In my reflection on this semester’s work, I have come to understand the vital importance of two key elements: critical thinking and personal expression. This realization is not just a personal observation; it is supported by academic discourse. “Since critical thinking and analysis are key elements of the reading and writing you will do in college, it is important to understand how they form a part of academic writing.” (DasBender) Equally important is the role of personal expression; “Personal writing not only helps students develop their voice but offers them precious space to reflect and process their feelings and thoughts, to feel emotionally strong and balanced.” (Brown) This essay shows how critical thinking and personal expression have been essential to all my assignments and blog posts this semester. They have united all my work, giving a cohesive and unified character to both my academic and creative efforts. By reflecting on my works, you can consider how you include critical thinking and personal expression in your writings.

I have completed two “assignments” and eight blogs throughout this semester. All of the writing prices include these two elements, critical thinking, and personal expression. Specifically, I found I focused on critical thinking more than personal expression for one of the assignments, and three of the blogs. On the other hand, I have focused on personal expression more than critical thinking for three blogs. At last, I have reflected that one of my assignments and two of the blogs are equally focused on both critical thinking and personal expression.

I have focused on critical thinking for the first assignments and the second, fifth, and sixth blogs. In all tasks except for Assignment 1, I was asked to write about other authors’ works, leading me to concentrate more on critical analysis than sharing my views. In the first Assignment, I was not able to add much of my personal touch even though it was expected. I will explain how I focused on critical thinking rather than personal expression one by one. For blog 2, the question requires me to write about the power of thinking through writing, reflected by the works of William Hazlitt and Matthew Salesses. In my response, I shared my belief in the effectiveness of writing as a tool for deep thought and retention of information. I discussed my habit of taking notes while reading, which not only aids in organizing key points and reflections but also enhances my memory of them. Simply, there was more description using critical thinking than personal expression in this blog. Critical thinking is highlighted in my observation that writing promotes deeper, more structured thought than conversational discourse, where attention can easily divert. Writing encourages me to explore ideas thoroughly and logically, enhancing my engagement with complex subjects in a disciplined manner. Not only critical thinking but also personal expression is also exemplified through Matthew Salesses’ reflective writing on personal experiences. By sharing his emotions, and how these emotions interact with his memories and perceptions, Salesses demonstrates an introspective form of personal expression.

For blog 5, the question requires me to write a response to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Letter to My Son,” focusing on how Coates makes his work accessible to a general audience. In this case, I identified three techniques Coates uses to make his work accessible: referencing specific historical events for factual grounding, describing personal experiences and emotions for reader connection, and using simple language to explain complex issues. Regarding critical thinking, Coates’ method of interweaving historical facts into his narrative exemplifies a fact-based approach to addressing racial inequality. By grounding his discussion in objective historical events like the Civil War and slavery’s legacy, Coates provides a factual basis that reinforces the validity of his arguments. Personal expression in Coates’ work is evident in his description of personal experiences and emotional responses to racial injustice. His personal stories, such as growing up in Baltimore and attending Howard University, transform abstract concepts into tangible realities, demonstrating the power of personal expression in discussing complex societal issues. Still, this blog is focused on critical thinking and personal expression supports that focus.

For blog 6, the question requires me to comment on how Kingston uses storytelling to highlight the Asian-American experience, combining analysis with a central point about the power of representing thought through storytelling. In my response, I reflected on Kingston’s use of storytelling in her essay to portray the lives of Asian Americans. I identified three strengths of storytelling evident in Kingston’s work: its ability to capture attention with detailed personal stories, make complex ideas more comprehensible, and serve as a bridge between generations by sharing cultural and historical narratives. Critical thinking is prioritized over personal expression in this blog due to its emphasis on analyzing and evaluating Maxine Hong Kingston’s storytelling techniques rather than sharing the author’s personal feelings or experiences.

