Personal Reflection

The importance of writing became evident to me after having completed honours in liberal arts and a major in history. Content area writing in history, is of utmost importance. Students need to be able to write outside of the typical essay format that they are presented with in English classes. In regards to history, it is important to be able to write in a clear, concise, and coherent manner when analysing an historical text or putting forth their personal opinions. The application of content area writing in history can be done by providing students with subject matter and having them write their thoughts, feelings, etc. that they have regarding a given text or subject matter that is presented to them in the classroom. This can be implemented within a history class in various way, such as free-writing activities, having students write short journal entries, and writing about the same subject matter but from different perspectives. This will aid students in engaging with the material but it will also help them work on and improve their writing skills. I believe that writing is an essential and vital skill to have when confronted with history, because it requires students to take an analytical approach. By incorporating writing activities within this given subject, students will not only improve their skills, but they will learn how to formulate their thoughts and learn how to better express themselves while writing.