Perez 1

Carlos Ariel Perez

Oscar Martinez

ENGL 1301

21 November 2023

Reflection Essay 3

In this third essay nit, I gained valuable insights into the structure and purpose of peer-
reviewed journal articles, particularly through the analysis of “Sociopsychological Effects of
MMA and BJJ Training on Youth”. The rhetorical situation, encompassing the audience,
purpose, and context, became evident as I navigated through the article’s introduction,
methodology, results, and implications. This exercise heightened my awareness of how academic
writing aims to contribute to existing knowledge and engage in scholarly conversations.
Rhetorical analysis allowed me to discern the authors’ purpose in presenting the
sociopsychological effects of MMA and BJJ. Considering the polarized debates in existing
research. This concept of rhetorical analysis extends beyond this course, providing a foundation
for understanding and engaging with academic discourse in various disciplines. For instance, un
a biology course, I could apply similar analytical skills to evaluate the purpose and audience of
scientific papers, enhancing my ability to critically engage with diverse academic material.

Throughout this essay unit, I further improved my drafting and revision skills by
employing a systematic approach that involved brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, and revising.
The iterative nature of the writing process became evident as I refined my ideas and arguments.
For instance, in the initial drafts, I ensured that each paragraph had a clear topic sentence
summarizing the main idea. Through the revision process, I refined these sentences to enhance
clarity and coherence. Additionally, feedback from both the instructor and peers played a crucial
role in identifying areas for improvement. This iterative process of drafting and revision is
transferable to other courses, providing a structured approach to developing and refining ideas in
various writing situations.

Conferencing with and receiving feedback from the instructor significantly contributed to
the improvement of my rhetorical analysis essay. One key element that evolved based on
instructor feedback was the clarity of my topic sentences. The instructor pointed out instances
where my topic sentences could be more explicit in summarizing the main idea of the paragraph.
In response, I revised these sentences to provide clear guidance to the reader. Additionally, the
instructor highlighted the need for more specificity in quoting or describing evidence. This
feedback prompted me to revisit my sources and incorporate more specific quotations, enriching
the evidential support for my claims.

Peer review further enhanced the quality of my rhetorical analysis essay, particularly in
refining the organization of ideas. One specific element that evolved based on peer feedback was
the logical flow between paragraphs. A peer pointed out a potential disconnect between the
 Perez 2

discussion of the study’s methodology and the subsequent section on measurement tools. This
feedback prompted me to reorganize my paragraphs, ensuring a smoother transition and logical
progression of ideas. Additionally, a peer suggested the inclusion of all my main ideas in my
thesis statement for a better, detailed introduction to my essay.

Editing and proofreading played a vital role in recognizing missing connections and
improving clarity. During this process, I identified a section where the transition between the
discussion of research methodologies and the presentation of results was unclear. Through
careful editing, I refined the transitional sentences to better guide the reader through the logical
progression of the argument. This heightened awareness of missing connections and potential
confusion contributes to my preparedness for future writing assignments by emphasizing the
importance of thorough editing and proofreading.

The most challenging part of this essay assignment was ensuring a balanced and nuanced
analysis while staying within the prescribed word limit. Overcoming this challenge involved
strategic decision-making in selecting the most relevant information and framing concise yet
comprehensive arguments. To address this, I consulted writing guides on conciseness and clarity,
ensuring that each paragraph contributed meaningfully to the overall analysis. Recognizing the
challenge of balancing depth and brevity prepares me for future writing assignments, prompting
a mindful consideration of content relevance and clarity in a limited space.

The least challenging part of this essay assignment was synthesizing information from the
article to support my analysis. This clarity of the article’s structure and the relevance of the
content facilitated the extraction of pertinent information. The article’s well-documented
evidence and the authors’ clear articulation of their arguments made synthesizing and
incorporating information into my analysis a relatively straightforward process. This experience
reinforces the importance of selecting well-structured and relevant sources, streamlining the
information synthesis process in future writing assignments.

In conclusion, the exploration of the peer-reviewed journal article “Sociopsychological

Effects of MMA and BJJ Training on Youth” has been a rich learning experience, providing
valuable insights into academic writing, the rhetorical situation, and the iterative nature of the
drafting and revision process. Through the lens of rhetorical analysis, I delved into the intricate
dynamics of presenting sociopsychological effects, considering the divergent debates within
existing research on martial arts and youth. This newfound understanding extends beyond this
essay unit, offering a foundation for engaging with academic discourse across diverse
disciplines.