Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

When I enrolled in the business school at Rowan, I expected to have mandatory writing classes. Writing is one of the most important skills needed in the corporate world. Composition I has greatly improved my writing through many sources of instruction. Lectures explaining certain aspects of writing helped me to better understand what I was putting on paper and what that information meant to me. But the most important source of help in this course was the feedback. My professor and peers gave feedback on each of my writing pieces. Whether it was digitally or in person help was always available. The first assignment I received helpful feedback from was the Letter to the Editor. The hardest aspect of this piece was forming my argument to sound as though I had said it rather than just wrote it. The feedback my professor gave me allowed me to better form this argument, shaping a draft into a more refined piece that could be sent to a NY Times editor.

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

Throughout the course, it was necessary to read critically. In order to synthesize an intelligible argument I had to make sure I understood the material I was reading. When writing my Op-Ed, I had to critically analyze many news articles in order to fully understand the issue I was addressing in my writing. But how I truly strengthened my writing and really showed my thinking was through the word use. My professor gave me excellent feedback as well as several lectures explaining the importance of word choice in order to show your opinion clearly. When I first wrote my draft I noticed that I was missing strong language but couldn’t find the right words. Through peer review and feedback from my professor I found those words and properly articulated my argument.

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

When I wrote my Op-Ed, I had to realize the audience that would be interpreting my work. My professors and peers are intelligent people and therefore would be disrespected if they played their eyes on a piece of writing that was obviously not well thought out. Because of this I spent extra time carefully picking the evidence I used. During this process I made sure the evidence came from reputable sources such as our textbook, The NY Times. I knew my argument would stick with readers while writing because the topic was relevant and important. Pollution one of the biggest threats facing the planet today. By showing an interesting small solution for plastic pollution in one part of the globe, I worked to probe the idea of other methods of saving the environment.

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

I found the hardest evidence to find was for my Editorial. The topic was controversial that being a piece supporting one of President Trump’s decisions. This was difficult because the textbook we use is not very supportive of our president. But I still did find evidence, making sure it did not conflict with my argument but rather supported it. The evidence played a key role in showing how Trump’s decision was for the betterment of the Kurdish people. Of course I had to explain the article I cited, but it wasn’t very hard to do because the article illustrated my argument so clearly. So the impact the evidence had on my audience was more positive than negative when shining a light on the president. This can be especially difficult because of the more liberal environment encountered in most colleges today.

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

I was never completely certain that my argument was correct. No one is perfect and because of this I knew that someone would disagree or in some way be able to counter my argument all together. This can be seen in my Editorial. A controversial topic that has two very opposing sides. There is definitely evidence refuting my writing. So when thinking of an argument I knew that I had to write towards the side I most agreed with. In the case of my Editorial it was that Trump’s decision saved people, to which some argue he put more people in danger. In my writing I address this. While a counter argument is not always necessary, it is in this particular case because of how arguable the topic is.