The writing process is circular

The writing process is circular; it does not end when you submit the paper to your instructor. In order to make progress with each assignment, you will need to optimize feedback, reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and plan for improvement. Review the sections below for more guidance on evaluating and improving your own writing. But first, take a few minutes to reflect on what you have learned so far. Watch this video from the University of Hull to understand why reflection is important in the learning process and how to write a reflection: Reflective Writing
Reflecting on Strengths & Weaknesses
To reflect is to think deeply about something. The activity of reflection does not need to be formal in nature. Simply sit down with a copy of your paper and consider the last week or so you spent writing it. After considering the following, write a paragraph or two that summarizes what you have learned from the reflection process. Be sure to mention your strengths along with things that need improvement. Submit your paragraphs in the Reflecting on Writing the Rhetorical Analysis dropbox.
Areas to consider:Time management (Did I plan out time to complete this assignment effectively? What steps should I devote more to in the future?)
Research skills and use of sources (What great research resources did I discover? Where can I look for help?)
Critical reading and note taking (Did I read the assignment closely to make sure I addressed every component? What prewriting strategies seemed to work for me?)
Organization (Was there an introduction and a conclusion? Did each paragraph have a topic sentence?)
Argument and analysis (Was my thesis statement clear and specific? Did I explain the evidence for the reader by integrating analysis with summary?)
Rhythm and flow of the language (Did I use transitions to show relationships? Were my sentences a variety of long and short?)
In-text citation and references (Did I cite sources appropriately? What aspects of citation or references are still confusing to me?)
Grammar and punctuation (Were all sentences complete, with a subject and verb? What punctuation was problematic for me?)
Actions to consider:Take notes on what difficulties you encountered during the writing process and brainstorm solutions for the future.
Record your instructor’s comments and track these for each assignment.
Read through the paper, highlighting problem areas in one color and successful areas in another.
Jot down these strengths and weaknesses and keep them by you as you write or revise.
Compare an earlier paper to the one you just completed. Do you see positive change?
Planning for Improvement
Reflection can help you identify the areas for improvement, but in order to actually move forward, you will need to make a plan and remind yourself of your goals. After identifying your writing strengths and weaknesses:
Celebrate your strengths by congratulating yourself on what you did well..
Practice new writing techniques in discussion post assignments, where there is less pressure to perform well.
Create a checklist for your next writing assignment. The most important thing to remember is that becoming a better writer takes time.*
*Adapted from Walden University’s Writing Center