My English 111 Journey

Constructive criticism is a way to help someone improve by kindly explaining what they can work on or how they can change for the better. In the workplace, it is useful because it guides someone to become better for the company. It highlights flaws that someone may not see or recognize on their own. It's important to only use constructive criticism when you genuinely want to help someone, not to bring them down. There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to deliver this type of feedback. It's best to do it in private to avoid embarrassing the person. Always try to be positive and offer examples of what they did well, along with suggestions for improvement. Personally, I handle constructive criticism well because I understand that nobody is perfect, including myself. I am continuously learning and striving to do my best in every situation. When delivered correctly, criticism can be very helpful for my growth and development. Embracing feedback helps me improve and move forw...

In this course, I gained valuable experience in writing for technical fields. I learned the important guidelines and rules that are important when it comes to technical writing. One skill I learned was how to create an e-portfolio, which allows me to showcase my skills and professionally share my information. I learned how to start a blog, which can help me further improve my writing skills and express my ideas more effectively. I also learned how to present information clearly, which is important when speaking to an audience. I learned the technical writing process and the reasons why it is important to follow certain rules. I did assignments that will improve my skills in creating outlines, which helps organize my thoughts. I learned about persuasion to make my writing more impactful. I learned how to write and edit documents for professional projects. I learned how to design and lay out a document so that it is easier for others to read and understand the information presented. Thes...

I am currently in an apprenticeship with Empire Caterpillar, training to become a technician. As an apprentice, I don't do any public speaking, but I know I need to get good at public speaking in the future if I want to move up in the company. At Empire CAT, they have daily meetings where the shop lead announces what everyone is going to do throughout the day and discusses any concerns for the day. Additionally, we have weekly safety meetings, where the lead also discusses the safety topics for the week. So, if I ever want to become a lead for a shop, I need to practice public speaking or presentations. I do have to take a communication or public speaking class as it is a part of my pathway to graduate with an associate's degree in Caterpillar Technician Training.

I feel like I have a better understanding of technical writing now. At first, I wondered why we needed to create memos, e-portfolios, and blogs. But I realize now that these activities were for practicing writing and reflecting on what we learned. We covered how to create e-portfolios, write memos, and make blogs. We learned about the technical writing process, how to make and use an outline, and how to write with a professional tone and style. We also focused on design when writing for technical fields and discussed informal reports that are common in technical fields. Learning these skills will help me in my career by improving my report writing and helping me write more professionally and concisely. I now understand that writing in business is different and that there are specific rules to follow that make technical writing clearer and easier to understand.

Writing tools that I use regularly. First, I use Google to look up facts, research topics, and find definitions. It’s an excellent resource for getting quick information. Next, I turn to YouTube when I need video explanations about a subject. Watching someone explain a concept helps me understand it better. When it comes to citing sources or following MLA guidelines, I use Purdue OWL. It provides clear instructions on how to reference my work correctly. If my assignment requires scholarly sources, I use the MCC Online Database. The database is full of trusted information and can be used for academic writing. To write everything down, I often use Google Docs and Microsoft Word. These programs help draft my essays and papers. Additionally, I use Canva to design documents and create presentations that need a nice design or layout. Lastly, when I feel stuck or have trouble starting, I use the writing process to help break down my writing project. It helps guides me and encourages me to dev...

Technical writing can be creative. You can change the layout and design of your documents. Different fonts or styles can make your writing easier to read and more appealing. Remember that the documents needs to be clear, concise, and accurate in technical writing. In business, people are often busy and will skip over long texts. Get to the important information quickly. Pictures, diagrams, or illustrations can help your readers understand complex ideas better. Visuals make your writing more engaging and helpful. Also, think about using analogies or metaphors to explain difficult concepts. This way, readers can relate and grasp the meaning more easily. The goal of technical writing is to help readers understand a subject. Always plan to make your writing simple and straightforward. In summary, you can be creative in technical writing by focusing on good design, clarity, visuals, and simplicity. This will help your readers understand technical topics better while keeping their interest.

I have used Indeed to apply for jobs in the past, and I found it to be an excellent site for job searching. Indeed makes it simple to view jobs that are currently hiring. You can easily set your job preferences, including the type of roles you're looking for and your desired pay. The information about each job is clear and easy to understand. One of the best features is the ability to message employers quickly. You can save your resume and create a profile, so you don't have to keep entering your information every time you apply. Indeed also allows you to read reviews of companies, which can help you decide where to apply. Additionally, they offer job recommendations that match your skills and preferences. Overall, job sites like Indeed make applying for multiple jobs much more straightforward. They provide a simple way for you to find the right employers and find the right fit for your next job or career.

