My Experience Through the University Writing Program

This spring quarter, I joined the University Writing Program. I conducted discussion and peer review with my classmates, studied my favorite discourse community, and published blogs. I’d like to give a summary on my learning in reading, writing and critical thinking designed in these processes. Throughout the review, I will address how these experiences relate to learning outcomes at UWP.

https://www.preen.com/learn/lawn-garden-tips/plants-trees-shrubs/fruits-veggies-herbs/10-tips-on-growing-your-own-vegetable-garden/

 

What have I learned

Through the participation of various texts, videos and writing assignments this quarter, I have greatly improved my understanding of reading and writing. I learned that these two activities do not exist independently, on the contrary, they overlap and interact in many ways, and are deeply influenced by the context in which they occur. For example, in learning and understanding my discourse community, I am very interested in the posts of my community members. Through my engagement, it allowed me to see how various gardening techniques were applied in real situations, and to evaluate their effectiveness based on community feedback. Usually I would wonder if the methods they offered would work, watch YouTube videos for specific instructions, and try to communicate with community members with my own opinions and questions.

 

When I completed the assignment of the paper draft, I paid special attention to the suggestions of experts who could provide innovative ideas. When I looked up a variety of expert advice on how to make my own garden better, I included it as a primary source in my paper draft. Those readings not only enrich my knowledge, but inspire me to think and evaluate different gardening techniques. This diverse learning emphasizes that both reading and writing are interactive processes. We are constantly in contact with information and other people. For example, the interaction of community members and specialists allows me to refine my arguments and come up with new ideas in my paper draft. Whether it is experts and community members in the discourse community, or me and others: in this class, it may be professors and classmates, and in the future, it may be more people who know me through my writing. In this way, I learned how to better adjust my expression to suit different audiences and different communication environments.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6448854/veggie-tales-june-2024#n=17

 

One of the assignments that stuck out to me is to collect secondary sources. I did a lot of research in the academic posts and papers on the topic of my community and read for a long time.

It makes me feel the importance of reading for writing, especially for students. Moreover, this assignment made me realize that it is far from enough to have my own ideas on academics, and a convincing argument needs to cite other scholars' research to support these views. In addition, the assignment also allowed me to understand how to integrate and select various sources of information. When dealing with many opinions and data, I get confused and don't know where to start. However, through the practice in this quarter, I can identify whether the information is reliable and relevant to the information I need, which is very helpful for my future research and academic writing. I realized again that a good academic work is the accumulation of information as well as the author's thinking and reinterpretation of the existing knowledge. Through this process, I became more convinced that academic writing cannot be separated from the material and inspiration provided by reading. This makes me more confident in expressing my opinions in academic discussions, and also exercises my rigorous attitude as a researcher.

 

Personal progress as a reader and writer

I have also tried several times this quarter to evaluate students' work and discussions, and I have learned that there is skill in how to evaluate others. By pointing out the strengths, problems and suggestions for improvement, the writer can better understand the effects of his writing and provide guidance for improvement. This feedback makes the writer feel respected and encourages the writer to keep improving his writing. At the same time, the author's writing should be criticized or directly modified. Too many negative comments may make the writer feel frustrated or helpless, and putting too much emphasis on one's own opinion while ignoring the author's writing intent and style is not conducive to constructive communication. We should be respectful and polite when raising questions and suggestions, and try to avoid giving overly subjective comments or changing the original point of view.

 

https://plos.org/resource/how-to-write-a-peer-review/

Do works of peer reviews and discussions taught me how to provide constructive feedback. I learned to highlight specific strengths in a peer's argument, while also suggesting for improvement, like clarity in their thesis statement. Through this critical learning, I became better at finding the strengths and weaknesses of a work, and I was able to revise my work based on feedback from others, enhancing the final product in the future. After this course, my biggest advantage is that I have improved my ability to conduct research and integrate information into writing, which is one of the skills that will help me in my future academic pursuits. In the future, I hope to further improve my ability to process comprehensive information, which has been a challenge for me so far. In addition, it is also important to improve editing skills in order to advance in clarity and precision of writing.

 

 

The harvest of the course

My key point from this course is the purpose and strategy of writing adapted to different situations. For example, blogs, paper drafts and discussions, I have learned how to adjust the writing style and content according to specific situations. While writing my blog, I use more relaxed and personal language to attract readers; When writing academic papers, I use rigorous data analysis and arguments to support my views. In discussions, I focus on interaction and immediate reaction to ensure the immediate exchange and interaction of information. Those skills will undoubtedly help me many times, especially when preparing research papers and presentations, to adapt my writing strategy to different audiences/readers. I can know how to adjust my tone and style to be more persuasive to academic audiences or more relatable to general readers.This will enable me to communicate my message more effectively, and to better present my ideas and research results.

 

https://jsper.medium.com/writing-for-different-audiences-adapting-your-style-and-tone-5514b9c35c79

 

This course has enriched my learning experience at UC Davis. As a writing course, it can both improved my skills as a reader and writer, and prepared me for future academic challenges. I learned how to analyze and construct arguments more effectively, which is a significant skill. At the same time, I also improved my writing skills and critical thinking through practical writing exercises. I believe that what I learned in this course will continue to influence my learning and communication style. Whether in daily communication, academic writing, or in my future career, these experiences will be valuable assets for me. I look forward to applying these to more academic and life scenarios and continuing to make progress in writing and communication.