P.

O Box 18675
Los Angeles, CA 90018
December 6, 2014
Dear Portfolio Reader,
In my portfolio you will find revised versions of essays number two and three. I chose
essay number two, project Space, because it shows my critical thinking skills. For this essay I
had to use two advertisement images and develop a strong thesis in order to compare and
contrast. I was able to demonstrate my critical thinking skills when I went beyond the explicit
messages in the images. I also chose essay number three, project Text, because it demonstrates
my ability to develop a credible argument that convinces the audience that the point I am
proposing is accurate. In this essay I had to figure out what success means to me and develop an
argument where I used Malcolm Gladwells book as my main source. Using several sources and
personal experiences helped me show my audience that I am capable of making an argument
without being biased.
There were definitely a couple of revisions that had to be made for both essays. In essay
number two I had to expand on one of the paragraphs I had written. The idea was there, but was
not explained thoroughly. I added two more paragraphs to help make my claim clearer. In essay
number three, a lot had to be done to revise the entire paper. Again the ideas were stated, but the
argument was not convincing enough. There were also a few sentence structure mistakes that
prevented the paragraphs from transitioning smoothly from one claim to another. I fixed the
structures of the sentences by taking out a few words and rephrasing a few of them as well. Apart
from fixing the mechanics of the paper, I also added a few more paragraphs that would make my
point come across more effectively.

I have always thought of myself as a decent writer, but after taking English 115 with
Professor Averill I feel more confident in my abilities of writing an essay. I learned valuable
skills that will not only help me throughout my four years at CSUN, but throughout my entire
career. Professor Averill gave me the push I needed to believe in myself when I thought that I
could not write a good enough essay. Without knowing it, her constant support helped me get
through the semester. I believe that is as valuable as the many skills I picked up from being in
her class. Her lessons on knowing the different types of essay formats, how to use qualifiers,
how to avoid absolute qualifiers, and how to find credible sources not only helped me grow as a
writer in her class this semester, but also in my University 100 and Sociology 150 class. I
applied what I learned from her class in report papers for University 100 as well as in my
research papers for Sociology 150.
I have seen my growth as a writer within the past five months of being in English 115. I
am grateful for everything I learned this semester because I can easily notice the improvements I
have made. Although I may not be the best writer, I do believe that with practice and patience I
can become an excellent writer if I apply all of the skills I have received from English 115.
Sincerely,
Cesiah Prado