Please read the directions below, but do not respond to the blog until class on Tuesday, July 30th:
Think of one class activity (a paper, a discovery exercise, a peer review, an in-class exercise or lesson) that stands out for you. In paragraph form, identify the activity, describe your experience with that activity (positive or negative), and explain what you gained from the experience. 200 words.
The exercise that stands out the most to me was writing about a visual. I did not think there could be that much information to think and write about from a picture or advertisement. I’ve always heard the expression “A picture is worth a thousand words” but I never thought I would actually write a thousand words about a picture. I feel that the assignment helped and was a positive. I had to think in a different way and find a way to organize my thoughts about a picture or ad in a cohesive way. It also made me see that I can write more than I thought and in a way that sounds professional. The one exercise that I thought was going to be the hardest out of everything and to me, is the one I gained the most from.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe assignment that stands out for me the most during this class is actually a collection of assignments. The assignments covering fallacies were the most difficult, as well as the most informative for me. I am much closer to being able to determine fallacies in media and in people's arguments. Fallacies are something I have never really been able to effectively grasp, and while for the most part I skated by on guesses, I really did learn a lot about them by the end, and it was by far the most beneficial assignment for me.
ReplyDeleteThe activity that helped the most this class was definitely the analysis of a visual, because it was something different than usual. It's not the typical paper where you have a specific subject or an article to write about. I have never had to look at an image before and put so much thought into what point it was trying to get across to its viewers. Looking at an ad and having to explain what it was trying to show was quite challenging, but I believe I gained experience from it and it helped me write better, and with more detail. Now when I look at an image, whatever it is, I can put more thought into it and have a better understanding of it. It might not just be what I assume at a first glance, it might have much more of a story or point to it. The reason it helped my writing is because I had to choose my words carefully so I could clearly explain the message, without confusing those that had not seen the image. I also had to add a good amount of detail to help the readers understand what the image was of.
ReplyDeleteThe most beneficial class activity would have to be the blogs. Despite my overwhelming dislike of writing and extra work, the weekly blogs provided the insight of peers and how they viewed topics through their perspectives. When I had difficulty with an assignment it helped to view different ideas that supported the topic that would later transpose into an essay. Some people, like me struggle with ideas that could be put into words or I may have a completely different interpretation of the assignments. The blogs are a great way to ensure that everyone is on par with the topic on hand, leading to a better experience as a writer.
ReplyDeleteI gained a lot of knowledge from various assignments throughout class, however the assignment that really taught me to think outside of my box was the rhetorical analysis of a visual. Not only did I learn the most from this assignment but I struggled the most with it. Somehow I received one of my better grades on my R.A.
ReplyDeleteThe rhetorical analysis of a visual taught me to look deeper into advertisements. Until that assignment I never realized all the thought that goes into producing such an image. Angles, color, slogan and placement all is taken into consideration when creating an image that is meant to sell, and by sell that can be selling a product or an idea. Behind every image is an audience that it is directed to and the success of the advertisement depends on how well the creator reached out to the intended audience. Overall, I learned a lot that is going to help me in future classes and papers but my R.A of a visual helped me the most.
On June 20th the class performed a rhetorical analysis of “Aliens Caused Global Warming,” by Michael Crichton. The concept was new, so having the opportunity to poll the group’s thoughts, along with affirmations from Professor Taylor, created a positive experience. First the audience was to be identified. Crichton’s paper states that the text came from Caltech, and the language leaned towards undergrad/grad science majors. Then the thesis was to be identified, which proved challenging because it was set in the third sentence of the second paragraph. The annotation of the essay was especially helpful to discuss. This included identifying the topic sentence, and Crichton’s claims served as good models due to their directness. Also, recognizing the successful and distracted ethos, pathos, logos, and fallacies was the most debatable aspect of the exercise and the professor’s guidance was crucial. Finally, the class built a thesis paragraph. The RA thesis was different in that it opened with the addressing the author and piece, its purpose, followed with summarizing rhetorical strategies and closing with the thesis statement. The entire task was important because it led to an accurate example for use toward the RA of a text.
