| Decker 1 |
Cathy Decker
Dr. Decker
English 1A
24 August 1998
Strengths in My Writing
1. I have a good vocabulary.
2. I am a fairly good speller.
3. I can use my dictionary well.
4. I have good grammar.
5. I have a good knowledge of structure and genre.
6. I have a good imagination.
7. I have a good sense of style.
1. I sometimes don't think ideas through before I start to write.
2. I often write sentences that are too long.
3. I sometimes don't explain things enough.
4. I often use cliches or trite expressions.
5. I sometimes write on topics that I am having a great deal of difficulty understanding
rather than waiting until I do clearly understand them.
I developed my good vocabulary by reading and using the dictionary. For some years, I
would copy down all unfamiliar words on notecards, scraps of paper, or the cover of the
book. I would then look the words up and copy down the definition. I would try to write
sentences or speak them aloud using these new words. I found some words would not be
in my dictionary; these words would intrigue me. I now try to look up words that I do not
understand as soon as I encounter them. This is pretty rare now--something with which I am
pleased.
I developed my good grammar as a result of teaching myself from grammar books.
As a child, I wanted to be a teacher. I would buy or get free old school books. As a child,
I was not very interested in grammar, but I did occasionally read sections of the books.
When I became a teacher, I had to read the books to be able to teach them. I then realized
how difficult most grammar was and actually how little I knew. I work on my grammar all
the time: I am always analyzing passages I write and read.