Jacob Kennedy

15213 E 640 Rd
Hennessey, OK
Mrs. Davis
March 4, 2023

Dear Mrs. Davis,

Throughout this portfolio I will be explaining the many reasons on why I have found success
throughout Mrs. Davis’s Composition II class. I go back to the not-so-great writer that floated
through his first semester of Comp I class. Not really learning much and basically just going
through the ‘motion” as I realized I needed to become a better writer. I continued to think how I
would be able to do that. So, I decided to ask for help, and that is just what I did. I went to the
counselor at NOC Enid and asked who the best Comp II teacher was, and the only answer back
was Mrs. Davis. All my writing this semester reflects off what she has taught me, from the littlest
to the biggest of things, I have seen a major impact on my writing knowledge. I think I have
transformed into one of the best places I could be as a writer. There will always be room for
bettering myself, but I would like to say that this is the new way of reflecting myself as a writer.

For the first piece of writing I chose, it just kind of meant a little more to me. There were many
things that we as a class got to write about this semester. I wrote “Common Issues with Personal
Food Waste’” here in class with Mrs. Davis. I think this piece stuck out to me as it was
something I wasn’t familiar with, and Mrs. Davis pushed me and others to go out of our comfort
zones and expand our knowledge. I gained a substantial amount of growth as a writer from this
as I think it taught me a multitude of lessons. I ordered these pieces not specifically by date but
that seems to be the way it almost worked out. As mentioned above this was one of the most
recent pieces of writing I have been able to do. For my second piece it is the “Business Letter”
that we also did as a class. This stuck out to me the most because it was the first true letter I have
ever been forced to write. That is honestly a life skill that everyone needs now that I look back
on it. Once again Mrs. Davis making us learn and go out of our bubbles to gain knowledge on
the world we will enter out of college, maybe even during college.

This paragraph ties right into where I left off last paragraph. “My Citizenship Essay” I chose to
write about citizenship, had Mrs. Davis given us the ability to write about whatever we wanted,
citizenship would never have come to mind. I feel that is one of the things I am most thankful
for. This was also in order by most recent first (food waste being most recent.) The fourth and
final piece was a piece from my Comp I class that I took first semester. If you were to go read it,
I hope you could see the difference from then to current day. I feel as if I should give all the
credit in the world to Mrs. Davis for caring for us all and wanting the best in every single one of
us. Back to the fourth article, I have gained loads of confidence as I have learned more and more
about writing and the importance of being a good writer. If someone was to look back on my
fourth writing sample compared to my first writing sample, they would see the benefits of being
taught and not having a clue. I was such a sloppy writer, paying no attention to detail, and
horrible grammar. As mentioned, many times above, I am beyond thankful for the ability of
being taught the correct way.

Growing up, I was pushed in school and always held to a very high standard in all classes. I think
the biggest reason for immediate growth was my parents. My parents were making me read
before I every was supposed to be. This might sound weird, but I think my parents pushing me to
read at a very young age ties into my writing skills all the way to this day. I am very thankful for
being held to a high standard during my school career. Another reason I have grown as a literate
person has been myself ‘buying in’ to what my parents have pushed towards me. What I mean by
that is them pushing me to be the best I can be and holding me to a high standard and instead of
arguing about it or complaining I am at the point where it’s not them anymore, but it is me.
Overall, my growth as a writer and literate person has grown every year that I have taken an
English class. I will say though, this semester has had the biggest emphasis on my writing career.

I think that my writing process has become more advanced over the years with schooling. Some
years more than others yet I still believe it has become better year by year. In my writing toolbox
I think the best ‘tool’ in my toolbox is probably the strategy of brainstorming. I was taught to
brainstorm at a young age, and it was something that seemed to work for me during anything I
would write. It allows me to think on my feet while not stressing writing something down.
Another ‘tool’ in my toolbox would probably have to be making outlines. One thing I hate doing
as a writer but probably should gain interest in is rough drafts. I struggle writing rough drafts and
I have never become used to them. I think rough drafts are the next tool I will add in my writing
toolbox. My toolbox has become bigger with tips and tricks that I have learned year after year in
all my English classes.

Going back on the beginning of my writing I remember writing how I talked. When I was
younger, I use to talk like a hick, I know that seems weird, but it took me a very long time to
grow out of that form of writing. As of today, I am happy to say that I have said goodbye to that
old form of writing. I still have many problems in my writing and want to continue to improve
many of those flaws. A major weakness I feel like needs to be improved on is my grammar and
correct English throughout every paper. As mentioned in every other paragraph it seems I would
not even be close to the writer I am today without the guidance of Mrs. Davis pushing my
classmates and I to be the best writers that each of us can be.

I think the next step for me will be further implementing what I have learned during this
semester into any future writing that I may encounter. I need to address the ability of being a
proper writer. I think I am improving on that every time I write, no matter what it is that I am
writing. I foresee writing in my future as something that could potentially help me start a career
for my future. Writing may take me places I will never imagine. The writing skills that I have
learned throughout my career will carrying into the future. I am blessed to be able to have
learned from as I consider one of the best teachers I have ever been taught by. And I am thankful
for that. I think I am as prepared as can be thanks to the help of Mrs. Davis.

Accomplishing all my goals this semester with passion. This class has meant the world to me.
This is one of the first times in my life where I have felt like a teacher has cared for me. Mrs.
Davis has had the biggest impact on me throughout the semester, that I think she has put the
most emphasis on this portfolio I am writing. What she has taught me reflects in the new writer I
am today that I wasn’t five months ago. I am very thankful that Mrs. Davis has taken the time to
benefit every one of us. It is truly inspiring to see a teacher like Mrs. Davis. There are Without
her I would not be where I am today, and I am beyond thankful for the opportunity.

Sincerely,

Jacob Kennedy