My journey through ENG 1100 at the City College of New York (CUNY) this semester has been quite the roller coaster of but an enlightened one. I was forced to repeat this Freshman Composition course & there were some pressure stakes as I attempted to approach each assignment and lecture, with resolve. This self-assessment will reflect on my progress, identify areas where I still need to grow, and hopefully articulate what techniques I used to ensure a successful outcome this time around.
Overcoming Initial Obstacles and Developing Analytical Skills
My initial struggle with ENG 110 stemmed, I believe, from a combination of poor analytical skills and a lack of confidence in my own voice. In my previous attempt, I often felt overwhelmed by the demands of argumentation, struggling to be consistent as analysis did have fun moments genuinely engaging with the readings critically. However, while I enjoyed the verbal exchanges in class, the sparring with classmates as we debated to maintain our own opinions or thoughts on a piece of reading or life in general. I had become a bit reluctant to the actual writing process.
I focused intently on understanding the nuances of rhetorical analysis, recognizing how authors construct arguments, and dissecting their use of ethos, pathos, and logos. The first essay on synthesizing my thoughts on the various readings under a selected heading would initially have been quite enjoyable as I do enjoy sharing my thoughts. The writing seemed too much like work however, especially when faced with similar readings from my earlier attempt at ENG1100.
While I still found identifying subtle rhetorical strategies challenging at times, I also was interested in the many forms used in writings & how they’re used more than how I can use them. It was like a mystery I wanted to unravel to locate all the author’s little writing tricks and discuss upon how they were used. Feedback would’ve been great for this, but I did not complete the first essay on time for this.
My second essay with rhetorical precis was completed on time & the feedback of my colleagues was a great bonus. My colleague commented about the lack of focus in my writing while also giving credit for my deconstruction of the piece I was working on. The professor was also an excellent assistant as his words set a guideline for me during review, it is a constant failing, not being decisive enough. It was probably due to these comments shared by my professor on my work that enabled me to finish the paper on time too- well maybe a few hours late.
Navigating the Demands of a Full-Time Schedule
Beyond the academic challenges, this semester presented significant logistical hurdles due to my full-time work schedule. I worked 8 full hours everyday, including weekends with temporary gigs, though this was more of a choice than mandatory work. From the morning classes I had only 30-40 minutes to commute to work, and in most cases I was late. It was a perpetual struggle with time. There were many mornings when I arrived at class with minimal sleep. There was constant regret that not all courses could be offered online was a recurring thought, especially given the necessity of being physically present for a class after ENG 110- I could’ve planned that better.
To combat this, I tried to focus my free time on my writing, but I must admit this was not consistent. I worked weekends too, though not as time-consuming as the weekdays, I did spend more time reviewing work notes than my writing when I had clearly scheduled it in.
Mastering Structure and Organization
A significant area of improvement for me has been in the realm of essay structure and organization. In the past, my essays often felt disjointed, with ideas presented somewhat haphazardly. This semester, I made a concerted effort to pre-plan my arguments more thoroughly using outlining techniques. This also helped with my flow as well as moving from one thought to the next.
I think more than I write too & with a definite outline of how I think my essay should be organized it helped a lot with this, so the writing was not too chaotic- particularly when I was rushed.
To conclude, this class has been a revelation more to myself on my failings & where I need to continue to persist in order not to get lost in perfunctory work as writing was enjoyable at one point. Also, I can honestly say that I have fulfilled a number of the expected outcomes of this course with emphasis on, ‘to explore and analyze, in writing and reading, a variety of genres and rhetorical situations; to develop strategies for reading, drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing & to recognize and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies when engaged in writing situations.’
I was never the most organized person, and this is usually seen in my writing. This has changed greatly due to this course, organization, and more thought given to how I want to create my own literary mysteries for readers to unravel.
