Semi Weekly Reflections 

Week 2:What kind of self-reflection experiences did you have in your freshman English class? What have you learned (related to self-reflection or writing in general) that has stayed with you and supported your writing?

I don’t have much self reflection experience from my freshman English class because we only did a small paper about it. But from doing that I was able to break down what I have done for the semester. I noticed that I didn’t know much, and there were many things I wasn’t sure about but towards the end of the semester I knew what was the correct format for things such as writing my headings and using Times new roman and font size 12. I still make the same mistakes but this time I actually noticed them and was able to go back and fix them. I have much to improve because my writing is not the best. I have learned the importance of having a clear purpose and audience in mind when writing. By understanding who I am writing for and what I hope to achieve through my writing, I am able to tailor my writing to best meet the needs of my audience. Something else that I’m aware of is my language in writing, it’s not the best but I know that’s something I always need to fix or check after.

Week 3: Analyze the rhetorical situation of your Freshman Portfolio. For those few students who do not have one only: analyze the rhetorical situation of your Freshman English research paper/project.

For my Freshman Portfolio I just had to add a few assignments. I was introduced to the cuny academic commons and we were guided step by step all throughout the semester. I do well when things are related to technology but using this website took me some time to know how to use it. I remember that part of the reason I was stressed about my portfolio was because the professor would show it to the whole class. Something I ended up taking from this experience was to not care and there’s always someone who is as confused as you are. But for this semester I don’t remember how to use it so I had to mess around and find my way on how to use it again.

Week 4: Analyze the rhetorical situation of your Product Review essay.

For the product review essay I chose to review the Roomba Vacuum I have at home. This was sort of my first time doing lots of research about a product because I had to know everything about this product to influence the reader into buying this product. Looking back at paper I don’t think it was the best. I definitely could have explained more and spread out information instead of cramping it all in. The hard part was trying to maintain the reader entertained and for them to continue reading because this is the whole point. Even after having completed all my research I noticed I didn’t use it all well, I was very unorganized with the information I collected.

Week 5: What have we done so far that has been helpful to your writing process? How might you apply this helpful information or tool? What has been confusing/What would you like to spend more time on? If the clarification/additional focus does not occur during class time, how will you acquire the knowledge?

So far, the feedback I’ve received from my peers and the writing prompts have been helpful to my writing process. These writing prompts usually make you think about your past work which is good because you get to reflect on what you accomplished. I plan on applying this feedback to my future writing assignments. I haven’t found anything particularly confusing yet, but if I do, I will ask my professor for clarification or do some additional research on my own. I think it’s always good to get feedback to be able to see things from different perspectives. We can sometimes read over our own work but we won’t be able to spot a difference because we just tend to miss it. 

Week 8: How are you using the labor log? Is it working for you? If yes, for what purposes? If not, why? In either case, include at least one specific example.

Labor logs remind me of the reading log I had to do when I was in elementary school. At first I didn’t understand what you meant by labor logs but asking peers around me helped me get a better understanding. Labor logs were pretty simple to do, I had no trouble doing this for my assignments. I would usually fill it out after I was done with an assignment because I would forget about it. But it is cool to see a breakdown of all the work I have done so far for this class.

Week 9: What experience have you had working in groups before this class? How has the group work we’ve done in this class been for you? What are you doing/will you do to optimize your experience completing the collaborative project for this class?

I’ve worked in some groups before this class. To optimize my experience, I’m making sure to communicate regularly with my group members and contribute my best work. To optimize my experience in groups, I try my best to communicate regularly with my group members and contribute my best work. It sometimes good to be in groups because you can ask any member for help.

Working in groups has helped me grow in many ways. One of the most significant ways that it has helped me is by teaching me how to collaborate effectively with others. Through group work, I have learned how to communicate my ideas clearly and listen actively to the ideas of others. I have also learned how to compromise when necessary and work towards a common goal. These skills have been invaluable in both academic and professional settings, and I know that I will continue to use them throughout my life.

Another way that working in groups has helped me grow is by exposing me to different perspectives and ideas. When working in a group, I have had the opportunity to learn from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking. This has helped me broaden my own thinking and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex issues. By working with people who have different strengths and weaknesses than me, I have also been able to identify my own areas of strength and areas where I can improve. Overall, working in groups has been a valuable experience that has helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Week 10: Analyze the rhetorical situation of your Technical Description. Include textual detail to support your claims.

For the technical description assignment I chose to do mine based on my Nostalgia mini waffle maker. One of the most important things I have learned that has supported my writing is the value of research and preparation. Before I begin writing, I make sure to do thorough research on the topic at hand to ensure that I have a solid understanding of the subject matter. This includes reading articles, books, and other relevant materials, as well as gathering data. By doing this research, I am able to write with greater authority and confidence, and my writing is more likely to be accurate and compelling. using appropriate language, tone, and style, as well as structuring my writing in a way that is most likely to engage and persuade my readers. By focusing on research, preparation, purpose, and audience, I am able to write with greater effectiveness and achieve better results.

Week 13: Select one learning objective or one component of a learning objective. When, where, and how have you learned it? How have you developed in this arena?

 One component I learned from my writing class was how to effectively use research to support my writing and this I learned it this semester. This included learning how to find credible sources, evaluate the reliability of information, and integrate research into my writing using proper citation techniques. It all started with the product review paper where I had to some research and as assignment came along the research just got bigger. I learned how to get better at from the feedback I received which advised on some information I would be missing in the paper. Research will always be important no matter what you do so this a great experience.

Week 14: What have you learned that has proved most useful to your composition process?

The most useful thing I’ve learned for my composition process is to always revise my work. By revising my work multiple times, I’m able to catch errors and make sure my writing is clear and concise. One thing I’ve learned to better my writing is to always consider my audience when writing. By thinking about who will be reading my writing, I can tailor my writing to their interests and knowledge level. ​​Also I learned how to structure my writing effectively by using an outline. By creating an outline before I start writing, I’m able to organize my thoughts and ensure that my writing flows logically. ​​One thing that makes my writing better is taking the time to revise and edit my work. By going back through my writing and making changes, I’m able to catch errors and improve the clarity of my writing. While having other people read my writing and provide feedback, I’m able to identify areas where I can improve. I’ve learned that several things can make my writing better, including having a clear purpose and audience, using specific and concrete language, and organizing my writing in a logical way. Additionally, taking the time to revise and edit my work and having others provide feedback can also make my writing better. 

Another learning objective from my writing class was to improve my ability to write for different audiences and purposes. To do this, I learned how to analyze the characteristics of different audiences and tailor my writing accordingly. I also learned how to adapt my writing style to different genres and formats, such as academic papers, business emails, and creative writing. One component I learned from my writing class was how to effectively use research to support my writing. This included learning how to find credible sources, evaluate the reliability of information, and integrate research into my writing using proper citation techniques.