Final Reflection

Sample 1

Student Sample

ENG 112.0012

Professor Zahran

25 February 2015

Final Reflections of English 112

English 112 has provided me with the foundation for successful academic writing within

three main disciplines that are known as the humanities, social sciences, and the natural and

applied sciences. Each discipline utilizes a separate writing style: MLA (Modern Language

Association) is used for academic writing in the humanities, APA (American Psychological

Association) is used for academic writing in the social sciences, and CSE (Council of Science

Editors) is used for academic writing in the natural and applied sciences. The curriculum of this

course required a major work of writing within each discipline to demonstrate adequate

understanding of the characteristics that accompany them. The composition involved with each

of these major works has proven to facilitate familiarity of the three disciplines that will be

useful for many of my future academic endeavors. I have used MLA prior to English 112, but

writing in each of the disciplines during this course has allowed me to attain an understanding of

the purpose and reason for which there are different writing styles for each discipline. By

examining the critical reading, critical thinking, and critical writing that I exercised within this

course, I can exhibit my understanding of the three major disciplines as well as my increased

comprehension of amputations as a physical disability.

The topic that I chose at the beginning of this course contributed significantly to my

writing experience within the disciplines. By reviewing suggestions by my instructor, I decided

to direct my focus upon amputations as a physical disability. At the time, I was very unfamiliar

Sample 2

with amputations and the potential complications that are associated with it. This initiated my

interest because I lacked common interaction with anyone who has had an amputation and I

desired to know more regarding their condition. After choosing my topic, I decided to read the

short story, “Good Country People,” by Flannery O’Connor as the literature for my literary

analysis in the humanities. Reading this short story allowed me to attain an understanding of my

topic by studying the symbolic meaning that an amputation had within a character. The social

complications that I was able to perceive in the short story, such as complications related to body

image, influenced my research within the social sciences. Through my review of the literature in

the social sciences, I was able to conclude that amputees experience significant complications

related to body image that affect the way in which they interact socially. My review of the

literature in the sciences was guided by the complications of phantom limb syndrome and the

treatment of this condition. As I completed my writing throughout the disciplines, I was able to

become informed on the complications of amputations and the varying perspectives that each

discipline may take within the same relative subject.

Critical reading is a strategy in which the reader is aware that the material being read is

an individual perspective on the subject, therefore its validity and meaning should always be

questioned and critiqued. The ability to read critically is an important and necessary skill to

understanding an array of literature. As I explored my topic through each discipline, I began to

recognize the value in which the critical and secondary sources contribute to my overall

understanding of amputations. Within the humanities, “Good Country People” provided a

substantial amount of information regarding the effects of a lower-limb amputation on one

character. This critical source allowed me to seek a variety of knowledge by analyzing the

literature through my perspective. As I read secondary sources pertaining to my piece of

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literature in the humanities, I found the value of having multiple viewpoints to be contributive to

a successful comprehension of the original literature. Throughout the social sciences and

sciences, critical and secondary sources were essential to building a legitimate and supportive

understanding of each subtopic. As I read many scholarly journal articles that encompass all of

the disciplines, I realized that it is difficult to take a stand in support of which discipline is most

effective in communicating their knowledge to the audience. Each discipline has a different

audience in which they contribute towards. The humanities orients to an audience that is trying to

ascertain the meaning of something or the different ways in which it can be understood; the

social sciences, acting as a bridge between the humanities and the sciences, attempts to address

topics that may have meaning in the humanities in a more controlled fashion; the natural and

applied sciences delivers information to an audience in an efficient and precise manner that

relates to science. Each discipline, using different structure, reference, and language, effectively

communicates to their anticipated audience.

Through critical thinking, I was able to evaluate the progression of understanding my

topic from my literary analysis and reviews of the literature. Reading the initial piece of literature

for my literary analysis in the humanities, I could examine the symbolic meaning of an

amputation as well as the psychological effects that may occur in amputees. This lead to my

analysis that concludes with the detrimental effect of amputations on an individual’s body image

as well as the social complications they may experience, further contributing to my knowledge of

amputations. After completing my literary analysis, I decided to direct my focus in the social

sciences to the psychosocial effects related to body image in amputees. After reviewing the

literature in this discipline, I was able to conclude that depression and anxiety is commonly

prevalent in amputees and that these conditions indirectly contribute to psychosocial

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complications. To guide my review of the literature in the natural and applied sciences, I decided

to concentrate on the treatment of a common complication of amputations known as phantom

limb pain. After reviewing the literature within this discipline, I learned the common therapies

that have potential to treat phantom limb pain consist of mirror therapy, neuromodulation, and

nerve blocks and the variation in methods that may enhance efficacy. The original piece of

literature that I read in the humanities opened a variety of possibilities to explore my topic and

further my knowledge within the field. Writing the literary analysis in the humanities, as well as

reviews of the literature in the social sciences and sciences, has allowed me to extensively

increase my knowledge regarding amputees and related conditions.

