Self-Assessment Essay

I came into this semester not expecting to learn too much, because English seems easy enough as is. Surprisingly I did learn a lot, different techniques, methods and ways of looking and analyzing writing. All the different assignments, exercises and journal assignments helped in achieving the course learning outcomes. 

From phase one I learned that there are many types of language and Literacy and even though they are different you’re still to connect to people through language itself. I learned how to better and more efficiently filter out points and issues such as, the intent, audience, type of writing from given piece of work and have been able to consciously apply these in my own writing. The identification and use of the concept of exigency was most impactful in my learning.  This is mostly because I had not heard of it before and didn’t know to implement it. The application of these help to better understand the writing of others and used as a guide in my own writing. 

Recognizing the role of language attitudes and standards in empowering, oppressing, and hierarchizing languages and their users, and be open to communicating across different languages and cultures is the course learning outcome that I feel like I have achieved in the process of doing the assignments of this phase. While listening to the TED talk for the assignment of “why I keep speaking up” the speaker talked about his accent and his stutter but explained how even though it makes him different it doesn’t mean that he’s not normal. Similarly, the differences people have in language doesn’t make them any better or worse than anyone else. This was just one example of my realizations. Throughout the other assignments as well, listening to the experience of others and writing about it myself creates an understanding of the fluidity of language yet also the power and weight it carries, varying from person to person and how they choose to use it. 

Throughout writing and adjusting Rhetorical analysis essay in the second phase of the semester along the way I was able to advance my knowledge and ability to identify and portray the writing of another. This is mostly from positive feedback as well as constructive from my fellow classmates from the submitted rough drafts they analyzed. Not only that but I was given advice and tips from the professor which I applied and helped tie my essay together. 

As far as concepts go, I’d say rhetoric, rhetorical analysis and context were the most impact on the writing of my essay. Rhetoric and r analysis for obvious reasons, being as this is a rhetorical analysis essay I my ability to identify in Amy Tans writing as well as implement in my own writing was crucial. As for context, I used anecdotes all throughout the essay to bring up points and explain them, which helped in my analysis of Tan’s passage. 

The assignment for this phase did help me achieve a couple of the course learning objectives. Them being; to explore and analyze, in writing and reading, a variety of genres and rhetorical situations, which basically was this entire assignment. To develop strategies for reading, drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing and recognize and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies when engaged in writing situations such as Amy Tan’s utilization of pathos, logos, and ethos in her writing and the impact they individually had on the audience. And finally, to engage in the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes. 

Phase 3 required the most work in my opinion. From doing the writing exercises for this essay I was able to develop a proper style to portray all the information I gathered from the sources. Also, from writing the actual researched essay I learned how to properly find appropriate sources, quote and cite them, and represent the information and argument in a clear understandable way. 

The concepts of evidence and text I feel most impacted my learning and writing practices most when developing this essay. In creating this essay, I had to gather evidence, that is, from sources and text which I gathered and filtered through. 

This phase assignment helped me achieve a couple of the course learning outcomes. Those of which mainly being; to locate research sources (including academic journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles) in the library’s databases or archives and on the Internet and evaluate them for credibility, accuracy, timeliness, and bias. Which was crucial to this phase’s assignment. Also, to compose texts that integrate your stance with appropriate sources using strategies such as summary, critical analysis, interpretation, synthesis, and argumentation. Practicing the systematic application of citation conventions as well as to understand and use print and digital technologies to address a range of audiences.