For assignment one, I was required to write an exploratory essay using my experience reading a text from this course as a starting point to create new insights into my thinking on a particular topic. I wrote my essay, titled “Why the Concert and Event Industry Should Regulate Ticket Scalping,” which focuses on the issues of inequality in the concert and event industry. Using J. Drew Lanham’s “Forever Gone” as a starting point, I highlighted the historical exploitation for economic gain and its consequences, relating it to the modern problem of ticket scalping. I explored how scalping harms both customers and promoters, emphasizing the need for ethical action in the industry. My essay suggested legal, technological, and social solutions to tackle ticket scalping, citing various studies and examples to support my arguments. In my exploratory essay, I effectively utilized critical thinking to construct an argument about the issue of ticket scalping in the concert and event industry. Drawing on various sources, I examined the problem from multiple perspectives, including historical parallels, economic implications, and ethical considerations. This comprehensive approach demonstrated my ability to analyze complex issues deeply, synthesizing information from different fields. On the other hand, the essay revealed areas for growth in personal expression. While my arguments were well-founded and analytical, they lacked a distinct personal touch that would have made the writing more relatable and made it more “explore”. This assignment included my expression; however, it revealed that I need to further develop my skills in personal expression.

In contrast, I focus on personal expression more than critical thinking for Blogs 1, 4, and 7. These elements did not ask me to write about others’ work but to share my own experiences or ideas, leading me to focus more on personal expression than on critical thinking. For blog 1, the question required me to write about my personal goals as a writer, exploring why I enrolled in the course and the specific writing skills I am aiming to develop. As my answer, my goal as a writer is to enhance my ability to write logically and smoothly, especially considering that English is not my first language. I intend to improve my skills in structuring arguments with adequate evidence and achieving a better flow in my writing. Achieving my writing goals is connected to these two key elements personal expression and critical thinking. Improving my vocabulary is crucial for personal expression; it allows me to avoid repeating the same words and gives me a broader range of ways to convey my thoughts. This not only enhances my writing style but also reflects my unique perspective more clearly. Regarding critical thinking, my focus is on writing logically and coherently, especially in subjects like economics. By learning to structure my thoughts and arguments effectively, I aim to write essays that are not just grammatically correct but also logically sound. Overall, this blog focuses more on personal expression than critical thinking because of its emphasis on enhancing individual writing skills.

For Blog 4, the question requires me to write a poem on any topic of my choice and explain my composition process and what I aimed to convey. However, since our professor allows students whose first language is not English to write a poem instead of a sonnet, I have decided to write a poem in Japanese, my first language. In my response, the poem “The Third Date,” reflects the significant cultural aspects of Japanese dating, particularly the expectations surrounding the third date. This poem focuses more on personal expression than critical thinking as it captures the young woman’s intimate emotions and expectations, portraying her personal experiences with deep emotional resonance. As for critical thinking, the poem showcases this through its exploration of cultural norms and the impact they have on individual behavior.

For blog 7, the question requires me to write about my experience in finding my voice in writing and discuss whether I have found a writing voice that satisfies me if it’s consistent across different genres, and how I developed my style. Through this blog, personal expression is described more than critical thinking because the primary focus is on my journey to finding a writing voice that feels authentic, particularly in academic writing. In my response, I wrote my expression that I have found a voice that feels genuine to me, especially in academic writing where a logical, data-driven style is my strength. I have described the character of the Japanese education system in this blog, which shows I have performed my critical thinking too. This is because the comparison of the educational system is an analysis of complex information that requires multiple perspectives.

In addition to these two categories, focusing on critical thinking or personal expression, one assignment and two blogs that can be categorized as critical thinking and personal expression are nearly equally shown. These are the second assignment and third and eighth blogs. For blog 3, the question requires me to write if poetry and prose represent our experiences differently, and which form I am more drawn to. In my response, I explored the differing representations of experiences in poetry and prose, using Mary Oliver’s and J. Drew Lanham’s works as references. I expressed a preference for prose because of its directness and clarity, contrasting it with the abstract nature of poetry. It is exemplified by Lanham’s writing, which offers a clear narrative. Lanham’s prose effectively communicates complex ideas and historical connections, like the link between the Carolina parakeet’s decline and historical events. This directness in prose which highlights the power of critical thinking facilitates a smoother understanding for me. Poetry, with its clear narratives as exemplified by Lanham’s writings, allows me to engage with ideas more individually. Even though it is rich in lyrical language and evokes deep emotions, its abstract nature leaves me perplexed. Oliver’s poetry requires readers to interpret meanings and emotions that are not always explicitly stated. Having personal expression in poetry is a characteristic of poetry and it could be an advantage and disadvantage depending on the reader. Overall, since I have explained the comparison of poetry and prose, I have written about both the importance of critical thinking and personal expression nearly equally.

