Final Reflection

After the last ten weeks, I feel that I have made some great growth as a writer. My primary issue before was lacking any enthusiasm about some of the things we had to write about, and I certainly didn't encounter that over the course of the quarter. I quite enjoyed writing and developing both essays, and I think that that is real step towards me gaining a true grasp on writing.

In terms of general writing improvement, it really needs to be mentioned how great a writing tool that I found the book "They Say, I Say" to be. It has given me a greater understanding of writing in an academic setting, and given me awareness of "entering the conversation". Not only that, it's given me pointers on different aspects of writing and how to really add to and improve upon my essays in ways that I hadn't even considered before, such as making sure to make a statement for the reader to get "why it matters".

With the focus on blogging and identity in blogging over the course of the quarter, I have a much easier time now finding and pinpointing identity in writing, especially my own. Specifically regarding blogs and blog posts, identity can be found literally anywhere, whether it is the writing itself or elements of the blog overall. In fact, this class has partly inspired me into creating my own topic-driven blog, and due to this class I am completely aware of every way that I present identity through my blog. Before I wouldn't have really thought about it. And then through the analysis of my own blog posts, I have recognized that while my academic-centered writing can be kind of dry (it is academic after all) I can be open and relatable to my readers. Prior, that is something I would have never known or noticed.

Overall, there is a lot that I will be taking out of this class and I really can't wait to see how I can use and apply what have learned here in the future.

SLO Reflection #2

Critical Thinking - We did many things in this class to really hone critical thinking. Key examples are the rhetorical precis and the annotated bibliography. These two assignments forced us to really look at a text and draw the main ideas from it. I have prior experience writing precis's from AP Literature, so it was more or less re-iteration, but it was valuable nonetheless. Annotated bibliographies was a new one for me though. It really forced me into deeper thought, having to summarize the main idea of the text with a single sentence as well as how the author provides support for their points.

Writing - Prior to this class I have certainly had my share of experience writing, but nothing near as long or scholarly as the essays that we had to write. With AP Literature I began to break out of the mold of the five paragraph structure but I feel that I made much larger strides in this class. The environment and expectations are different, and that really encouraged a change. I also had prior experience in utilizing quotations in my essays, but I never learned how to truly frame them and fit them into the text. I usually had the trouble of the quote simply being tacked on, and getting the experience and learning how to properly integrate quotes and sources through working on it in class as well as reading about it in "They Say, I Say" really helped in changing that.

SLO Reflection #1

Close Reading - Prior to this class, I really didn't get too much exposure to close reading. The major example that comes to mind is the reading and associated essays in AP Literature. This class introduced it to me in a more scholarly setting, and really helped me in developing that skill. Key example's are the two essay's that we wrote and the required analysis of sources needed to write each of them. Close reading was critical to those assignments, and they really helped further me into looking deeper into a text rather than just taking it at face value. The blog analysis really comes to mind here. Having to search for the author's identity in the text, even my own, really expanded my ability to close read.

Research - I certainly had to practice the skill of research in this class, especially for the second essay, where we had to find a second source to apply and use in our paper on our own. Through that workshop and playing around with it on my own, I learned how to navigate one of the library's many databases (unfortunately I can't quite recall which one it was). The development in research skill that this class brought will no doubt help me in future classes.

What Does Revision Mean to Me?

Revision means adapting something, a paper, a project, what have you, based upon criticism and feedback to refine it and make it better. That video really puts in perspective in relation to evolution, and the chant of "performance, feedback, revision". To be successful, you need to present your ideas and get feedback on them. If you don't, you are locked to your own view of it and no progression can be made. Once you get feedback from another source, you know how someone else looks at it and feels about it, and with that you get an idea of changes you may need to make to make it better in their's and other's view.

Readers Review focus

Okay, so for the reader's review it would be great if I could get feedback on the essay as a whole. There are some specific areas where I want feedback, but I really want to know how my essay is in general. The two areas I would really like a focus on is the analysis of my blog and my relation to West's article. With my analysis I want to know how strong you think it is, and whether you feel I need to go further in-depth or more analysis overall. Then, with my relation to West's article I want to know if it's strong, how it sounds, and if you think that it is sufficient or I need more.

