Jenny Hernandez

English 21001

Prof. Yolande

05-18-2020

Self Assessment

Over the course of my semester in Writing for the Humanities and Arts, my writing has improved in a variety of different aspects. To begin with, the first assignment that was assigned to us was the resume and cover letter assignment, where we had to act as if we were sending our resumes and cover letters to any job we had in mind. Both of these assignments helped start off my resume and cover letter, I’ve learned the ideal format for both, I’ve learned how to prepare for future job applications and I’ve learned how to shorten my writing and get straight to the point. Next, the second assignment that was assigned to us was the interview assignment, where we had to write a report based on an interview we conducted on one of our classmates. Not only did I finish this interview with a new friend, but I got to experience interviewing from the other side of the table, meaning what it’s like to interview someone else. This assignment helped strengthen my communication skills, it taught me how to prepare in advance on what exactly I was going to ask and it has helped me narrow down the right questions to ask a person you know nothing. Moreover, the third assignment that was assigned to us was the OP-ED assignment, where we got to pick a topic we were passionate about and that in some way, shape or form corresponded with the humanities. I choose to write about the most common stereotypes regarding Latin women, my goal in writing that paper was to help bring awareness on how some of the most common stereotypical representations regarding Latin Women tend to be walls holding one up to feel pressured to either meet these expectations or to just go with the flow of things and not say anything about it when in reality we should be breaking down these stereotypes. This assignment was an easy one because I was speaking from experience; as a Latina, I put myself in my people’s shoes and let my writing shed light into some of the things I’ve witnessed and live through each and every day. This assignment has taught me that if you are going to be writing about something you are passionate about, strong evidence to help back up your claim is needed. Furthermore, the fourth assignment that was assigned to us was the Dystopia assignment, where we got to choose between creating a utopian or dystopian society. I choose to write a nonfictional piece on the loss of individualism which to me shouted a dystopian society since it ties in with injustice. This assignment not only taught me how to get creative in my craft, but it also helped me structure out and organize my thoughts. Finally, the last assignment that was assigned to us was the Grant Proposal assignment, which was the most difficult one since it was a group project that had to be changed to a virtual thing because of COVID-19. Initially, it was supposed to be me and two other members to complete this project, however, a member failed to produce anything which pushed us behind on the anticipated due date that I hoped for, but lucky my partner and I pushed forward and got the job done! The assignment asked us to imagine as if we were applying for a grant to help solve any problem we notice in our community, and the first thing I immediately thought of were the several different ways the coronavirus pandemic has impacted low-income and “at-risk” communities. This assignment taught me how to choose articles that best fit the point I am trying to get across and how working with a partner actually makes things even better because you get to leech off each other’s ideas as well as being able to utilize problem-solving skills to come to a solution. To close off, although this semester was full of confusion and disorientation for everyone due to COVID-19, I appreciate all the knowledge this course has taught me as a person and as a writer.