My portfolio will demonstrate the skills and writing techniques I have developed and honed while taking the course English 1010 at the University of Memphis. Some of the techniques and skills I have learned include how to write with different persuasive strategies on the audience and how to incorporate critical thinking into my work. As well as these skills I have learned how to apply an effective composing process to my writing and have fine tuned my writing abilities. Writing with different styles on different topics has improved the way I approach writing papers. These styles helped me learn quickly, therefore making me a better writer and student at the same time.
I have learned to look up and analyze the usefulness of sources from the
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The first essay, “Literacy Narrative” was written towards a very general audience. Basically, a narrative is written to whoever reads the work. When I wrote the piece, I was not really focusing on who I was writing to, because the audience was so broad. I was basically telling a story about how I have progressed as a writer over the years. In a sense, I was writing more to myself than to anyone else, because I was reliving personal experiences and rekindling old memories. I was writing for self-discovery. The other part of it was that I was writing to the class members and to the professor as well, because I was telling the story of my life as a writer to other writers who might benefit from the things that I learned. In my next essay piece, “discourse community of vaping”, I was writing to a more limited audience. This piece was very simple and unique. The reason why it was so simple and easy to explain was because I was in the vaping discourse community, and I was prepared since my professor explained the topic thoroughly. Finally, the third piece, “Writing Research” I wrote in a more thorough fashion, to explain how writing by hand and typing have pros and cons. I was writing with those in mind that possibly have had experience with writing books, especially authors and major writers. I included these pieces in my portfolio of this
During the English 160 course, I improved my approach to writing and developing papers, build on critical reading and grammatical skills, and exceed my previous abilities to write a strong paper as I took into consideration different genre based audiences. If my improvement does not exemplify my determination to learn and prepare for English 161, then I politely request you review my portfolio.
I am more knowledgeable about invention, arrangement, style, and delivery, all in which create a masterful piece of text. A few examples, I have learned to organize and construct my thoughts and ideas clearer. I have been taught to use stronger transitions and focus more on the delivery and content of the body element of essays. Further, the instructions and advice I have received throughout this term have influenced my understanding of the purpose of writing. My outlook on writing has been modified by shifting my perception of writing from, writing to prove I am a good writer by perceiving it as using “fluffy” or BIG words to impress my audience. I grew to understanding that good writing’s purpose is to engage the writer by mind-striking ideas and arguments, which therefore will prove and title me as a “good writer”.
I agree with what Allen states in the article “The Inspired Writer vs. the Real Writer” because of how much my writing skills had evolved over the years. When I first started in high school, I believed I was a horrible writer and I struggled a lot just to write a few paragraphs. However, after determination, and several trials and errors, I was able to improve greatly on my skills. In Irvin’s article, “What is ‘Academic’ Writing?” goes over the myths about writing. When I first started to write essays, I believed some of the myths that Irvin talks about in the article. Such myths were the five paragraph essay and the use of “I.” However, the more experience I gained in writing, the more I realized how the five paragraph essay is more of a suggestion. The format might had helped when I first started, but I had grown apart of it now. In addition, I had learned how the use of “I” is situational. In some of my past essays, I have used “I” to help develop my essays. In Bunn’s article “How to Read Like a Writer,” it mentions the importance of Reading Like a Writer. When I first started writing essays in high school, my essays were cookie cutter. The essays were not imaginative and lack literary devices. However, the more I payed attention to how an author writes, the more creative my essays become. I am able to include methods that give creativity in my writing,
In one semester of English 101 I have learned so many things about writing. I used to believe that writing was just putting words on paper, but have since learned that writing is much more than that, I now understand that writing is a way of exploring my mind and of making connections with other writers and readers. Over the course of the semester I have been learning to write in a way that uses the skills of reflection, critical thinking, and much more. I have used these skills to compose two academic essays that I am submitting in a portfolio to determine my final grade in English 101. In order to have a passing final grade my essays need to display skills I have learned in the course that are required by the Portfolio Assessment Rubric or
I had always been a strong writer in high school; I know how to form an argument and support it fully, but this did not prepare me for the writing at a college level. I expected to be reading long and boring books about topics that did not pertain to my life; as it turns out, this assumption was completely false. All of the three essays that we were required to read in class were fairly difficult to understand, but after a second reading, the essay's meaning became clearer. I also feel as though their messages and key ideas are captivating. I definitely thought they would be extremely dry and difficult to understand.
Literature is similar to a canvas of artwork. There is a plethora of different ways to paint and construe something as simple as words on a blank sheet of paper. The brain works just as much while you’re painting as you are writing, trying to find an outlet to start and finish your work. Literary devices are like paints while the pencil is the brush that connects the writer to their piece. Every writer has a different way of utilizing these tools, but it is especially easy to do this in personal essays. Personal essays are the drabbles of the mind, stories from a person’s deepest crevices that come out at the best times.
