Ryan Elsebai

English 21003

Reflective Self-Assessment

April 30, 2025

Taking Writing for the Sciences at The City College of New York has helped me grow as both a student and a writer. At the start of the semester, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought it would just be about writing lab reports or summaries. But as we went through the different assignments and discussions, I started to understand how writing plays a bigger role in science, especially in my major of psychology.

One of the biggest things I took away from this class was learning how to write with a purpose and for a specific audience. Whether it was in our summary and response assignments or the research paper, I had to think about how to clearly explain complex topics to people who might not be experts. This reminded me a lot of how psychologists often have to communicate findings to the public, not just other professionals. The research paper I wrote about stem cell research and therapeutic cloning pushed me to focus on fact vs. opinion, how to evaluate sources, and how to structure a strong argument.

I also learned the importance of citing sources properly and how to use databases to find peer-reviewed articles, which I know will be useful in future psychology courses. I also made progress in my drafting and revising skills. I used to write everything in one sitting and turn it in without really looking back. In this class, I got used to working in stages like making outlines, getting feedback, and revising more carefully. Comparing my first drafts to my final versions, I can see how much my writing improved just by giving myself more time and being open to feedback.

One area I struggled with a little was the social and collaborative side of the class. Because of some personal issues, I found it hard to speak up during peer review sessions or group discussions. There were times I felt distant or just mentally distracted. But I still made sure to participate in my own way, through written feedback, emails, or asking questions when I didn’t understand something. I think I did my best to stay engaged, even if I wasn’t always the most vocal student. I learned how to read and summarize complex texts, how to take a stance in my writing, and how to use sources in a clear and ethical way. I also got better at assessing my own work and understanding where I still need to grow. This class helped me build a strong foundation that I’ll carry into my psychology major. I now feel more confident writing research papers, analyzing data, and explaining ideas to both academic and general audiences. I’m also more comfortable using resources like the library database and peer-reviewed journals. Even though it wasn’t always easy, especially with personal challenges, I’m proud of the work I did and the progress I made.