My name is Tricia Moss. I am a former student of this writing intensive and a three-time student assistant. I am so grateful for this opportunity and the impact it’s had on my life, and I am so grateful for the chance to attend this conference, share about our efforts, and learn from you all. I’d like to share a bit about my experience and the experiences of other students, and why this unique format is so helpful. I took this class in January 2023. This Writing Intensive was the second course, and first in-person class  I took after returning to college. I began with a lot of hesitation and very little confidence in myself as a student. As a mother of a young child, and someone recovering from a brain injury, I wasn’t sure I could do it, but this class turned out to be the fresh start and confidence boost I needed. The tools, support, and space it provided allowed me to see that I really can accomplish my goals academically. Now, I am a 4.0 Honors Student and plan to transfer to UC Davis with a TAG agreement. I’ll pursue a career that I researched for the I-Search essay. For this assignment, we built a research paper through eight short journal writing assignments, exploring educational and career pathways to a specific job. When I apply to Davis, I’ll also use the two UC essays I wrote in one day. I can attest firsthand that these non-disposable assignments help students to start building the future they may not yet see as possible for themselves, while propelling them into taking action towards their biggest dreams. When my cohort and I completed this class, we also left with a cover letter and a personal vision statement that developed our dreams in every facet of our life using SMART goals. 

This class, for many students, changes not only our academic futures, but what we see as possible for ourselves. This intensive showed me that I was capable, that reaching my academic goals was possible for me, and offered me all of the support I needed to be successful. Other students have similar experiences. One option for personal insight questions in the UC essays asks us to reflect on how we have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity. Some students choose to write about the intensive. One student wrote:

I responded to a minimum of three prompts a day, while completing quizzes and actively participating in group work and discussions. I wrote a semester’s worth of essays, read sixteen weeks of lecture materials, and gained a new vocabulary. I researched what it will take to become a teacher, learning how to use MLA formatting to cite my sources and establish my credibility as an academic writer….I surprised myself by stepping out of my comfort zone to write about my life experiences and accomplishments to draft cover letters, scholarship and entrance essays,... In the beginning of the class, I doubted my ability to complete the tasks, but, in the end, I learned I have the support I need and am greater in my skills than I give myself credit for.

Another student wrote in their UC PIQ response the following:

Taking this intensive English class helped me reaffirm that I was capable of pursuing higher education. I finally was able to adapt to a college environment and now have the tools necessary to continue my education.

For some students, like myself, the format of the class is especially helpful. Some of us have families, young children, multiple jobs, or challenging life circumstances. It can feel impossible to find the time to devote to reading and assignments while at home or outside of the classroom environment. This intensive is a container: all or most of the work can be done during the class hours. The environment removes distractions and provides all the support that students need to be successful. Additionally, there are snacks and coffee. There is a feeling of coziness and mutual support as the cohort gets to know each other. Students benefit from a high volume of smaller assignments, which helps address anxiety around writing and challenges with beginning or finishing assignments. One student wrote in their self- assessment,

...this course has been instrumental in helping me to get over much of my anxiety in writing. Before this course, I struggled to complete any of my writing assignments. Now, I have written thousands of words in just a couple of weeks…..The most valuable skill I developed in this class was confidence. My anxiety has often kept me from taking courses that involve a lot of writing, even though I have wanted or needed to take them.

Another student said,

To think that this was all such a frightening and foreign concept just a few weeks ago amazes me. I never wanted anything else to do with a writing course, but this experience has made me realize that with the right approach and support, I can work toward becoming a more efficient writing student.

I’ve also appreciated getting to know and supporting three additional groups of students as a student assistant. As a student assistant, the high volume of short assignments gives us multiple opportunities for just-in-time remediation. As students work through the process of each assignment, we check in on progress, offer feedback, and make it easy for students to ask questions. We help with individual assignments, walk students through skills like formatting, and help students with tech literacy. This format gives students the time, space, and support they need to be successful. One student wrote in a Self-Assessment, 

There was one assignment that I considered not completing and skipping. I cannot even remember it now, but I remember being incredibly frustrated. I just could not start writing, as I believe I was stuck on the question. Luckily for me, I had help from a student teacher who worked with me and provided much-needed encouragement.

