Outline Worksheet for Writing Reflection Essay

English 9H Honors Portfolio Quarter Three

Name:______

1. What kind of writing had you done before this year? What kind of a writer were you?

2. What things have you learned or changed this year? What did you do before that had to be removed? What new things did you learn to add?

3. What things have been especially difficult with writing this year? What have you struggled with?

4. What about writing still doesn’t make sense or would you still like to learn?

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5. Come up with a simile to describe your growth as a writer.

Learning to write this year was like: ______

Example: Learning to write this year was like learning to do a Rubik’s Cube.

6. Come up with specific steps in the learning process for your simile (you can have more or less steps if you want, but you should have at least 3).

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Example for Rubik’s Cube: Step 1: Utter confusion. All of the blocks and colors don’t make sense. It seems impossible. It seems like something only a genius would be able to do. Step 2: Reading the manual. Realizing that there is a strict pattern that does make sense. If you follow the pattern, you can master the task. Step 3: Repeating the pattern over and over until you can solve the Rubik’s cube without even thinking about it. It becomes natural. Step 4: Impressing everyone, making them think you’re a genius by solving it, when really you’re just following patterns.

7. Extend your simile to your writing. What are details about writing that match the steps you outlined above?

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Example for Rubik’s Cube: Step 1: When I first tried writing analytical essays, it made no sense. It seemed like everyone else got it, but I was completely confused. I didn’t understand how quotes could back up an argument. I thought Ms. Hesch was analyzing the text in way too much detail. I thought I would never be able to do it. Step 2: Ms. Hesch explained the steps in detail, walking us through how to write a thesis statement, how to do an outline, and how to find quotes. Once I saw the pattern and understood how to follow it, it made the whole thing seem way easier. Step 3: Once I understood it, my essays were better, but it still took practice. Sometimes at first I struggled with choosing really good, high quality quotes or with understanding a specific passage and how to analyze it. Over time, I’ve learned to do it pretty well. Step 4: Now my parents and other students think I’m a genius because I can always do these essays perfectly. I feel like I’m just following the pattern, it’s not that I really am doing anything that amazing. But it’s nice to know that I understand what to do and am good at it.

8. Outline your essay on a separate sheet of paper, looking through your old essays to find specific examples to support your ideas. The most important part is that you find specific examples that show your progression through each step of your simile throughout this year.

Outline template: COMPLETE THE ACTUAL OUTLINE ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER

Learning to write is like:______

1. Step 1

Brief explanation:

Examples from your writing (include source letter):

Explanation of how the examples show you were in Step 1 when you wrote them:

2. Step 2

Brief explanation:

3. Step 3

Brief explanation:

Continue on for as many steps as you have.

*Adapted from Mrs. Hayes