Alhajeri 1

Salwa Alhajeri
Professor Ditch
English 113B
08 May 2015
My English Writings Journey
Lately Ive noticed that my writing has been improved as well after my first English class
in CSUN. Since I finished my first 113A English class, Ive seen a lot of deference between it
and my 113B English class with the deferent subject of each essay that includes a whole different
idea. The first essay in 113B English class, which was about Project Space that should be about
my cultural Identity. Ive been through so many mistakes that I wrote the whole essay about
another subject. Ive written about my Prophet and how his manners have influenced my daily
life in a good way. When I wrote that; Prophet Mohammed is Allah messenger. And here
Muslims are, on the 21st century living and practicing Islam in their daily life. Prophet
Mohammed has a great manners, even with other religions when they knew him they respect him
as well. There are a lot of manners that I got inspired from Prophet Mohammed, but most what I
kept since I was a little girl is justice, mercy, secretariat, humility, time, knowledge, respect, good
manners, and work and earnings. Of course it was all in a wrong way because I should write
about any cultural thing that influenced me in my life, something from my home culture.
The LRCs tutor told me once after writing a whole essay I can read it in a loud voice,
this could help me to watch my grammar mistakes and understanding the ideas which I wrote
about. I couldnt believe thats helped me a lot when I edited my whole essay. When Its comes
about writing the words for me come naturally and there is no mistakes, but after reading it

Alhajeri 2
loudly I can realize that when everything comes fast like writing whole sentences without
stopping, mistakes will continues.
Also, after LRCs appointment I realized from the tutor when she tough me about the
prompts instructors that went all deferent from what I wrote about. Later, I knew what I should
write for the Project Space essay, and I wrote about marriage in my culture. How could marriage
influence my lifes journey even though I am in a different country that has whole different
cultures from my home culture.
For the second essay which was very challenging for me is writing about the book The
Guernsey Potato Peel Society. Reading a whole book and argue with evidences from the class
and support them with outside sources. At the beginning I had my first problem, which was about
citation. For example I wrote Bravery is the quality that allows someone to do things that are
dangerous or frightening. Here I did not use a citation for the wed that I used this source from.
Then I corrected it with witting it, Bravery is the quality that allows someone to do things that
are dangerous or frightening. Bravery. Merriam-webster. Dictionary, n.p. n.b. I learnt how to
use it using Purdue OWL it was really helpful, this will teach me how to write better essays in
the future.
For the quotation sources in writing the essays, I used to write the source to support my
argument and my points about the book, but I did not explain how would the quote support what
I wrote about. For example when I wrote this whole quote Listen to the people who love you.
Believe that they are worth living for even when you don't believe it. Seek out the memories
depression takes away and project them into the future. Be brave; be strong; take your pills.
Exercise because it's good for you even if every step weighs a thousand pounds. Eat when food
itself disgusts you. Reason with yourself when you have lost your reason. Andrew Solomon,

Alhajeri 3
and then I just wrote after this quote In this quote the author is saying to believe in people that
we love even If we do not? Later I fixed it and explained In this quote the author is saying to
believe in people that we love even If we do not believe. This when The Guernsey Potato Peel
Society people believe in one and another. The first quote that I wrote wasnt clear enough for
the readers when they read it. I realized that when I write about something and I reread it again, I
can understand what I wrote about, because its my point of view and I realize what the story that
I wrote about. When it comes to the readers they will have difficulties understanding the idea?
They would wonder like how? So what? And who cares? I have to ask myself all over again
when it comes about those questions.
One of the writings that I struggled in is writing the thesis. At the first draft when I
choose bravery as a topic to write about with my whole essay I wrote a very general thesis. I
wrote In our society we need to be characterized with bravery. When you listen to the
newspaper on T.V, radio or even reading on a social media about some people who are being
injustice and thats because some those people lost their bravery, they afraid of forcing the
reality, they cant defend themselves. Right now when I read this thesis I knew that it wasnt
clear enough. It is very in general. After first meeting with the Professor and the SI leaders
helped me a lot to know how to write a specific thesis. Thats because when the readers read the
essay at first and they read the thesis, they will know what I am going to talk about with the rest
of my essay. Thesis like one point supported by the body paragraphs. Later, I fixed my thesis
statement and I wrote for the final draft In the Guernsey Potato Peel Society show their unity
with reading the books, and being brave enough by breaking the rules in order to survive in
World War II, and there were some characters in the book who are important examples of

Alhajeri 4
bravery, such as Juliet, Elizabeth, and Mr. Dawsey. A very specific thesis and easy to be
understood.
Lastly, Witting about different topics and presenting about in front of the class let me
experience an amazing idea. As what I mentioned it was a challenging step that I made in 113B
class. I know now how to use some grammar, write citation about webs, articles, books and
videos using Purdue OWL, and the most important thing when it comes about writing an article
and using a specific thesis.