Reflection on Open Letter Draft

In this blog post, I will reflect on my draft of Project 4 by answering questions from Student's Guide. For this peer review process, I reviewed Michael and Victoria's drafts.

Lewis, Florencia, "Harry Potter's Hogwarts Letter." 08/13/12 via Flickr. Attribution License. 

1. Did you demonstrate an ability to think about your writing and yourself as a writer?

I did demonstrate an ability to think about my writing and myself as a writer to some degree. I tried to touch on all of the important parts of my writing experience, including my writing process and time management. These ideas could be a little more organized, however, so that I get my ideas across a little more clearly and concisely. I will need to work on the organization and flow of my ideas in order to demonstrate this more clearly.

2. Did you provide analysis of your experiences, writing assignments, or concepts you have learned?

I did touch on each of these things in my open letter. I wrote about my experiences with time management and the writing process and tied these in with specific writing assignments we had to complete. Additionally, I wrote generally about some of the concepts I learned, paying special attention to the idea of genre. However, I might want to be more specific when writing about what each writing assignment and experience taught me, instead of merely throwing in these examples without much analysis.

3. Did you provide concrete examples from your own writing (either quotes from your writing or rich descriptions of your writing process)?

I did provide concrete examples from my own writing, as I provided a few quotes to support my claims. These quotes help make my writing more concrete, but again, they could use further analysis or explanation that ties them into my writing better.

4. Did you explain why you made certain choices and whether those choices were effective?

I did explain why I made certain choices in my writing when I explained my chosen examples in my writing. However, I think I could include more explanation of how these choices were effective, and whether they remained effective throughout the rest of the semester.

5. Did you use specific terms and concepts related to writing and the writing process?

I used specific terms relating to the writing process, such as planning and revision. I also used terms such as genre and rhetorical strategies in order to tie my analysis into specific things we learned in this class.

Draft of Open Letter

In this blog post, you will find the draft of my course final. This draft can be found here.

William Arthur Fine Stationary, "Letter Play Important Roles in Our Lives." 05/25/10 via Flickr. Attribution-NoDerivs License. 

This draft is very rough, as I chose to simply get all of my ideas down on paper. Because of this, I would really appreciate any comments you might have, whether that has to do with the organization, content, or any other aspect of the letter. I definitely need to edit this letter considerably, but I would appreciate any feedback you have. Thank you!

Reflecting More on My Writing Experiences

In this blog post, I will provide additional reflection on my writing from this semester by answering a series of questions.

Live Life Happy, "Everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choice." 04/14/13 via Flickr. Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike License.

1. What were the biggest challenges you faced this semester, overall?

Overall, my biggest challenges were time management and planning out my writing adequately. Managing my time through all of the planning and drafting stages was especially difficult, because I had never previously spent quite that much time on planning and drafting. For instance, blog posts earlier in the year that were meant to help me plan my writing, such as "QRGs: The Genre" for Project 1 and "Evaluation of Rhetorical Situations" for Project 2 took a lot of time, and forced me to work on something that I had not spent much time on previously. Because of my lack of previous experience in this respect, this process was especially difficult for me.

2. What did you learn this semester about your own time management, writing and editorial skills?

With regards to time management, I learned that I work better when I have long stretches of time to work on something, rather than small bits of time here and there. For me to get something done in a time effective manner, I often need to sit down for several hours to get something done. Because of this, my previous thoughts on time management from the beginning of the semester did not entirely work. I previously wrote, "I think my main goal in all of this will be to make good use of all of the free time I have, whether that's one hour between classes, or five hours at the end of the day. " The latter plan worked better for me, as I need relatively large amounts of time to complete my work. However, because I require these long stretches of time, I often procrastinate my work until I have an appropriately large amount of time to work on it.

This semester, I learned that my writing process does make me more of a sequential composer, but I got the opportunity to work even more on my planning and editorial skills. The deadlines each week forced me to spend roughly equal amounts of time on each part of the writing process, which was very beneficial for me. I learned that, in order for me to write effectively, the planning and editing stages of my writing are especially important. For instance, while writing my QRG, I was able to essentially copy and paste some of my writing from my planning into my draft, which really helped me organize my thoughts. This can be demonstrated by this bit of writing from my rough draft, which was taken partly from my annotated bibliography: "For instance, this paper published in Science proposes a series of ethical guidelines that the authors strongly encourage for any further research involving this gene-editing technology."

