Reflection on Open Letter Draft

The time has finally arrived. For my final blog post I have reflected on my open letter draft as well as included links to the drafts that I peer reviewed.

Lee, See-ming. "“天開 Opening of the sky” / 香港國際機場之寧 Hong Kong International Airport Serenity / SML.20130425.6D.02896". April 25, 2013 via flickr. Attribuition 2.0 Generic License

For the last peer review I conducted in this course, I looked over the drafts of Andrea and Evan.

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

• After looking over my draft again I believe that I gave a lot of insight into what I think about myself as a writer and my abillity to write. Some topics certainly received more focus than others, like my writing process, while others were barely discussed. I haven't really demonstrated my ability to deal with time management and how this course has impacted me for in the future.

Did you provide analysis of your experiences, writing assignments, or concepts you have learned?

• In my opinion I believe that I provided an adequate analysis of my experiences, writing assignments, and concepts that I have learned. I could have done a better job at transitioning throughout my topics and discussing more about what I will take away from this class in my future careers.

Did you provide concrete examples from your own writing (either quotes from your writing or rich descriptions of your writing process)?

• The presence of concrete examples varied throughout my draft. In some paragraphs I provided excellent examples that really showed my audience what I was trying to explain about my writing process. In other paragraphs, as pointed out by my peers, the hyperlinks I provided didn't seem to be connected and direct quotes would have been more effective.

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

• I explained why I made certain choices, like deciding to post my blogs later in the week, but I failed to explain whether the choices I made were effective. I only skimmed the surface of certain topics and will need to go back and analyze them more in-depth.

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

• Many concepts related to writing and the writing process were used in my draft. I made sure to hit as many elements of the writing process as possible, ranging from the concept of genre to the peer review process and publishing the final draft. The only concept not really discussed was the role that time management plays into the writing process.

Draft of Open Letter

In this post I have addressed what I would appreciate my peers looking for as they review my draft and have provided a hyperlink to my letter.

Shlabotnik, Joe. "Manatee Mailbox". November 19, 2006 via flickr.
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As always, I would appreciate it if you could let me know if I'm straying from the purpose of this letter. I would also appreciate any suggestions on how to improve my introduction and conclusion because I feel like they are lacking. I am aware that my transitions between paragraphs need work and any suggestions are welcome. Thank you for taking the time to look over my letter!

The rough draft of my letter can be found at this link.

Reflecting More on My Writing Experiences

In this blog post I reflect more on my writing experiences from this semester and what I have learned about myself because of those experiences.

Bodin, Ulf. "Bench". September 9, 2013 via flickr.
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1. What were the biggest challenges you faced this semester, overall?

• Overall, the biggest challenges I've faced this semester would be learning to adapt to others' time schedules and learning to accept criticism from my peers. Most people liked to push their work back until the night it was due, so I had to adapt to constantly checking in order to find someone's blog to comment on. I've also primarily always reviewed my own work, so learning to accept others opinions was initially a challenge.

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

• This semester has shown me that I do not adapt well to others' time schedules. I am an individual that works much more effectively on her own timeline. I also learned that when I write I tend to deviate from the main point I am trying to make and I ramble instead.

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

• The concept of 'genre' allows you to identify your audience and create your publishings in a way that suit their needs. By understanding what audience you are addressing you can more effectively suit their needs. Along with understanding their needs, you can more effectively deliver your point by writing in a style that appeals to them. For example, for Project 2 we were tasked with writing about an issue in our major. Our target audience was incoming freshmen in the field, so it was important to avoid jargon they wouldn't understand and to simplify complex ideas in a way that they would be able to understand.

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

• I will further develop my abilities to adequately critique work and accept criticisms from others. I will also actively search for peers to review my work because I have found the process of peer review to be extremely helpful.

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

• This may be biased on my end, but I believe that my most effective moment was when I finally managed to have all of my other blog posts done aside from my draft before the week had even started. It was much less stressful being able to spend all week working on just the draft and not having to worry about doing the other blog posts.

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

• My least effective moment from this semester was when I spent six hours working on an annotated bibliography. This was back for one of the Project 1 deadlines before I realized that amount of effort was not necessary. I could've spent that time working on other parts of the deadline and could have applied more time to homework for my other classes.

