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. 

Draft of Public Argument

In this post, I will publish a draft of my Public Argument. Here is a link to it.

Joseph Glorioso Photography. "Draft Ball Porter." 06/27/2013 via Flickr.
Attribution No-Derivs 2.0 Generic License.

Considering Visual Elements

In this post, I will consider the visual elements of the genre I will be writing in for my Public Argument.

Vector open stock. "Visual artists elements." 07/07/2014 via Flickr.
Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

Visual Coherence:

• If my project uses graphics - such as Smart Art in Microsoft Word - are these graphics appropriate to the visual-rhetorical tone of my project? 
• I would include an image that relates to the argument in order to grab my readers' attention. I would avoid images that are too distracting and not related to my topic.
• How might I vary the fonts used in my project for emphasis, such as in the title and body of my project?
• I do not plan on varying my fonts for emphasis because I do not want different fonts to be distracting for readers. I will change font size for emphasis, but not style. 
• Do the headings for different sections of my argument stand out and break the text up clearly?
• I plan on making my headings stand out by increasing the font size. I will make it clear where a new section begins with this approach. 

Visual Salience:

• If the image is a graph or chart, does it clearly support a major point of my argument, or is it superfluous?
• Graphical data provides a better representation of my claim and will support my argument. I think proper usage of charts can be beneficial to my readers to help clarify certain aspects of my claim. 
• Does the image inform or emphasize my argument in an important way, or does it seem superficial or unrelated to my argument?
• My goal is to include images that relate directly to my argument and still grab the attention of my readers. I do not want to appeal to emotion, but instead want to intrigue my readers with the images. 

Visual Impact: 

• Looking back at your images, are they placed or sequenced in the most persuasive way?
• I think that the images will be sequenced in the most persuasive way as long as I do not stray from my argument with the images. When I am explaining a topic, the image should represent it. Avoiding images that are distracting or unrelated will keep the sequence of my images persuasive.

Project 3 Outline

In this post, I will outline my article for Project 3.

Intro: I believe that the "Connect the Issue to your Audience's World View" method is the best for my argument. I feel that I can persuade my audience that the benefits of human genome editing outweigh the possible consequences. There are so many opportunities that this type of research can discover. This type of intro will connect to the audience's value for improvement in the world and will relat to their world view through that value.

Body Paragraphs:

• Major Supporting Argument
• Continuation of this research could lead to a method of curing many diseases
• Continuation of this research could lead to a better understanding of human DNA and answer many questions that have yet to be answered regarding life and human evolution
• Major Criticisms
• It is unethical to conduct such research on humans, especially embryos, when we don't know what the consequences of such a thing are
• Technology is not developed enough for human testing, therefore further investigation is required and repercussions need to be studied as to help predict the potential harm that this could do to the human species
• Key Support
• This research could lead to potential cures for many incurable diseases. Editing the source of a disease or editing your genome to build/regain the ability to fight the disease or eradicate it altogether would save so many lives
• Understanding the human genome would answer many questions about how the human body does DNA, why it works the way it does, and basically give us a better understanding, especially because I'm going into science.
• Key Rebuttals
• This research is not safe to test on human tissue, even though the human embryos used in this particular experiment weren't viable anyway
• It's not ethical to perform these kinds experiments on anyone or anything human because it could lead to unpredictable consequences of natural human evolution
• Topic Sentences for Support 
• The continuation of this research is essential to discovering a possible cure for many diseases.
• The research being conducted will give us some insight on how the human species is affected by changes in DNA.
• Topic Sentences for Rebuttals
• This research is harmful and the consequences of human genome editing are unknown, making it even more dangerous.
• The ethics of this issue play an important role in the continuation of this research, and there needs to be limits set.
• Evidence
• Topic 1: "[This research] changes our biological blueprint and is a defining technology for the future of humanity...the benefits are going to be tremendous and they are going to happen in our lifetime." Woodrow Wilson Center Interview, Eleonore Pauwels
• Topic 2: "They hope to use it one day for what they genome surgery, replacing faulty genes in people, opening new possibilities for treating and eventually curing disease...right now, they are targeting single-gene disorders and genetic disorders arising in blood cells." Woodrow Wilson Center Interview, Eleonore Pauwels
• Rebuttal 1: "Their data reinforces the wisdom of the calls for a moratorium on any clinical practice of embryo gene editing, because current methods are too inefficient and unsafe." NPR, George Daley
• Rebuttal 2: "No researcher should have the moral warrant the globally widespread policy agreement against modifying the human germline...there are enormous safety risks that any such attempt would entail...the social dangers of creating genetically modified human beings cannot be overstated." NPR, Marcy Dornovsky
• Map of Argument
• Below, my coggle for the layout of my argument is shown.

