I believe that this course, Writing for the Sciences, has improved my skills in academic writing. As a non-native English speaker, there were times when it was difficult to find the appropriate words to use in a writing assignment. Starting a sentence can sometimes become a challenge because I have to consciously think about my choice of words, tone, and style of writing. Through this course’s discussion board, I was able to practice and enhance my critical thinking and writing skills. The weekly posts on Blackboard honed my ability to compose and present my opinion on a topic. Reading my classmates posts and responses as well as reading assigned articles were effective ways for me to learn more about scientific writing. In this class, I learned that short yet concise writing can be as effective as long as the right words are chosen in presenting an idea.

What I found helpful in this course was the online database search that we used for our scientific controversy and research papers. It is an essential tool not only for students but also for other people who are interested in a wide range of topics. I have experience with online databases before and using this method enriched my knowledge of research techniques. The process of searching for journal articles strengthened my ability to examine and identify credible sources. It taught me to be to more attentive and receptive when reading these articles and websites.

For the technical description paper, I chose to write about the circulatory system because I work in a cardiology unit. I thought that having a background in this area would be an advantage for me. As I was writing, I realized that the information I knew about the circulatory system was not common knowledge to everyone who will be reading my paper. Searching for scientific articles, paraphrasing sentences, and citing sources were the challenges I encountered while writing my first paper. I had to make sure that my writing was simple and easy to follow so that the mechanism of circulation and other medical terms mentioned in the paper are easily understood by my audience.

I experienced the same difficulties when I was writing my scientific controversy paper. The process of searching for articles regarding contentious issues can be a challenge. It took me a long time to choose my topic because I was considering several areas in the sciences. Eventually, I decided to write about lobotomy because of my interest in medicine and public health. Researching about the procedure was not an easy task as it involved reading about appalling practices in medicine and unpleasant personal experiences of former patients and their families. In structuring my paper, I chose to introduce the origins of lobotomy first so that my readers can understand the history of the practice and the indications for its use. From there, I discussed the controversies involving lobotomy and its negative outcomes. Writing this paper was an engaging experience for me because I learned about the medical errors of the past which paved the way for better and effective treatments today.

Writing the research paper was somewhat a complex process because it involved varying perspectives from me and my groupmates. Ultimately, we opted to focus on nuclear energy, a very interesting and relevant issue today. Writing the research paper became manageable since we divided the paper into sections based on our strengths. I was tasked to write about the health risks associated with nuclear energy and I was astonished with the data I obtained from my research. Searching for articles and other sources was easier this time because I was accustomed to navigating the online databases and was adept at scrutinizing journal articles pertaining to the subject. Collaborating with my groupmates through texting, emails, and Google Docs and Slides was an efficient and organized way to complete the research paper.

Lastly, I can say that I have achieved the learning objectives in this class. As a post baccalaureate student, my writing skills are satisfactory although it can take me longer to complete a writing assignment. The process of translating my ideas from one language to English can be complicated but it has helped me formulate my thoughts and words in a concrete manner. Creating an outline before writing is essential in organizing my ideas and directing the flow of my narrative. Furthermore, I learned in this class that writing is not just a passive and unconscious exercise but that it entails a concerted effort in planning, research, and evaluation.

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