Revisiting My Writing Process

The end of the semester is fast approaching, and this post is a bit reminiscent on how I have changed over the course of a few months. Particularly my writing process and time management skills.

Valentin, nicolas. "Seasonal reflection......". October 25, 2008 via flickr.
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Looking back at my "My Writing Process Post" I can see that very little has changed. I would still identify myself as a mixture between a "Heavy Reviser" and a "Sequential Composer". The biggest thing that has changed for my process, and in my opinion has screwed me up mentally, is my ability to create outlines and edit them. These blog posts with their specific constraints and orders have tampered with how my brain usually flows. It is hard to find the time to create an outline that I enjoy, or find information that would help me even more due to the copious amount of work we were given weekly. I found myself short on time and too stressed to put the necessary effort into these foundational parts of my writing process. I still lean on being a perfectionist, but if college has taught me anything it's that some classes don't have time for that crap. It drives me insane and I often am without my bearings.

Looking back on my "Calendar Reflection" post I find myself saddened. Shortly after school started, maybe a month in, I had to quit my job because the stress from the amount of classwork was impacting my health. For the past 3 months I have spent ~95% of any free time I have doing homework. Literally every time my mom comes into my room she asks if I'm still working on it, and has just gotten into the habit of assuming that I'm always doing it. The workload for this class exceeded anything I could have ever thought, and it is what has taken up most of my time. It is what caused me to have to leave my job and to never have any free time. D: I also knew from the beginning that I would never be able to practice two hours a day, and have elected to drop music for now. There are more important things to focus on at the moment and maybe when I have the time for it again I'll pick it back up. Finishing homework two weeks in advance was not a realistic goal for me because most of the teachers don't keep their assignments updated that far in advance. I was lucky to have work that was posted a week in advanced, so different from high school. I've also learned to spend less time beautifying things, although it drives me crazy because I want everything to be organized and succinct.

Hopefully in any future courses I take that involve writing I will be able to structure things on my own timeline. These weekly deadlines have really screwed over my thinking process, although they were helpful in other aspects. I am looking forward to being able to work at my own pace again, as I feel that makes me much more successful. I have also created a more reasonable schedule for next semester, so time management should not be an issue. Without music or engineering (Oh yeah I changed my major to Business because this course showed me that I really wouldn't like what I was going into) I will have a lot more free time. I plan on getting a job and finishing my class work early in the week since I won't have any classes on Friday's, and I'm done before 2 most other days. I find myself to be much more motivated when I can work on my own time schedule, especially being able to finish things ahead of schedule. This is very helpful in the field I have chosen to major in: accounting. As one who has spent years watching my mother in this occupation, I know that having strong organizational skills and being able to get work done ahead of schedule is something that employers love.

Reflection on Project 3

Project 3 is now over! In the post below I have answered the nine questions as found on page 520 of Writing Public Lives as a reflection on this project.

Nilsson, Susanne. "When the water falls". May 17, 2014 via flickr.
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1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

• I switched my article from first person to third person to help with clarity. Along with that, I removed the elements of my draft that made it appear to be a con position argument and refocused it to be a refutation argument.

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

• Rather than stating my opinion later in the article, like I did in my original draft, I moved it to my introductory paragraph. I also removed some of the information on global warming and focused more on geoengineering itself.

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

• As it was pointed out to me, having my own opinion on the matter so late in the article made it so the purpose of it was unclear. My audience was unsure of what I was trying to discuss or why it mattered. By moving my opinion to the first paragraph my audience would know what to expect from the get-go. 

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

• By changing my article to be in third person I have established more credibility to myself as an author. As pointed out by Chloe, scientific articles seem to be much more effective when they're written in third person, as they make you appear to be more knowledgeable.

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

• Removing the personal pronouns and relaying everything in third person will lead to less confusion. Keeping in personal pronouns can cause the audience to become lost in a sea of confusing emotions and the purpose is lost. Also, removing the unnecessary information, such as the causes of global warming, will keep my audience engaged as they will have a clear understanding of what I am trying to discuss.

