NEStout Portfolio

 English 1010-071

 Reflection

Spring 2012 semester has ended. With each semester I finish, I take another step closer to earning my degree.  At the start of every semester, I question my choice of going back to school. However, by the end of each semester I feel satisfied with my achievements and progress. I come to understand that each class presents its own unique difficulties. English 1010 offered many difficult and new ideas for future studies. Incredibly, English 1010 stretched the way I dissect the information that I read and the way I portray my sources in research papers.

            My first assignment was a reflection of a memory that made an impression or changed my perspective. With this, I chose to reflect on my experience as a tee-ball coach. I learned that I would rather be a spectator in my sons sporting adventures, over coach of the whole team. I came to understand the coach deals with many parents, upset or not. Most parents are more into the sport and become more competitive than their eight-year-olds are. Furthermore, I will do whatever is required, and in my capable grasp to support my interest in my children.  

             Learning the importance of rhetorical appeals helped when writing my paper “Is the Elephant Going Extinct?” In this paper, I explored if the Republican Party could be losing appeal to the American voters and possibly be fading into history. In my research, I used rhetorical appeals to establish the credibility of the writers. I learned How to explore each opinion for his or her attempt to gain an emotional connection with the reader. Ultimately, I discovered the United States needs both right and left wings to keep flight and stay on a steady course. I attempted to use examples of Ethos, Pathos, Logos, and Karros to establish my own credibility when writing about the Republican Party.

              English 1010 was an exciting class that presented complicated perspectives and focused on rhetorical appeals that every writer attempts to accomplish. I have finished, with a satisfied understanding of the fundamentals of college writing and I feel confident to move on to college level studies. I now grasp the concept of how to create writing that will appeal to my readers and aid me in achieving my major.