Alissa Ricketson

3812 W. 15th Ave.

Stillwater, OK 74074

Tamera Davis
Northern Oklahoma College
615 N. Monroe St,
Stillwater, OK 74078

May 2, 2024

Dear Mrs. Davis,

Greetings, I hope this letter finds you well. After thorough consideration, I carefully selected a
collection of pieces I have written over the last two semesters to be included in my portfolio.
Each artifact was curated based on my finest work, accurately reflecting the extensiveness of my
abilities as a writer. From personal essays to research papers, these pieces provide an authentic
representation of my finest work, embodying both my passion and my thought process.

Despite each piece covering entirely different topics, they are all intertwined by my evident
passion and consistent style across every topic. The first writing sample involved composing a
letter to an authority figure, addressing an issue in need of change. The letter is directed towards
the president of the American Cancer Society, advocating the reallocation of funding towards
low-survival cancer types. In addition, the letter addresses the issue of the disproportionate focus
on breast cancer, which hinders other cancer types from receiving equitable support. Given my
family’s first-hand experience with the repercussions of underfunded cancer research,
determining a topic for this assignment immediately became evident. I had wanted to address the
issue of cancer funding for some time, yet I struggled to find the correct words. However, the
words gradually began to flow together, and I was able to effectively articulate the fragmented
thoughts I had accumulated onto paper. I thoroughly enjoyed composing this letter and consider
it to be one of the most compelling essays I have written in my lifetime. Although I have not yet
sent the letter to its intended recipient, I fully intend to do so as this issue remains significantly
important to me. Similarly, the second artifact carries the same significance, providing clear
insight into where my commitment lies. The purpose of the assignment was to demonstrate one’s
commitment and its impact on the world around them. The essay titled “The Commitment for
Two'' shares the pledge I have made to my brother, continuing the life he left behind. Composing
this essay was a challenge, as I had never truly contemplated my commitments before. As a
result, I was required to engage my critical thinking skills, taking a considerable amount of time
to organize and articulate my thoughts. Although this essay was wearisome to write, it allowed
me to contemplate the significance of my brother’s life and the impact he had on the people
surrounding him.

Furthermore, the third artifact chosen covers the disheartening story of Emmet Till, a civil rights
narrative that presented a challenge to my writing abilities. The paper titled “The Unjustified
Case: Till” was the final essay I wrote in Mr. Kruse’s government class and proved to be a
challenge. The assignment involved selecting a film that encapsulated an event in history,
followed by writing a summary. However, I found it difficult to recall the intricacies of the film
after it was complete. Consequently, the writing process was prolonged and required additional
research. Nevertheless, the profound impact of the story sparked a sense of resentment within
me, ultimately becoming one of the finest research papers I have written. While each artifact
presents its own set of challenges, the final artifact was by far the most daunting in terms of
writing. Titled “The Transformative Journey with Shame," the essay aimed to examine the
multifaceted aspects of shame and the importance of embracing it. Despite having a solid
perception of what shame entailed, I quickly realized that I did not fully comprehend it.
Therefore, writing eight paragraphs about the effects of shame required hours of research and
thoughtful contemplation in order to grasp the topic in its entirety. Nonetheless, I perceived and
submitted a solid essay, supported by credible sources.

Although I struggle to remember the exact age I became literate, I distinctly remember the
gradual improvements from my earliest childhood memories. I learned to read from a book series
titled Dick and Jane, with my father and eldest brother dedicating the most time to teaching me.
The series significantly influenced my early passion for reading, as evidenced by my ability to
reach the library’s maximum book limit nearly every visit. In addition, several years after I
became proficient in my writing abilities, I began composing essays purely for my passion for
gaining knowledge. I have always been a strongly opinionated individual, preferring to base my
beliefs solely on factual evidence. Instead of arguing about topics that I lack knowledge of, I
would prioritize conducting extensive research beforehand, sometimes even disproving my
initial thoughts. While I do not particularly find writing enjoyable, I occasionally utilize it as a
tool to enhance my understanding of all viewpoints. Rather than following others blindly, I
recognize the value of forming personal opinions based on evidence. As a result, my past
recreational writing has significantly influenced my current writing style and contributed to my
well-rounded perspectives on various issues.

When given an assignment, I tend to follow a static process in order to ensure thorough and clear
communication. I initially start by writing down incomplete thoughts and forming rough
sentences to develop an outline of the essay’s central idea. As an analytical thinker, I have
always gravitated towards mathematics and held a keen interest in problem-solving. As a result, I
tend to frequently associate various aspects of my life with mathematical equations waiting to be
solved. In other words, I imagine composing essays as literacy puzzles where each sentence acts
as an equation that must be solved to formulate a well-constructed essay. Although
time-consuming, repeatedly proofreading each sentence ensures clarity and fluidity, serving as
the answer to the equation. Furthermore, I exert various tools in order to provide intricate details
and descriptions, aiming to steer away from vagueness or inaccuracy. While I consider my
vocabulary to be sufficient, I frequently utilize a thesaurus to add more dynamic to my writing.
In addition, I thoroughly research every source I incorporate to ensure credibility and
authenticity. Throughout my life, my writing process has remained unchanging. While my
writing certainly lacks perfection, I am confident that each assignment is a reflection of my
utmost efforts.

Similarly to my writing process, my strengths and weaknesses have remained consistent over
time. Undoubtedly, my greatest weakness in writing is time management, which often makes
timed essays a nightmare. I tend to lose track of time throughout my rigorous proofreading
process, finding myself writing for several hours at a time. In particular, I recently spent seven
consecutive hours writing an essay due to stress and the fear of receiving a poor grade. As one
may have guessed, I experience intense stress from my inability to write quickly, partially fueled
by the limited time I have after work each day. On the other hand, writing slowly can also be
seen as one of my strengths. I prioritize effective communication that accurately reflects my
beliefs and writing abilities, rather than a half-hearted or unethical approach. Moreover, I
incorporate critical thinking into every aspect of an assignment. By carefully considering each
phase, whether pertaining to structure or research, my work is guaranteed to be well-crafted.
While my strengths and weaknesses have steadily remained, they significantly influence the
quality of my writing.

After transferring to an architecture major, writing will undoubtedly continue to be a constant in

my life over the next four years. The portfolio I have created will significantly aid me in the
future, better preparing me as I partake in architectural projects that require exceptional writing
abilities. However, I understand that the classes will progressively become more challenging as
time passes. Balancing the demands of a full-time student with a high-stress job, I fear I will
struggle to complete all my work and will further strain myself to always achieve "perfection."
Therefore, I must address the issue of managing my time more efficiently and refrain from
unnecessary repetition in proofreading. After all, my academic expectations as a college
freshman may be unrealistic, potentially differing from the majority. As I continue my academic
journey, I am better prepared to face future endeavors. However, I recognize the importance of
managing my time to ensure productivity.

Thank you for taking the time to review my portfolio. I have invested considerable time to
accurately exemplify my writing abilities, and I trust my effort is evident throughout the
collection. Furthermore, the artifacts I have provided support the arguments regarding my precise
attention to detail and methodical writing process. Finally, I appreciate your understanding and
guidance throughout the semester. Your ability to challenge us with a wide variety of
assignments has better prepared me for my future pursuits. It has been a pleasure being a student
in your class, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the past semester. If you have any questions or
concerns regarding my portfolio, I would be pleased to address them.

Sincerely,

Alissa Ricketson