For blog 8, the question requires me to write a comment on how Junot Diaz, in his novel “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” makes a fictional character feel personal to readers. I identified three techniques Diaz uses to create a deeply personal connection between Lola and the readers: his narrative style that alternates between first-person and second-person perspectives, the detailed exploration of Lola’s emotional landscape, and the inclusion of cultural content. Diaz’s approach to making Lola’s character feel personal is a remarkable example of personal expression. By crafting a narrative that speaks directly to the reader by not using a third-person perspective, he invites them into Lola’s world, transforming the reading experience into a personal encounter. At the same time, Diaz employs critical thinking in his narrative, particularly in how he incorporates historical and cultural information to make the content more credible. His thoughtful presentation of Dominican culture and the complexities of immigrant experiences not only enriches Lola’s character but also grounds her story in a broader context. These techniques are about how critical thinking would be applied to make the fictional story more personal. Therefore, I have reflected that these techniques are focused on both critical thinking and personal expression.

Assignment 2, this assignment requires me to explain the article’s overall argument to a general audience using a blog, podcast, timeline, or vlog and provide a separate explanation for my choice of format in communicating the main argument of the article. In my blog post titled “Why You Are Musical,” I explored the key arguments of chapter 3, “How We Came to Be Musical,” from Donald A. Hodges’ book, “Music in the Human Experience: An Introduction to Music Psychology.” I highlighted how music is intertwined with human evolution, development, cognition, and social bonds. I employed a blend of narrative styles, incorporating visuals, videos, and external sources to enhance the explanation. My blog included images, YouTube links for auditory examples, and charts for visual representation, making the content more engaging and accessible. I also referenced external sources like research studies and podcasts, which provided additional depth and context to the article’s arguments. This multimedia approach was instrumental in making complex psychological concepts about music more understandable and relatable to a general audience. In my blog post, I demonstrated strong critical thinking skills in organizing and presenting the article’s main points. I carefully selected and arranged various forms of media, ensuring each element contributed meaningfully to the overall argument. This required a deep understanding of the article’s content and a strategic approach to communicating its essence effectively. Additionally, my blog post showcased personal expressions. By including my interpretations and biases, I personalized the content, making it not just an informative piece but also a reflection of my perspective. Paraphrasing key points in my own words and bringing in external sources that resonated with me added a unique touch to the blog, making it more than just a summary of the article. Overall, my blog post was an effective blend of critical analysis and personal insight, showcasing my ability to engage deeply with academic content.

When I reflect on my work for this course as a big picture, it highlights the dual significance of critical thinking and personal expression in my academic and creative endeavors. Both these elements have played a crucial role in each of my assignments and blog posts. Critical thinking has enabled me to describe complex subjects, to analyze and synthesize varied perspectives. Alternatively, personal expression has been my way of showing my ideas and thoughts, using a variety of vocabulary, grammar, and genres of writing.

Works Cited

“Write to Learn: The Power of Personal Writing.” Center for the Professional Education of Teachers, cpet.tc.columbia.edu/news-press/write-to-learn-the-power-of-personal-writing.

‌Dasbender, Gita. Critical Thinking in College Writing: From the Personal to the Academic. 2010.

“6 Benefits of Building Playlists and Sharing Them with Your Friends.” Soundfly, 28 Jan. 2019, flypaper.soundfly.com/hustle/6-benefits-playlists/.