The writing process helps get you through a writing assignment. It makes the task feel less overwhelming by breaking it down into manageable parts. The first step is planning. During this stage, you think about the purpose of your assignment and brainstorm ideas or research the topic. Next, you move on to the drafting stage. Where you write a rough draft of your assignment and create a structure for the essay. Next is peer review where you show the assignment someone and get feedback. This feedback is important and shows you areas to improve. Following this step, you start on the revising and editing phase. During this step, you can reorganize parts of the essay and make changes to improve clarity and flow. Lastly you reach the proofreading and publishing stage. This last step you carefully check for any remaining errors and then prepare to submit your work. Once everything is reviewed and ready, you can feel confident sending it to others to read. This whole process can help with plag...

  One of my bad habits is forgetting how to cite my essays properly. Whenever the requirement comes up, I would have to research how to cite correctly for websites, books, articles, and in-text information. I review old essays, look at notes from English 101, read articles from online sources, or watch YouTube videos. It's always a struggle to remember this information after learning it each time. I realize this is an area I should work on. I'm currently studying to become a diesel mechanic, and these skills seem unnecessary. But one day, I know that I'll need this information. I understand that knowing how to cite information is essential in fields like journalism, academic research, or teaching English. Since I want to retain this information, I think one way to do that is to try writing an academic essay where proper citations are required. I could also write notes about citations and refer back to them as needed.

While in English 111, I learned how to set up a blog using Blogger, create an e-portfolio with Google Sites, make a letterhead and memo in Microsoft Word, and set up a LinkedIn profile. Unfortunately, I will not add these skills to my resume because I plan to pursue a career in diesel mechanics, and I believe these skills aren’t very relevant to my field. Instead, I want to focus on other skills and certifications that matter more. For example, I would list ASE certifications, show my experience with forklift operation, crane and rigging, and skills I learned at Empire Caterpillar, such as hydraulic systems, electrical work, and diagnostics. But I will carry on the knowledge I learned from this class.

  I often feel that my writing isn't good enough, and I need to improve in the future. I tend to overthink my writing assignments. I started writing but kept restarting because I thought what I had written didn't sound right. I also feel like I lack creativity and struggle to express my thoughts clearly in writing. However, I find technical writing somewhat easier. Technical writing focuses on the reader rather than the writer. Through my lessons on technical writing, I've learned that it doesn't matter how long the text is or how creative it is, as long as I communicate well with the reader. This means I need to focus on the information I want to share. My view of writing has changed since this class. Before, I didn't think about the reader when I wrote, whether for school or work. Now that I understand this, I will pay more attention to my audience, which will help me communicate better with my coworkers and bosses in my future jobs.

Having good technical writing skills is important in professional careers. Every workplace needs effective communication, whether it’s for colleagues or customers. Being a good technical writer means focusing on the reader. In a professional setting, the reader could be your customer or engineer in your field. These two groups have different needs, and you would write differently for each. Improving your technical writing can help you communicate more effectively with anyone in a professional field. In a technical writing class, you can learn important skills such as keeping the audience in mind and learning to communicate effectively through various methods such as emails, memos, and reports. Lastly, be able to provide clear, concise, correct, and careful information to whoever you are writing for. It is worth the time to become a better technical writer because good communication is essential in any company and employers value strong writing skills. This technical writing class can h...

I am taking this class as it is a requirement to graduate for the Caterpillar Technician Degree. After two weeks in class, I find this course very challenging. It requires a lot of research to learn how to do things like creating headers and footers in Microsoft Word, which seems easy but is actually not. Learning how to create a functional blog on Blogger and creating an e-portfolio are also a challenge. This class is not what I expected. I initially thought it would mainly focus on writing. I have never really made blogs or websites about myself, and I don’t like writing about myself much. I feel like part of this course is about learning how to use different software and layouts. Additionally, the class involves creativity and graphic design, which I find difficult as well. Writing has never been enjoyable for me, so creating a blog feels very new and challenging. It’s interesting to see that many people enjoy blogging. I have never read blogs before, and the closest thing I have us...