Hossam Elsakka
Professor Crowe
S.A.E
November 28, 2023
Self-Assessment Essay
As I end my English 2150 journey, I want to reflect on the growth, challenges, and learning experiences encountered along the way. This course has been a transformative chapter in my academic life, fostering a deeper understanding of literature while honing my analytical and critical thinking skills. The improvement of my analytical skills over this course has been one of the biggest advances in my development as a student. I was forced to go beyond skimming during the close readings and discussion posts of different texts, analyzing themes, characters, and the advanced language levels. I gained experience navigating text complexity and identifying themes and symbols. I was able to broaden my vocabulary and become a more articulate student.
Beginning with Course Outcome number one, “Analyze and interpret key ideas in various discursive genres with careful attention to the role of rhetorical conventions such as style, tropes, genre, audience and purpose.” This Course outcome provided me with effective and purposeful communication as I analyzed rhetorical conventions that enabled me to align my writing with the intended purpose. Weather to clarify, convey, or argue, understanding how to use language, style, and structure within a particular genre enabled me to achieve my communication goal. Grasping an understanding of course outcome one allowed me to recognize the role of rhetorical conventions which helped tailor my point to my audience, which in return enhanced their comprehension. Analyzing and interpreting key ideas within different discursive genres while considering rhetorical conventions is essential when creating a purposeful, audience-centric, and effective communication piece of writing.
Applying rhetorical knowledge in your own composing across various mediums is crucial for several reasons. Course Outcome number two, “Apply rhetorical knowledge in your own composing using the means of persuasion appropriate for each rhetorical context including academic writing and composing for a broader, public audience using digital platforms.” Encouraged me to understand how to adapt rhetorical strategies -such as ethos, pathos, and logos- in my context and images which allowed for a more effective communication in different formats and engage with different audiences. Through my Op-Ed Essay I was able to implement Course Outcome number two by creating my own visual analysis.
Throughout the semester I was most indulged in Course Outcome number three, “Identify and engage with credible sources and multiple perspectives in your writing.” It’s essential not only to identify credible sources but also to analyze them to ensure their reliability and relevance to my writing. This learning outcome is crucial for several reasons including accuracy and reliability of sources, avoiding bias, enhancing understanding, strengthening arguments and audience engagement. I mastered course outcome three through the writing of my Field Research Essay as it was solely built on garnering a deeper understanding of my topic by utilizing different sources.
Writing is more than just putting words on paper, it’s a process that fosters critical thinking, knowledge generation, and communication skills. Moving on to Course Outcome number four “Experience writing as a creative way of thinking and generating knowledge and as a process involving multiple drafts, review of your work by members of your discourse community, revision, and editing, reinforced by reflecting on your writing process in metacognitive ways.” Writing encouraged me to think creatively. When I’m writing, I’m not merely conveying information but also synthesizing my thoughts, ideas and personal experiences which are cultivated through writing multiple drafts. Revision and editing are the stages where the magic happens. Revising allows me to rework and cultivate my content based on feedback from peers and my professor. It mostly focuses on grammar, style, and the structure of my writing. It’s essential to note that writing isn’t about conveying owned knowledge, it’s also about expanding on new knowledge. Through the process of researching for my Field Research Essay, I was able to garner more knowledge on the topic I thought I’d mastered. I was able to synthesize information and form arguments which contributed to the collective knowledge in that field.
Adapting writing conventions to rhetorical context is crucial for effective communication. Course Outcome number five “Adapt writing and composing conventions (including your style, content, organization, document design, word choice, syntax, citation style, sentence structure, and grammar) to your rhetorical context.” Different audiences have many expectations and preferences. Adapting my writing conventions ensures that my message resonates with the specific audience I’m targeting. Adhering to appropriate conventions in organization, word choice, syntax, and sentence structure helped in conveying my ideas clearly. I was able to write with credibility and professionalism by implementing the right citation style, grammar, and sentence structure. My choice of words, tone and style was chosen carefully as it influences how well my message connects with my audience. In essence, adapting writing conventions to the rhetorical context is about being audience-centric and understanding who I’m targeting. I was able to tailor my message to my audience by making sure that communication is clear, credible, and engaging.
Ultimately, English 2150 has been an enriching experience, both academically and personally. It has strengthened my analytical prowess, honed my writing skills, and cultivated a deeper understanding of literature. Through the course, I was able to broaden my vocabulary and become more articulate, which is presented in my choice of words in this essay as well as previous ones. This course has been essential in shaping me as a more astute reader, thinker, and communicator, providing me with many tools for future academic success.
