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Lucia Istupe

Professor Ditch

English 114A

10 May 2019

Writing Improvement

Starting off this semester, my writing was no better than a high schoolers. I was unaware

of what MLA format was, I used first person , and I had a lot of grammar mistakes. Throughout

the semester, we had exercises, PowerPoints and we even given links to websites to help each

student in my class improve our writing skills. It took me a while to relies that the information

was there to help and not just to take up time in class. I started the semester thinking I was a

good writer but if it was not for those exercises, PowerPoints and links I would not have known

how bad I actually was. However, rather than just giving up, I found ways to stop using fist-

person, improve spelling mistakes as well as my use of MAL formatting.

The first essay I wrote in English 114A was Acting on Happiness. The topic sentence

states “As a child, we often believe happiness is found in getting our was.” I used the words

“we” and “our” which I assumed was okay; I later found out it was not( although in this case it is

because it is a reflection essay. That sentence should been written “As a child, one often believe

happiness is found in getting their way.” Using “one” instead of “we” and “their” instead of

“our”. After I learned that using first person was not the wright way to write an essay, I caught

myself doing it on several occasion and developed different ways to say what I wanted rather

than using first person.

Spelling has always been an issue for me. I am a numbers person so I always focused

more on how to solve a problem and less on whether to use there, they’re or their. For example,
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in my second essay I used “interrupted” when I meant to use “interpreted”. Small errors like that

tended to throw off my essays. The way I improved on spelling errors is by just re-reading my

essays over and over again to make sure there we non. I had several other spelling errors but it

was not too difficult to correct.

Another error I had that was simple to correct is my use of MLA. In my first essay, when

citing a quote, I used just the page number like (287). In my second essay I used the authors last

name, a p for page and the page number: (Brooks p287). It was not until my third LRC visit

where I was taught to use just the authors last name and the page number: (Brooks 287). The

LRC helped me with other MLA formats I had such as numbering my pages with my last name

and a number for each page and dating my essay with the date it is due rather than the day I

started the essay.

A lot of my improvements were due to the LRC. They are very helpful. It takes several

visits though. I thought that with one visit I would be fine but that was not the case. I went a total

of three times and I still need help from them. During my visits I worked on my spelling, MLA

and using first person. I also worked on those issued with my sister at home. I still need to work

on those issues but at least I have improved slightly.

Starting off the semester, I wrote my essays as if I was still in high school. It took a lot of

trial and error to get where I am today but I still have a long way to go. I have learned different

ways to express what I what I want to say rather than using first person. For example, instead of

using “I” or “we” I use “one” or “a person”. Also, I have improved my spelling mistakes just by

re-reading my essays. I will always struggle with this issue, but if I continue to improve my

errors, I will struggle less and less each time. Finally, I have improved my MLA formatting. I am

now aware of how it should be formatted and will continue to format my essays as such. This
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semester has helped a lot with my writing and I am grateful I had these resources to help improve

it more.