We focus on student success to complete College Composition, and we prepare students to be successful in future semesters and classes beyond English. Specifically, this class takes place in CRC’s Reading and Writing Center, where tutoring is available all day during the regular semesters, and students can use the computers and quiet space to complete their assignments. I am also an English tutor, so students are already familiar with someone they can ask for help in their next classes, and they now have a comfortable place to work and ask for support, if needed. As a former intensive student, It has been such a gift to cheer on additional cohorts of students. I love to see their confidence grow as they overcome obstacles and realize how capable they really are of achieving their academic and career goals.

Below are additional student testimonials.

Of all the assignments, I really liked the IS journals. My main reason is that the IS journals were all about my future career in film. Since I was writing about something I am passionate about, it made those essays more enjoyable than others. I got to learn new things about movie directors and expanded my knowledge about how to become successful.

There was one assignment that I considered not completing and skipping. I cannot even remember it now, but I remember being incredibly frustrated. I just could not start writing, as I believe I was stuck on the question. Luckily for me, I had help from a student teacher who worked with me and provided much-needed encouragement. Some skills that I practiced the most were citations and citing evidence. I also worked on proper comma placement and grammar. While not perfect, I still am working hard to improve each of these skills.

This semester, I leveled up my writing skills thanks to the tools and guidance you provided. Mastering citations, building strong arguments with the Toulmin schema and classical structure, and using ethos, logos, and pathos has made my writing clear, persuasive, and better structured. These skills will definitely carry me forward. My favorite activities were using the SMART tool. This helped me stay focused and turn ideas into action. Writing about artists like Doechii was fun and personal, and talking with Amber and Tricia gave me useful feedback that pushed me further. Those moments kept me engaged and motivated.

In our course this semester, I faced my fear of writing. As I remember mentioning in a previous assignment, I have struggled with writing as a subject since I can remember. My insecurities and doubts held me back and led me to avoid writing altogether. Now, at the end of this course, that fear is gone and I understand the value of writing for my own personal growth. I successfully completed multiple essays and smaller assignments. Though it was tough at first to force myself to just get words on the paper, I now allow myself imperfection in my first drafts as I see it is just part of the process of creating a better work. My main issue that still persisted even in this format was timeliness. I put completing my assignments off until the very last second, even after the due date. I think part of this was rooted in my anxiety around writing, but I also think I need to further reflect on this and evaluate what else I can do to stop this cycle.

I enjoyed most of the assignments and class activities this past month. I particularly liked the personal vision statements. Creating a personal vision was something I had heard of in concept, but never put on paper because I did not see a need to. However, I benefited more than I thought I would from taking a moment and assessing what I want for my future. I want to take time to create a new one every few years, just in case my circumstances or heart lead me down other paths, too.

Completing this English course will be a huge accomplishment for me. I am not a fan of writing or the writing process. I have learned to write more effectively and confidently. I have also developed the ability to organize my thoughts quickly and avoid overthinking, which has made my writing more efficient. This class will help me as I move forward and finish the rest of my classes. Having a better understanding of MLA formatting will be especially useful.

I really enjoyed the peer editing as well as the group writing assignment. The peer editing gave me a chance to see what others were writing, this helped with my process. All my classes so far have been on-line, it was a nice change working in person with other students. I have not taken an in-person class in over twenty years, the extra personable help this class provided was awesome!

As I reflect on my journey and what I accomplished in the seven-day course, I still cannot believe we are at the finish line. What seemed like impossible assignments to complete in a short amount of time, resulted in me making much more progress than I thought I would. I did not think it was even possible to learn more than I did in a full-term class. From improving my sentence structure, producing lengthy essays that needed to meet a word count, to giving helpful constructive feedback to our peers. Although I still have some areas I can improve on, this class tested my strength and capabilities I did not have prior to this course. Everything that was given to us as resources to better our writing skills, is something I will always take with me to use in my future classes as well in other life situations. As much as I struggled to produce work somedays, it ultimately challenged me to put out my best creative work. This course helped me expand my time management skills, vocabulary, and understanding of different writing styles, and I gained confidence in citing sources correctly in MLA format.

This semester, my greatest accomplishment was completing the course. As small a feat as it may seem, I have attempted this course twice in the past and failed both times, so simply completing the course is a milestone for me. I also feel like I have a newfound appreciation for writing. While I used to hate it, I now feel less intimidated by the thought of writing and, who knows, maybe one day I might enjoy it — but not today. My writing has developed tremendously from the last time I attempted the course, and I have learned that with the right tools, I can be successful. The most enjoyable assignment for me was the research. I am scientifically inclined, and using data and statistics and reading through research articles were among my favorite times in this class. Other than that, I also enjoyed collaborating with my group. My group members were kind and intelligent, and I feel like working together was a significant source of motivation.

