personal writing assignment

Professor Trevor Setvin
English 102
9 March 2013
Personal Writing Assignment My writing process usually begins the day I find out I have a writing assignment. Depending on the type of paper and topic, I read through the material and let my mind brainstorm on it for a day or so. For example, I had a psychology research paper due last semester with a multitude of topics to choose from. The first thing I did was read through the topics and make sure I fully understood what each one meant. After a day to mull over my options, I made my choice and began creating my writing plan. For me, the writing plan or outline is crucial in a research paper. Before I even begin doing research, I take out a sheet of notebook paper and jot down a few ideas of what my supporting paragraphs will cover. This allows me to refine me research to the specific points and supporting details. Once I have determined the key points of my paper, I begin to do research. I usually do most reading online, so I start a folder on my desktop to keep all the files I will be using. During this time I also go ahead and format my references for a bibliography or works cited page. I think this saves time. Once I have enough research to properly fill out my supporting paragraphs, I begin the writing process. I prefer to write the entire paper in one sitting. While I do space out the research development of the paper, the actual writing is something I cannot take a break from and come back to. Once my ideas are ready, I have a gnawing urge to get the down on paper. I may scribble a few notes on my original outline while writing, but I compose my entire paper, from start to finish, on my computer. When the paper is finished I proof read, save it and walk away. I do not go back and make any major alterations that day. Usually, my husband will read through the paper the next day and make a few grammatical corrections or tell me I should change something around. I benefit most from having him read it out loud. I always wait at least a day to make changes or corrections to my paper, because I feel to close to it immediately after I have written it to see the flaws clearly. I enjoy the writing process. I like having assigned topics, but a range of them so that I can pick the one I am most interested in. I like having guideline and constraints in a paper, but not so much so that I feel like I am answering a predetermined series of questions, rather than writing from your own creativity. I usually spend four or five days working on a paper. This includes a day or two to think about the topic, and another day for corrections and formatting. The timeline really depends on the paper. For example, this assignment required no research, and is written in first person. I will spend no more than two days working on this assignment. I think one of my biggest strengths in writing is my detail and focus. I have been praised in the past for well thought out structure and flow in my papers. That is one of the very first things I focus on when preparing to write. Conclusions have always haunted me and are my biggest weak spot. I struggle with conclusions the most. I have a hard time finding a way to reword the introduction without sounding cliché. My conclusions are usually too abrupt and feel rushed. I would love to discover a new method to improve concluding paragraphs during this course.