During this semester, I have become a better writer. I have really focused on getting to the main point of my subject while still providing adequate background knowledge and plenty of supportive details that keep the paper and writing interesting. A good majority of the focus is centralized in the thesis and beginning paragraph, as well as the overall structure of the paper; all of which I practiced in class and applied to my writing.
Before I was able to really improve any specific points in my writing, I had to develop the skill of critical thinking. I really had to practice getting more out of the articles I was reading so as to improve my supporting details and sources in the informative and argumentative essays as well as the research-based blog posts. Part of that was learning to ask the right questions to get the right angle for the paper. Another part of the process of developing critical thinking was taking a step back and acknowledging some of my weaknesses as a writer.
I found that a major point of weakness for myself was that I rambled quite a bit when I wrote. I would evade the subject of my paper without even meaning to, adding random details and facts that had nothing to do with the matter at hand, and it made for a choppy essay that did not flow at all.
The final part to developing the skill set I so desired was thinking things through clearly on my own. I found that writing out all my ideas, regardless of if they fit or not, helped to empty my head enough that I could weed out the ideas that wouldn't work with my main point. I was able to draft an outline quickly and then fill in the details as needed with relative ease and quite a bit more efficiency.
Soon after I began practicing and applying these steps, I noticed improvement with my writing and gradually I was no longer practicing because the steps became habit. This proved to help me feel more confident in my writing and actually enjoy the process more as I became aware of the process.
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