Attendance in This Course Has Been Enlightening,

¶ … attendance in this course has been enlightening, specifically regarding how I now write as compared to previous attempts to put my words in a collaborative form. As this course began, I believed myself fairly decent at using the written word to convey my thoughts, feelings and perceptions to the average reader. I did not know, however, that academic writing was much more structured than what I had been previously exposed to.

For example, I knew what citations were, I understood that they required in a research paper and I knew the term plagiarism and how correct use of citations lowered the possibility of having the term used against me. I also knew there were different styles of citation. I did not, however, know the specifics of citations and who uses what, or that different fields and industries used citations for their own purpose.

Now I know that educational research papers normally will use APA style, the English department (at various educational institutions) will use MLA, and that attorneys and the legal industry implements the use of Harvard style citing. I also understand the use of sustainability in the field of education, when beforehand I had no clue as to what it meant.

Writing sustainably (to me) means that my words will have import throughout time, rather than containing (perhaps) enough impact to catch some attention, but then be quickly cast aside in the trash heap of little regard. Sustaining the first paragraph throughout the rest of the paper, or the essay's idea throughout the entire essay, or writing a research paper with a thesis statement that is either proved or disproved and how that thesis is integrated into other disciplines and how it sustains itself when it is integrated.

With that understanding, I can write so that other disciplines besides my own can be affected by what I have written. According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill one of the reasons behind creating a general bibliography is "so that you can prove you have done some valid research to back up your argument and claims" (UNC, 2010).

Before this course, I was like a babe in the woods when it came to annotated bibliographies, now I know that annotated bibliographies usually contain beneficial information for the reader of a research paper. If I wish to write a well-written and well-received research paper it will likely have to include an annotated bibliography that provides information to the reader for further study, or to verify the claims made by the researcher.

The annotated bibliography will provide the reader with information that you (as the expert) have gathered together outside of the realm of the specific study or subject. Readers will want to know how the citations used in the research pertain to what is being attempted, and annotated bibliography will provide that knowledge. Learning how to approach a subject informally with impromptu writing skills is another piece of writing knowledge acquired through this course.

A writer must be comfortable with, and able to communicate on, any number of subjects in short order. Exercising the brain cells to provide the confidence needed to accomplish the impromptu writing also assist the writer in more serious subjects or projects. Looking at my approach to writing from the beginning of the course (dread or misgivings) as compared to the end of the course (confidence and competency) is a definite sign of how my writing has improved.

Much of that is due to the fact that I am now comfortable with keyword impromptu writing. My confidence has grown immensely since the first impromptu writing, and that is evident in the way that I now approach writing overall. It is no longer a chore to write, instead, it is an enjoyable task. I especially enjoyed learning about the importance of a literature review. The literature review, coupled with the annotated bibliography is of utmost importance.

Without knowing the current state of affairs as pertaining to particular subjects leaves the reader with only one viewpoint. The literature review can provide data, findings, sources and differing points-of-view that can assist the reader in understanding how the researcher's study is part of disciplinary perspective that might be much different than another researcher's viewpoints or perceptions. According to the Writing Center at The University of Wisconsin -- Madison the format of a review of literature varies from discipline to discipline and.