My Writing Evolution
When I first started the fall semester, I had never done any AP style journalistic writing before. I had only taken classes like English, Sociology, and Western Civilization that only required me to write in either MLA or APA style format. So AP style which is a lot more organized and restrictive than other writing I was used to took a while for me to adjust to.
Originally, one of the things I struggled with in AP style was making my writing more formal and focused. Additionally, I at first struggled with knowing how to write a good lead. I found it was a good strategy for me to refrain from embellishing details and using lots of adjective like I’m used to. In AP writing it is good to avoid flowery language when writing your story and ensure that what you are writing is accurate.
I learned that factual accuracy was very important and that I should always opt to be as specific as possible and more careful with how I was writing. My writing evolved where I mastered how to compact information into the 2–3 sentence structure in a way that’s short and concise while following the inverted pyramid structure.
Something I still need to work on is simple AP style formalities and grammar mistakes in my writing. Specific examples included stuff like names, commas and proper attribution. While I have improved much in maintaining my objectivity while writing, I did slip up towards the end of my interview assignment where I found myself going into first person verbage.
Before taking this journalism class, I had little practice in writing that required me to completely remove myself and my commentary. It was a major adjustment and I definitely struggle trying to stay objective while writing since I tend to be a very opinionated person. I’d also never done a formal interview, a press release, or created a blog prior to taking this class.
I will continue practice my writing skills after the semester is over my evaluating my writing more carefully in the future to make sure that I’m being objective and providing full details. I learned the hard way this semester that the correct language is really important, especially when you’re trying to write as an objective source.
I think I enjoyed doing the interview most in this class since it was a group effort, and there was something of value gained from that experience. It was good practicing doing a group project with someone online and get experience doing an interview. But also just the experience of being able to make a connection so the class is more enjoyable and easy is rewarding.
The fact sheet assignment was what I struggled the most with. I found it very challenging striking a balance coming up with enough material to cover space while writing, while also making sure I wasn’t inserting my opinion into it and everything was factually accurate.
The strategy I used to improve with my writing that helped the best was just removing myself from my writing, cutting down fluff, and learning to carefully analyze details. I’d try to maintain my focus on the story, or the subject of it. And I made sure to avoid adding anything into my writing that could be seen as my opinion.
Self reflection can help your writing when you pause to take time to analyze how your writing comes across to other people. An important writing skill to learn is envisioning how someone else would read your writing. We often rush when we write to get done with, but make many careless mistakes without even realizing. That’s why it’s a good idea to reread your writing over carefully several times
