Carrie Roessler

Professor Wallace
English 1102
December 8, 2021
Project 4 Final Refection

Writing a reflection of my own written work was a new experience for me. It was one of

the most challenging undertakings for me this semester. The task of leaning how to write a

reflection of how I studied, took notes, outlined my paper, and providing in-depth analysis of

those experiences took me the whole semester to feel somewhat comfortable with when

composing my reflections. I needed to be able to tell my readers what I learned and how I was

able to incorporate what I learned into my written text and even provide rhetorical analysis of a

musical text. I first had to understand what rhetoric was and how I could use it to help tell my

story. Understanding the basics of how to utilize different rhetorical tools in my writing was key

to my success in composing my writings. Over the semester, I learned how to analyze written

text, a music video, and even a song, using ethos, pathos, logos, and Kairos. Knowing what

rhetorical appeals are helped me incorporate ethos to build credibility and character, pathos to

invoke compassion and empathy, logos to provide logic and deductive reasoning, and Kairos to

establish timing.

Having the knowledge needed to use these rhetorical tools also helped me analyze other

writers’ works. These new skills helped greatly when assessing and analyzing my classmates’

works, as I knew what to look for and how to give constructive criticism and advice. The skills I

learned helped me to give the most helpful suggestions to my classmates to help them improve

their written work. Working within a group had its advantages as well as its pitfalls. Having

another set of eyes reviewing my work helped me improve the quality of my assignments. Being
given constructive criticism is not always easy to hear, but it is greatly appreciated. I learned that

I have no control over whether my classmates do their part on time or not, and that I can only

focus on my part by completing my portion of the assignment in the timeline given. This gave

my classmates the respect that I would want in return.

During this semester, I also discovered what kind of reader I was. The type of reader you

are makes a difference in what you focus on while reading. I came to realize that what I happen

to be reading, and for what purpose, determines what kind of reader I am at that moment. If I am

reading for the purpose of learning, I pay closer attention to the information being presented,

making me an efferent reader. In contrast, if I am an aesthetic reader, I will be more focused on

what is happening during reading, such as the images, ideas, and the storyline, and how it makes

me feel. Being a nurse has made me a critical thinker, which helped me when reading

rhetorically. I was more aware of the components of the argument at hand and was able to

evaluate them. I typically read every word from beginning to end, which can be time consuming,

as I often read the text more than once. I learned that skimming the text first by reading the

introduction, the first sentence of each paragraph, and the conclusion helped me prepare for

reading the whole article after. Skimming gave me knowledge of the basic structure and main

points of the argument. I found that I retained the information better.

We have rhetoric all around us and being able to analyze it to find the hidden meaning

helped me create my ePortfolio. Tools such as adding a colored background or text can change

or enhance the emotion of my audience. Choosing the right picture and its placement helped my

readers get to know me better. The type of pictures I chose to display on each page was just as

important as the written text. I chose to create an ePortfolio that was professional in nature, so

the pictures I chose had to reflect the same theme. The top picture on my welcome page had to
represent me as a nurse, as I plan to use this portfolio as a tool when applying for a master’s

program. This picture helped to tell the story of who I am as a student and as a nurse. Every

detail, whether it be text, pictures, background colors, videos, or sound, matters. If I were trying

to express a calm and welcoming feel, I would not use large, bold text in red to create that

emotion. I was able to create a portfolio that used ethos, pathos, and logos in such a way that I

was able to make my rhetorical situation known. The growth I have gained, in combination with

the knowledge I have attained, has enhanced my writing skills, which I will be able to utilize in

other aspects of my life. As a clinical coach I on occasion prepare educational instructions for

new nurses and I now can create things using different modes of communication making it easier

to understand and absorb the information being presented. The hardest skill I learned this

semester was learning how to reflect on my own work and communicate that through text and I

made it, for which I am grateful.