Reflective Essay Rethinks Solitary Refinement

Over the course of the past three months, I have had the distinct pleasure of testing my writing capabilities through the Introduction to College Writing course. I have always had a passion for writing in all forms, but in previous years, the course work in grade-level English classes have been unchallenging of my writing ability. I have been heavily involved in Bonneville High School’s newspaper through journalism since my freshman year. This allowed me to strengthen my writing capability as I was drafting throughout the entire school year. I have never truly had to apply myself until I enrolled in English 101. Since the beginning of the class, I have faced various hardships while writing essays in unfamiliar styles, such as drafting a response to a scholarly article and synthesizing opposing perspectives. I have learned that I am more than capable in writing in different styles and that all of my work will be quality content regardless of the topic. I overcame the obstacles that have challenged me, and my essays exhibit that I am fully prepared to continue my work in English 102.
My background as a journalist made this essay the easiest to draft. I chose to respond to The New York Times’ article, “New York Rethinks Solitary Confinement.” The Editorial Board believes the use of solitary confinement is not beneficial to the prisoners placed in. This essay required me to utilize my background in journalism by distinguishing how the article could be improved and creating an argument of my own. My article analysis demonstrates my concise writing capability, while my response displays my ability to identify the shortcomings of the work of other