A Work in Progress

It is finally the end of my first quarter as a full-time college student. Despite having been enrolled in five courses, WR39B was definitely the most demanding and time-consuming. However, I am grateful to have taken WR39B during my first quarter at UCI because I have acquired many writing skills (particularly rhetorical) that have enhanced my abilities to construct an effective argument/essay and self-revise. 

The concept of a rhetorical analysis is still relatively new to me and there are flaws in my writing I have yet to fix. Yet, by reflecting on my assignments predating WR39B and as the quarter progressed, I am satisfied with the changes in my writing style and technique. I need to learn how to be more concise and focused, one of the biggest drawbacks of my RA Essay, but have overall acquired skills that strengthen my claims and draw bigger appeals to the audience. This improvement can be seen in my Podcast Companion Essay and applications of WR39B outside of the course. I am grateful the theme of this WR39B course was "Dystopia," because that is the genre of some of my favorite books and is a theme of interest as the world becomes more technological. Utopia and dystopia are concepts that similar to each other and are oftentimes subject to perspective. Now that I have a better understanding of rhetorical devices and creating an appeal, I am able to use strategies such as manipulation of ethos, pathos, and logos to convey the perspective I want others to perceive. My intent in the "Society's YA" podcast was to appeal to high school students and present Lord of the Flies as a book worth recognizing. In my Podcast Companion Essay, the strategies used for my group's podcast were explained thoroughly so that the thought process and rhetorical choices can be fully understood. However, my work in WR39B does not mean I finished learning about writing and have mastered all the skills necessary to create a strong message. I hope to advance and solidify my level of writing throughout my college experience.