D#13,HW#3 Writing Project #3 Reflection

D#13,HW#3 Writing Project Reflection

This writing project involved more steps than I have ever taken for a single research paper. All of the initial assignments we completed helped to narrow my topic and focus my research. The annotated bibliographies made it much easier to go back and pull information and quotes for the body of the paper. The peer review sessions were especially useful for ensuring clarity. The grammar assignments made me aware of my rusty language skills (I haven’t taken an English class in 34 years). Outlining was good for developing structure and paragraphs.

I am proud of my annotations, and the fact that I learned proper format for MLA. My Library Class instructors all made sure we had every citation correct. I am concerned about the way I tried to present the opposing view in my paper. It probably could have been much stronger. If I had to do it again, I would try to include more opposition to my thesis.

As far as the writing process itself, I think I was able to improve my use of transitions, drafting outlines, and developing a strong thesis. In my next writing project, I would like to improve overall sentence structure. I need to work on varying the length.

Course competencies that I worked toward on this project include 1-7 and 9 (from page 5 of the syllabus):

1. I learned to identify the rhetorical situation and audience involved in writing a researched argument.
2. I learned to use that context when organizing my writing.
3. I reviewed the conventions of voice, tone, grammar, and mechanics.
4. I learned to use and evaluate sources to cover multiple perspectives of a topic.
5. I learned to use summarizing, paraphrasing, and quotation within a document to avoid cases of plagiarism.
6. I learned to use MLA format for in-text citations.
7. I learned to use the peer review process to help others improve their writing, and to accept peer review of my own work for the same reason.
8. N/A
9. I learned to use Google Documents, requiring some different format and structure techniques.

I am looking forward to drafting my portfolio to assess my strengths and identify some strategies to work on for the next writing that I undertake.