Hi everyone, welcome to my first blog post!

Through past professional experiences, I became aware of the power of writing: being an eloquent writer not only allows one to communicate with others more effectively, but also gives their words more weight in professional settings. I am trained in life sciences and thus more comfortable with scientific writing. With less experience in other forms of technical and creative writing, I tend to think and express my ideas in concrete ways and with a neutral tone, and I am less familiar with the various literary devices available to persuade and to convey emotions. In addition, I sometimes struggle to think and write about abstract topics. Another obstacle I face is that I tend to be reluctant and self-conscious when writing in English, which is my second language; this tendency sometimes sabotages my productivity as I spend significantly longer on the same writing tasks than my peers.

When it comes to schedule, I, fortunately, have a quite manageable one and the option to make school my top priority; my other responsibilities are planned around my schoolwork. This school year, I hope to become a better writer through reading, watching, listening, as well as writing, and I would like to explore writing beyond its scientific form. The course seems to offer great opportunities to reflect on pertinent topics in real life, and I look forward to expressing my views through the assignments. I would appreciate it if Professor Gordon could provide detailed instructions and rubrics for each assignment, especially for those that fall under technical writing. By receiving guidance from Professor Gordon as well as feedback from my colleagues, and revising my work accordingly, I hope to become more proficient in constructing and executing various forms of writing, and ultimately grow into a faster and more eloquent writer.

Thank you for reading! I look forward to receiving your response.