Reflection: My Writing Process

After reflecting on the last semester, I realize how much I have grown as a writer. I still have a long way to go, but I have certainly improved. Since Mr. Frigo allowed us to choose our topic for each essay I was always able to write about something that interests me. That also allowed me to focus more on the process of writing than the content. With a better understanding of the five-step writing process I will be able to endure College Writing II.
In the past, I tended to push off writing assignments until the last minute, which I still occasionally do today. In high school, however, I only had a final draft due. I never made an outline before I started writing and I certainly did not revise my essay multiple times. I would often end up writing most of the essay the night before; relying on heavily on corrections to gain back points. Because of this, I usually received decent grades, but did not benefit from my process. After applying the five-step writing process for a semester, I now realize how beneficial it can be when used properly.
I can be distracted easily while writing. This causes me to veer off on tangents leading farther and farther from the original topic. An outline helps me to stay on track. For each of the three essays that we wrote this semester I created a very detailed outline. I could have easily written a general outline in less than five minutes, but I prefer to write them using full sentences. A detailed outline saves me time when it comes to writing the first draft since I already have the majority of the essay written. All I have left to do is connect the