Composition 1 course and Portfolio self- evaluation: Reflective Cover Letter. 

Dear reader, 

I didn’t get to write as freely and creatively as I do during this course. I used to only write research and academic papers on very specific topics, but I much prefer writing opinion pieces and creative writing which I get to do a lot more in this class. Even though we had a research assignment to do for this class the guidelines are broad and add more fun and add creativity to the assignment. Before this course my initial attitude to writing was poor and lacked initiation for these reasons. 

I have changed my process of drafting, revising and editing greatly because of this course, with having a draft submission and then a final draft. This really helps as I always get great helpful feedback and it always gives me an extra confidence boost when I know someone else has read and looked over my work. 

I think my meaning and clarity in my main course assignments were quite successful as I reached my goal to the most part, I think I might have had some issues with expanding on points in my research assignment, but I think I got the clarity of the essay stated clearly. I also think that my language use, tone and audience was very successful, I wrote with the thought of who my audience was throughout my assignments and never got any corrections on my use of language. 

I would like to work on my research process I feel like if I had a clearer plan of the points that need to be added to the assignments the paper would come out with a clearer outline. I need to work on developing my essay as well as I find information and relate it to my essay well but I have been lacking in the expansion of the points made and the information connecting to the main points. 

This semester, I had to learn how to create a digital portfolio, and consider my work as public, or shared with a larger audience (beyond just my instructor). I would describe this process as different and slightly difficult, but worthwhile. It’s nice to see all the work you’ve done throughout the semester all in the one place. 

The online medium changed my writing process or consideration of my work as I have a better appreciation of my work and the effort, I put into it now that I can see it all together. 

I feel prepared to move on with my academic writing as I have learned a lot from this class and picked up many skills. 

I really enjoyed this course and have a new brighter outlook on academic writing because of it. I will use the skills I learned here in nearly all my classes in the future. 

Regards  

Aoife Sheehy.