A Reflective Commentary, Essay Example

Before taking the course, I didn’t take any systematic approach to writing. I used to think that writing is just an art with no particular rules and being a good writer is a matter of talent. But this course has not only changed my perspectives on the art of writing but has also significantly enhanced my writing skills. In this paper I will be talking about several things such as my strengths, weaknesses, the approach to writing before the course and the approach to writing after taking the course.

Before I took the course, I would almost never write initial drafts or outlines. My first draft would also be my final draft and I would rarely proofread the paper. I would also pay little attention to paragraphs and would move to a next paragraph not with the intention of making a different point but to prevent the paragraphs from becoming too big. Similarly, I would also have little or no plan for research and would pick resources on the basis of convenience rather than source credibility or relevance to the paper. I would also rarely think about the potential audience of my paper. As a result, my paper would have several spelling and grammar mistakes that could easily have been caught through proofreading, the paper would be poorly organized, and the reader would be left confused regarding the main argument of the paper. Moreover, my sentences would also be long sometimes that they would only serve to distract the reader.

Taking the course has helped me address several weaknesses I used to have in writing. Of all the papers I wrote, I consider “DNA Database and Human Rights” to be the best because it reflects several lessons I have learnt in the course. First of all, the paper showed that I took a carefully planned approach to sources for the paper. I made sure that the authors of the sources were professionally credible and I consulted sources with different point-of-views rather than just one view. This made it possible for me to engage in objective reasoning and to provide enough information to the readers to reach a reliable conclusion on the issue. One strength of the paper was that it was well organized, with related information in the same paragraph that made it easier for the readers to read and understand the paper. I also wrote the paper well because I tried to anticipate the arguments that could be made by the opponents. This helped me incorporate effective counterarguments and also sent the message to the audience that I had considered both sides of the underlying issue before adopting a position.

One of the weaknesses I am working on is to obtain third-party feedback on my writing. Whenever I asked a third party to proofread my paper, they would find spelling mistakes or errors that I had missed even after proofreading the paper several times. But lack of time would prevent me from seeking third party feedback, thus, I need to work on finishing papers well in advance of deadlines so that I have time for proofreading and feedback. One other weakness I am working on is to create outline even if the writing assignment doesn’t require it. I have observed that outline not only helps you write a better-organized paper but also saves you time. In addition, it also lets you make a research plan because you know exactly what you need to research and don’t just have to randomly choose research sources.

The writing course has taught me that few rules can significantly improve the overall paper. I have also learnt that drafts and outlines help create better-organized papers. It is also important to assess the credibility of the sources. Last but not least, feedback from third parties doesn’t only help us catch mistakes we might have overlooked but they may also provide valuable suggestions regarding the content of the essay.