To think that this was all such a frightening and foreign concept just a few weeks ago amazes me. I never wanted anything else to do with a writing course, but this experience has made me realize that with the right approach and support, I can work toward becoming a more efficient writing student.

The coolest thing about this course is that we have clearly been following the learning objectives and requirements, but in ways that are useful beyond checking the boxes. I deeply appreciate courses that are not just busy work, and this class has been the best example of that I have ever taken. The things I learned in this class will be invaluable to me in the next few years. I am no longer intimidated by writing assignments or essays. I have not perfected MLA, but I think with more practice it will feel very comfortable. The quick pace was helpful to force me to get comfortable just starting. I feel like I could write a speech if I needed to. I will not be at a total loss when writing cover letters. I am really excited for the UC letters. It is hard to start things for the first time when they are very important. It was so helpful to learn the essential elements of so many and practice everything we did in such a supportive environment. I am really grateful for that. I feel confident going forward that I can write things that feel challenging or unfamiliar, that I can work through them, and that being able to write important things is a learnable skill. 

When taking this English Writing 300 class, I have practiced asking for help when I need it rather than not asking for help and not being able to understand or complete what is being asked. I have always had a hard time asking for help since I felt that it may make me look stupid or uninformed. I have learned that I can write and turn in a completed English paper if I can stay focused, ask questions, and work hard. I have also learned what is being asked for in the different types of essays that we wrote in class. I think that my learning how to write a cover letter and learning how to stay focused will help me when I am working to find a job and complete other papers that will be asked for in my other classes.

Starting off this semester with a clean slate and reading through the assignments, I truly felt overwhelmed with the amount of seeing the work right in front of me and assuming I had no clue what I had gotten myself into. I did not expect to complete so many assignments and receive great feedback from both teacher assistants along with my instructor. My teacher assistants and instructor were attentive to the small class. One of the highlights of this class was when I received feedback on “My Personal Vision Statement.” The title is self-explanatory, and it gave me a sense of feeling that what I want to do with my future is important. It gave me a lesson of teaching me more about myself and specifically how I am going to get there. It made me feel important and consider feedback on an academic level.

I am very proud because I was able to complete essays in a day and put my best effort with being thoughtful in my responses. To think I was not able to finish an essay in a week in my prior semester English class blows my mind. […] I appreciate this opportunity to redeem myself after failing my semester class to improve my GPA, and honestly, I have learned so much more than I did in a whole semester. My improvement of understanding prompts and how to develop a strong response is huge for me also receiving detail feedback/critiques was helpful to have since in the architecture field there is a lot of that. Also having the opportunity to do so for my peers also was good practice. Gaining knowledge about rhetorical appeals, how to go about revisions, how to properly cite another’s quote, how to create a counter argument, knowing the difference between upcycling and recycling, how to write to a UC I am applying to, and what are fallacies is mostly everything I accomplished. My successes are that I have been able to develop thoughtful writings, what I learned from the quizzes that I have not heard before, and I was willing to accept help and ask for assistance. 

Over the last two weeks, I feel that I have made significant progress as a writer. My first success in the course was simply getting enrolled. I am glad that I did, because this course has been instrumental in helping me to get over much of my anxiety in writing. Before this course, I struggled to complete any of my writing assignments. Now, I have written thousands of words in just a couple of weeks. I still sometimes struggle to meet length requirements, but I believe that I am off to a good start. […] The most valuable skill I developed in this class was confidence. My anxiety has often kept me from taking courses that involve a lot of writing, even though I have wanted or needed to take them. Writing to a specific audience is also a useful skill that I think will be applicable as a teacher.

Some of the most vital skills that I realized was that, if I showed up every day I could be successful in many aspects of life. What I enjoyed in this course was being able to practice writing essays to continue to develop my English writing skills. Leaving out unnecessary wording has been a challenge that I have been working on. Throughout this English composition course there has been a basket of skills that I have learned and been able to apply to my daily life.

I have accomplished numerous things in our course this semester. The first is showing up and completing this course all the way through, my eighteen-year-old self would be proud of this accomplishment. My academic successes would be being able to create essays, in a way that I have not been able to before. I have also learned numerous lessons from the quizzes we as a class have taken. I still have many lessons to be learned, such as properly citing sources, giving in text citations, and working on sentence structures.