10 Application: Your Writing Inventory

At the beginning of the semester, it can be helpful to you to take inventory of your past writing experiences and to reflect on how these experiences inform who you are as a writer today. To that end, write a letter to your teacher that answers the following reflection questions:

• How many years of English did you take in high school and/or what types of English classes did you most enjoy? Why did you enjoy these most?
• Which English classes did you enjoy the least? Why did you enjoy these the least?
• What were the 1-2 most important lessons you learned about writing through your high school coursework?
• What genres or types of writing assignments do you remember being assigned? Or what writing-related activities did you complete in or out of class?
• How do you write in your day-to-day life? What genres or types of writing do you engage in most often (i.e., class-assigned writing projects, texting, social media, email)? What genres or types of text do you read most often? Why?
• Lastly, what genres or types of writing will be most useful to you as a student in college and (eventually) a professional in your future career?