Where do I plan to go with my essay? (A little late)

I have already began the writing process of my essay, in fact I was already two pages in before we discussed and worked on it in class. I am going with the first option, analyzing my own blog the identity that I present. Initially it seemed like a difficult task, but with some help with analysis from the groups we had a week or tow ago I have a much better handle on it. From this analysis I plan to bring in and relate the article from Kathleen C. West and the article that I found, Desperately seeking Sameness. I will relate Desperately Seeking Sameness to some of my blog analysis, because I find myself relatable in my writing and the article is about the readers of diary blogs reasons for reading diary blogs. I will relate West's article through the fact that I am in a similar position as West in analyzing a student blog, although a key difference is that I am analyzing my own rather than someone else's, which adds another element to the analysis.

Where do I plan to go with my essay? (A little late)

I have already began the writing process of my essay, in fact I was already two pages in before we discussed and worked on it in class. I am going with the first option, analyzing my own blog the identity that I present. Initially it seemed like a difficult task, but with some help with analysis from the groups we had a week or tow ago I have a much better handle on it. From this analysis I plan to bring in and relate the article from Kathleen C. West and the article that I found, Desperately seeking Sameness. I will relate Desperately Seeking Sameness to some of my blog analysis, because I find myself relatable in my writing and the article is about the readers of diary blogs reasons for reading diary blogs. I will relate West's article through the fact that I am in a similar position as West in analyzing a student blog, although a key difference is that I am analyzing my own rather than someone else's, which adds another element to the analysis.

Selected Article Annotated Bibliography

Karlsson, Lena. "Desperately Seeking Sameness." Feminist Media Studies 7.2 (2007): 137-153. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 14 Nov 2010.

In her article, Karlsson studies and looks at the audience of diary blogs. She looks at the reasons why people follow diary blogs and comes to the conclusion that they are looking for sameness and to identify with the writer.

Karlsson supports her conclusions through her research. Specifically, she constructs an online survey, focused on four specific blogs. From the responses to this survey, she drew statistic’s to held her draw her conclusions.

This article connects to my own research through it’s focus on the idea that readers of diary blogs often follow those blogs looking to identify with the write, as the title of the article says they seek sameness. This applies to my own research through the analysis of my blog. I found that I was relatable; I opened up and made references in my blog that any of my readers could connect and identify with. 

Relating West's essay with my own

In her essay, West analyzes three different blog posts and the three different identities that were presented in those posts by the students who posted them. Relation between my essay and her own comes through the analysis of blog posts for the identity represented within. That is exactly what I will be doing with my own blog posts. I will be looking through my own blog and looking for what sort of identity I present in my writing. I can apply West's essay to mine through that relation and through her discussion of the co-representation of the serious, literate side and the laid back, casual side of the student.

Weblogs and Literary Response

In this article the author, Kathleen C. West, explores literary response through blogs and how the identity that the student uses in the blog effects that response. To do this, she takes a look at three specific students and one of their blog posts and analyzes the identity represented by the student within. The author supports here main question and argument through looking at and analyzing these blog posts. Each one provides a different identity and something more to analyze providing plenty of evidence. This article connects to my own research through the fact that the author is looking at a blog (in this case blogs) and scrutinizing and analyzing them, looking for identity represented by the student blogger within.

A part of West's article that really stuck out at me is her detailed look at and analysis of her student's blogs. She goes into real depth in looking at the students use of casual, web language while sticking to desired literary tendencies. This really motivates me into going deeper in the analysis of my own blog, and just taking a good hard look at everything.

In-Class Essay Reflection

Writing the first essay, I definitely learned about my writing process. I feel what I learned is especially evident after reading They Say, I Say, which allowed even further insight into my own writing process and how it is that I write. I feel that how I write, how I form my arguments and the structure of my essays has been deeply effected by my prior school experiences. While AP Lit in my senior year helped release me of some of it (primarily the issue of the five paragraph format), I still need to break free of this. I feel that I don't quite form and make my arguments as I should, prior I didn't know to make my own argument in response to someone else's argument...to write as if I am entering a conversation. Another thing worth noting is usage of quotes in my essays. Before I had trouble well integrating them into my essay, they often stuck out and I failed to transition into them. Surprisingly, once I had read They Say, I Say and looked back through my essay at the quotes I had used, they were well integrated, they didn't just float in my essay. Overall, I guess I really didn't know the fundamentals and how to make my argument, and thus my essay, stronger.

