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Rodrigo E Hernandez Matialena

Professor Holly Batty

Engl 102 - 20394

12 December, 2018

Reflective Essay

As the 2018 Fall Semester now comes to a conclusion, I have been given the opportunity

to reflect on the past four odd months and what they represent to me. Growth is a word typically

used when an individual analyzes their yearly progress, but hardly does anyone utilize

“expansion” in a similar manner or context. I have definitely matured this semester, both as an

individual with dreams, hobbies and passions, but also as a student and researcher, becoming

more diligent and disciplined in my academic career and studies. In previous semesters, I was a

lax and careless student, hardly ever taking the time and consideration to study coursework prior

to an exam, refusing to take notes during lectures, and often falling asleep during instructional

hours or simply not showing up to class at all, however my work ethic coming into this fall

semester was different and had definitely, and for the better.

I digress, however. In my time at Los Angeles Valley College, I have become more

aware of myself and what truly motivates me, as well as discovered new passions and interests as

I work my way through my pre-major coursework. If it had not been for Los Angeles Valley

College and its art department, I would have never discovered my passion for renaissance art and

the methods with which it was produced. Furthermore, my overall passion for politics and

government would not be what it is today had it not been for the likes of Professor Armour

nurturing these passions and Professor Batty’s English Composition class where I perfected how
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to structure my writing in a manner that better communicates my ideas. As a result of Professor

Batty’s teaching methods, curriculum and her insistence on constantly reviewing work

throughout the drafting process, as well as after completing the final draft has lead me to become

a much more well rounded author. As a result of this semester’s teaching I am as confident as I

have ever felt in my ability to articulate my thoughts, and will continue to improve as I continue

my journey into academia.

One of the primary weaknesses in my writing is my assumption that the reader is already

familiar with the subject at hand, as I tend to delve into the information being presented

immediately, rather than slowly easing into it and presenting a well organized and concise

introduction. I have worked diligently on this, however, and believe I have remedied the issue

throughout the semester, as I have become more familiarized with presenting essays in the MLA

format, as well as devising argumentative and informative essays. By learning new analytical

skills, I have also become more adept at analyzing a text through more than a single perspective;

in fact, I can comfortably say that I am now more than capable of understanding a text or an

issue from perspectives opposite my own, and for this I am thankful.

The other weakness I was able to remedy in my writing is my improper use of

structuring, as my organizational skills have vastly improved over the last couple of months.

Overall, my writing abilities are strong, but can always use improvement, primarily in tying my

supporting ideas back to the thesis in an effective and concise manner, however aside from this

and the occasional spelling and grammatical error, my writing is flawless. The strengths in my

writing are my ability to produce a powerful thesis that can be easily supported, as well

producing fully developed supporting ideas and excellent transitions.