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Arnav Sharma
Professor Littlejohn
WRI 111
13 December 2023
Critical Reflection
Describe your writing process.
I start by outlining my ideas and making note of every detail that comes to mind. From there, I
write a rough draft only to get my thoughts on paper. This step usually takes me the longest to
complete. I typically take a break before revising my work, as I prefer to look at my writing with
fresh eyes. I consider both self-criticism and others’ critique in the final editing stages, after
which I submit a final draft of my writing.
What do you like about it and why? What would you like to change and why?
I like that I divide my writing process into chunks. Doing so makes it less stressful, as I’m
well-rested between writing (or editing) sessions. However, I would still like to increase the pace
of the overall process. I often take long breaks between the stages of my writing process,
sometimes leading to me rushing to finish my work minutes before a deadline.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
I generally do a good job referencing outside sources in my writing. By giving context to an
author and their ideas, I feel that I incorporate quotes (and paraphrase) effectively. However, I
could work on the conciseness of my writing. I sometimes ramble on about a topic before ever
connecting it to my argument, which may cause a lack of clarity for readers.
What strategies will you employ to address your weaknesses?
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To improve my conciseness, I will briefly outline a paragraph before writing it. This outline
might include details on how a particular idea supports my thesis. By doing so, I will know to
prioritize these details in a given paragraph; I might then be able to avoid redundancy in my
writing. With less redundancy (or rambling), my work will be more concise and straightforward.
How did conferences help you as a writer?
Conferences gave me new insights into my writing that I had not thought of before. Most
importantly, they allowed me to identify where (in a given essay) a reader may need more
clarification. Even if I thought a point of mine was clear, this might not have been the case for
my readers; conferences helped me distinguish such instances in my work. I could also ask
questions in my conferences, clarifying any points of confusion regarding format, grammar, or
citation style.
How did giving and receiving peer review help you as a writer?
By giving peer reviews, I could more easily analyze writing styles different from my own. It was
helpful to read others’ essays, as I could observe new approaches to rhetoric, contextualization,
and textual references. By receiving peer reviews, I could also benefit from new perspectives on
my writing. Just as conferences gave me insight into my writing, peer reviews provided valuable
critiques of my work.
How do you feel about your research topic now that your essay is completed?
I feel that I’ve learned quite a bit about my research topic. As a multilingual myself, I was
surprised by the correlation between multilingualism and a more effective use of rhetoric.
Exploring this topic over the past few weeks has fascinated me, and I’ve realized that much of
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my research ties into my own multilingualism. I’ve found many of the same techniques I’ve
learned about (regarding multilingual writing) within my own writing process.
Describe your research process. What steps do you do when tackling a research project?
When I start the research process, I first identify sources that might fit my topic. I experiment
with different keywords (search terms) until I find five or six sources, looking through abstracts
and summaries to understand a source’s content. Afterward, I skim through my sources and
create a bullet-point list of any information relevant to my research question. I use this list to
form specific references in my work, including quotes or paraphrased ideas.
In what ways did writing help you think through complex ideas raised during your
research?
Writing helped me link complex ideas to one another. If one concept was somewhat hard to
understand, relating it to another idea allowed me to comprehend it more easily. In other words,
it was helpful to understand one concept in the context of another.
In what ways have you developed your ability conduct research?
In general, I’ve learned to find sources more effectively. I’ve learned how to evaluate an author’s
credibility in the context of their work, which helps validate the references I make in my
research. Especially while writing my Annotated Bibliography, I realized the importance of
understanding a source before using it.
Now that we are at the end of the semester, what is your definition of literacy? In what
ways has it changed over time?
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I define literacy as one’s ability to understand the world around them, whether in relation to
language, finance, technology, or any other subject. I’d previously defined literacy as the ability
to read and write, but over time, I’ve found it to be a more far-reaching concept.
What is your definition of rhetoric?
Rhetoric is the way in which someone persuades others of an idea. It’s how arguments are
presented to audiences and can be found in any form of social interaction (whether through text,
speech, images, or other media).
Which of the readings did you enjoy the most and why?
I particularly enjoyed the McCloud reading, as it was interesting to learn about visual rhetoric in
a non-essay format. I also enjoyed Richard Rodriguez’s “The Achievement of Desire,” an
engaging story and a great introduction to the literacy narrative.
Which of the readings did you enjoy the least and why?
I least enjoyed Kenneth Burke’s “Terministic Screens,” as his writing style was a bit difficult to
understand. Although certain ideas made sense, it took a while for me to comprehend his
argument fully.
Describe two or three moments when you made intentional decisions when curating your
work. What contributed to those decisions?
One intentional decision was placing the tab for my Research Essay before (to the left of) the tab
for my Rhetorical Analysis. My Research Essay was a slightly better introduction to rhetoric
than my Rhetorical Analysis, leading me to guide viewers to my Research Essay before my
Rhetorical Analysis. Another decision was placing the tab for my Critical Reflection after those
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of both papers mentioned earlier. My Research Essay and Rhetorical Analysis provide the basis
for this reflection, and it’s important for viewers to read those essays prior to this one.
What was the best part of doing the website?
The best part was being able to choose colors, images, and a theme for the website. Making my
website has been a creative task, and it’s been exciting to work on it.
What was the most challenging part of the website?
The most challenging part of the website was formatting images to be the right size on each
page. Weebly is an excellent website-building platform, but I found moving and stretching
pictures challenging.
If you had more time to work on this project what would you do differently and why?
I would likely spend more time designing the homepage of my website. It fulfills all the
requirements for the assignment, but it would be nice to add some interactive features (such as
animations) to it.
How well did you turn in your assignments on time? Why or why not?
I think I did well, as I turned in all my assignments on time. I did a relatively good job of
managing my time this semester, although there’s still room for improvement.
How well have you followed directions this semester for your assignments? Why or why
not?
I feel that I followed directions well this semester, as I made sure to read each assignment
description carefully before writing. I’d often reread the description while writing, ensuring that
my final drafts met all requirements.
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How well did you pay attention in class? How well did you contribute to class discussion?
In all, I felt I paid solid attention in class. I stayed engaged in our conversations, and as a result, I
made productive contributions to our class discussions.
What are your goals for your yourself as you pursue your education and why?
My main goal is to get a well-rounded education. I also hope to prioritize interdisciplinary
learning in my undergraduate and graduate studies, as doing so will guide me to find new
interests and expand upon existing ones. A well-rounded education sets the groundwork for
lifelong learning, in the sense that it sparks a more wide-ranging enthusiasm towards learning
itself.
In what ways did you contribute to meeting those goals?
So far, I’ve contributed to meeting my goals by taking two humanities courses (while on the
Pre-Med track). I’m taking classes in writing and philosophy, which have been insightful
experiences and steps toward a well-rounded education.
How has AI impacted the way you engage with your classes?
AI has not significantly impacted my engagement with my classes. Other than most professors’
syllabi noting not to use generative AI, I haven’t observed AI to have much of an impact in this
way.
How has AI impacted the way you write?
I don’t think AI has impacted my writing style too much. I try not to rely on ChatGPT or any
other generative AI when I write, meaning I have to remain somewhat self-assured throughout
my drafting process. This self-assuredness, in essence, makes me a bit more confident in my
writing.
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If you could change something about your student life so far, what would you do
differently?
I would spend more time going out with friends. Seeing as my friends and I spend most of our
time on campus, it would be exciting to explore Winston-Salem (and the rest of North Carolina)
more often.
Any final thoughts you want me to know as I read through your project?
WRI 111 has been an amazing course. I’ve enjoyed this semester, and I feel that my Digital
Portfolio nicely encapsulates my work.
