Unit 1 Refection

Academic writing is not a linear, 'cookie-cutter' worksheet-type process; it involves trial and error, taking risks, experimentation, and sometimes struggle, but ultimately discovery and growth.  I recognize that academic reading and writing can be difficult!  

In 2-3 paragraphs, using examples from your experience over the past 4 weeks, reflect on this definition of academic writing in your own process of Essay #1 and the class activities that led up to it.  Be detailed and honest, as these reflections not only help you grow as readers and writers but help me design future courses (that yes, will involve processes of experimentation, struggle, and growth).  

I enjoyed Unit 1 and writing my essay. I experimented and leisurely wrote my essay kinda informally with what I think is my "voice" in essays. When writing my essay, the prompt had me thinking about language way more than I usually think about Chinese and I enjoyed writing a bit about my past. When I was writing my second draft, that to me was my idea draft. I just put all my ideas into sentences and then later organized it. I feel like that works best for me if I have a lot to say about a certain prompt. I thought the peer editing was super helpful as well. When I was revising my final draft I looked back at my groups comments and it helped me clarify my essay. I have always been a fan of peer editing because when I am on a role writing my draft, I tend to leave out detail and forget my reader can''t read my mind. 

I did however struggle with connecting to the authors. The blog annotations helped make sense of the readings but I didn't think I personally related to them. I was reading one of my group members essays and saw she used a lot of quotes. In the end I did find some things the authors wrote to put into my essay. During the peer revision I wasn't a fan when we had to just circle mistakes and really good sentences. It ended up making me confused when I looked back at my draft and saw a lot of circles without explanations or comments. I think its helpful when my editors on the side ask me questions or write "detail?" or "why, how, when?". I find those comments from peer editing helpful.