Three words come to mind when thinking of Honors English 289: hard work and enriching. This course has asked a great deal of creativity and rhetorical strategy. Through thirteen assignments, I’ve broadened my writing style to accommodate an increasing number of genres in which I can write. We wrote a parody and a recast, both styles of which I didn’t know existed before this course; we wrote reflections, rhetorical analyses, a style and genre analyses, all of which I’d written previously yet needed to improve. This course introduced to me a new type of researching method: tracing an academic dialogue, research that takes the monotony out of the process. This course has gone beyond my expectations and hopefully, those of the department. It had an appropriate workload, manageable length requirements and engaging topics. Honors English 289 began traditionally with the class reporting on the rhetorical styles of other author’s; but as the quarter draws to a close, we have been applying those observations to our own writing and reflecting on our newfound writing skills.
Although we composed thirteen papers throughout this quarter, I have included in this portfolio the three which best represents my voice and writing development. The first piece of writing, titled “When I Dove into the Wreck,” is a parody of Adrienne Rich’s “Diving into the Wreck.” I feel that this piece captures the romantic, assertive side of me. The second piece of writing, titled “OHM…OHM,” is a reflection on the abstract coffee cup project. I feel that it freely portrays my voice as a writer as well as my optimistic viewpoints on life. The third and final piece of writing, titled “The Bad, the Worse and the Ugly,” is the proposal within the atypical research assignment for this class. I feel that it best represents my passion for family, healthy living and reporting.
In retrospect, this course has bettered my writing skills leaps and bounds. I am able to transition smoothly from one idea to the next. I choose pertinent quotes for my arguments, and I never once looked at other’s papers to be inspired (an achievement greater than explainable in words). My rhetorical skills have also improved due to this course. Previously, I had studied rhetorical strategy in English classes and Effective Public Speaking; however, Honors English 289 deepened my understanding and developed my applications of these persuasive techniques.
Many students do not fully grasp the concept that rhetorical techniques are a crucial part of everyday conversation. In writing so many varying styles of assignments, I have come to better recognize this notion. Therefore in learning about rhetoric, Honors English 289 has also helped me to comprehend the ways of the world.
From the bottom of my heart,
Abigail Mayo