Self-Assessment Essay

My Writing Journey in FIQWS

By Elena Pjetergjokaj

Looking back on this writing journey, I’ve grown so much as a writer, and each assignment taught me new tools and strategies that I can use in the future. From improving how I reflect on my work to learning how to organize ideas, this process has been all about becoming a better communicator and storyteller.

The semiweekly reflections have been one of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to grow. They taught me how to critically evaluate my work and set clear goals for improvement. By pausing to reflect, I learned how to spot patterns in my writing and think ahead for future assignments. This process introduced me to reflection as a tool for growth, something I’ll carry forward in all areas of my life.

The vignette assignment really stood out because it gave me an opportunity to find my voice. Writing about my personal experiences taught me how to connect with readers by sharing relatable moments. I developed the ability to use vivid storytelling as a strategy to make my writing more engaging and authentic. This showed me that writing isn’t just about grammar and structure-it’s about communicating something real.

The creation of the Learning Analysis Outline was a godsend to me. I learned from this how to outline as a tool to organize my ideas before writing a draft. That made writing so much easier because I already had a roadmap for my thoughts. This strategy not only saved me time but also made my essays more fluid. Planning has become one of my favorite parts of writing because it gives me confidence in where I’m going.

Then there was the peer review, which proved to be a big growth moment. Reading someone else’s work and receiving feedback on mine taught me the importance of collaboration as a way to better your writing. It’s easy to miss things in your own work, but getting another perspective can make all the difference. This process also helped me to be better at giving constructive feedback, which is just as important as receiving it.

Although this essay was hard to write, the end product was really fulfilling. This made me review some ideas I held previously and made me aware that revisions should not just stop at fixing the mistakes but also at strengthening messages. What this revealed was that revision, as a tool, has the power to transform a text. Allowing time for refinement brought so much change in terms of clarity and power in the essay.

One of the most challenging parts of this whole process is definitely the research. Finding reliable sources and then organizing them took a lot of effort, but the annotated bibliography assignment helped me figure it out. I learned how to use evidence-based writing as a strategy to strengthen my arguments. Breaking research into manageable steps also taught me how to stay focused and organized, even when tackling complex topics.

This historiography paper was really mentally engaging. It was all about considering a subject from all aspects, which really helped in honing my critical thinking ability. As I looked to more deeply analyze this subject, it indeed became one of the best assignments for me. That again proved how rewarding things may sometimes come out of our comfort zone.

The MMT project really allowed me to express a different side of myself. I learned how to use multimedia as a tool to present information in a creative and engaging way. This assignment reminded me that writing doesn’t have to be limited to words on a page-there are so many ways to communicate ideas effectively.

To conclude, I would say that through all these projects, I have gained a toolbox full of strategies to help me improve my writing. From reflection and planning to revision and exploring new perspectives, every project taught me something. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made and excited to keep growing as a writer.