new concepts to fully understand the assignment and complete it successfully. For the first

writing prompt we had to use to Oxford English Dictionary (OED) to write about the history and

etymology of one word. Before this assignment I had never used the OED and while being

introduced to this source I realized it contained way more information than the dictionary sources

I was used to. I learn how to navigate the OED and I have used it a few times for writing
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assignments in other courses. Every writing prompt we had to do it was a must that we cite our

sources with in-text citation and a works cited page. There were things that were new to me like

if a quote was longer than 3 full lines it would get its own separate paragraph or if there are six

or more authors you the first author's last name and then put “et al.” I feel that I adjusted to the

new concepts very well, they were not difficult concepts for me to understand.

While being enrolled in Written Communication I, there were some things that I

struggled with. The second writing prompt was very difficult for me. We had to write a rhetorical

analysis essay on a documentary film of our choice. What I did at first while writing this essay

and where I went wrong at, was focusing on the specific scenes of the film. I did not focus on

what literary devices were used in the film. So I had to go back to the drawing board and start

over. I had to go to Dr. Cuddy's office hours to get a better understanding of the prompt which

help significantly, and I was able to complete the assignment correctly. Another thing I struggled

with was creating a good thesis statement. This is always something I have struggled with, even

in high school. I think what I struggled with is I know what I want to say but piecing it all

together to make it sound cohesive is the part that is hard for me. Even though creating a good

thesis statement is still difficult for me I have improved from high school. There were some

concepts that were difficult for me but none the less I came out a better writer then when I first

entered the class.

I feel as this Written Communication I was a very beneficial course, I am glad that it is a

required course. I feel that overall I did very well in this course and I am very proud of myself.

Writing has never been my strong suit and I often dread having to write essays. My goals for

next semester in written communication II is to get better on writing a thesis statement. I would
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also like to work on becoming a better writer because even thought after this spring semester I

will not have to take a english course, writing essay will not stop. The skills we used in both

written communication I and II will be used throughout our matriculation here at Hampton

University but in the real world as well.

I have learned many concepts that have me a better writer while being enrolled in written

communication I. There were concepts that I grasped and were easy to me and then there were

some concepts that I really struggled with. The things that I struggled with I made sure that I

made them a goal to get better in, in the second semester of written communication II. It is

important to take a step back and reflect on the work you do. You get a better understanding on

what you accomplished and what you may need to work on. After writing this reflection I was

able to make goals for myself and give myself a pat on the back for the things I accomplished

this semester.
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