Macklin-Isquierdo, Sam. "Screenshot of my Coggle." 11/7/2015.

Conclusion: I believe that the "Positive Consequences" approach is the best for my public argument. I am able to discuss the good that can come from the continuation of this research and I want to persuade the reader to take action. The benefits of people taking action and supporting the continuation of this research and badgering their lawmakers to do the same will have a dramatic effect on the direction of this argument.

Reflection

Mira: Considering Visual Elements
Project 3 Outline

Victoria: Considering Visual Elements
Project 3 Outline

After reading Mira and Victoria's blog posts, I feel better about both of my posts. Both Mira and Victoria know exactly how they are going to present their arguments and I'm still a little iffy, but I feel that as I begin writing, I will feel better about it. Victoria's topic is stem cells and the controversy around that, so it was nice to read her outline and see where she's taking the argument, it will help me build mine and I'll be able to compare the two.

Analyzing My Genre

In this post, I will answer questions on my genre for Project 3.

Stavelin, Eirik. "Lo-tech analyse." 03/29/2009 via Flickr.
Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

Five examples of my genre:

• Example 1
• Example 2
• Example 3
• Example 4
• Example 5

Social Context

• Where is the genre (science blogs) typically set?
• The genre is typically set in online technology and innovative science news websites, such as TechCrunch or Mashable. The target audience is about 18 to 40 year old individuals who are either scholars or informed citizens. 
• What is the subject of the genre?
• The subject of the genre is science and technological advancements. Depending on the blog, opinions on current events in science and technology could be posted. 
• Who uses the genre?
• The target audience for my genre is 18 to 40 year olds. 
• When and why is the genre used? What purposes does the genre serve for the people who use it?
• This genre is usually used by the target audience to stay informed or to learn new things about what is going in the ever-advancing science and technology world.

Rhetorical Patterns of the Genre

• What type of context is usually included and excluded?
• Typically, background information regarding the topic at hand is included in the posts. Authors tend to assume that readers are not familiar with the topic and provide contextual information for better understanding. Opinions on the topic are generally excluded, as the posts are mainly focused on presenting both sides of an issue. 
• What type of rhetorical appeals are used most often? Do you notice any patterns in the appeals to logos, pathos and ethos?
• More than anything else, the texts appeal to logos and ethos. Since the topic is scientific and technological advancements, it is much more focused on logic and reason than emotion. Ethos is used to provide credibility for the authors of the posts. 
• How are the texts organized? Do they generally open in similar ways? Conclude in similar ways? What common parts do the samples share?
• Generally, the texts open with background information on the topic being discussed. The topic is furthermore explained throughout the post and current advancements are brought to light. The posts all focus on presenting both sides of an issue if there is one, and conclude with a summary of the pros and cons of certain technologies. 
• Do sentences in the genre share a certain style? Are they mostly active, passive, simple, or complex? Is there an abundance or lack of questions, exclamation points, or semicolons?
• The sentences in this genre tend to be more complex since they are dealing with a topic that has more technical language. The writing is mostly active because it covers topics that are relevant in today's society. There seems to be a lack of questions and exclamation points, and majority of the sentences are declarative. 
• What type of word choice is used? Do many of the words fit in a particular category of jargon or slang? Is the overall effect of the word choice formal, informal, humorous, or academic?
• The word choice in this genre is slightly informal. Academic language is used when discussing the technical aspects of the posts, for example, when a certain technology is being explained. 

What the Patterns Reveal about the Social Context of the Genre

• Who does the genre include and who does it exclude?
• This genre includes people of a large age range who are interested in scientific and technological advancements. People who are not specifically interested in learning about such topics are generally excluded.
• What roles for writers and readers does the genre encourage?
• This genre encourages readers to learn about different types of technology in science and become knowledgeable about the two sides of various issues in such topics. Writers are encouraged to present both the positives and negatives of each topic, as well as thoroughly inform readers about the technologies. 
• What values and beliefs are assumed about or encouraged from the users of this genre?
• The users of this genre are assumed to value scientific technology and its advancements. Writers of this genre encourage belief in such advancements and future possibilities.
• What context does the genre treat as most valuable? Least valuable?
• The most valuable aspect of this genre is the background information on each topic. The genre focuses on presenting readers with ample accurate information and less on providing personal or emotional connections. 

Reflection

After reading Laurence and Mira's blog posts, I feel confident in the genre I chose. Laurence and I share a similar want for informal writing, with his genre being a bit more formal than mine, so that was nice to see. Mira's genre is very interesting and I;m excited to read her argument. I like my genre particularly because I don't like formal writing, and I love using images to tell a story. I can't wait to write!