As I have written within each of the disciplines, I have employed an approach that

involves critical writing. This approach consists of facilitating a broad perspective on the subject

matter in which I am writing about in order to create a document that communicates justly with

the audience. Writing critically can prevent an isolated view towards any subject matter.

Throughout my writing process, there are several factors that as allowed me to develop an

increased knowledge of my overall topic. The use of common knowledge research substantially

aided in my general understanding of amputations as it allowed me to become much more

familiar with important information necessary to begin research of professional literature.

Becoming familiar with electronic databases has allowed me to research my topic in an effective

manner. This involved the use of certain filters that allowed me to search for exact phrases,

words within the title, the most recent research available, and other useful clarifications. After

finding adequate research within a subject, the creation of an annotated bibliography was done to

address the value of the articles in terms of my objective. I think that the combination of the

common knowledge research, familiarity with search engines, and the annotated bibliography

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created for each of the disciplines facilitated a remarkable foundation for which critical writing

can best be implemented. With adequate research and knowledge of the subject, a

comprehensive viewpoint can be held rather than a single perception. Writing critically is

essential to the final drafts that I produced within each discipline as it contributes to effective

communication.

As this course comes to an end, I can reflect on my general writing abilities as well as the

particular information that I learned throughout my academic journey within the disciplines.

While I have had some difficulties during this course, I have recognized some factors of my

writing that can be seen as my strengths. I would consider my research capabilities through

online databases to be a skill that shows well in this class. Through my research, I was able to

decipher some critical articles that portray important concepts to my writing in the disciplines. In

the humanities, Oliver’s article presented the concept that Hulga, a character in “Good Country

People,” has an altered body image in which she cannot legitimately replace through an artificial

substitute like a prosthetic (235). This was a critical source as it supported my research within

the social sciences and the natural and applied sciences. Coffey, L., et al. presented a study that

concluded with a prevalence of body image disturbance as well as anxiety and depression in

those with diabetes-related amputations (1066). The occurrence of phantom limb pain as a

complication of amputations prompted my research in the sciences. Darnall and Li presented a

study concerning thirty-one amputees who agreed to use mirror therapy in which it effectively

decreased the mean phantom limb pain of the group, noting that those with higher education

experienced a greater reduction in pain (259). As I exercised my research capabilities, I found

articles that presented valuable information to my topic. I will further enhance my researching

abilities as I continue to pursue research in other areas of study. By reflecting on each of the

Sample 6

individual disciplines, I can recognize which areas of my writing that I need the most

improvement. I would say that my vocabulary needs the most improvement, as I regularly feel

that my ideas are not fully expressed through my current writing abilities. As I exit this course, I

hope to improve this area as well as reflect on the heightened capabilities that I attained through

my writing experiences across the designated disciplines. I have changed my outlook on writing

by realizing the vast amount of directions that I can take as a writer. This course has shown me

the importance of becoming informed through common knowledge research and annotations of

important sources. I am sure to include detailed research into my writing strategy in order to

become a subject matter expert in areas that are necessary for my academic career. The structure

of English 112 has also benefitted my writing as there is designated instruction for peer review

and group interaction initiated through affiliated topics. I am certain that this writing experience

has improved my writing skills for my future academic endeavors.

As a result of the critical reading, critical thinking, and critical writing that I applied

throughout this course, I have attained an expanded understanding of the three disciplines and

my topic regarding amputations. Each discipline establishes a different way of viewing

complications that are associated with amputations that permit a diversified understanding of my

topic. The challenges that I faced throughout the semester will contribute to my writing

experience in a positive manner. As I progress my experiences within writing, I will recognize

that writing within the disciplines has supported my future in academia by letting me see the

different disciplines in my research as well as the writing that I prepared for each discipline.

Sample 7

Works Cited

Coffey, L., et al. "Psychosocial Adjustment to Diabetes-related Lower Limb Amputation."

Diabetic Medicine 26.10 (2009): 1063-1067. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Apr.

2016.

Darnall, Beth D., and Hong Li. “Home-based Self-delivered Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb

Pain: A Pilot Study.” Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 44.3 (2012): 254–260. PMC.

Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

Oliver, Kate. "O'Connor's ‘Good Country People’." The Explicator 4 (2004): 233. Literature

Resource Center. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.