Reflections on Open Letter Draft

In this post, I will reflect on the peer editing I received on my open letter draft.

Rostad, Bernt. "Reed Flute Cave-Reflecting Pool." 07/19/2009 via Flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License. 

For the peer review, I reviewed Michael and Mira's drafts.

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

• I do feel that I demonstrated an ability to think about my writing, and myself as a writer. I feel that I've expanded my types-of-writing palette, as we wrote in genres I had never heard about before, so I got to explore new areas. My writing progressed, as well, because of all the process work that is required. I had never actually planned out my writing before, it usually stayed as a write-as-you-go draft. 

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

• I think I did, as I mentioned the many genres I had never written in before, and how much of the process work was completely new to me. I sufficiently explained how I've grown throughout the semester and that semi-served as an analysis. 

3. Did your provide concrete examples from your own writing?

• I did provide concrete examples from my own writing. I referenced a few of my blog posts, and explained how I've changed from the beginning of the year to now. I might add a lot of quotations from my own past work and final projects to help support some of the things I talk about.

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

• I did, and I can use my past explanations in blog posts to help build the argument behind my claims. I can touch a bit more on their effectiveness, though. The last project was definitely most difficult, not only to explain, but to achieve successfully. 

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

• I did use specific writing terms, and 'revision' was one of the most used because not only was it new to me, but it required the most work. I don't think I've ever put so much work into something. 

Draft of Open Letter

In this post, I will construct a draft of Project 4. Here is the link to it.

Wiertz, Sebastien. "Drafting." 03/04/2012 via Flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License. 

So, this rough draft is very, very rough, and I would really appreciate any feedback you have. In fact, the more things you would like to edit, the better. I am planning on editing a lot before I actually write the final, but anything is super helpful. Please disregard the bad writing, and give me your hones thoughts. This is just to get my main ideas down. Thanks!

Reflecting More on my Writing Experiences

In this post, I will reflect on my writing experiences.

Downing, Jenny. "bubble." 05/17/2012 via Flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License. 

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

• Firstly, I am very much a procrastinator, so I was worried that those traits would get in the way of my success. However, I think I managed to achieve a good amount of productivity within the semester with these habits and am quite pleased with myself. Also, having no background in the many types of writing was a difficulty. I was used to writing purely academic essays and learning the QRG genre was my favorite. 

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

• My time management skills definitely need some work, because I always found myself in a rush to get many things done, and I reached maximum stress levels many times. My writing skills are pretty decent, I think, so I am happy with them. They probably grew a bit with the many contexts we wrote in. My editorial skills definitely grew, as I was looking to change individual things every time I edited, and that was a great skill to have. 

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

• Writing in many genres has taught me to be aware of many different styles and types of contexts. A genre is like a set form of writing, with specific characteristics and formats. It includes unique images uses, tone uses, rhetorical strategies, etc. This is absolutely essential to being an effective writer, and I will use the skills I learned in this class for future use. 

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

• I will use the skills I learned in this class for my future science writing. The research aspect of this class was very useful in helping me develop what kinds of resources are truly credible and which are not, as well as help me choose what information is crucial and will help my build my argument. I want this skill to grow, so I can better grades on my lab reports. 

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

• My most effective moment(s) in this class were whenever I had to write my final drafts. My rough drafts were always pretty rough, but I did really try on the finals, and I was always pleased by the end of the project. I really enjoyed the different aspects of every project that I had to conform to, because it was challenging and helped me adapt my skills as a writer. 

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

• My least effective moment in this class was the week that I published four posts a day late. It had been a pretty busy week and I was very tired, so I fell asleep the night before on my laptop, even though I was trying to finish the weeks blog posts in a few hours. It made me realize that I needed to pull myself together, and I haven't turned in anything late since. 

Revisiting my Writing Process

In this post, I will reflect on my writing process.

Brown, Elliot. "Minterne Gardens - sign - Thank you for visiting." 04/30/2012 via Flickr.
Attribution 2.0 Generic License. 

In Blog Post 1.10, I was feeling hopeful about how the semester would go. I actually thought that I would get through the semester without resorting to my old ways and being a procrastinator, and I think that was good of me to hope for. Unfortunately, that did not occur and I am still a very bad procrastinator. It's a miracle how I've managed to complete all the deadlines (save for one) on time! It's a difficult thing to change a habit that you have spent years perfecting, and I didn't expect to do a complete 180, but I did expect to at least change a few aspects about my procrastination.

Looking back on blog post 1.12, I now realize how positive my outlook on the semester was. I didn't think about napping or wasting time that often, and for the first month of school, I stayed on track. Then, stress really began setting in, and the amount of time wasted had increased exponentially throughout the semester. I thought I had the strength to stay focused, and in some aspects, I am, but overall, my effort in school is decreasing and stress increases. I'm just holding on for the last two weeks.

