ENGL165, Writing and Rhetoric, is a class I took spring semester of my freshman year at Longwood University. Throughout the semester, I learned how to write a college level paper by using annotations, quotations, primary sources, a clear thesis and college level thinking. My writing greatly improved as a result of the short assignments that had clear objectives and prompts. Until now, I was an extremely poor reader. My reading comprehension improved because of the weekly annotation exercises that provided guidance that led to more meaningful reflection on works.

This course helped me developed  into a strong and proficient academic writer that I can take throughout my collegiate years. I struggled with formal writing and writing in general. Writing took me a longtime to get my ideas across. Professor Mayer helped me over come this issue believing in my ability to succeed and by teaching through clear power points, lectures and examples..At first the readings were overwhelming but I soon learned how to manage my time, gain confidence and clearly follow Professor Mayer’s instructions.

Above is my formal end of semester project. This paper is the first product that is a result of hard work, edits, and drive to succeed in the classroom. I revised my thesis statement three times, had a slight moment of panic in between, went to the remote Writing Center multiple times and perfected my work. I am proud of the progress I made this semester. Most notably I now know how to formulate a clear thesis statement that lays out my ideas, sources, quotes, and main points. It is the first time I did not loose points because of my citations. Thank you Professor Mayer!