The Great Gatsby Essay Reflection

I think that I did okay for my essay on Gatsby and his greatness. I got most of my ideas about him down in the time given but I do think that I could have structured it better. I never plan because I'm worried about not having enough time and since my thoughts don't necessarily come to me in the order that they should be written down in my writing sometimes seems a bit messy. I also struggled with starting and finishing my essay. My introduction for "The Great Gatsby" wasn't too great, it wasn't particularly captivating or creative and although by the time I got to the end of my essay my thoughts were more organized, and therefore I could conclude better than I began, I still think that my conclusion could definitely use some improvement.

I did as well as I expected to do, my introduction was mediocre and could use improvement along with my conclusion. I completely agree that I need to plan because it is obvious that I need to better structure my paragraphs. I get ideas but since I don't plan them out at the beginning, I remember them at random times and think to myself about how I should have added them in to a different paragraph, one that I've normally already written by that time. I also really need to work on my time management because I didn't get a chance to reread my writing which was probably my biggest problem. When I go back over my work I add in more information if I think I am being too brief and I correct grammar mistakes but I didn't get a chance to do that while writing my essay on Gatsby. When I'm in an exam atmosphere and there is absolutely no talking I will be able to focus better and hopefully make less mistakes while writing, or at the very least, have time to go back over my work. I always make a point of editing my writing and I love editing so I knew that not rereading my work would cause some problems!

On my next essay I would like to spend more time planning and to write a better introduction. I would like to be able to capture my audience's attention when they read my introduction and I think that the planning itself will help with that. Planning will allow me to organize my thoughts before I begin with my introduction and therefore by the time I start writing, my introduction will be clear and polished.