To whom it may concern,

In my first semester of college, I have made much progress in my writing. The abrupt switch from in-person to online schooling during my senior year of high school negatively affected my writing. Despite taking a college English course in high school, I found that Writing and Rhetoric has reminded me of how to write a paper at a college level. My writing has improved, and I have become more aware of grammatical errors that I was making before this course. Although I do not believe I have reached complete college-level writing, I am much closer to achieving that goal. Before taking Writing and Rhetoric creating a rough draft was not a consistent part of the writing process, and because of that, I had made many errors. Now I have become more educated on the proper revision of a paper before handing it in. The work that I have produced that I feel best represents my progress in writing is the persuasive speech and the research paper.

Prior to Writing and Rhetoric, I did not have much experience in writing a persuasive speech. I had never written a speech before, especially as a fairy tale character. Several strategies can be broken down when writing a persuasive speech and I can take these strategies and utilize them again. While I understood ethos, logos, and pathos, I did not fully comprehend the potential that these writing strategies have on an argument. The most important thing I have learned from writing argumentative essays and persuasive speeches was the power of the question, “so what?” Asking myself why someone else should care about what I am writing has affected the way I see conclusions. I had much difficulty writing conclusions and used them as a summary of what I was discussing. I did not realize how repetitive and ineffective the writing became without the proper execution of the “so what” question.

Presenting in college is, no doubt, a struggle for me. The tips that were discussed in Writing and Rhetoric have better prepared me for presentations in other courses that I am taking. I attended a small-town high school where I knew everyone, and everyone knew me. I became quite comfortable with this group of people, for I only had a graduating class of fifty. Presenting in high school I was confident and even received recognition for my public speaking my junior year in my AP English class. I am not accustomed to a class full of faces that I do not know, and this was a big change. Writing and Rhetoric has helped me adapt to these changes and even improved the organization of my presentations.

The primary takeaways that I have from this class are what to expect in a college-level course. Writing and Rhetoric was the only in person class I have had in my college experience thus far. I found that with the consistent deadlines and intensive work I had to quickly alter my work ethic. With this class being my only in-person class, it has been the easiest course to stay organized in. I have learned how to prioritize my time, and I can take the experiences I have had in the class and remember them for my next in-person courses.

Another concept that has impacted me from this course is the idea that as a writer, one should include their voice. Professors and evaluators must read a plentiful number of essays, so supplementing personality into a paper can set your paper apart from everyone else’s paper. I presume that by adding your voice that a writer can get their point across more effectively, as well as in a more compelling way. Including individuality will also ultimately make your paper sound as if you care about what you are writing about, even if you may not. Why would a reader enjoy your essay if it sounds as if you do not care about the information you are putting across? This is a critical point to consider while writing an essay, and I will be keeping this in mind while writing papers in the future.

Writing and Rhetoric also introduced the significance of evaluating arguments. Both in literature and in real life, evaluating arguments is paramount. From debates to essays, we have been required to look at opposing sides of discussions to accurately address them. For example, if you are in an altercation with someone, you should consider the concept that you are simply looking at the topic in a different way than the other person. It is perfectly capable that both parties are correct in their standpoint. One party could be looking at the topic from an ethical standpoint, while the other party may have a more practical point of view. With this in consideration, one could potentially avoid an argument by taking a step back and observing the point of view of the opposing side.

Throughout this course, I feel as if my research process and reaching my audience to achieve my purpose has been the most successful. I have not faced many difficulties finding reliable sources during my research and I cite my sources accurately. I avoid plagiarizing and do not forget to cite the sources I utilized. I also found success in including personal experiences in my writing that has assisted me in reaching the audience and getting my point established. I feel as though I have been consistent in being clear with my topics and arguments that make it easy for the reader to follow along.

I still desire to make improvements in my writing, as improvements should always be sought out. I would like to better my use of writing conventions and rhetorical appeals. My grammar and punctuation can be my downfall; I can get carried away while writing and forget the very foundation that makes a quality essay. Without the proper use of conventions, the entire meaning behind the essay can get lost and misinterpreted. Going hand in hand, rhetorical appeals can emphasize important points and topics the writer wants the reader to acknowledge. By bettering both my grammar and writing fundamentals with my rhetorical appeals I can overall write a more engaging essay.

My writing needs much improvement, but I can also recognize the progress I have made this semester. Taking Writing and Rhetoric has proved to be beneficial in my journey of improving my ability to write. I have been able to utilize the material I have learned in other courses as well as in real life. I am now more capable of identifying the mistakes I make when I revise my essays and I can learn more about proper writing each time I do. I have a long way to go; however, I am a more confident writer since taking this course with Professor Hach.

 

Thank you,

-Brooke Lauzon

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14GFnrDuKmnTx8lJFDdIaqEgDoqk_gVuMV3dmqojfH60/edit?usp=sharing