Dear fellow students,
As an immigrant student in 2009, writing was a prevailing obstacle in my academic life. Prior to moving to the United States, much of my academic career was focused on improving my math and science skills. Rarely did I ever had to write essays, short stories, poems, etc. When I had to write my first essay based on a fictional story in 5th grade, I was stuck during my writing process. I did not know what the word “fiction” meant at the time, and I was unaware as to how I would begin my paper. Due to such circumstances, I received a grade that reflected my limited knowledge regarding writing: a C-.
Ever since 5th grade, I’ve challenged myself to become a better writer. Throughout middle school, my essays significantly improved as I averaged a B or higher. However, I still felt I could’ve been better. My vocabulary, grammar, and organization skills could have all been improved. I finally challenged myself by taking AP United States History during my junior year of high school. Through analyzing and writing multiple essays, I learned how to organize my paper efficiently. My vocabulary knowledge expanded from the diverse texts I read, and I eventually learned to identify common grammatical errors that were present in my papers.
Rhetoric 105 has helped me understand the importance of many useful tools that I can employ in my writing. The toulmin analysis is an excellent method to analyze a diverse number of texts. The rhetorical triangle helps me identify how an author uses logos, pathos, and ethos in his or her writing. As an undeclared major, I would need to eventually apply into a program. As an aspiring engineer, I will need a strong essay alongside my transcript when submitting my transfer application. Rhet 105 has prepared me for this because I have learned how I can establish my credibility by sharing my story in a concise manner. The assignments I have completed in this course reflects the hard work I’ve put in and how much I’ve developed since the beginning of the year. These assignments are showcased through the major essays and minor assignments I have included in my website.
The assignments I have chosen to showcase were done so for couple of particular reasons. These assignments display my progress in learning how to effectively cite sources whether it be direct quotations or paraphrases. Certain assignments demonstrate my journey of analyzing and synthesizing texts in order to develop new connections. Tying all 4 of the assignments together, they show my improved grammar abilities, writing styles, and organization skills for a logical outcome.