Cammie's Writing Portfolio

Personal Reflection - Semester Writings

I thought the four unit essay themes were relevant and interesting with plenty of direction for finding topics and resource materials. I’m not sure my writing style improved through the process, but I am confident my understanding of essay structure is much stronger, especially the use of rhetorical appeals such as ethos, pathos and logos. I was disappointed in the peer review process because my peers didn’t take the time to make specific comments, instead opting to stick to safer generalities when making comments. Here are some examples of comments I received; “great work”, “very easy to understand”, “good grammar” and “I didn’t like the introduction, but you did a good job in the conclusion”. My professor’s comments were more helpful and I was able to build a better essay structure by the time I wrote essay #3 and #4, these were definitely my best.

We started out with the Unit 1 theme of educational issues and my topic was Grade Inflation; Does It Really Matter That It Exists? I was intrigued by what I learned and tried to present both sides in answering the question. After explaining the topic in my introduction I summarized by stating; “Maybe it’s the law of supply and demand or mass commercialism at its worst; college degrees have become big business with big revenues attached. “ I think this set the stage for the reader to explore their own thoughts and feelings in regard to the issue.

Unit two explored topics relating to environmental concerns and I chose to write about the Peak Oil Theory. Due to my genuine interest in this topic I found it was easier to get into writing about it. This was a comparison/contrast essay and I enjoyed delving into different view points. I found the use of a detailed outline helped me organize my facts and thoughts which allowed me to focus more on diction, voice and style. I used this quote from the Department of Energy to establish ethos; “The Department of Energy sponsored a report called “Peaking of World Oil Production” issued in December 2005 that argued peak oil production is inevitable. It states that the economic loss to the U.S. and other developed countries could lead to the worst social and economic catastrophe ever, far exceeding what the U.S. experienced during the Great Depression of the 1930’s.” Citing a credible source in an essay is one way to establish credibility with your reader.

Alternative Lifestyles and Personal Freedoms were the themes for Essay 3 and 4. I continued to practice using outlines prior to beginning these essays and tried to adhere to essay guidelines. I was a little frustrated at first at having to rewrite some of my essays, but realized the only way to apply rhetorical appeals that supported my thesis was to keep writing.

One of the most difficult aspects in writing these essays was following the correct essay structure. In looking back I can say that I did give my full attention and effort towards improving my writing skills. Overall, I can see that my understanding of writing effectively and applying these new skills has made a difference in the delivery of my essays, and made my viewpoints more convincing. I feel I have earned an A in this course, but the most rewarding aspect of the efforts I have put forth is what I learned about myself and my own viewpoints in exploring the four unit themes.