Arissa Vidal

Dr. Sharity Nelson

5 December 2023

Final Reflection Essay

When I first enrolled in English 1301, I was unsure of what exactly to expect. As I reflect

on my semester, I am able to reflect on the different aspects of growth I have experienced. With

this course, I have learned about the writing process that includes the three types of genres- genre

analysis, visual analysis and rhetorical analysis. Throughout the course there were three activities

given in blackboard for each of the essays.The worksheets helped me to better understand the

writing process and how to apply the worksheets and guidance I was given in my writing

process. I applied the Genre Analysis Outline to start the drafting process of the essay. I also had

to use the Genre Analysis Worksheet to complete the Outline worksheet.With learning about the

writing process, I had to build up my knowledge towards both Rhetorical situation and analysis

to use in this course essays. I also have to develop my learning for the next course in which I

plan to enroll, English 1302.

In the English 1301 Fall course, I have learned how to figure out what the rhetorical

situation is and how it is intended for the purpose along with the audience. Also with learning

about the rhetorical situation, I have also learned about how rhetorical analysis is made up with

the rhetorical situation. With rhetorical analysis I learned to break down a piece of a written text

and wonder why the creators would add such information and how it is related to the text. Both

the Genre Analysis and Genre Analysis Outline helped me significantly due to the information I
was going to use. By using both of the worksheets as guidance, I was able to increase the way I

organized my text, as well as being able to think the writing process out more. Both of these

activities broke down the understanding and writing/drafting process a little bit better which was

extremely beneficial to me.

Additionally, I have learned during the process of revising the first time to get a second

view on the current progress of the draft and after you continue to add and fix what is missing or

delete what does not go in the paragraphs. On the final revising part, I have a partner look at the

second draft to see if anything is out of place or what can be removed or put in as a substitute.

Sometimes, what one may see over and over may sound just perfect, but when glanced over by

someone else, they are able to see the mistakes one may have accidentally overlooked. As an

example, I chose my first essay to make final revisions on with the draft going through to my

professor and her adding her thoughts later. This went along with the partner I had paired up with

adding their input of what they think needs to be done. Although the final revision essay went

through one more process of revision with the final feedback that the professor provided on the

first final draft, I was able to make corrections. As I fixed up the comments she left, I had to

focus on my components and separate the ones that belonged or add another paragraph to the

essay and meet the word count. This was another big learning experience for me. I had to

internalize her comments and find a way to make essay improvements based on her suggestions

and input.

One of the challenges for me was when doing the portfolio website. A reason why this

was such a challenge was trying to figure out the layout of all the papers should go and if any are

missing. In addition, it was my first experience creating a website. I had to seek the guidance and

resources provided to me by one of my high school teachers. I sent him an email asking for
assistance and made an appointment to seek his help afterschool. Although this was time

consuming, it allowed me to grow in my communication skills and web design skills. But as for

writing, I would have to say the final revision of essay one. I said the essay of my choice

because even with the final feedback on the link that was provided by my professor, I could not

quite figure out if I should be removing the components that were originally there or making

them into small brief paragraphs. After some thought and guidance, I was able to figure this

element out. I was then able to successfully make the changes that were needed. What was the

least challenging throughout the final weeks of this course would be once I had everything

figured out and the placements of where things should go both essay and portfolio wise. Included

in this component was finding placements and layouts for the website which was later than

brainless working. It was just really a save file, either drag the file, or make a button so the

person looking would see the title and see the work on a separate tab. Or even when reading the

final feedback from the professor and looking at the sections that should be fixed made a lot

more sense after. Thank goodness for that growth!

One of the many choices I had to make towards the communicating course when I was

assigned a slideshow was to do a partner presentation. Within the presentation, my partner and I

had made a slideshow to demonstrate the understanding of Summary, Paraphrase, and

Quotations. Our slideshow was to help the students comprehend concepts of what they need to

use in our third essay. With the website my intended audience is students joining for the

upcoming course of English 1301. I had used the assignments that were provided throughout the

semester of Fall, that were provided by the professor to help the upcoming classman ease into the

expectations of what to expect. A challenge during this assignment was finding the time to meet

with my partner to get our components and slide show figured out. It took a bit of rescheduling
and flexibility, but we finally managed to meet in person and come up with our presentation

game plan.