My process and time management habits still reflect those of a procrastinator, and I feel that it will always be this way. I honestly do try to do homework ahead of time, but it never works out and I always tell myself that I still have time to do it later. I also signed up for a lot more stuff towards the end of semester, so that also impacted my level of productivity. I think I'll be fine in the next few years of college coursework, because I'll be taking science classes, and won't have to do a lot of analytical writing. Looking for employment in the science field does not usually require a heavy normal/analytical science background, and I don't think getting a job will either. I'll mostly be sticking to science writing.

Reflection on Project 3

In this post, I will reflect on Project 3.

Overton, Stephanie. "Reflect." 08/23/2013 via Flickr. Attribution No-derivs 2.0 License. 

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

• I changed a lot from my draft to my final copy. I basically reconstructed my argument so that it established a better pro argument. I also built up my rhetorical strategies a lot. My draft needed a lot of work, so everything I added or changed made it stronger, and more substantial. My rough draft needed a lot of opinion to establish its stance, and I think I established that well. 

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

• I reconsidered my organization because I wanted it to flow better and also together, so I added sub-titles. This organized it into specific sections where I could keep a topic relevant rather than stretching it out over the whole piece of writing. I also reconsidered my thesis by making my argument more of a pro rather than a neutral by adding tons of opinion. 

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

• These changes came from both my personal opinion on how bad my rough draft was, but also the peer review process. A large part of my revisions also came from a shift in purpose. My rough draft didn't honestly have an argument or direction, but I majorly changed that as I edited, and established a pro argument. 

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

• These changes make me a stronger author, because I am able to revise my work when I know I need it and not be stuck in my ways when it comes to writing. I'm open to change to improve my work, and that should be part of every author's set of skills. 

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

• The changes will better address the audience because the organization changes make the blog more accessible to them, while the change/addition in position makes it easier for them to understand the purpose and agree with it. All the changes made should make it easier for them to understand my writing and make it better for them to absorb.

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

• I reconsidered sentence structure and style by making it shorter and more simple to fit the genre I was writing in. There is still a level of formality, but it is more informative and laid back rather super strict academic writing. The changes done for these purposes make it easier for my audience to read my piece of writing. 

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

• These changes will assist my audience in understanding my purpose by making it more accessible to them, and more comprehensible. If I had long, run-on sentences, no one would want to read it because it would be long and too complex. By keeping my sentences shorter, it is easier for them to absorb the information and my purpose comes across more solid.

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

• I did not have to reconsider the particular conventions of the genre in which I am writing. I had a few images, just like regular TechCrunch articles contain, and many short paragraphs, which is another characteristic of TechCrunch articles. I am pretty well-versed in the blogging style, after publishing so many of them. I did end up adding a bit of space, but it was a minor change.

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

• The reflection process helped me reevaluate what type of writer I am. I tend to make the rough draft really bad, and then make a ton of changes so that the final draft is completely revamped. Reflecting on this helps me see what I should and should not do for future pieces of writing, and helps me become aware in both peer review and self-analysis of writing in general. 

Publishing Public Argument

In the following post, I will discuss some aspects of my public argument. Here is a link to my public argument.

MacEntee, Sean. "publish." 03/09/2010 via Flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic 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:

My goal in this argument was to really stress the good that the continuation of this research could do, and very briefly shoot down the opposition (in a small paragraph). I haven't seen any articles that explicitly only state the good that human genome editing can do without going off on a whole argument about the possible dangers. All the supporters of the research also have to acknowledge its dangers. By not taking up half of my blog post with the dangers, my work contains original context and insight into the 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.)

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

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

                    __x___ 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

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

                    __x___ 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

                    __x___ 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

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

                    _____ Other: 

Logical or rational appeals

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

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

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

                    __x__ Using expert opinions that help affirm your stance or position

                    __x__ 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. Three links to my genre style:
a) Example 1
b) Example 2
c) Example 3

Reflection on Project 3 Draft

In this post, I will reflect on the project 3 draft peer review assignment.

Hampel, Matt. "EDIT>". 10/04/2008 via Flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License. 

I peer reviewed Mira and Swati's Project 3 Drafts.

• Who reviewed your Project 3 rough draft?
• Swati and Chloe reviewed my Project 3 Draft.
• What did you think and/or feel about the feedback you received? Be explicit and clear. Tell me what helped or what confused you about the feedback you got.
• The feedback was helpful and accurate. This week, I was more focused on getting things written rather than forming an opinion, so I will definitely be adding a lot to my draft before I turn it in. A lot of the feedback addressed the things I felt about my own writing, so it was nice to see that other people felt the same. It all helped, anyway, and gave some specific things to fix. 
• What aspects of Project 3 need to most work going forward [Audience, Purpose, Argumentation, or Genre? How do you plan on addressing these areas? 
• I plan to do a lot of editing on everything before I turn in a final copy. I am most concerned about changing my writing to reflect my position on the subject of research, which I am in support of. I think the remaining components will fall into place when I do that, so I am less concerned about the other aspects. 
• How are you feeling overall about the direction of your project after peer review and/or instructor conferences this week?
• I feel good. Most of the feedback I received was well-deserved, and I think the final copy will be great. I have a lot of editing to do, but I was expecting that coming into this deadline.