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

• In my original draft I focused more on my opinions and what I thought. In my final draft I decided to remove the element of writing in first person and incorporated more action verbs into my project.

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

• By incorporating more action verbs they will be able to see that geoengineering is an active issue that is having an impact on their lives. It is not an issue that is standing still and waiting in the distance. It is fully present and in their lives, making them more aware.

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

• The conventions of the genre were simple and didn't need much work. The only thing that could have used some revision was the point of view I chose to write in, although any form would have been acceptable.

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

• Once again I still have that tendency to ramble or go off on tangents. I try my hardest to work on this, but I just can't seem to break this habit. The points that I bring into my writings are usually strong, I need to work on incorporating them in a way that allows for a smooth flow. Perhaps I need to take breaks more frequently and reread what I've written to make sure that I've stayed on track.

Publishing Public Argument

The time has come to publish Project 3. In the post below I have analyzed where I believe my project falls and have provided a link to my project.

wstera2. "Thousands Protest Global Warming". February 5, 2009 via flickr.
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1. Mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience currently stands on the issue (before reading/watching/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:

         _______ My public argument establishes 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 proposes 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).

        ___x___ 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:

• Many of the other public arguments do not address the impact geoengineering will have on society and the environment around us. In my argument I attempt to show my audience how geoengineering will have a direct impact on their lives and why they should be concerned.

5. Identify the specific rhetorical appeals you believe you've employedi n your public argument below:

Ethical or credibility-establishing appeals

                    _____ Telling personal stories that establish a credible point-of-view

                    _____ 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)

                    _____ Openly acknowledging counterarguments and refuting them intelligently

                    _____ 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

                    _____ Use of “shocking” statistics in order to underline a specific point

                    _____ Use of imagery to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                         x    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

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

                    _____ 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)

                         x    Other: Using hyperlinks to provide more context and show that information is from credible sources

6. Examples of my genre:

• Example 1
• Example 2
• Example 3

My final project can be found at this link.

Reflection on Project Draft 3

In the post below I have identified whose drafts I have peer reviewed and how I am feeling about my draft after this week.

PhotoGraham. "Riddle No. 5 - The Globe (lots of clues!)". November 6, 2006 via flickr.
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For this peer review I looked over the drafts of Andrea and Hallye.

1. Who reviewed your Project 3 rough draft?

• Chloe has reviewed my Project 3 draft. 

2. 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.

• I feel like all of the points made, aside from the one on adding more statistics instead of normal pictures, were great. I agree with all of the points she has made. Going from that my topic is too broad and it is unclear, down to keeping in mind the audience I want to target. Initially, I wanted to disagree with her point on writing my article in third person, as I found it much easier to present my voice in first person, but after some more thinking I believe that making this switch will establish more credibility for myself and clear up my topic. It also showed me how being so broad can switch the purpose of your argument. I thought that I was writing a refutation argument, but apparently it looks like I wrote a con argument without realizing it. I think that it'll be much more effective to write this article as a con argument because I am focusing more on the broader aspects of geoengineering and I am not refuting a specific publishing or anything. Overall, her advice was very helpful and has given me much insight into what I need to work on.

3. What aspects of Project 3 need to most work going forward [Audience, Purpose, Argumentation, or Genre]? How do you plan on addressing these areas? 

• My purpose needs the most work out of all of these areas. I feel like I have shifted away from geoengineering and delved into the more broad concept of global warming. I need to re-narrow my focus by removing excess information and centering in on the fallacies of geoengineering. My argumentation could also be more clear. I am stating why I think geoengineering should be refuted, but the mixture of global warming issues makes my argument more vague. By diverting my topic my audience becomes lost and it appears like I'm creating a con argument. After a lot of consideration I have chosen to shift my argument from a refutation to a con position as I feel like it better serves the point I am trying to make.

4. How are you feeling overall about the direction of your project after peer review and/or instructor conferences this week?

• Clarity, clarity, clarity. I definitely could use more clarity in my paragraphs. As always, I have a tendency to ramble or become side-tracked in my thoughts, which causes my audience to become confused. I believe that I have incorporated enough emotion to show my audience that geoengineering is dangerous, but I think I have also incorporated too much information on global warming, creating mixed emotions.