write 600-750 word self-reflective essay about THREE specific skills you have learned in this course. Your essay should have at least five substantial paragraphs, including an introduction, three (3) body paragraphs (a solid paragraph is at least 5 sentences), and a conclusion. By drawing evidence from your experience in the class, you will do a reflective self-assessment and write a well-developed analysis. Review the work you have done this semester in order to explain the skills you have acquired. Explore and explain how you learned these skills and how these skills will benefit you in your future courses.
Consider the following questions in your essay:
What did I learn? What skills have I learned (such as writing, reading, critical thinking, research, discussion, teamwork, etc.) in this class, and how will these skills play a part in my academic life?
How did I learn it? How did the activities—reading and critical thinking exercises, writing assignments, essays and research projects, group work, class discussions, peer reviews, and so on—contribute to the skills I have learned in this course? How can I show that I have learned these skills? What examples can illustrate that I have learned what I claim?
Why is it important? What role do I think these college composition skills will play in my future courses?
Include these elements of an essay:
A clear thesis statement
Clear organization
Focused support paragraphs that have strong topic sentences
Evidence to support your main points (specific examples from the work you did in the course)
Analysis of your examples
Your self-reflective essay grade will be assessed on the following criteria:
thesis statement which includes the key purpose/argument of the essay and the main ideas that will prove the purpose/arguments
topic sentences related to the thesis
sub-points that are well organized
relevant and well-integrated evidence and examples that support the claims
specific and detailed analysis that explains the evidence and proves the validity of the claims
effective introduction and conclusion
focused paragraphs
unity and coherence in the whole essay
accurate sentence mechanics, grammar, and punctuation
Note: since this is a self-reflective essay, you will use first person.
My draft: Critical skills are said to be one of the most important skills in learning, scientific research as well as in the working process. Thanks for participating in the ENG 112, I realized the critical thinking is mentioned thorough the course to help students practice and apply it the other areas in the future. In particular, in the labor market demands for roles that require the ability to analyze, reason, make decisions or be creative, this skill is even more indispensable. During the course, I have been training and learning the techniques relevant at improving writing skills and critical thinking for students, especially the three techniques which are identifying the issues, analysis the data and solving the problems.
In the first place, through the course, I draw the definition of Critical thinking which is the ability to think clearly and logically, understand the relationship between rational ideas, information. Identifying skills are the starting point for critical skills. I can obtain quickly sense and identify a problem by giving opinions on the peer comments and discussion posts. As a consequent, my critical thinking has been sharpened by the variety of subject of debate. These activities reveal such as the ability to perceive the trustable source, how to assess the issue comprehensively, and frankly express doubts and opposing views when needed. As a matter of fact, my critical thinking can be described in the ability to engage in reflective and independent thought processes when studying the rhetorical and argumentative essays.
In the second place, analytical skills become necessary for my critical thinking process. Once the problem has been identified, I enter to the steps know how to analyze and evaluate a situation in the most complete and reasonable way: What data or event does the situation relate to, in the infinite? What is the important information?… In addition, the analytical ability in the set of critical skills also creates conditions to collect and process information without bias, ensuring its integrity and objective. In fact, I question myself when referring the data analysis and evaluation: Are the sources of information and opinions reliable? Are the conclusions supported by accurate data? Is there enough information or data to support the thesis? These questions are really helpful for me when evaluate the matter fully and objectively.
Once I’ve identified the problem, analyzed it, and found a few solutions, the final step to completion would be to implement those solutions. In the light of problem solving, it certainly requires critical thinking to choose the right solution and deploy it in the most reasonable, profitable, and timely manner. Step by steps, I learn to make a decision or come to a conclusion. Identify multiple possible conclusions and decide which is the most reasonable for my thesis. Last but not least, during the learning process, I also learn to sharpen my writing skill. As my grammar and vocabulary are not the best, I try to write in a simple, clear, expressive way in clear structures because it will take me to risk a lot of time to think and edit; especially creating more mistakes in the assignments.
In summary, critical thinking skills are a set of skills through which, through different methods, I have the ability to concern an issue on my own, becoming an active learner and mastering the problematic instead of just receiving passive information. From guidance of the academic research process step-by-step in my writing academic researches, the valuable keys that I obtained contribute significantly to myself enhancement Through my learning writing journey, it reveals the premise of creativity which is the foundation for self-development and self-improvement. To nurture thinking and related skills, I will need to practice and build up the habit of curiosity and excitement of learning new thing.