The multimodal project seemed very easy to me at first but as I continued to work on it I realized it had several underlying layers I had to consider and it become much more challenging. I enjoyed looking online for varying pictures to display my viewpoints and I got to practice using a new program so that I could edit some of the pictures. However, it was difficult to figure out how to transition from my introduction to my main points while also incorporating the opposing view points. If I had more time I would have added additional pictures that added to my claim and continued to edit my powerpoint. I chose to work on normal excel powerpoint so I did not use any new sources/modes, but I think it was the best mode to use for my multimodal. I have never done a project even similar to this, so it was a very different process than I am used to. I created a reverse outline and tried to find pictures that I thought represented my main points and ideas but these were not always possible to find, so I had to edit my original draft a good amount. After much editing, I have a lot of clever and thought-provoking slides in my multimodal that really express my thesis and side clearly. I really discovered my ability to think about the same topic in a different way, and presenting the same thesis visually really helped develop new layers to my original argument. It gave me the chance to express my thesis and reflect on how best to display it.
Category Archives: Unit Reflections
Unit Reflection- Argument
The argument section has by far been the most challenging for me. I initially thought that I would have no trouble with this paper and it would be easy to write, but the further we moved into the paper the more I realized how challenging it would be to master this section. There are a lot of layers that underlie this section that I did not realize I needed to consider. The topic that I chose was also more challenging than I realized. It was also challenging to understand how to qualify. If I had more time for my paper I would have liked to find more sources to use so that I could add more detail and support to my thesis. I made a lot of commitment to this paper trying to make sure it was something that I liked and making sure that it flowed well and all my sources were credible. It was difficult at first for me to figure out how to integrate them into my paper without the flow of my paragraphs being interrupted. However, practicing with the citations in class helped with this.
Unit Reflection-Visual Analysis-03/04/16
The visual analysis was a challenging paper for me. I struggled with “seeing through the picture” and I had a hard time differentiating between what was obvious and what was analysis. I enjoyed this unit because it gave me a different perspective as to why specific images are included with certain articles and text. While writing this paper, I learned that I actually enjoy analyzing images and having time to think about what symbolism might be underlying in them. I have not done a paper like this before, so I had to commit a lot of time and effort to make sure I was staying on topic in my essay and had given a thorough analysis. This was challenging, but the in-class activities and group work we did as part of this unit helped me to understand what exactly I was looking for in pictures and different ideas to discuss. Re-learning pathos, ethos, logos, and kairos was also very helpful for analyzing the image and thinking about why certain elements were included. After this unit, when I see an image I will be able to analyze it and understand the significance of why it was chosen.
Literacy Narrative Reflection
I have not done any writing similar to the literacy narrative assignment, so it was a challenging paper to write. I am not always comfortable reflecting and analyzing my decisions and reasoning behind what I like and what I dislike so that was a new thing for me. While it was difficult, I really enjoyed processing why I did choose my article and what it says about me as a person. It was interesting because it let me think about my major with a clear mindset as to why I am so drawn to that certain field. I was able to easily talk about my background with how this article stood out to me. I spent a decent amount of time working on the paper, but if I had more time to review and edit it I think I could have added more analysis of what I am ultimately drawn to as a reader. I generally stayed on topic and made sure not to discuss my beliefs on the article too much, which was a little challenging since it could have easily turned into an argument paper. I was able to make some “big picture” connections, but I could have added more reflection to my paper. I liked taking the time to actually think about my interests and how they define who I am and what I am drawn to.