English
Writing Process
I was able to learn an in-depth knowledge on what effective methods of writing process will work best for me by using the four (4) course goals, namely: Goal 1: Know the Context. Goal 2: Think Critically. Goal 3: Learn Processes for Writing, Revision and Reflection. Goal 4: Know the Rules. I consider the first goal as the most important factor to consider in the writing process. The student must first be able to know are the requirements of the paper and its contents. By knowing the audience, the purpose and the deadline for that particular paper, I will be able to express myself to the targeted audience. This will also allow me to choose the right topic which I believe will capture the attention to the audience. I also learned that choosing a topic which I find interesting will make it easier for me to express myself more freely. These are the basic elements that I believe worked for me. For me, the most challenging task in the writing process is how to connect with the audience. Therefore, I learned to be more careful in the organization of my thoughts before putting them into words. I consider organization of thoughts as one of the main challenges in completing the final paper.
Changes and Revisions
The initial question for the paper and the “Final for Now” version are almost the same. Prior to deciding what topic I will write for the paper, I made sure that I chose the topic that I was closely familiar with. Thus, it made it easier for me to formulate the initial question for the paper and continue with the same question from start to finish. In choosing the right topic, I had to use the second goal of the effective writing process which is to “think critically”. I initially made a list of the potential topics I wanted to write about. After brainstorming, I was down with three topics. From these three topics, I was finally able to choose the topic which I believe is my expertise. Before choosing the final topic for the paper, made sure that I reflected on each one and decided on the topic which I believe I will be able to express myself more. This will help me understand the main purpose and objective why I wanted to write about this topic.
Analyzing my Own Writing
As I started to plan on the introduction of my paper, I felt that it will be best if I will be able to discuss the topic with family and friends in order to get their own opinions and ideas. This is beneficial for me because it will help me develop the rhetorical strategies that I will use to make my paper gain a more persuasive effect to the audience. In order to achieve this goal, I made sure that I used Logos, Ethos, and Pathos to be able to prove a point in every aspect of the paper. For arguments based on Logos, I made sure that the points raised in the paper were supported with reason and logic. Logos relies on the use of inductive or deductive reasoning in the sense that I have to state a fact before I draw a conclusion or a generalization. I was able to apply deductive reasoning after presenting adequate evidence to support my claims and arguments. I also made sure that the arguments I made are purely based on facts and avoided fallacies. I also avoided making hasty generalizations because I know that it will affect my credibility as a writer. I learned that this is the common error committed by students. Thus, I was very meticulous about the statements I made in the final paper. I also made use of Ethos as one of the strategies to convince the audience. I made sure that my paper has an ethical appeal to establish my credibility and reliability as the author. One of the ways to establish good credibility and character is by using only trustworthy sources. This will give the audience accurate and precise information. Finally, I also used arguments based on Pathos, or an emotional appeal in order to reach out to the emotional sensibilities, values, and needs of the audience. I was able to develop my ideas and generalizations for my paper after having conversations and discussions with my peers and family. This has given me the opportunity to express my ideas in relationship to the ideas of other people. Collaborating and brainstorming with my peers also gave me ideas on how to improve the presentation of the arguments. The sharing of ideas is one way to look at the two sides of the issue before making a conclusion.
Future Writing
If I had been given more time and space, I would have discussed about the ethical considerations of the topic. Due to limited time and space, I confined myself to write only about the thesis statement, the problem, the research question, the arguments and the conclusion. However, I wanted to include the ethical considerations involved in the topic but I will already exceed the word count of the paper. I believe that ethical considerations are needed to be discussed in order to give them a glimpse of the ethical principles to tackle the issue at hand. Ethical considerations are important part of the paper since it deals with morals and social values of the author. In presenting my position in a particular issue, I avoided stating any procedure that may compromise my moral and personal values.
Questions and Comments
As you are about to read the “Final Paper”, I want you to be reminded that this paper was completed after a careful research of the topic and choosing only appropriate and reliable sources to support my claim. I also made sure that I checked the grammar and spelling of all the sentences included in the final paper. The contents of the final paper is not merely based on my own personal opinions, but are supported by facts and accurate information. I am confident that I was able to give a clear presentation of the chosen topic and gave meaningful insights that I want to share to the audience. I feel that I was able to achieve the four goals of effective writing because I followed each step to ensure that the final paper will satisfactorily meet the expectations of my professor.
