This first assignment will establish a foundation for your self-reflective work in WR39A. Please spend at least 30 minutes reflecting on your writing abilities at this early point in the quarter, as well as your interest in our course theme. Please also book a 5-minute appointment to discuss your answers in person during Dr. Lance's office hours; ideally you'll come during Week 1, but slots are also available on Tuesday of Week 2.

Two rules for your writing:

1) Write as much as you can in 30+ minutes and use as much concrete detail as possible to accurately convey your state of mind in right now, your sense of your current writing strengths and weaknesses, and your goals for the course.  The most productive reflections will be 400+ words (approx. 1.5 to 2 double-spaced pages)

2) Answer some questions from each section (part 1 and part 2), and as you have time for. But don't simply answer them in order like a checklist.  Instead, approach this reflection as a story you're telling about your writing life.  What's the beginning, middle, and end of your story as a writer?  What are the high and low points of this story?  Are there any surprises? 

Part One: Your Writing

• What do you like to read, in any language--on your phone, onscreen, and/or in books? What is it about this reading that keeps you coming back--what do you like about it?
• Is there a particular author or publication that appeals to you? Can you describe the style or voice of this author/publication--what kind of character they have?

• What do you like to write?  Do you keep a blog, or comment on social media, or write stories or poems or write something else in your free time?  If you don't like to write, what kinds of texts, images, and ideas do you think would make you want to write? 

• Do you speak another language fluently, besides English? If so, what do you speak? Do you write in it as well? Do you read in it (if only on social media)?

• How do you hope WR39A will prepare you for university-level writing in your major, or for your professional life?  Or put another way, how do you hope WR39A will help you build on the writing skills you learned in high school or other college classes?

• What do you see as your current strengths and weaknesses as a writer? How do you plan to build on your strengths, and how would you like to tackle your difficulties in WR39A?

• What kind of feedback have you received about your writing in the past?  How helpful was this feedback and why was it helpful (or not)?

• What do you currently know about rhetoric?

• How do you usually tackle a writing assignment?  What steps do you follow in your process?    

Part Two: Our Course Content: Food and Hobbies

• Where do you like to eat on or around campus? What do you like about the food, ambiance, and/or service in these places?
• What do like like to eat at home, and in what situations (snacks, daily meals, family gatherings)?
• Who's involved in making these foods, and how does food play a part in your relationship with these people?
• Do you care where your food comes from? Why or why not?
• Do you think Dr. Lance or others in this class would like those foods too? Why or why not?
• What were your hobbies when you were a little kid? How about in middle school? High school?
• What are your hobbies now? How do you spend your free time?
• Do you think Dr. Lance or anyone in this class would be interested in your hobbies? Why or why not?
• Do you read anything, or consume any other media (shows, posts, news), related to these hobbies--and if so, how does that fuel the way you approach these hobbies?

Record your reflection in a Word document and upload it here, or write your answers in the text box