3. What do you know about the concept of 'genre'? Explain how understanding this concept is central to being a more effective writer.

This semester I feel that I learned a significant amount about the importance of genre to any type of writing. The conventions of a particular genre really determine a lot about what the purpose, audience, and outline of any piece of text is going to look like. This is especially important to determine because, even if you have good ideas that back your argument, the argument can become ineffective if it doesn't follow the guidelines of that genre. I learned this relatively early on in this semester, when we were working with QRGs, a genre I was previously unfamiliar with. However, by listing out the conventions of the genre in "QRGs: The Genre," I feel that I was able to more effectively incorporate its conventions in my own writing. I demonstrated this realization in the reflection on this blog post, in which I wrote, "This really helped me realize that there are many different parts of the QRG that I have to focus on in my own writing in order to effectively use this genre."

4. What skills from this course might you use and/or develop further in the next few years of college coursework?

I will use a lot of the writing and analytical skills I developed in this course. One thing I will definitely use is the planning process that this class made me accustomed to. For instance, with project 2, I found the planning especially useful. The blog post "Developing a Research Question" helped me begin my research, and the following posts encouraged me to analyze the cultural context, purpose, and audience of a text in depth. These research and analysis skills will help me analyze texts critically in the future, regardless of whether it's an English class or a science class.

In addition, analyzing the credibility of sources will be especially useful throughout college and my career. This class helped me pay special attention to the credibility of sources, and I found myself noticing things about these sources that I would not have noticed otherwise. For instance, in "Evaluation of General Sources," I wrote, "However, it does seem to demonstrate a slight bias towards the side of the debate that claims that the event was not as controversial as it is made out to be." This analysis proved to be useful in my paper, as it demonstrates how credibility might be affected my bias. This skill will prove to be very useful in the future.

5. What was your most effective moment from this semester in 109H?

My most effective moment from this semester might have occurred when I was drafting my QRG. At first, I was nervous to begin writing in a genre that I had not known about previously. However, when I sat down and began to write it, I found that I was able to complete it in a timely manner due to all of my previous planning. I knew the conventions of the genre because of former research, and I had plenty of research to choose from because of my annotated bibliography. In this case, all of the planning really came in handy as I began to write this QRG.

6. What was your least effective moment from this semester in 109H?

My least effective moment from this semester occurred when I was constructing my draft for project 3. I don't think I had adequately planned this draft out, as I ended up writing out all of the information in a way similar to an academic essay. As I was trying to write a blog post, this was not entirely effective. While it did allow me to get all of my ideas out onto paper, I think more planning and outlining would have been more effective in this case.

Revisiting my Writing Process

In this blog post, I will reflect on how my writing process and time management skills have evolved over the course of this class.

Alexas_Fotots, "Change, Time, Sad, Cry, Laugh, Cheerful, Funny." April 2015 via Pixabay. Public Domain License.

Towards the beginning of this course, I self identified myself as a sequential composer, who spent equal amounts of time on planning, drafting, and revising. However, I also mentioned that my writing process really varied depending on the type of writing I was doing. Throughout this course, I have realized that I do mostly resemble a sequential composer; however, I have come to implement more of the heavy reviser's techniques as well. I usually spend roughly equal amounts of time on each part of the writing process, but my revising process has become much more thorough after conducting all of the peer review and other process work that goes into this step of the writing process.

With regards to time management, my initial goal was to use all of the small bits of time in between classes to catch up on any work for this class and other classes. I did end up implementing this strategy quite a bit, but I also ended up completing quite a bit of my work in large stretches of time that I set aside throughout the week. For instance, I found that I was more productive when I set aside a few hours on Fridays to do homework, rather than finding a couple hours between classes to do homework.

By reflecting on my writing process and time management skills, I have realized that my work habits really do depend on the type of situation I'm in. However, I have noticed that the writing process of the sequential composer does work best for me, and this is a strategy that I hope to carry with me in future courses. Time management really does depend on my workload each week, but overall, scheduling my time so that I have large blocks of time to work on homework usually works best for me. Overall, this has shown me that I do require some type of planning ahead, both with my writing and with other work. I did not procrastinate quite as much as I thought I would, so this shows me that I will (hopefully) not leave things until the last minute in the future.

Reflection on Project 3

In this blog post, I will reflect on Project 3 by answering a series of questions listed in Writing Public Lives page 520.

