My Semester Journey

Discussing what I’ve learned through the semester 

It has been a long and challenging semester, but it was all worth it. Throughout this semester, we have undertaken various projects, including the resume and cover letter, the quest, the group project proposal, the lab report, the technical description, and additional extra credit work. I have successfully achieved the general objectives of the course, encompassing information literacy, citation, drafting, collaboration, reading/researching, synthesizing, audience (A&P), and using the required technology for this class. By completing each task, I have fulfilled both their individual course objectives and the general objectives of this class. In the resume and cover letter project, I learned to write concisely, conduct a skills and professional qualities inventory, and develop a self-aware career path. Through the lab report, I honed abstract writing skills, formulated proper hypotheses, created interpretable charts and graphs, utilized research from academic journals, and analyzed the findings of my experiment. Project proposals taught me to choose and work with a team, brainstorm, employ primary and secondary research methods, write persuasively, incorporate charts, graphs, illustrations, and other visuals, edit and peer-review others’ work, and present persuasively. The portfolio assignment allowed me to create a webpage, produce a professional portfolio for use during a job search, and reflect on course learning.Completing the technical description not only provided practice for my writing skills but also taught me to break down information into digestible chunks, develop layout skills, and explain complex scientific material in simplified terms through writing and presentation. As evident, I have learned a lot and, in my opinion, have mastered or enhanced my knowledge of all these skills and objectives. In this essay, we will delve into each project, discussing in detail how I came to learn these objectives, master these skills, and apply them.

The first project in this class was the resume and cover letter, which I found to be a valuable assignment at the beginning of the course. Although I had a resume before, it wasn’t of high quality, and I lacked formal training in creating an effective resume. I was eager to tackle this project as it provided an opportunity to upgrade my old resume and venture into the realm of writing cover letters, an area with which I was unfamiliar.Through these assignments, I learned to draft and synthesize information. The process involved creating and refining multiple drafts for both the cover letter and resume. Crafting the resume posed a significant challenge. The criteria demanded that it be one page, digestible, and attractive. Condensing all the necessary information onto a single page while maintaining visual appeal and readability proved to be difficult. I continuously reworded and simplified sentences, rearranged content to ensure a polished yet compact presentation. The same challenges applied to the cover letter, where I had to convey a lot of information within a limited space. Similar to my approach with the resume, I focused on simplifying and synthesizing sentence structures. The iterative process of creatingdrafts allowed me to receive valuable feedback from my professor. Implementing these suggestions enhanced the quality of both my resume and cover letter.Overall I enjoyed doing my assignments. I think it was the most useful thing I’ve learned in this course. This skill is something I’ve mastered and can now apply in the real world. 

The second project in class was the lab report, and typically, I’m not a fan of lab reports. They tend to be boring, dull, and unnecessarily difficult. However, to my surprise, this assignment turned out to be enjoyable. The experiment was simple and fun, and the structure the professor asked for was quite different from the usual. Unlike other labs where I just needed basic information like the lab’s name, date, and my lab partners, this lab required a two-part title, adding a personal touch and making it more intriguing. Additionally, it called for a picture to provide readers with an idea of the lab and an abstract.While I usually find abstracts challenging to read, writing one proved to be a bit of a challenge due to my inexperience. Despite this, I was able to craft a very good abstract in the end. This assignment covered the objectives of citation and information literacy. Given that it was a lab report, any claims I made needed backing from research, requiring me to analyze sources and employ my information literacy skills to support my findings.This project provided an opportunity for creativity, something new for me in the realm of lab reports. In the end, it turned out to be the best lab I’ve ever done, showcasing the enjoyable and unique aspects of this particular assignment.

