Welcome
When I first came into LANG 120 I wasn’t very confident in my ability to write academically. The idea of writing a good academic paper felt overwhelming and challenging. I was at a crossroads because I knew how important it was for me to learn how to write academically so I would be taken seriously in my writing in the future. This meant I needed the tools to research, revise, proofread, receive feedback, get to the point quickly, and stick to the task if I was going to be successful in the field of Environmental Studies. Being a creative writer, for most of my life, this was a challenge for me. I can happily say that attending LANG 120 has demystified what it means to write academically and I gained all the tools needed and more!
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Through our writing workdays, I was able to immerse myself in the writing process and work with my classmates on brainstorming ideas. The peer reviews were done in small groups that felt comfortable and easy to participate in. Because I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to writing in general, working on easily digestible projects in small groups was beneficial. In LANG 120 we were given the meat and bones of how to write a well thought out piece. I learned how to cite scholarly sources properly, how to determine what's reputable content and what isn't, what the proper citation style was for my field, and how to research a topic and stay on point. Broken down into pieces, academic writing didn't seem as hard as I initially thought, I just needed guidance. Through the semester I learned how to stay on task and find supporting evidence in my research to make my point which helped me feel more confident in voicing my opinion in my op-ed, solutions piece. It was a process, one that organically unfolded as my research deepened. Ultimately I was able to combine my love of creative writing and academic writing effectively in my projects.
Each project I completed in LANG 120 challenged me in a different way. My Nature Narrative taught me how to paint a clear picture through showing and not telling in my writing. This helped readers connect with my story. I was able to dive into the writing process which included numerous revisions after peer review. My Solutions Piece gave me the practice to research and cite scholarly sources properly and create the project I am most proud of called “Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Getting to the Heart of Climate Solutions”. The Infographic Project allowed me to tap into my creative side and create an infographic with my classmates that contains a lot of information on one page, as well as gain the skills to interview other people in my field. If you want to know what to expect when it comes to writing in the field of Environmental Studies, check out my Infographic page.
In the process I’ve also learned how to be gentler with myself and know when my writing is “good enough”. LANG 120 has helped me write better academically in my other classes as well: research, citations, peer review, and proofreading are all tools I’ll need for a successful career. My knowledge of academic writing has improved and the mystery of how to write well academically has been made clear. I’ve gained many resources and tools through this semester undoubtedly ones I'll need as I move forward in my education.
For students just coming into LANG 120 my advice would be to surrender to the writing process, learn the proper citations for the field you're interested in pursuing, engage in peer reviews and writing workdays, and reflect on how much you've learned in LANG 120 throughout the semester. Once you're coming toward the end of the class you'll realize how many tools you've gained and those tools will remain in your educational toolbox as you advance in your education.
