At the beginning of the semester, I thought writing was just something you do for school a way to complete homework or pass a class. I didn’t think much about the purpose behind it. But after taking this course, I’ve learned that writing is more than just words on paper. It’s a way to share ideas, express opinions, and connect with different people. Throughout this semester, I have improved in many areas, and I now understand how writing can change depending on who the audience is and what the goal of the writing is.

One of the first big assignments was the rhetorical analysis. I wrote about how Donald Trump used emotion like fear, anger, and hope to get people’s attention and support. This essay helped me learn how to look at more than just the topic. I focused on how the message was said and how it made people feel. I also learned how to keep my writing fair, even when I had strong feelings about the topic. This helped me improve how I organize my ideas, support my thoughts with examples, and stay on track. I also learned how to take a stance and explain it clearly.

Later, I worked on a research project about CRISPR gene editing. This was a hard topic at first because the science was new to me. I had to do a lot of reading and figure out how to explain it in my own words. I wrote about both the good and bad sides of gene editing, such as preventing diseases but also possibly causing unknown side effects. This project helped me practice finding good sources, summarizing information, and thinking about different points of view. I got better at breaking down big ideas and explaining them in a way others can understand.

The most creative assignment I did was the children’s book about CRISPR. For this, I had to take a hard science topic and turn it into a fun and simple story for kids. I used easy words, pictures, and a friendly tone to explain gene editing in a way children could enjoy. I learned that writing for kids is very different from writing for adults or teachers. It made me think about who I’m writing for and how to keep their attention. When I presented the book, I saw how storytelling and images can help people learn. This showed me that writing can be creative and educational at the same time.

Throughout the semester, I also worked on peer reviews and revisions. At first, I didn’t like getting feedback, but I learned that it helps me see mistakes I didn’t notice. Reading other people’s writing also gave me ideas for how to improve mine. I now understand that revising is a big part of writing—it makes your work clearer and stronger. I also got better at thinking about what I want my reader to learn or feel after reading my work.

Most of all, my idea of what writing is has changed. I used to think it was just about grammar or getting the format right. Now I know writing is about making choices what words to use, how to say something, and how to connect with readers. I also learned that people speak and write in different ways depending on their background, and that these differences are important, not wrong.

In the end, this class helped me grow as a writer and as a thinker. I feel more confident writing in different styles for different people. I’ve learned how to explain my ideas better, work with others, and reflect on my own progress. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited to keep getting better at writing in the future.