SELF ASSESSMENT,
As I sit down to reflect on my performance throughout the course of ENGR 21007, it has been improved throughout each assignment. when I reflect on my writing after taking this course, I can conclude that I improved a lot. this course consisted of different assignments from different approaches. During this course we build a lab report, created a PSA, wrote a technical description of an object and presented an engineering proposal. All these assignments are different from one another and it was challenge to put together all of them in the best way possible. But now when I sit reflect on these assignments tho they were different yet I learned something new in each of the assignment.
MY PERCEPTION OF TECHNICAL WRITING
My perception on what technical writing is has changed since I took this course because before taking this course I used to think that all writing courses are similar to those freshman English composition courses. After taking this course I learned that technical writing approach to every major is different. Technical writing is a way of conveying your information as we did in this course. we used different approaches that are required to convey our information or data in engineering field. I noticed not all the students in my class were of similar majors and it was interesting to see how it enabled all of us to prepare similar assignments based on our specific majors. when we wrote about technical description, all of us wrote about an object somewhat related to our field. For instance, I wrote about AirPods as in tech headphones are required most of the time and I noticed one of then classmate wrote about power analyzer as there major was electrical engineering. It was interesting to see how all of use used different objects but used the same technical approach to write about them.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
when I go through the course learning objectives for this course I can easily say that I achieved most of them. I wouldn’t say I got the best at writing as there is always margin for improvement but I still managed to put together all the assignments in the best possible way.
RANGE OF LINGUISTIC DIFFERENCES
Acknowledging and embracing the range of linguistic differences among individuals is critical for developing a broad rhetorical sensibility. There are vast variety of resources that enhances our ability to communicate effectively and persuasively. When we were told that we have to work in groups this course, I was nervous because I despise group work, for the most part it’s because I feel like making someone understand your perspective is hard. But I am not gonna lie, this course I really enjoyed working in groups and it really helped me a lot. I learned that you have to understand other people’s point of you in order to make them understand your’s. The way they speak is an essence of their and your’s linguistic differences so you have to embrace those range of references in order to develop people a sense of rhetorical sensibility.
ENHANCING STRATEGIES FOR READING AND WRITING
I enhanced my strategies for reading, writing and self assessment so much as before each assignment we had drafts due before the final draft and those rough drafts helped me a lot in making the final draft to the best of my ability. Each time when I would go over those rough drafts I would make new changes and revising it over and over again, we were able to make the final drafts better.
GENRE ANALYSIS AND MULTIMODAL COMPOSING
Different genre of writing requires different techniques and applications to make it look sensible and effective. what I managed to learn that not all the writings are based on the same genre or medium, so during the course we went over different genre of writing, from lab report to writing about the technical description of an object and the the portfolio assignments, so after writing all these assignments I learned writing based on different genre and mediums.
USING APPROPRIATE RESOURCES
One thing that I learned and skilled throughout this semester was citations and resources, for almost every assignment we were required to provide references. Before taking this course I didn’t precisely know how to cite and link things but I learned it throughout the semester, I struggled on the first lab report because it was research based for the most part so we had to use appropriate internet sources based on the topic we chose but gradually I practiced using various resources. All the assignments pretty much needed appropriate resources according to writing genre and medium.
SOCIAL ASPECTS OF WRITING
Developing and engaging in the social aspects of writing involves the impact of your writing on your audience and their perspective. Your writing should reflect a sense of understanding for your audience. I think throughout the course all of our assignments were mostly based on audience feedback. We did PSA and we had to make it in a way that it could engage our audience, we should put our time into something that will influence our audience. For the proposal presentation too we decided to go with a topic that we though would engage our audience better and it would develop a sense of intuition in them that this certain issue needs to be addressed. I feel like throughout the semester my writing evolved in such a way that developing and engaging in the social aspects of writing is necessary. It build a sense of perception in me that my writing should influence whoever reads it in a positive way.
FORMULATE AND ARTICULATE A STANCE
Formulating and articulating through stance in your effectively requires a lot of precise steps. Over the course of the assignment one thing I learned from my professor on how to effectively formulate and articulate is through understanding each bit of the topic you are writing about. Break down the sentences and try to understand each part to build a better approach to it. If you don’t understand something research about it and develops a clear thesis statement. Put together all the parts and organize your thoughts to write and effective conclusion. This is one course learning outcome that evolved my writing style and helped me.
DID I ACHIEVED COUSE LEARNING OUTCOMES ?
I would say yes for the most part as my writing has evolved throughout the semester. We worked on different assignments and each one had different technical writing approach to it so I feel like that had shaped my writing for better.
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES AND HABITS
one strategy that I will keep on doing for my future writings would be writing outlines and drafts. I felt like these jotting down points and making an outline is the best way to start something from scratch. Outlines gives a strong structure you’r writing and helps in writing a draft and once you write a rough draft, you can revise it over and over again to polish your final draft. I think my ability to submit my assignments on time with the best version have been enhanced throughout the semester. one more thing I liked during the course is that how we had to do different assignments that enhanced our writing style and having different genre and medium approach to all these assignments gave a broader perspective of formal writings that are usually required for any engineering major. I really enjoyed the idea of group assignments throughout the semester and peer review sessions. Having your assignments reviewed by different people give you more margin to enhance and make your writing more effective and sensible. This is one habit that I will keep on doing for the upcoming course to strengthen and get a better grip open my writing skills. One thing that I would like to enhance is making sure that I don’t have open ended sentences in my writings and making sure to use appropriate words and sources.
I was always eager to build a portfolio and make my own website and this course gave me a hand on experience of building one. It might not be that formal but it gave me sense of how I am going to build my website. I am really thankful to have a professor like ROBERT BALUN, who always made sure that all the students in the class are on same page and made sure all the students are understanding and doing the assignments to the best of their abilities.