Reflection of Essay 1

Considering the prompt, there isn't too much that comes to mind that my essay informed me of my writing process. The only thing worth mentioning is that enforced rituals and formats of high school have dulled my writing a little. My writing began to open up a little senior year thanks to AP Lit but I still have a ways to go. In high school we had the whole "five paragraph essay" thing drilled into our heads, while that largely does not effect me it still resonates.

I've never really taken much notice of my writing habits and rituals, but when I consider it, I definitely have my own. I like to just go into my room and put on some music. When I run into some trouble, I just take a break and think it over and I can usually come back with something to write. In terms of how I write, I just get straight into it and write. Occasionally I bring a list together of my points and what I am going to write about to bring my thoughts together, but I've never been one to do any sort of pre-write exercise on my own. I certainly see the value and merit in them, but largely I can do without. Looking through my habits and rituals, I guess the one thing to tune into to improve myself as a writer is the fact that when I get stuck on something I just take a break, walk away and let it sit. This is important in alleviating any frustrations and getting the ideas to flow and I really need to utilize it.

I find value in the entire process that we went through in writing the essay. The precis, the writing conference, the presentation and the multiple revisions. All of this helped me to really hone and shape my thesis and arguments and I can really learn from all of it. If I were forced to choose just a couple, I would have to go with the writing conference and the multiple revisions. The writing conference really helped me consider and build upon my argument and the multiple revisions helped me improve my writing overall and how I presented my arguments.

They Say, I Say and it's influence on my essay

They Say, I Say is a fantastic book that asks as a guide of sorts to the different facets of academic and provides templates examples to help me, the reader, further understand each of these elements and how to effectively use them. While I find the greater majority of the book incredibly helpful, there are specific topics discussed that I can apply to my essay and make it better. Listing them, there is: quoting, planting a naysayer in your text, and saying why it matters.

I bring up quoting due to the fact that I quote the blog I'm studying in my essay to lend support to my arguments. They Say, I Say has led me into seeing that without framing the quote properly, it will end up seeming out of place and put there without any real thought to it. Therefore, I have been motivated to look back through my essay at the quotes I've incorporated and make sure that they fit well.

When it comes to planting a naysayer in your text and saying why it matters, these are things that can really strengthen my essay. Instead of just arguing my position on the possible co-existence of a corporate influence and personal voice I could plant a counterargument against my position to add real depth and credibility to it, and responding to that counter-argument can only strengthen my own argument further. Then as for saying why it matters, after reading the book, this really stuck out to me as essential when making an argument of any sort. Without that sort of support, without referring to some other argument, your own argument can end up feeling flat. You need to tell the reader why what your arguing is important, otherwise they're liable not to care and quickly get bored when reading your essay. Now, when I consider applying this to my essay, at this moment I can't quite come up with what to say to fit it into my essay, but I recognize the importance of this element and definitely plan on incorporating it.

Presentation Reflection

Alright, reflecting on my presentation. I feel I did pretty well. One thing worth noting is that I think I better hit the point behind the presentation than others, presenting my argument and supporting evidence rather than just running through my essay paragraph by paragraph. Also, though I think that I didn't do it as much as I should have, I made eye contact with the audience and that's a definite plus. The things I feel that should change if I were to present again would be of course more eye contact, fixing up my powerpoint a little (descriptive titles rather than general titles), and maybe projecting my voice a little more because I know thats an issue I have with presentations.

Blogging and My Essay

So, we have to relate to a section of the book Blogging in our first essay. Looking through the table of contents I immediately find a perfect fit, in general scope, chapter six "Blogging Brands". Specifically I will relate to the either or both sections "The Human Voice" and "Corporate Blogging". I discuss both topics in my essay, and the possible co-existence of a personal identity, or human voice, and a corporate influence in what I think could be considered somewhat of a corporate blog. While the "Blogging Brands" chapter primarily focuses on the money side of things, it still relate to key points I raise in my blog, in fact it can even help me expand my points and argument. Scanning through the chapter I see the portion of the text where it explains that companies create blogs to communicate directly with consumers (though that doesn't quite apply, seeing as my company is a sports organization) and to establish themselves as experts and thus the number one source in the field. I believe I can fit that into the arguments I raise in my esssay. This is a perfect fit and because of that, I feel that the Blogging textbook will be an excellent supplement to my essay and my arguments.

