I offer insight into my first quarter at the University of California, Davis, through my experience in UWP 1. When I first started writing for this course, I expected to be inundated with intimidating college-level assignments and high expectations for writing. I was unsure whether I would truly broaden my literary aptitude, nor was I confident that my pre-college writing level could ever meet the expectations I was so concerned with. This course, however, has not only reignited my interest in literacy but also enlightened me on how to become a more invested, attentive writer.

              In the first draft of my Literacy Narrative, I concentrated on establishing the framework of my storyline, the events that transpired in my plot, and the message I intended to portray. This essay topic, however, instructed us to construct an immersive tale–one by which I was intimidated. I was unfamiliar with the genre of narrative writing and even more so with the concept of how the audience would interpret my work. Furthermore, my pre-college writing experience with analytical essays was primarily focused on research and novel dissection rather than personal narratives, which only added to my confusion about the conventions required to produce an immersive story. Interestingly, after receiving feedback from my peers and professor, I began to learn more about the purpose of the assignment and what it meant to include engaging descriptions in my writing to ensure that readers get the most out of my work. I was urged to include my essence and emotions throughout my narrative so I decided that I wanted my audience to relate to those emotions as if they were experiencing them alongside me. Specifically, I wrote about how I remembered the “loneliness I felt whenever I drifted timidly through the halls of my elementary school. My thoughts spun chaotically as I failed to make sense of the clashing noises that spewed from my classmates’ mouths. I saw each interaction as a succession of fast-paced dialogues with foreign subtitles and a slew of exclamatory remarks scattered through a cluttered screen.” This scene, I believe, captured the confusion and anxiety I felt when I first entered school in the United States. I tried to use a relatable yet complex visual to ensure that readers could envision the scene in their minds. The Literacy Narrative assignment enlightened me about the relevance of genre in shaping writing conventions and the way you chose to form a connection with your audience. This concept was also applied when writing my Academic Research paper. I incorporated sufficient explanations of the historical elements of my writing so that readers could consume the content without feeling muddled or without context. I also sought feedback from the UC Davis Academic Assistance and Tutoring Center to assist in my writing process. I considered the strengths and weaknesses of my writing and made extensive revisions by removing unnecessary statements, condensing paragraphs, and expanding on arguments as needed.

              Throughout UWP 1, I was able to participate in assignments that focused on developing a writing process that worked well for me. I discovered that self-evaluation and revision were crucial practices that required me to be more reflective, meaningful, and attentive to each word I wrote on the page. I could seek where my writing was lacking and how I could improve on a specific sentence, wording, transition, or analysis by evaluating and revising my writing. I also observed how other writers incorporate or format their writing and drew inspiration from their conventions to see how my writing could be improved. Furthermore, revision allowed me to dissect unnecessary parts of my writing or expand on ideas that would better explain my argument. Fulfilling this course has allowed me to improve my writing process, produce quality academic writing, and become a more adaptable and confident writer.

              As a result, I believe that my efforts throughout this course reflect a (B+) or (A-). I completed all of the assignments on time and to the best of my ability, and have improved substantially as a writer. I would have scored myself higher if it were not for the fact that I am missing the complete methodology, results, and discussion sections for my Academic Research paper. The reason for this is the lack of response I received from the individuals and organizations I contacted to fill out my survey. I have attempted to contact these groups multiple times following my initial outreach but have yet to receive a response. If I had more time, I would add to the aforementioned sections of my Research paper.