ReplyDeleteReflecting back on the semester, I would have to say the Rhetorical Analysis of a text had the largest impact on my writing development the most. By having to think about the character of the author, the logic behind their reasoning, and the type of emotions the author is trying to evoke, have all helped enhance my own thought process when it comes to writing. Instead of just reading for the sake of completing an assignment, I now put a lot of more thought into trying to understand what the author is trying to accomplish and what kind of techniques they are employing. I believe the lessons learned during this assignment will continue to help be a foundation for writing for the foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteThroughout English 121 there has been a few different assignments that I can say I enjoyed. The one that stands out the most would be this last essay assignment, the researched argument, in which we based everything off our first essay, the non-researched argument. With this assignment we took an essay we had already written and researched more information to support it. Going back to my first essay assignment I was able to see how much my writing has evolved and changed over 8 weeks. I saw where I used some logical fallacies, cliché statements, and even first person point of view in my writing. I was able to take what I already had, support it, and form it to a more academic based argument, where it could be taken seriously and actually stand ground. By doing this I was able to notice the vast difference in my writing, and with doing so I could take a basic idea with knowledge I already had, use resources at hand, draw information from it, form it to my ideas, then analyze it. Although I may not use an exact format or structure in my writing, with this assignment it was clear for me to see that I have grown in my writing capabilities.
ReplyDeleteThe class activity that stuck out to me the most was when we wrote a persuasive paper and I chose to write it on “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, by Martin Luther King Jr. We were to use ethos, pathos, and logos in this essay. The paper was so different for me because I never had to use these devices and really didn’t know what each one all about. It was like going to take a test about a subject that you never had any idea of knowing. When we started to do peer reviews, by the way, is a good thing for English; it made me unwind and become comfortable about the things I didn’t know. At first I was so stubborn, and I tried to get by without using those writing terms. When I finally gave in to change my paper became more personal to me and a journey to my audience. Even though I was doing a essay about change I will still trying to hold on to my old ways of writing and thinking. The further I begin to read the letter, I had realized that I too, was not good with change like I perceived. In the end my tolerance of rhetoric analysis prepared me for the one thing that I love to do, and that is right. Even know I find myself reading articles just to say things about the styles the writer wrote or none at all. When the final call is made I can truly say that Rhetoric was fun and influential after all.
ReplyDeleteThe exercises that stands out for me was the rhetorical analysis of a visual and text, and recognizing the fallacies in people's arguments and media. These exercises really force me to think "out of the box" and to really look at my arguments and people's arguments in a different perspective. Both exercises were very challenging to me. Fallacies were the most challenging trying to recognize the different types in media and various types of literature. The rhetorical analysis of a visual was also very challenging to me as well. Being able to express your opinion and thoughts towards a visual was very intriguing and difficult to me this semester but i truly enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the class I felt the peer reviews were very important.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I was not as prepared as my fellow students with the
assignments. When we got together as small groups I felt that I
actually cheated them out of the review because they didn't have
much to go on to make an analysis.Wheras everyone I worked with
had something I could work with and I apologise. I also felt my peers had much better writing than anything I came up with.Their
style and flow was much better also.It was nice to work with fellow
students to get their perspective on things whether on their own
thesis or views of mine. I am happy to see young minds trying to improve themselves and it is fun to be around them.
Through the 8 weeks of this class I would have to say that the rhetorical analysis assignments where the hardest for me to do. Both the analysis of the writing and visual where very difficult for me to do and so stand out to me. I was more challenged by this level of expectation because I was given assignments that required more than just natural ability. I not only had to write about a point, I also had to find the proof and connect it to the rest of my writing. It had to be justified and without outright opinion, something not easy for me. It was not only frustrating but it also helped me develop as a writer more than any previous instruction for English. I now will be a better writer because I know how to reach any audience I will have. Also I will be better person because I can now more clearly see the myriad of suggestions and opinions, which surround me in my day to day life, while being able to see its true intent. After both assignments I was thrilled to be done, not only because I had finished but because I tried my hardest. I was proud of the amount of effort and growth that went into both pieces, effecting me positively.
ReplyDeleteThe class Activity that stood out to me the most was the rhetorical analysis of a visual. It helped me to really analyze and read into what the meaning of the picture is. The concept of ethos pathos and logos is extremely helpfully when analyzing. I don't think I could have properly analyzed anything without knowing ethos pathos and logos. After learning about this I catch myself analyzing everything. I am really exited to learn more about this in the future.
ReplyDeleteI learned from visual analysis assignment to make an educated guess by looking at poster or ad. Also, translating form image to words that the poster try to inform the audients about. The usage of colors and animals to give a massage such as using colors of flag or animal to represent loyalty or bravery. After all, learned to keep my promises and analysis in accurate way.
ReplyDeleteFrom the non-researched argument assignment I learned multiple ways to get my point across. Working from what I know and compiling that knowledge into different segments and elaborating each to make my point. Points getting deducted also is a lesson learned. Not spell checking and not turning in papers on time especially with this paper earned a lower grade. For what could have been an A paper I ended up receiving a C grade. Important lesson learned, easy way to get a better grade is to turn work in on time.
ReplyDelete