Reflective Statement

As I wrap up this semester's ENC 2135 course, I am reflecting on the projects that allowed me to explore genres, rhetorical strategies, and effective writing. With the guidance of Professor Gilbert, each new assignment was built on the last, allowing me to improve my understanding and build confidence in effectively communicating with my target audience. 

In Project 1, I learned how writers integrate ethos, pathos, and logos into their campaigns. The project emphasized the importance of intentional communication. I understand now that my writing style and strategies are essential to my overall message and how it will be received. Every word, image, or choice of medium affects the outcome of my writing. I struggled with the objective of this essay because I only have experience writing essays about topics chosen by an instructor. Given the freedom to select a topic related to my major, I was sidetracked by my interest in the subject rather than the rhetorical strategies used in the artifacts. My biggest struggle with the first essay was just getting started. Working with an outline as guidance made all the difference. I outlined my thoughts during brainstorming and added quotes. I rearranged the outline as I added new information, allowing for an easier evolution of my essay.

In Project 2, the Investigative Field Essay, I learned about nonbiased research and how exploring a topic fully allows a writer to see all sides of a situation, good and bad. I enjoyed this project very much. Taking a nonbiased approach to something I was already biased about was challenging. It wasn't easy at first, but keeping an open mind, I could see the whole picture. As I researched different perspectives, I understood the positives and negatives of all sides. This process taught me to approach topics with a balanced viewpoint. There are always two sides to a story; the only way to be fully informed is to try and understand each perspective with an open mind.  I also learned about the importance of reliable sources when doing research. Project 1 taught me to see underlying strategies used to sway an audience. Peer-reviewed sources were pivotal in creating a credible investigative essay. 

Project 3 was where I could put together everything I had learned from the previous projects. When I reached the Multigenre Persuasive Campaign, I could successfully use appropriate genres and rhetorical strategies to engage audiences. At the culmination of all the individual lessons throughout the course, I am confident I created a complete campaign that could engage its audience and persuade them to take action. Creating the actual genre artifacts was the best part of the course. I could utilize rhetorical strategies that could not be used in written essays. Using visuals such as highlighted words or phrases, bold colors, and vivid graphics gave me the chance to write in such a creative way made the amount of writing that much more enjoyable.

When I look back at the course, I cannot believe the amount of writing I accomplished in one semester. Each stage of this course exposed me more and more to the creative possibilities of writing. Thinking outside the box of traditional essays and book reports, I experimented with actual practical writing. In the future, I know I will be better equipped with the tools for effective communication regarding my field of study, even if I still groan at a minimum word count.