Assignment #15- Final Reflection

Assignment #15- Final Reflection

So far, I think that my goals have stayed the same. Though I feel like I have made some improvement and I'm happy that I was able to see where the trends lay, I have a long way to go. I don't think I have critically analyzed my essays before. I'm used to debating people, not finding where flaws could be in my own work. I still want to simply become the best writer I can be. I plan on taking more time to look things over and pay attention to my work.  

Assignment #14- Planning for Revisions

Assignment #14- Planning for Revisions

For my revised essay (advertisement), I am going to step away from my computer, get a pen and just write from my own thoughts without "googling" to reiterate or strengthen my arguments. It feels like I rely on a little too much when I really don't need to. I'll leave quotations entirely out because they tend to take away from me forming arguments and ideas for myself. I know the ideas are there, I just have to take the time to look for them. It has a lot to do with the confidence in your work, to have an idea and go with it before looking for outside sources. Sometimes I have an unfinished idea, but instead of thinking for myself I almost automatically google something for an article, review or essay to do the rest of the work. Finally, I'm going to eliminate some of the fluff in my essay. I see that my wordiness could use some improvement. If I were to cut out the extra stuff, I would have more room for more points and arguments. 

Assignment #13

While analyzing argumentative essays Wednesday, I found first that not many of us had an actual argument. It was more like being for or against something that the reader would more than likely agree with. The main point that I learned was that reasons you're for or against can compliment you argument but you have to create an argument. For example, discrimination  in the work place is wrong, everybody agrees but there isn't a proposed solution. The argument could be that employers should not be able to discriminate against race/ethnicity, piercings, tattoos, etc...


 Writing an argumentative essay without research aspects would be very hard. I had to chose a subject where the facts of the situation didn't matter, but more of an agreeable, ethical appeal, including a proposed action. I originally wanted to write an essay that statistics would strongly back up my essay... But there wasn't really any extensive research allowed. All the while, this kind opened up my mind to use my own brain and develop my argument. 


Lastly, I learned how to cross examine myself and think harder about points that could poke holes through my argument. Spencer easily picked out weak points in a matter of seconds, this let me know that I had to be extremely critical and dig for better arguments in order to accomplish the requirements for the essay. I'm going to write about how college should be free and what actions could most effectively achieve this.