A paper is a piece of writing that is written to convince someone of something or to simply inform the reader about a particular topic. For the reader to be convinced or adequately informed, the essay must include several important components to make it flow in a logical way.
In ENG 21700, I have learned about technical writing, rhetorical analysis, project proposal, infographics and I also learned about those components (drafting, revising, outlining, editing, etc…) through different assignments. This course has many learning outcomes if you apply yourself and put efforts into the assignments. In the next lines, I am going to discuss the major learning for me outcomes in this course.
Usually, when writing a paper, I like to jot down my ideas however they come to me then read the final product to make sure it makes sense then I never go back to it. But after, I was introduced to the reading, drafting, revising, editing and self-evaluating, my writing was never the same. In the rhetorical analysis assignment, all these skills came into play. I started off by reading lab reports, analyzed them and started a draft listing their similarities and contrasts. Also, our classmates giving feedback on our drafts was helpful and shows how important this strategy is. By creating a draft for your paper, you will be able to ask yourself whether your ideas are logical and where additional information is needed. After drafting, asking yourself these questions and taking outside perspectives into consideration, the rest become easy.
When I was working on the technical description assignment, my perception of writing evolved. In my papers, I often did not take my target audience into consideration, which was inappropriate. Before writing any paper, there are numerous factors regarding your audience that you must consider. Any writing abilities acquired from this instruction manual assignment are quite useful. Everything we buy daily has a description, which gives massive number of products a wide target audience. I’ve learned from this project that writing is an effective informational tool. For writing to have the most impact, the audience must also be considered. Any text’s content and objective are influenced by its audience. The language, illustrations, and length of a book may alter to suit a specific audience when an author has one in mind. For instance, an article written for a younger audience can have simpler language, more images, and be shorter in length, but one written for an older audience might be the exact opposite. Your purpose will be established by your audience. Why did you decide to write this? Is it to educate, raise money, or make a call to action? For instance, you might be a member of a team of scientists looking for funding for a study. Your goal while introducing your idea to possible sponsors will be to secure funds for it rather than to simply tell them of it. The content of your presentation will then reflect this goal.
Finding research sources (such as academic journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles) without paying is complicated. When I was researching lab reports for the rhetorical analysis assignment it was hard to come by a complete document without having to subscribe to a website or pay. Prof Stemberg suggested us the school library database, and other websites which made my search of lab reports much easier. We also learned how to analyze sources for validity, timeline and accuracy and cite sources in MLA form.
One of the learning objectives I have not spent a lot of time on is formulating and articulating a stance through and in an essay. Even though in the rhetorical analysis paper, I discuss my opinion on whether the elements of both lab reports met the requirements.
Overall I am leaving this course with new skills on different writing styles, enforced familiarities with writing components and strategies. After all the assignments and discussion posts, I know I have evolved as writer and have learn so much that is going be quit helpful and relevant in my coming semesters.
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