Silverman, Renee, "JUMP 4 JOY." 08/22/09 via Flickr. Attribution-NoDerivs License.

1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

The organization and tone of my draft were revised from one draft to another. In terms of organization, I tried to revise my draft so that the ideas flowed logically into each other, rather than abruptly from one point to another. This also helped me establish my pro position argument more effectively. I also adjusted the tone so that it addressed my audience and purpose more clearly and effectively.

2. Point to global changes: how did you reconsider your thesis or organization?

I focused my thesis a little more so that it only addressed the pros of my position. This meant that I had to significantly decrease the amount of time I spent refuting the opposite position, even though I included a little of this to increase my credibility. In terms of organization, I adjusted the draft so that the ideas flowed into each other logically and made my argument more clear.

3. What led you to these changes? A reconsideration of audience? A shift in purpose?

My shift in tone occurred due to a reconsideration of my audience. I had to adjust my writing so that it appealed to a more unscientific audience. In addition, my organization changed partially due to a shift in purpose, so that it addressed my pro position argument more clearly.

4. How do these changes affect your credibility as an author?

These changes increase my credibility, as the change in argumentation shows that I am a knowledgable source for this topic. I specifically made changes that increase my credibility through my tone and my use of evidence.

5. How will these changes better address the audience or venue?

The shift in tone and organization makes the argument easier to follow for my audience. Since my audience is likely not a part of the scientific community (even though they are interested in science), I adjusted my writing so that it is  engaging and understandable for them. This should help my audience understand and agree with my argument.

6. Point to local changes: how did you reconsider sentence structure and style?

I changed my writing style so that it sounded a little more informal and understandable. This involved using simpler sentence structures and using more colloquial diction.

7. How will these changes assist your audience in understanding your purpose?

These changes made my writing more informal and easier to understand. In particular, the lack of scientific language in my writing should make the argument more accessible for this audience. These changes should therefore help my audience easily understand my position in this argument.

8. Did you have to reconsider the conventions of the particular genre in which you are writing?

I did have to reconsider some of the conventions for a blog post. At first, my writing looked more like an essay, as it included dense sections of text and fewer pictures and blank spaces. To fix this, I made the writing a little less dense and added more spaces and pictures.

9. Finally, how does the process of reflection help you reconsider your identity as a writer?

This process helps me reconsider the type of writer I am. It especially helps me understand exactly what types of revisions I need to focus on with my writing. Oftentimes, I have all of the content I want to address written in my draft, but I need to change the way it is communicated in order to address my audience and purpose. This reflection helped me understand the areas I need to focus on in any future writing that I do.

Publishing Public Argument

In this post, you can find my final version of project 3 and some information regarding my writing. Project 3 can be found here.

Reinbold, Matt, "Celebrate." 07/04/08 via Flickr. Attribution-ShareAlike License.

1. Mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience currently stands on the issue (before reading/watcing/hearing your argument) below:

←-------------------------------------------------x---|--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

2. Now mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience should be (after they've read/watched/heard your argument) below:

←---------------x-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

3. Check one (and only one) of the argument types below for your public argument:

         ___X____ My public argument etablishes an original pro position on an issue of debate.

         _______ My public argument establishes an original con position on an issue of debate.

         _______ My public argument clarifies the causes for a problem that is being debated.

         _______ My public argument prooposes a solution for a problem that is being debated.

         _______ My public argument positively evaluate a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm supporting).

         _______ My public argument openly refutes a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm refuting).

4. Briefly explain how your public argument doesn’t simply restate information from other sources, but provides original context and insight into the situation:

Unlike other sources, this argument specifically focuses on the pros of CRISPR, rather than providing insight into both sides of the argument. It combines the practical benefits of this technology (the low cost and ease of use), as well as the treatment benefits (curing disease). While it does mention the other side of the argument briefly, this is done to build upon the pro position argument. This focus on the benefits of the technology has not been explored in other sources in this way.

In addition, the popular audience that this argument is aimed at is a novel approach to the public argument as well. Most arguments regarding this issue are aimed at very scientific audiences, but this argument is meant to appeal to those who might not be a part of the scientific community. In this way, both the content and audience of this argument is an original approach to this situation.

5. Identify the specific rhetorical appeals you believe you've employed in your public argument below:

Ethical or credibility-establishing appeals

                    _____ Telling personal stories that establish a credible point-of-view

                    __X___ Referring to credible sources (established journalism, credentialed experts, etc.)

                    _____ Employing carefully chosen key words or phrases that demonstrate you are credible (proper terminology, strong but clear vocabulary, etc.)

