Student Essay Analysis

Reading Journal Melzer

I feel like I am more of structured writer. I write better when I have a set prompt compared to freewriting. Generating my own ideas has been something I have always struggled with. Last semester, I was so proud of my MP assignment. I spent a lot of time on it and was confident in the work I had done. This semester I hope to strengthen the overall structure of my writing. I can do this by increasing my vocabulary to make my essays seem more academic. I can also work on choosing credible sources as well as learn the proper format for works cited pages. I am typically a fast learner, picking up on things the first time they are shown to me. However, I do struggle with reading comprehension of reading sometimes, so it is easier for me to hear instructions from my teacher, and understand it rather than trying to understand on my own.

Ann Johns writes about the many different discourse communities. An individual is born into communities such as religion and class, but Johns focuses more on the chosen communities based on an individuals interests, politics, and profession. These essentially fall into three categories: Social, Political and Recreational, Professional, and Academic. Social, political, and recreational communities include sports clubs, hobby groups, activist groups, and more. The professional community is based off of an individuals career choice. The community that they belong to will share similar basics. Academic communities include the school you attend, classes you take, and degree you hold. Discourse communities often overlap, sharing a broad category and branching into more specific communities. Within a community, the individual is in a mutual relationship: giving and receiving. For example, Johns family is a member of many groups including the local art museum and theatre production. They donate money, time, and support to these groups and in return they receive their publications and attend functions. Throughout ones life, they may be a member of many communities at once, often becoming more and less involved with old and new groups as time goes on.

Listed below are a few of the discourse communities I associate myself with.

Social, political, recreational:

-LGBTQ+

-Feminists

-AARP (social security/taxes)

Professional:

-PrePharmacy

Academic:

-Ole Miss Students

-FASTrack

In highschool, I took Spanish 1 and 2. I never had the opportunity to practice these skills outside of the classroom though. That was until I got a job working at Raising Canes. In my time there, many Spanish speaking families would come through attempting to order with the very little English they were familiar with, or having their young child translate for them. I was able to assist these customers by applying the foreign language class I had taken in highschool, into the real world. This was the only continuation of Spanish I had after the class. Although it was difficult and often felt uncomfortable to me to be attempting to speak a different language, it made me realize a lot of things. Non English speakers in America are often viewed as uneducated or inferior to English speakers, when it is truly just a different way of speaking. I am uncomfortable trying to speak Spanish to that one family, but imagine how that family feels trying to speak Spanish surrounded by judgemental English only speakers.

For most of the questions, my number answers ranged from 4-7. I feel most uncomfortable using primary and secondary resources in my writing because I am unsure of the differences between the two. I am most confident changing my stance with credible evidence as well as considering my genre and audience before research or presentation. I form strong opinions of topics, but I still keep an open mind to any new material. Considering genre and audience before researching better helps the writer or speaker appeal to them. I was taught from grade school for a source to be credible, the researcher must confirm the info with three other sources as well as checking the authors’ credentials.

I would define a writer as anyone who composes words together. You don’t have to be a famous author to be considered a writer.  Someone composing poems in the note section of their phone, creating a diary of their thoughts, or simply completing an assignment are all writers. Andrew G.R., a published author and regular blogger, writes that publication “is no longer a benchmark of true success for a writer.” There are so many blogs and websites attracting more readers than published books could dream of.

For myself as a writer, I would say I mostly write on a have to basis. Mostly for assignments therefore it just feels like a task. It makes me feel as less than a writer to have to follow by certain prompts. However, when given free reign, the possibilities seem endless. My creativeness as a writer opens and I feel as I can write whatever my mind feels. Tyler Hurst writes in his blog that a good writer “constructs their writing in a way that is understood by the target audience.” For myself, writing for pleasure makes me feel like a “real” writer following this. I tend to write for myself so I speak in ways I would appreciate being approached or targeted by other writers.

Works Cited

“How Do You Define Being a Writer?” The Blog Herald, 8 Jan. 2010, www.blogherald.com/guides/how-do-you-define-being-a-writer/.

‌

https://www.facebook.com/Pagely. “What Makes a Good Writer?” Pagely®, 7 May 2017, pagely.com/blog/what-makes-good-writer/.

‌

For this analysis, I chose a thread posted to twitter by former First Lady, Michelle Obama. She is addressing the American people, pleading with them to vote for Joe Biden. She references the presidential debate to convey her message with it nearing the deadline for voter registration as well as election day. 

Mrs. Obama uses heavy pathos throughout her post. Her opening sentence, she uses empathy saying “I feel you. Believe me, I do.” to establish a connection between herself and others appalled by the current President’s behavior in the debate. The former First Lady then went on to refer to Joe Biden as her “friend.” To the average American, many forget those high officials are still regular people, much like celebrities. 

She uses language such as “chaos” to seemingly describe the state of our country under his term and reason with the reader that the only way to fix it is if you cast your vote for Joe Biden. Her writing is clear and concise on what she is trying to convey. She writes improper english but speaks to the American people as if we are on the same level. She puts responsibility on the reader to make sure their friends and family are registered to vote and even attaches the iwillvote.com link. This creates a feeling as if it is mine or the reader’s personal responsibility to stabilize this country. 

Initially reading this thread, it is credible and informative. She references a debate that can virtually be accessed at any time and replayed as well as encouraging the people to vote and including a website to ensure their registration. Upon further analysis, I could recognize the tension in her words when referencing the president. The opening statement expresses how she was “turned off” by his behavior, but she does not elaborate on this. Thankfully, I watched the debate live as well as news reports discussing both parties and can confirm that the debate was a turn off, but that was caused by both candidates. Her concluding paragraph also seems to be a jab at him or his party. She says the numbers must be “undeniable” as if  a win is only considered that if it’s by a landslide. As the reader, I interpreted it as Trump and the republican party would argue Biden’s presidency if it was declared that he won. Knowing Trump’s past remarks and actions, I would also agree with this as an opinion, but alluding to it without proof can be interpreted as providing biased information to the voters. Overall, the post is effective in conveying her message to not only register yourself to vote, but also hold your family and friends to doing the same while endorsing Joe Biden and persuading the people for our vote.

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download