Since January, I feel that I have grown as a writer and have learned numerous tools to help myself. Within the course, we have learned many ideas to help broaden my thought process when reviewing readings and completing papers. I personally enjoyed the use of hypothesis and annotating texts and allowing the class as a whole to annotate. I feel that the use of being able to read other classmates’ thought processes on a piece of the text provides me with another point of view about something and opens my mind to exploring a new idea. The use of annotating has provided me with entirely breaking down reading with something I find interesting or something I’m not unsure about. Before, I used to read through the text and not fully understand what I was reading; however, with the help of annotating, I have grasped reading articles better. It is something that I plan to continue moving on when reading a text. All in all, my time throughout the semester has been enjoyable and has allowed me to grow as a reader and writer, which I plan to use throughout my time.
Author: Robert Russo
The Comet
After reading The Comet by W.E.B. Du Bois, I gained a better understanding of the use of genre conventions for rhetorical effect. Throughout the reading, the author showcased the use of speculative fiction and post-apocalyptic storytelling to articulate the way society works and the deep-seated racism in the landscape of New York City both then and now. In the story, the author sets the scene with a comet that takes place, and two people are alive, both of whom are of different races and different walks of life. When the character Jim was looking around NYC, he found another woman who was white to be alive. The author stated, “Not that he was not human, but he dwelt in a world so far from hers, so infinitely far, that he seldom even entered her thought.”. The author interprets that because of their way of life, they were unaware of society and other people of different kinds. An interesting interpretation of this piece of work from Du Bois is that it is still present today, and people are looked upon a certain way based on what they look like, and this story showcases this very well. Towards the end of the story, as the two are waiting at the building, a group of people, her father being one of them, finds them and automatically assumes the worst in Jim and that he did something to her. The author stated, “And this man here? He asked, encircling her drooping form with one arm and turning towards the Negro.”. W.E.B Du Bois articulated an interesting story to inform the readers of the use of speculative fiction and post-apocalyptic storytelling, showcasing the way society works and the deep-seated racism from past and present.
Atwood’s Time Capsule
After reading “Time Capsule Found on the Dead Planet” by Margaret Atwood, I could better understand the use of genre conventions for rhetorical effect throughout her article. Atwood wrote her piece articulating the idea of humanity in the past and what could happen in the future. An essential aspect of her writing was that she numbered her story as she went on to tell it. This showcases the problems faced as time went on, from the beginning of the gods to money and how it changed the way of life and the environment. Atwood uses genre conventions for rhetorical effect in her article by showcasing the dystopian and dark setting that ultimately shows us that if we do not change how we view the environment and the world, it could lead to problems. In the article, Atwood stated, “In the third age, money became a god. It was all-powerful, and out of control.”. A problem faced in this article that Atwood mentioned was the effect money had on the people and how it ultimately ruined how people acted; the power they had became out of control. Throughout the article, Atwood continuously articulates that there are deeper meanings of the world itself that we are unaware of. Atwood uses a lot of symbolism to showcase a more prevalent meaning. For example, the title uses the words ‘Time Capsule’, which means to store or have information that could be beneficial or not to society, and then the words ‘Found on the Dead Planet’ show that what happened in the past could have affected the future and ultimately gives us the warning to pay more attention to the environment and our actions that we play a role in.
Computers and Pencils
After reading Dennis Baron’s article, I was able to grasp a better understanding of different technologies and tools that I can utilize throughout my writing process. The two most common tools I use to help articulate my writing are a computer and a pencil. Both tools are used almost every time I write a paper or something in general. After reading, I noticed and learned that computers allow people to create their thoughts cleanly and precisely. When I use computers, I have different apps like Notes App or Excel that I can use to help present my information thoroughly with illustrations. If I have a research project, then I can find quotes or information and copy and paste them into the Notes App so that I have a list of examples to use to write my paper. When using a computer, I can type much information faster than a pencil, which allows me to articulate more information at a time. Having different accessible apps to articulate a good paper helps me tremendously. Another tool that I have used numerous times is the pencil. Using a pencil as a tool is something that I feel is very important to me when writing a paper. Something I have learned that works best for me is that when I am writing down information rather than typing, I notice that I better understand what I am writing. Everyone seems to have similar interests with different technologies to use for writing purposes, but everyone has their ideas of how they each help them.
Practice Can Lead To Success
After reading James Paul Gee’s work, one of the learning principles that I can connect most with would be the practice principle. This learning principle explains that with more practice and experience with the things that interest you most, you can succeed. This principle works best with me in numerous ways, including school, work, and almost everything in my life. With school, if I do not understand a topic or something going on, I would just continue practicing different problems or ask others for help until I completely understand what I am learning. The learning process can be challenging and take time, but constant practice can help you understand. With a lot of practice with things that interest you, you can provide a better outcome than a topic with no interest. For work, I would pursue as much practice as possible to try to level up at the establishment. Without trying and putting in the effort, there will not be a successful outcome; however, more effort and practice put into the job can entail a better future with something I enjoy. Also, learning something can open your mind to new ideas that may not have been thought of, and more practice and experience can help you pursue what you enjoy. We continuously learn whether we are interested or not, but with more practice, a better understanding of something can provide a successful outcome.