With this website that I am creating, I talk and break down the certain expectations you

would have to expect. As for the work, homework is made up for half of your grade other than

the portfolio. For example, how the outline worksheet is to help make the first draft. Or how to

form what is there to include for your draft and get started with the thinking process of why they

should include the items within their outline. The genre also has a lot to do with what the

students have to write about and gives them an idea of what to add and keep out of the final

draft. As for the rhetorical situations the upcoming classmen have to find out what their purpose

and audience towards any of the text. How I made the course make sense to me was by listening

to what the professor said and the feedback towards the assignments that she had assigned.

With the writing assignments that she had provided was the same worksheet slightly

altered towards the genre of the essay. With all the project management worksheets, were just for

the purpose of if I understand what would happen if items were late or if not done. Also about

the deadlines of either the essay or the reflection essay that goes with the assignment. As I went

through the course I saw the same worksheets for the different essays. The Analysis worksheet

was about the possible topic ideas for the body paragraphs how and what to add in the

introductions and conclusions. The Outline worksheet is about the topic that I had chosen and

started to gather the evidence to back up my claim and to put together a guide for my first draft.

If you are a new student taking the course for the first time you would have to know the three

genres that are provided in the semester. With genre analysis, you have to figure out which

written text you want to write about and analyze the components that are included on the paper.

As you look upon the components you have to piece together why the author would add that
certain piece of information on the paper and how it is important to the audience it is made for.

However, whenever you are asked to write about a visual text, think about the picture or art

underlying the message behind the visual.Why did the illustrator add the visual components in

the art? What is the meaning of the visual components towards the art? How does the visual text

relate back to the underlying message of the picture? That is how I was able to relate back to the

visual text. I just thought that what the illustrator had added is tied back to the message of it all.

Overall, with the rhetorical genre you have to think about the situation and the analysis. With the

analysis are the elements that make up a rhetorical situation. However, a rhetorical situation is

based on the purpose of the writing and who the essay intended audience is. But with the analysis

I just thought of the backed up support that was included instead of the purpose and audience.So

all the adds on to the extent and relate the message helps with the rhetorical analysis.

What I found to be the most challenging aspect of this course was creating a

website.Other than the website was when I had to draft essay one. One of the challenging parts

about it was that I had faced in the analysis was me trying to support the reasons of why the

author would add the information on the written text. Although figuring out the written text

analysis, I had to do the same thing but with a visual text. As in the visual text that I had chosen,

I had to tell the audience about how and explain why the illustrator uses the cover art to convey

the message of the unknown fear. Another challenge would have been in the writing process of

essay three. Having to use the strategies that I had to apply for essay one and two towards the

final essay three. Using these strategies on an already peer-reviewed journal article gave me

trouble on how to structure the paragraph and figure out the message towards the audience that I

have to figure out based on the article.

Worksheet. With the worksheet, I had to fill in the blank about what is due for the essay. When I

first started to write my essays I was just then discovering my strengths and weaknesses. After

the first essay though I had discovered that with my analytical skill set was my strength. I can

relate the message with the logical support that can be made upon the data that is given.

Although with my writing skills, I was a little rusty at first. The rust that I had gathered showed

with my first essay.

With the course of English 1301, it made me feel better prepared when it comes to

writing assignments now. With the writing assignments that are to be given in the course of

English 1302, I hope that I now have the guidance, confidence, and knowledge that I can apply

so that I can be successful. Taking this class has also helped prepare me to become a part of the

academic writing community by helping me with the understanding of college expectations

towards certain essays and class work gave me an understanding of what is handed to me. It

helped me get a better understanding of what rhetorical situations and analysis are and how it is

used in both of the strategies in future essays that I haven’t made connections with. With

academic writing it gave me an in depth understanding on how they use rhetoric in every essay

to show that the author or students understand what and how are statements in the writing

assignments.
 Work Cited

Nelson, Sharity. “Genre Analysis Outline.” 14 September 2023. ENGL 1301, Texas

A&M International University, homework assignment.

Nelson, Sharity. “Genre Analysis Worksheet.” 12 September 2023. ENGL 1301, Texas

A&M International University, homework assignment.

Nelson, Sharity. “Project Management.” 5 September 2023. ENGL 1301, Texas A&M

International University, homework assignment.

Vidal, Arissa. “Genre Analysis.” 28 September 2023 . ENGL 1301, Texas A&M

International University, student paper.

Vidal, Arissa. “Genre Analysis Draft.” Draft 1. 19 September 2023. ENGL 1301, Texas

A&M International University, student paper.

Vidal, Arissa. “Presentation.” 31 October 2023. ENGL 1301, Texas A&M International

University, student activity.