The third assignment we tackled was the group project proposal, and it turned out to be my least favorite project. It was lengthy, time-consuming, and involved group work. Working with people is usually not an issue for me, but I realized that my comfort with group work stemmed from typically collaborating with older individuals. In those situations, there’s a level of maturity where everyone understands their responsibilities, communicates effectively, and ensures tasks are completed on time. However, with peers my age, I encountered a different dynamic.The primary skills I had to learn for this assignment were collaboration and the effective use of technology. The project proved to be challenging, and our group faced issues with sloppiness and disorganization. Tasks took longer than expected, and there was a sense of rush towards the end. Despite the challenges, I successfully achieved certain objectives, including brainstorming, utilizing primary and secondary research, incorporating illustration, and writing persuasively. Our group engaged in extensive brainstorming sessions to decide on the project’s details, including its appearance, cost, and location. Subsequently, we conducted thorough research to validate the feasibility of our ideas. For instance, our initial budget estimate was around $10 million, but after researching the cost of constructing a new building, our estimate skyrocketed to well over $100 million. To make our proposal persuasive, we produced multiple illustrations of our envisioned student center. Visuals proved to be a convincing method, aiming to make our idea more appealing. The assignment demanded extensive use of technology; we constantly utilized computers for research and employed technology to create the required.PowerPoint presentation. Despite the challenges faced, the project provided valuable lessons in collaboration, research, and the strategic use of technology.

The fourth assignment, the quest, proved to be a straightforward task designed to assess our grammar skills. Grammar has consistently been a challenge for me, despite being 19 years old. Since I learned how to read, I’ve grappled with grammar issues, mixing up synonyms, spelling words phonetically, and placing commas based on random pauses in my thoughts. If you recall the spelling tests from 2nd grade, where the teacher would call out words and ask us to spell them, I never scored higher than a 5 out of ten on any of those tests. Given my ongoing struggles with grammar, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to this assignment. However, the course objective I achieved through this assignment was reading. In preparation for the test, I had to read extensively, revisiting basic grammar rules, reviewing class notes, and going through the study guide provided. The quest, despite its simplicity, served as a practical exercise that allowed me to focus on improving my reading skills in the context of grammar.

The fifth assignment, the technical description, stood out as my favorite to complete. I’ve always enjoyed tasks that involve a bit of arts and crafts, providing an avenue for expressing my creative side. While I relished creating my poster, the impending presentation part was not as eagerly anticipated. The idea of standing in front of a group of people, all with their undivided attention directed at me, made my heartbeat speed up. Presentations have always been a challenge for me. Thankfully, lessons learned in my speech class last semester, particularly about public speaking, came in handy. The key takeaway from my presentation experience was the importance of practice. I devoted a considerable amount of time practicing on my own and with a group of friends. This investment paid off during the actual presentation. I made minimal mistakes and felt remarkably calm, overcoming the anxiety I usually associate with public speaking. The course objective I achieved through this assignment was audience (A&P). In any presentation, the speaker’s task is to capture and maintain the audience’s attention. I focused on having a strong introduction, starting by involving my audience with questions and providing them with something to ponder. My introduction also featured a catchy phrase: “Today, we will be discussing the NYC sewer system, the unsung hero of NYC that keeps our waste out of sight and out of mind.” This catchphrase not only clarified the objective of my presentation but also served as an attention grabber. As the last major assignment for this class, I believe it served as a fitting conclusion, allowing me to showcase the skills and knowledge I had acquired throughout the semester.

The sixth assignment, extra credit work, was not mandatory, but it was strongly encouraged. Personally, I have always enjoyed extra credit assignments; they are typically an easy way to boost your grade, often simple, and usually quite enjoyable. For this particular assignment, I opted to visit The American Museum of Natural History, a place I had always wanted to explore. Seeing this as an opportunity to do something I’ve long desired, I eagerly embraced the task. The course objective I achieved through this assignment was primarily reading, although it wasn’t in the traditional academic sense. Roaming the museum, I read about various exhibits, taking notes on what I observed. I compiled my readings and notes into a mini-essay detailing my experience at the museum. As proof of my visit, I submitted a picture of myself at the museum. Overall, this extra credit assignment allowed me to merge enjoyment with academic engagement, contributing to a well-rounded learning experience in the course.

In conclusion, I have successfully completed all six assignments for this class, mastering all eight required course objectives and skills. I take pride in the quality of each assignment and acknowledge the substantial learning that has taken place throughout the course. Previously, I underestimated the importance of becoming a proficient writer in my career path as an aspiring engineer, focusing more on science and math. However, this class has shifted my perspective, emphasizing that being a good writer is equally crucial. I now recognize that having excellent writing skills is essential for effectively expressing innovative ideas. Whether in science, math, or any field, the ability to articulate concepts clearly is fundamental in ensuring that your ideas resonate with your intended audience.