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Troy Everett
UWRT 1101
Ms. Jizi
14 December 2015
Reflection Letter
Dear Ms. Jizi
Let me start by saying how much I enjoyed you as a professor and how much I really
enjoyed this class. Youve taught me so much about writing in a short amount of time. I think I
will always remember you by the phrase, There is no such thing as bad writing. Before this
class I would always find myself procrastinating and critiquing myself before I even started the
paper, in fear that my writing would be Bad. I am glad to say that after completing this course,
I am a way better writer.
The first very effective assignment that you introduced us to was The Free Write. This
is where we had to continuously write for a certain amount of time. You can write about any and
everything. As long as you dont stop writing. My first thought was This is ridiculous! When I
tried free writing the first time, I kept running out of things to write about; and I would find
myself thinking a lot. However, the key is to write everything youre thinking. We started off at 5
minutes per session. By the end of the course, we were free writing for up to ten minutes. This
method taught me how to not procrastinate. Also it showed me that critiquing can be done on
paper and not just in your head. Sometimes a person will reject an idea even before it is tried.
Free writing will put the idea in front of your eyes and allow you to then determine whether the
idea is worth using or not. I will use the free-write method for the rest of my life, it is very
effective.

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Clustering is also something you can do after free-writing. Clusters are just bubble graphs
or ideas relating to the topic. Usually, these end up being supporting details and paragraphs. This
taught me how to separate ideas when I am elaborating on a topic. It makes the writer seem more
knowledgeable of the topic as well.
Around the second or third week of class, I remember you introducing the class to blogs.
My initial thought was that blogs are for girls, believe it or not. You then gave the homework
assignment for the class to research the definition of blogging. I found that a blog is a regularly
updated website of webpage, typically run by an individual or small group that is written in an
informal or conversational style. After trying it, I realized that it is definitely not just for females.
I also realized that it taught me how to effectively write about a topic. Using the style of
conversations helped me to free my mind and not think in such a form for logical essays. Youve
always told us how high school teachers mess up by critiquing so much. The blogs also taught
me how to inform in such a way that teaches someone who has the slightest knowledge of the
topic.
Then there was the peer reviewing. This enabled students to review each others papers
before we turned it in. It may not be a teacher or professor; however, it helps a lot just to have
someone else look at your work. This was also effective because we could circulate good ideas
within the class. My classmates gave me a lot of great advice and it resulted in a good grade
every time. I look at it as a collaborative effort.
My most important work in this course was the self-authorship #2 assignment; the one
about the future. You assigned us to write about what we want our lives to be like five years from
now. This was important to me because I look at myself as a person who achieves my goals. This
project really help me to put in perspective, exactly what I want to accomplish in life. I tried to

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be somewhat realistic with my assignment because I want to view the entire paper as a goal.
Word for word. I do believe that one day, I will look at the paper and be proud that I actually
accomplished all of those things. The dreams are in my reach, I just have to work for them.
Thanks to you Ms. Jizi, I have this assignment as a guideline and I can use it to stay focus and on
track.
The Literacy Narrative and the Self-Authorship #1 really took me back. The literacy
narrative allowed me to remember the type of writer I was in high school and also, how it
influenced the skills that I have now. The Self-Authorship really made me reminisce as well.
However, this assignment made me realize more non-academic aspects of my life. For instants, I
realized that I love the way that I was raised. This makes me very family-oriented. I really
enjoyed doing both of these assignments. It is easier to write when you are actually interested in
the topic.
The Discourse Community Webpage assignment was very enlightening for me. Ive
always liked to be a part of little groups or communities. It trills me to have different languages
and separate conversations that only you and your discourse community can understand. Mine
was on music. Gospel music to be exact. However, I found it very difficult to find all of the
different types of things on this assignment, such as videos, websites, and articles. Quartet
Gospel music is not very social.
The e-portfolio was fun to do as well. It was great to see how every assignment came
together to make one. It also showed me how I progressed as a writer. I honestly think that
during this course, every paper that I wrote was better than the last one. This assignment was not
at all difficult.

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When I first started the course I was not as confident. This because I havent taken a
writing class since my freshman year in college. That was two years ago. This was a great and
fun course, I learned how to not procrastinate and free write very effectively. Now with
everything you have taught me, I feel that I am well equip. I am so grateful. I can use these skills
moving forward, for any class. Shoutout to my section in the back, Hannah, Tyrica, and Waleed
lol Im gonna miss being in a class with you guys.

P.S: If I have to take another writing class, I am definitely signing up for you. Thank you for
everything you taught me! God Bless