Self-Assessment Essay

By Elena Pjetergjokaj

City College Of New York

21007 Writing for Engineering

Professor India Choquette

Date 05/14/2025

My name is Elena Pjetergjokaj, and I’m currently majoring in Civil Engineering & Jewish Studies at City College of New York. To reflect on this writing course, I would have to start from the beginning. When I first enrolled here at CCNY, just like anyone else I had required classes that I needed to finish before jumping into my major classes, one of them being Writing for Engineering. At first, I was a bit skeptical not only because why would engineers need to write essays etc., but also because I am more confident in my math skills, rather than my writing. As the weeks progressed so did I. With the help of this course and our amazing professor India Choquette, I found myself becoming more confident in drafting, revising, and presenting my ideas clearly. This course challenged me in various ways, but it also provided valuable tools to strengthen my writing abilities, especially when it came to expressing my perspective and analyzing complex topics and not only that but I have also become better at other things like using the library resources, articulating my stance through writing, drafting and revising strategies and understanding the role of AI in writting.

First, one thing that sounds so basic but can be tricky is using the library resources and online databases. Who knew finding reliable sources was that hard/annoying. Practicing using our library resources, internet and many online databases in this class to find a good peer reviewed article for our Lab report taught me how to critically evaluate sources and integrate them into my work in a way that strengthens my arguments.

Another thing I feel like I got better at is articulating my stance through writing. When writing, sometimes it’s easy to digress and not stick to one opinion, especially when papers are too long. Our Lab Report on AI- image generators challenged me to present a clear argument that’s based on data that we analyzed. Finding a balance between technical details and interpreting my findings was a bit challenging, but through drafting and feedback, everything improved over time. Through drafting and feedback, I learned to develop a more assertive tone while maintaining academic rigor. I focused on presenting my stance upfront and supporting it with credible evidence, which made my argument more convincing. Looking back on this objective, I believe I successfully achieved it. I am now more comfortable articulating my viewpoint and backing it up with research, which will be beneficial in future writing.

Now, what helped me get to where I am right now is developing good drafting and revising strategies. The objective I focused on was to enhance strategies for reading, drafting, revising, editing, and self-assessment. At the start of the semester, I could say that I didn’t necessarily struggle, but also wasn’t the best at drafting coherent essays and felt very overwhelmed when I had to revise multiple drafts. However, the technical description assignment helped me a lot. Through it, I learned how to break down the writing process into manageable steps, starting with brainstorming, researching, and then outlining before jumping into the first draft. Peer review sessions were very helpful, too, since I received constructive feedback that pushed me to rethink my approach to explaining technical details. Like this, revising my work became less intimidating as I learned to focus on clarity and precision. I also feel like I achieved this objective, too, since my ability to revise and improve drafts significantly improved throughout the course. I also became more open to critique, understanding that feedback is a valuable part of the writing process. This growth has made me more confident in my ability to draft, edit, and produce clear and structured written pieces.

And finally, the objective that surprised me the most was “Understand both the limitations and strengths of AI (including ChatGPT and image generators) about our written work.” I wasn’t expecting that objective, especially in a college writing class, since traditionally, professors are against AI. But as time passed, I understood why that objective was there. Throughout the semester, I experimented with using AI tools to generate drafts and brainstorm ideas. While helpful, I also recognized that AI could sometimes produce generic or unoriginal content. This experience made me more critical of my writing, as I learned to use AI as a supplementary tool rather than a primary source of creativity. I feel that I have achieved this objective because I realized that AI is not the ‘enemy,’ but simply a tool that can help enhance my work. Now, I maintain a balance between utilizing AI for efficiency and preserving my unique voice in my writing. I now understand the importance of using AI tools responsibly and thoughtfully.

To conclude this paper, it’s safe to say that now I feel more prepared for my upcoming courses. This class not only improved my writing skills but also gave me the confidence to tackle complex assignments. I am excited to continue applying what I have learned, especially when it comes to articulating my ideas clearly, conducting thorough research, and making thoughtful use of AI tools. I know that the skills I developed in this class will serve me well in my future academic and professional pursuits.