Week 2:

What kind of self-reflection experiences did you have in your freshman English
class? What have you learned (related to self-reflection or writing in general) that
has stayed with you and supported your writing?

In my first-year English class, we discussed the significance of perspective and bias in forming opinions. I learned to examine the objectives and prejudices of sources and publications to better understand their viewpoints. This led me to incorporate personal experiences into my writing, making it more relatable and allowing for a deeper exploration of topics.

Week 3:

Analyze the rhetorical situation of your Freshman Portfolio. For those few students
who do not have one only: analyze the rhetorical situation of your Freshman English
research paper/project

My freshman portfolio’s rhetorical context is more intimate, and the language I employed is more casual. I was attempting to speak to a broad audience without any particular group in mind, so I used more informal language. The essays in my freshman portfolio have a more personal and expressive tone, and I utilized rhetorical writing techniques to make them less formal.

Week 4:

Analyze the rhetorical situation of your Product Review essay

The product review essay was my first attempt at technical writing. I went through multiple iterations and versions while writing the article in order to enhance the tone, organization, and clarity of the standards laid out. I discovered that effective technical writing emphasizes direct rather than indirect communication of the key topic. I had to decide what the review’s goal was and changed from a biased strategy that aimed to persuade readers to purchase the product to an informational method that described the product’s requirements honestly. It was difficult for me to do this because I had a propensity of enhancing my work with examples or circumstances from my own life. I also had to remove any personal language or influences.

Week 5:

What have we done so far that has been helpful to your writing process? How might
you apply this helpful information or tool? What has been confusing/What would
you like to spend more time on? If the clarification/additional focus does not occur
during class time, how will you acquire the knowledge?

The readings on essay writing and structure have been the most helpful for improving my writing process. They provide clear and concise guidance on organizing and structuring an essay. If I encounter areas that are difficult to understand, I spend more time on the entire process and refer back to the readings for additional information. These readings serve as a valuable resource that I can easily access for guidance when needed. Although I find it challenging to start writing, the readings contain the majority of the information I require, so I can use them as a reference point to begin.

Week 6/7:

To be completed after you have received feedback on your essay:
Analyze the rhetorical situation of your Lab Report Analysis essay. Include textual
detail to support your claims.

In my Lab Report Analysis (LRA), the rhetorical situation combines informative and analytical elements. The way the topics are presented in the essay is clear and easy to understand, with explanations for the decisions made. This creates informative rhetoric within the LRA and supports its analytical aspect. However, there is room for improvement in avoiding non-analytical language

Week 8:

How are you using the labor log? Is it working for you? If yes, for what purposes? If
not, why? In either case, include at least one specific example.

Week 9:

What experience have you had working in groups before this class? How has the
group work we’ve done in this class been for you? What are you doing/will you do
to optimize your experience completing the collaborative project for this class?

In my high school History class, I participated in a group project that focused on the Senegalese ethnicity. The group’s work style was chaotic and lacked proper communication, resulting in an unfinished project. It is usual to have group members who contribute little or not at all towards the project’s completion. To tackle this issue, effective communication is key among group members. Clear communication should be established when any member is unable to complete a task on time or needs assistance with a project section. In my view, communication plays the most crucial role in ensuring a group project’s success.

Week 10:

Analyze the rhetorical situation of your Technical Description. Include textual detail
to support your claims

The objective of the Technical Description Essay was to define a product from an engineering standpoint, identifying its parts and subparts like the ” The Mechanical pencil and its parts” in sufficient detail to allow for replication. The purpose of the task was to provide practice for students who plan to pursue a career in engineering, as technical writing is a valuable skill to have.

Week 13:

Select one learning objective or one component of a learning objective. When, where, and how have you learned it? How have you developed in this arena?

Throughout my reading and writing experiences, analysis has always been a challenge for me. Despite my efforts, I’ve struggled to perfect the skill of analyzing text and research. As I anticipated facing analysis tasks in college, I made efforts to improve this ability. By diligently reading and taking notes, I managed to enhance my analytical skills. However, upon entering college, I’ve realized that I may not be as proficient as I initially thought, particularly when it comes to the analysis of lab reports. The task of breaking down three different lab reports has been a substantial challenge for me.

Week 14:

What have you learned that has proved most useful to your composition process?

The most significant lesson I’ve learned in my composition process is the importance of comprehending the assignment. By thoroughly understanding the instructions and feedback provided during the drafting stage, I can better grasp the expectations of the task at hand. This knowledge has allowed me to plan and structure my writing more effectively. Previously, I would simply write without much thought, focusing only on the topic instead of considering how best to approach it. By breaking down an assignment and recognizing its requirements, I can now write more smoothly, staying on track and maintaining focus and organization. Gaining a deeper understanding of assignments has also improved my time management skills.