Writing Conference and Essay Revisions

I feel that the writing conference provided an excellent amount of help and input to assist me in writing my essay. The two primary benefits I got out of the conference were the clarification of the purpose of my essay and analysis of the blog and an idea that more or less brings my two points together. Out of clarification of my purpose and an overall summary of my analysis, I will add to my introduction, stating more about the blog the nature of it that I see and will go further into and analyze. Then with the idea that brings my two main points together, I will write a third body paragraph analyzing the title of the blog and the importance that it holds in the meaning of the identity of the blog.

My Research So Far

So far I haven't had too much trouble in doing research for my essay. I had no trouble finding a blog, and it seems that I won't have too much trouble when it comes to analyzing the blog for my essay. I suppose challenge could come in analyzing the blog I've chosen for my essay through the fact that the author doesn't make too much of a presence of his identity in the blog. The about section only states the purpose of the blog, no mention of the author is made. In light of that, all I can really do is scrutinize and scour his posts, looking for the presence of opinion and his own voice. There are some posts that are either straight news or match previews, but some posts offer analysis and the author's own insights.

The Reading

Chapter 4: Blogging as a Narrative (Pg. 125), entire second paragraph

“Yes we cry over novels and movies, and we sit on the edge of our seats begging movie heroines to “look behind you!” or “turn on the light!”, but we’re protected, emotionally, by the knowledge that it’s make-believe. That protection wasn’t there for the readers and viewers – and participants – who truly believed that Kaycee Nicole and Bree were real” (Rettburg, 125)

Paraphrase: We get emotional over books and movies, but we have protection through knowledge that it is fake. Those who got emotionally invested in the hoaxes online didn't have that sort of protection.

I find this passage, and that specific quote, incredibly intriguing. It shows that people willingly open up, become attached and emotionally invested in some online persona. In doing so they’re inviting themselves into all sorts of trouble and hurt and the examples presented are perfect representations of that.

One should only make connections and become emotionally involved like those in those the hoaxes in real life, plain and simple. It’s true that you can be led on in a similar fashion in real life, but it is far easier and far more likely for it to happen on the Internet.

The anger of those who had followed and became emotionally involved with the hoaxes examples in the passage is certainly understandable. To be tricked and led on like that… I would certainly react the same way. But there is something to be gained and learned from that experience: you have to be wary of what is on the Internet. Nothing can be as it initially seems, and thus you shouldn’t take anything at face value as well as guard and protect yourself against everything. Otherwise, if you invest yourself in something, like exampled in the passage, and it is revealed to be a hoax, you bring it upon yourself.

Writing and Research: Interests and blogging

I have many interests, but the three I'm most keen about are music, sports, and technology. The one interest I would most likely want to follow a blog about, through sheer enthusiasm, is sports. I'm not talking about sports in general either, I plan on focusing in on soccer. Up until about a year and a half ago I had no real interest in professional sports. Then came the Seattle Sounders FC. Now I am incredibly obsessive and passionate about soccer, albeit exclusively the Sounders. Secondary comes technology. Like with sports, my focus is specific, computers. And it gets even more specific than that, Apple computers (seeing as I have an extreme distaste for anything PC). I follow all the latest news and info about anything having to do with Apple and that would pair excellently with this assignment.

What am I hoping to learn from this? I suppose it would be interesting to find out how the blogger goes about presenting the information and news, what sort of spin they put on it, whether they interject they're personal opinion or not.

Who am I as a writer?

That is definitely a question that I haven't considered before. I think that really hinges on what it is that I am writing about. When the topic is something that I am passionate about (I.E. Seattle Sounders) or deeply interested in, I am a confident writer and everything just flows and comes easily to me. When required to write about something that doesn't interest me, I struggle and it doesn't come quite as easily to me. There are some examples I can draw from my senior year in high school. For a major paper in one class we were free to choose our topic as long as it pertained to the Pacific Northwest, and so I chose the Sounders. That is probably the most I've enjoyed writing a paper. In contrast, in AP Literature and Composition we had to write essays about the novels that we read, and I often times struggled with coming up with what to write and consequently I had to go through a revision or two before I got things right. In light of this, I am  hoping that with more time and practice overall I can become a stronger writer, no matter what the subject is.