Your writer's toolbox is probably bigger than it was when you started the year. Have you really thought, though, about how much you have changed as a writer overall? Some changes can be hard to see because they happen slowly, over time. That's why it's important to stop and reflect on your growth. Without that reflection, it might feel as if you've hardly made any progress!
Looking back over your portfolio pieces will allow you to think critically and honestly about yourself as a writer. Click the button below to access a worksheet that will help you gather your thoughts about your progress as a writer this year. Then complete the tasks on the tabs, using the worksheet to record your thoughts.
Writing Self-Assessment Worksheet
Think about your qualities as a writer you are most proud of. Perhaps you really know how to write an introduction that gets your reader involved right away. Maybe you're a strong researcher and know just the right details to back up important claims and points in your work. Here are some questions to think about:
- Which area of the writing process came most easily to you this year?
- Which genre or mode of writing did you find the most enjoyable this year?
- Which pieces in your portfolio do you consider to be your best work?
- Which concepts in grammar came easily to you?
Answer the questions concerning where you consider yourself to be a strong writer. Record your ideas in the first column of the Writing Self-Assessment worksheet.
Every writer, no matter how skillful, still has areas in need of improvement. Listen to any writer talk about their craft, and each will explain how they try to improve their writing with each new book or story. You might think that pointing out such weaknesses will lower others' opinions of you, but the opposite is true. When you show ways you can improve, you show a maturity of thought in writing. Being truthful about your writing also means coming up with ideas for improvement. Here are some questions to think about:
- In which area of writing do you work hard but still struggle?
- Which mode or genre was the most difficult for you to write?
- Which pieces of your portfolio do you think still need improvement? Why?
- Which grammar skills or concepts were most difficult for you this year?
Answer the questions about areas where you know that you need to improve. Record your ideas in the first column of the Writing Self-Assessment worksheet.
Now that you've identified some strengths and weaknesses, it's time to think about your goals. If you never set a goal, you're not likely to ever think about what areas you should focus on … and then you'll likely never improve in ways you really need to. When thinking about goals, though, don't become overwhelmed. It isn't necessary to focus only on your weaknesses. And, it isn't necessary to set a goal for every weakness you found. Be realistic and focus on areas you know you can fix with some additional work. Some skills take longer to develop—years, in fact!
Here are some questions to think about:
- What do you consider to be your biggest area of growth in writing this year?
- What skills or new knowledge would you like to develop to improve your performance?
- What changes can you make to improve your own work?
- How would you rate yourself as writer right now? Does that rating satisfy you?
Answer the questions about areas in which you know your efforts to improve can be successful. Record your ideas in the first column of the Writing Self-Assessment worksheet.
