Week 7

Jaden I believe that the most valuable part of this class for me has been the readings and application of rhetorical analysis. Growing my knowledge and understanding of rhetorical analysis and the different rhetorical elements has aided me not only in my own writing but in what I read. Of course, knowing the rhetorical elements is always helpful in building the most effective piece of writing, but it has also allowed me to gain deeper meaning from the things I read. Before, I typically would not think about the author, their background, the audience, why the piece of writing was published where it was published, and how all of those things affected the author's writing and why. It is not only interesting to think about, but it helps me with staying more engaged in my reading. Another thing that I really enjoyed this semester was some of the readings, including Alice Wong's, "The Last Straw". I learned so much about things I had never thought about before and it was nice to see a new perspective on things as seemingly small as a plastic straw. I can't believe that the semester is already over. I greatly enjoyed this class and my discussions with all of you! Samuel I found myself learning more from this class than I anticipated coming into it. I realized I only had a loose grasp of what it takes to write academically. I find it difficult to name just one element I benefited from the most. However, active reading is the element I perceived to be the most valuable and will ultimately have the most lasting effect on my academic career. Active reading may have been our first module, but it has been the foundation which will reshape how I read, learn, and study. The techniques learned in the active reading module can be used in any class and even translate to the workplace when doing research for presentations. For me, the single biggest technique within the umbrella of active reading is reading in reverse. For my learning style I find this element to be a complete game changer in my study habits. Reading the chapter summary and key terms first and then reading the chapter has increased my awareness immensely. I am excited to take this technique into increasingly more difficult courses. Often, I need to read pages and chapters multiple times to truly grasp what it is I am intended to take away. With reading in reverse, I have a baseline knowledge and a working lexicon of key terms to look out for while I am digesting the course material. I have grown as a writer and student during these eight weeks and look forward to employing the new skills I have picked up along the way in my future academic endeavors.   Reference:   Module 1 Content. Home. (n.d.). June 30, 2022.