                    __X___ Adopting a tone that is inviting and trustworthy rather than distancing or alienating

                    _____ Arranging visual elements properly (not employing watermarked images, cropping images carefully, avoiding sloppy presentation)

                    _____ Establishing your own public image in an inviting way (using an appropriate images of yourself, if you appear on camera dressing in a warm or friendly or professional manner, appearing against a background that’s welcoming or credibility-establishing)

                    _____ Sharing any personal expertise you may possess about the subject (your identity as a student in your discipline affords you some authority here)

                    __X___ Openly acknowledging counterarguments and refuting them intelligently

                    __X___ Appealing openly to the values and beliefs shared by the audience (remember that the website/platform/YouTube channel your argument is designed for helps determine the kind of audience who will encounter your piece)

                    _____ Other: 

Emotional appeals

                    _____ Telling personal stories that create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _____ Telling emotionally compelling narratives drawn from history and/or the current culture

                    _____ Employing the repetition of key words or phrases that create an appropriate emotional impact

                    _____ Employing an appropriate level of formality for the subject matter (through appearance, formatting, style of language, etc.)

                    _____ Appropriate use of humor for subject matter, platform/website, audience

                    _____ Use of “shocking” statistics in order to underline a specific point

                    _____ Use of imagery to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _____ Employing an attractive color palette that sets an appropriate emotional tone (no clashing or ‘ugly’ colors, no overuse of too many variant colors, etc.)

                    _____ Use of music to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _____ Use of sound effects to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    __X__ Employing an engaging and appropriate tone of voice for the debate

                    __X___ Other: Use of emotionally compelling examples, not necessarily through narratives/stories

Logical or rational appeals

                    _____ Using historical records from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    __X___ Using statistics from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    _____ Using interviews from stakeholders that help affirm your stance or position

                    __X___ Using expert opinions that help affirm your stance or position

                    _____ Effective organization of elements, images, text, etc.

                    _____ Clear transitions between different sections of the argument (by using title cards, interstitial music, voiceover, etc.)

                    _____ Crafted sequencing of images/text/content in order to make linear arguments

                    _____ Intentional emphasis on specific images/text/content in order to strengthen argument

                    _____ Careful design of size/color relationships between objects to effectively direct the viewer’s attention/gaze (for visual arguments)

                    _____ Other: 

6. Below, provide us with working hyperlinks to THREE good examples of the genre you've chosen to write in. These examples can come from Blog Post 11.3 or they can be new examples. But they should all come from the same specific website/platform and should demonstrate the conventions for your piece:

Example 1 

Example 2

Example 3

Reflection on Project 3 Draft

For this peer review process, I reviewed Sam and Casey's project 3 drafts. Below, I will answer a series of questions to reflect on my own draft and this peer review process.

Litterio, Antonio, "Stipula fountain pen." 05/26/11 via Wikimedia Commons. Attribution Share Alike License.

1. Who reviewed your Project 3 draft?

Casey Frantz and Samantha Macklin-Isquierdo reviewed my draft.

2. What did you think and/or feel about the feedback you received?

The feedback I received really gave me a better idea of what I need to work on. For instance, my peer reviewers suggested I add more rhetorical strategies, and focus less on the opposing side of my argument. This really helped me understand what I need to work on when it comes to the content of my project. One thing that did confuse me a bit was the feedback regarding the tone of my text. I personally thought my tone was a little to formal for the genre, but my peer reviewers suggested that I make it a little more formal. I will need to work on finding a middle ground between these for my final draft.

3. What aspects of Project 3 need most work going forward? How do you plan on addressing these areas?

The argumentation and genre need the most work going forward. To improve my argumentation, I will use more rhetorical strategies, and make more explicit use of these strategies. In particular, I think more ethical and logical appeals would be helpful with this audience. I will also refrain from referencing the other side of the argument as much as possible, since this argument is a pro position argument. Also, to adjust to this genre, I will adjust my tone and writing as necessary.

4. How are you feeling overall about the direction of your project after peer review and/or instructor conferences this week?

Overall, I feel much better prepared to write my final draft of this project after peer review and conferences. Although there are still some things I need to figure out for myself, this process helped me gain an outside perspective, which was very useful.