GOAL 1: I used a multi-stage, recursive, and social process for my writing and took into consideration feedback from my instructor, classmates, and other readers. Throughout the semester, especially with my Research Position I took advantage of the constructive criticism I received from my instructor.  I realized that revision is the most important part of constructing an essay that is strong, well organized, and drives a solid argument home. I had a one on one conference with Prof Hodges about my research paper that helped immensely. If I had not asked for help, I would have thought my research paper was solid, and portfolio ready. I don’t think there is any way I could have improved my writing without first learning to accept criticism and apply it to a new draft, which stemmed from last semester when I had Prof Hodges for comp 1.

GOAL 2: I read source materials closely and analyzed them critically to learn how and why texts create meaning. I read source materials closely and analyzed them critically to learn how and why texts create meaning. While completing the annotated bibliography I learned the most about critically analyzing sources to find the best content. Although there were a ton of sources about Physician Assisted Suicide, about half of them didn’t align with my position. In each different text, I concluded that a different point was trying to be made in each of the texts. Weather it was that assisted suicide makes it easier for people to cope with a death, or that physician assisted suicide is growing in popularity, every text has a different point. I learned that I cannot just grab 10 sources and dump them into a bibliography.

GOAL 3: I wrote with a particular audience in mind, allowing my purpose to shape the language and methods I used not just to communicate information but to persuade readers.  While writing my Research Position paper, I wrote with a specific audience in mind. I knew that writing a position paper with the supporting audience in mind would not be of any use to me. I wrote my research position in such a way that it could be persuasive to people who were either on the fence about my topic, or against my topic. It’s futile to persuade people who already align their opinions with yours. So I tried my best to make strong, clear points that eventually lead to a strong conclusion about Physician Assisted Suicide.

GOAL 4: I demonstrated my information literacy by synthesizing my own experience with new insights and information from a range of outside sources to produce new material.While writing my Visual Analysis, in a way I used my own knowledge and experience to craft my argument, as well as information I gathered from the PSA source. The technique was to listen to the Ad without sound, and while doing this I gathered all of my insights from visual observation and assumptions, then I went back to watch the Ad with sound. While listening to the ad with sound, it was easier to distinguish which of my assumptions were correct, and which weren’t.

GOAL 5: My writing is ethical. Writing about meaningful topics, I have engaged responsibly with them and represented my ideas and the ideas of others honestly, fairly, and logically. Throughout the semester, I learned the importance of a fair and accurate portrayal of evidence gathered throughout the research process. It is unethical to put words not said by the author into one’s work. The accuracy and fairness of evidence shows the integrity of a writer. Those who portray evidence in a fair manner are those who demonstrate the strongest mastery of writing.  In my Rebuttal Argument I took care to accurately portray what Mary Harned was claiming in her own work. Specifically her argument that pain is the reason so many people revert to PAS. I took the time to represent her opinion fairly because I was actively trying to break her logic. It would have been easy to skew her opinion and make for an easy counter-argument, but representing her opinion responsibly is the more ethical and fair method of doing so.