Unit 1 taught me to focus on each step in the writing process. Approaching the task
Writing is a process I’ve grown to despise. Ever since grade school, I’ve had problems trying to express my ideas on paper. My writing process involves thinking about what’s being asked and trying to reflect my thoughts the best way I can on paper, but my thoughts don’t always come out as clear as I want them to be sometimes leaving a question not fully answered. My writing process isn’t a consistent set in stone process, but since being in ENC 1101 I always follow some of the same parameters such as revising my drafts, grammar usage and considering context and audience.
This portfolio explains in detail, why I choose the topic I did and what I could’ve done to make my paper better. I discuss my weak points and what I need to focus on, in order to become a better writer. My first essay was challenging because I went into it unprepared. My study ethics was not as it should’ve been. I lacked proofreading which lead to me overlooking some major MLA don’ts. Also, due to feeling overwhelmed from a 4 class semester I felt I bite off more than I could chew, so my attitude was to just make it through. The second essay peaked my interest a bit, because I consider myself a bit on the plump side. Doing the research was beneficial to me as a student and as an overweight female. And finally the timed writing was fun for me, I really loved doing them. W...
I have written many essays in my life but some I have given more effort than others. There is only two essays that I am very proud of. The reason for that is because when I write I tend to write professional because I have been told that the essay that sounds maturely tends to get a good grade, so I’m not able to express myself fully. The most memorable piece of writing that I have ever done, was based on a discourse community. The discourse community that I personally chose was about Video Gamers, particularly gamers who play Destiny (First-Person Shooter Video Game).
In this portfolio reflection essay I will be addressing the five essays I have written for my English 101 class. Along with addressing the five essays I have wrote I also will be stating my strengths and weaknesses of those essays. The five essays this portfolio will include is a diagnostic essay, revised narrative essay, profile essay, evaluation essay, and arguing a position essay. Those five essays I have written over the course of this semester have been very helpful towards my writing skills. Punctuating, staying on topic, my introductions, and conclusions are areas I struggle with when writing papers, but by writing those five papers during this semester has helped me improve on those areas.
When Carson cites Schweitzer, she is referring to the “devils”, or harmful, unnatural creations of man that dramatically alter nature, that often go undiscovered or avoided. She is specifically referring to the contamination of air, plants, earth, rivers, seas, and organisms with dangerous lethal materials. Additionally, Carson is referring to the ways in which man physically alters the environment such as importing plants that are non-native, or invasive, and practicing agricultural monoculture. The point Carson is trying to make is that the effects of humans unnaturally altering the environment produces a chain reaction that eventually harms the causes of the damage; humans themselves.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for all the efforts that you have invested in helping me improve my writing throughout this course. The exertions which you devoted in me did not go in vain. Throughout this semester, I have become more insightful in regard to the process of writing as a whole. Who knew that writing can be challenging yet rewarding simultaneously? Through many challenges encountered in this class and many exercises comprised in this course, I was exposed to new writing process, audiences, and I became more inclined to taking risks in the art of writing. As the semester took form, I came to find myself careworn by certain elements of the writing process. Unlike many writers, beginning to write,
For my assignment I have decided to choose a group which I have just finished taking for level 1 Hairdressing and they have progressed on to level 2 Hairdressing. This is within my current role as a hairdressing lecturer at Hugh Baird College which I have done since October. Within this group there are a couple of people who have support workers. There is one student within the group who has severe learning difficulties and is a more mature student. She also has many health problems which results in her having to carry an oxygen tank around for when she has any problems with her breathing due to her having problems with her heart. There is also another student in the class who has learning difficulties, she is very clever but just needs someone there for when she needs something explaining. She also has a support worker that comes in to give her support. This student has also been going through personal problems at home and has attendance issues. There is another student within this group who has severe dyslexia. She doesn’t have a support worker but the support people who are in there do give her help as she can have a tendency to give up, not to listen and just needs to be kept on track so by sitting next to a person that does have a support worker she gets the help from them. These three students have all had their level 1 qualification extended for a year were the rest of the group have progressed on to level 2 Hairdressing. Two of these students may progress on to level 2 but one doesn’t have the ability to be able to do this as the requirements are too high for her. The reason the course was extended for them was because they were struggling with the work that was required for this qualification, but as the col...
Right now its Saturday; its the morning of course and I just remembered that my English teacher expects that I turn in the second portfolio of the year. As I look over at the time, I realize that I now have a topic to write about.