Research Papers by Bethany

Research Papers by Bethany - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

Ever since high school I knew I was not the best writer. I never did incredibly well on papers unless they were in non-English courses that were more worried about content instead of context. I don't think I wrote my first real research paper until my junior year of high school and it was extremely difficult. I knew immediately that this was going to be a struggle for me.
My senior year of high school I wrote the longest research paper I ever had up until that point - 7 pages. We chose a controversial topic and this was a persuasive paper. The goal was not to convince a reader completely because with many of our topics that would be impossible, but do significant research and stand with a strong argument. My topic was opposing the theory of evolution from a biblical stand point. My teacher made it clear right away that she was not fond of my choice. Although that paper may have been the most difficult thing i had ever written i put more effort into it than any other project or assignment I had ever done for school. It was not a bad paper. I got a 47.
The second semester of my freshman year of college rolled around and I found myself in Composition 111 where the first and "easiest" paper is the almost the equivalent of the previous longest paper I had ever done. We wrote a total of three essays in that class with each one getting progressively longer and more difficult. Despite my efforts, and even after seeking tutoring, the best grade I received was a "B." In the fall of my sophomore year I was in Composition 211 where on the first essay I received an 89. One single point away from an "A-"!
Finally after several years of receiving almost all negative feedback on my writing, I received my first "A" on an essay! I actually shed a single tear when I saw my grade because I was so happy! For something that has been so incredibly hard for me (and still is) it was so refreshing to finally get an "A." Up until this professor, I actually had not heard much of anything positive about my writing and although I take criticism well, especially when I acknowledge that I need criticism, I also need the encouragement. Even though I am done with Composition classes, I am more motivated moving forward in classes because of this accomplishment.