Guzman 1

Robert Guzman

Mr. Gardiakos

14 April 2013

ENC 1101

My Reflection on the Course

When I signed up for this course, I had no idea what I was going to be learning

throughout this semester. In this class, I was able to learn more on how to write properly and

different writing styles. For example, when it comes to writing an annotated bibliography, I just

thought that all it was writing a brief summary on whichever source was chosen.

I also learned that in every source, there are rhetorical situations that had to be analyzed;

for instance, sources state their information as claims and facts in order to favor their

dispositions, even though they might not be in the first place. When I had to write a unit paper

on any topic of my choice, I chose to write about “Gun Control and Gun Bans”. The purpose of

that unit paper was to pick three sources that did not agree in their dispositions toward gun

control and gun bans and analyze their statements rhetorically to see if they say them as facts or

claims. Another purpose was to pick out the exigence, constraints and the audience of each

source. After writing this unit paper, I learned that sources are not perfect and contain loopholes.

When they try to get their message across to the audience, they are limited by constraints within

the source; this is a reason to analyze a source rhetorically. It was easy to identify the sources’

exigence, which was basically their disposition toward gun control and gun bans. When trying

to look for constraints within the article, I had to identify statements that limited the source’s

exigence, which did not favor in their disposition. Finding the audience of the source was

contingent while having an understanding of who the source was trying to persuade or refer to.

Guzman 2

When I finished writing the unit paper, I had learned that a lot of sources will claim everything

they say as a facts to favor their disposition. I gained a lot of experience when it comes to

writing essays based on research from writing the first unit paper. From now on, I am not going

to trust a source without analyzing their information rhetorically and picking out their exigence,

constraints and targeted audience.

The second unit paper I had to write was on how I had changed as a writer throughout the

course. The purpose of this unit paper was to demonstrate how my writing was in the past and

what I had learned so far in this course. While fulfilling the purpose of this second unit paper, I

was able to make a lot of changes to the way I write and demonstrate the changes I had made.

For example, before entering this course, I used to write by a strict set of rules without giving

myself room for flexibility when writing. I had also learned what separates good writers from

bad ones; this separation is that good writers do not set that many limitations on themselves

unlike bad writers. In addition, I learned that well known writers had the same troubles as me

when it comes to writing. For example, they go through processes of planning, incubation, and

revision just as I do. These authors also write very bad first drafts and had to come up with

multiple drafts in order for it become better writers. The only difference between them and me is

the amount of time the both of us put into own writings. I gained a significant amount of

experience when I wrote the second unit paper. It changed the way I view the writing process;

because of this, I am a different writer than what I used to be thanks to this assignment.

The third unit paper I had to write for this course was to pick a discourse community and

how they possess the individual characteristics of what it is to be a discourse community. The

discourse community I picked for this essay was based on the New England Patriots. To fulfill

the purpose of this essay, I had to explain how and why the New England Patriots is considered a

Guzman 3

discourse community. I had to explain that the New England Patriots have their own set of

common public goals, have ways of intercommunication amongst themselves, how they provide

information and feedback, have their own genres to further their aims, how they have their own

lexis, and they have their threshold level of expertise.

While writing the third unit paper, I had learned the purpose was simple but quite long

since I had to research the New England Patriots and how they fitted each trait of the discourse

community. When I finished writing this unit paper, I revised it numerous times and brought it

to the UCF writing center to guarantee a good grade for this essay. The third unit paper was

helpful to me by allowing me to fully understand what a discourse community is and what

separates it from the rest of the other communities.

This class taught me a significant amount of information and allowed me to grow as a

writer. I learned how to do better research online by utilizing “New York Times” as a source

finder before I write an essay. I also developed a better sense of what MLA style is like and how

it is different from the AP style format. I learned the basics on writing while being in this

course. I am sure that in the future, I will have to apply everything that I have learned in this

course and face more challenges. As a writer, my confidence has grown significantly as well.

All the course readings and reading responses I was assigned to do, have helped make me

become the writer I am today. I have gained so much knowledge and skill when it comes to

writing thanks to this course.