My Transition Through Writing

Kasiopeia West
Engl-2010-Sp22
Instructor Ann Fillmore
Salt Lake Community College
 Starting on the Shoreline
At the beginning of the semester, I had a general idea about writing from previously taking English 1010.
However, I still had not gotten my feet wet in the many genres of writing along with the technology used for
presenting writing. I was ready to leap in and explore the
different genres available that would be the most
appropriate. The same foundations of writing rolled over
from English 1010, but now it was time to expand on that
knowledge and dive deeper into the rhetorical appeals,
multimedia platforms and styles of writing.
 Open Letter
The first project we had this semester was to write an
open letter where I explored the Threshold Concepts of
rhetoric and action. An open letter is writing in which we
can deliberate problems and create change in the world
in a call to action through the power of words. I chose the
social issue of plastic pollution. This issue is a global issue
and has a wide audience. I decided to address my open
letter to the producers of plastic, the companies and
investors in such a product. I used the rhetorical appeals
of logos and pathos throughout my open letter by
providing evidence to back up my alarming tone. I came
across rather aggressive, but I wanted to portray the
anger of the population through my words within my
writing, in knowing that the companies are aware this
products negatively impacts the planet, yet choose to
turn a blind eye in the name of capital gain. Choosing the
appropriate rhetoric, has the power to change a reader’s
direction, influence them to join the call, or gain
information they did not have before.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under

Open Letter to Plastic Producers.docx CC BY-NC-ND
 Informative Project
For my informative project, I chose to create a website and
engaged in the use of the Threshold Concepts of writing and
contingency. I wanted to use the genre that was contingent
with my audience. I thought that if someone wanted
information on a topic, they would more than likely use the
internet and search through websites to gain their research. I
learned so much in doing this project, not only in the research
I gathered to present my topic, but in how to build a website.
This was a great opportunity to learn how to work with muti-
media to present my writing. Before taking this class I was
narrow in my thinking that writing was essay format and it
was somewhat boring. Exploring the various ways to write
such as with an informative presentation, persuasive
approach, or a powerful expression for a call to action, has
really expanded my thoughts on writing and how much fun it
can be. Learning to use various genres, like a website,
PowerPoint, infographic was another highlight that made
writing more interesting. An additional learning experience
was with copywriting my website through Creative
Commons. This was also a first for me and taught me the
process to licensing published works.
wrappedinplastik by Kasiopeia West is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://wrappedinplastik.weebly.com. https://wrappedinplastik.weebly.com
 Persuasive Project
During this project, I focused on using the Threshold Concepts of
deliberation and engagement. I found that creating my persuasive
project was rather easy for me to put together. After deliberating with
all of the research and viewing the multitude of images of what plastic
does to our oceans, animals, and people, it was able to present the
facts necessary to persuade my reader. All of the valuable information
was already sitting there just waiting to be shared. The most
challenging part of this project was learning a new program to build
and present an infographic. I originally had moving graphics and some
video clips displayed within my infographic to experiment with several
types of media within my presentation. However, I was unable to get
the link to work, so I almost had to start over on the entire project.
This was a good lesson in revising my writing. I figured out a way to
scrap the animated aspects to the project and upload it as a PDF for
viewing. Although it did not have the same effects I was originally
aiming for, I was still able to play on pathos by including still images of
marine life tangled in plastic and the importance of the public’s
engagement by offering solutions such as ways to reduce single
plastic use and where to find recycling centers near them.
Plastic Pollution Final Draft.pdf
Planning: the first step in writing. Knowing
the topic and how to present it is key.
The Writing Process
Draft: this is when you get your ideas on
paper and begin the organization of the
piece.

Plan Draft Revise Edit Publish

Revise: after going through your draft and

getting feedback from peers, make the
necessary changes that fit your project.
Edit: read your final piece several times,
checking for spelling error and grammar.
 The Rhetorical Appeals

Ethos- Credibility

Pathos- Emotion

Logos- Logic
 Threshold Concepts
Writing
Prior to this class, I struggled to
focus my writing in a direction but
really wanted to share information
that I have obtained. At the begging
of the class, we were given an
opportunity to write about a social
issue that we were interested in. This
really helped to demonstrate to me
how to focus my writing and use
that across the different genres.
Throughout the semester I have
learned that I enjoy writing even
more than before. Writing is a tool
to do things, be things and make
things in the world.
Rhetoric
The different projects we explored
this semester really helped me to
recognize and develop the
rhetorical appeals of pathos, logos,
and ethos. Every form of writing we
presented had a different approach
toward our audience. Having a
strong understanding and use of
the rhetorical appeals (ethos,
pathos, and logos) was necessary to
grab the readers attention. With
my social issue I used pathos most
often through the use of imagery
focused on the impacts that plastic
waste has on marine life.
Action
Action can call people to respond
and want to do something. I used
action in my writing by providing
evidence and facts about plastic
waste, in hopes to grab my reader’s
attention. Then I supplied several
ways in which they can participate
in reducing waste in their everyday
lives. I really enjoyed this threshold
concept because it made me feel as
though my writing could help
change the world in providing
reasonable solutions.
 Threshold Concepts Cont.
Deliberation
This class taught me how to
deliberate on a topic that some
might not have given much thought
to. It was up to me, as the writer, to
identify the issue, give examples of
how poor choices impact the globe,
and provide strategies that the
individual can participate in; along
with strategies that governments
around the world can implement in
order to make a change for the
health and safety of all life on the
planet.
Engagement
I really liked providing information
through my projects to get my
audience excited about being
involved. Engaging my readers in
the research I provided along with
some very shocking facts, gave my
writing meaning. I was not simply
rambling on about my opinion. I was
able to dive into my topic and
provide my readers with something
they too can engage in.
Contingency
Deciding which method to use that
was contingent to the situation and
purpose of my writing was my most
difficult concept for me to use. I
wanted to reach as many people as
possible with my social issue and
knowing what media to do that
with, was a challenge. I decided to
create a website for my informative
project and a infographic for my
persuasive project. I felt these were
the most ideal due to the fact that
when people want to research, they
go onto websites. In an attempt to
persuade, I wanted to be as
inconvenient as possible, so a quick
infographic would work best.
 Exploring the Depths
Approaching the end of the semester, I have gained so
much understanding about writing. I have more
confidence to present information in a variety of genres
and knowing which might be the most suited for the
situation, audience, and purpose of the writing. I have
gained a little more knowledge about the technology that
is used for the different genres of writing and would like to
continue to explore these medias. I look forward to my
future opportunities to write and grow in my abilities to
create a well designed, multi-media/muti-modal writing,
using the six Threshold Concepts and the rhetorical
appeals appropriate for the piece and wow myself and my
readers. Thank you for such a great semester with so
much opportunity for growth as a writer.

All Images are provided by Creative Commons