After reflecting on my four research journal entries throughout the semester, I noticed a pattern in my writing and thought process. The approach I took with these assignments was to have a very clear plan and outline of my argument before beginning my writing process. For all assignments, I always intended to have a strong and clear art-related idea, which I could then further develop through a secondary or scholarly source. For example, in my unit 2 project, the art interview, my art-related idea was that DJing is a form of artistic expression through visual storytelling, because this is a clear argument, and it was not too broad or unrelated to my interview, I was able to successfully research and locate an external source. The source I found supports my argument by showing how the combination of lyrics, sounds, and visuals makes DJing a form of visual storytelling. Overall, I'm proud of my approach when it comes to writing, taking a clear initiative in my organizational structure, and strategic thinking.
Throughout this class, I have created strong skills in rhetorical choices. My awareness of rhetorical sourcing has strengthened my understanding of how research, and genre shape meaning and purpose in communication. I’ve noticed different genres and called for different ways to utilize rhetorical sourcing, depending on the argument. I’ve come to realize that research isn't just about "collecting facts"; it is understanding how, why, and for whom those facts are being presented. Through this class, I have gained validation in my writing. Growing up, I have also excelled more in qualitative classes. However, since coming to college, I've seen a drastic shift in my writing as I've learned how to articulate an argument with logical flow, and to expand on that, I've also explored and applied all elements of rhetorical sourcing in my projects. For example, in my Unit 3 project, the art review, I felt a significant change when it came to locating my rhetorical sourcing. I was doing it much more efficiently and on my own, without needing to look at class handouts for hesitation. When it comes to researching my external sources, I've found that the BEAM method is most helpful. Oftentimes, I find multiple sources, and the deciding factor between which source I use in my papers is rereading my BEAM notes of the source, as it's very effective in highlighting the main points of an argument. Lastly, to me, entering a critical dialogue means not just summarizing, but having a critical mindset and asking myself questions, and actively engaging with their ideas. When I quote an author, I want to able to articulate why it matters and analyze its significance to my argument. This is something I feel I have done in all my papers, and particularly successful in my unit 3 project. In unit 3, the art review I did with my Thomas and Day source, and showed how art public spaces are important to foster a sense of community, and with the supporting argument from my source, it strengthens my argument.
I'm proud of the work I've completed for this class. I feel the most challenging project for me to write and create an argument for was project 1, hence why I decided to choose that project as my revision. After receiving feedback, I noticed my weakness involved rhetorical sourcing and creating strong analysis. I was able to identify the weakness in my paper. When I introduced my source, I did not provide an introduction of my author, I wrote “Kate Mondlcoh cites”. I understand, after reflecting, that this is not proper rhetorical sourcing. In my revision, I made sure to properly introduce my source. I provide appropriate context, to create a clearer flow to my argument along with keeping the integrity of the authors voice. Secondly, I have a clearer analysis in my revised project focusing on how technology negatively affects the way people engage with art. However, in my original unit one project, I focused on that, along with how influencer culture is a part of social media. By cutting out the influence of culture in my project, I was able to provide a more thorough, concise analysis and make it more comprehensible.
The revision process was helpful and has shown the growth I have made as a writer. I now find it second nature to rhetorical sources, and have embedded the skills I've learned in class and applied them through my writing process. I hope in my revision project, you can see the effort and intentional structure I have in my paper, by moving "pieces" around to create a clearer flow, while also adding new elements, like adding a new quote. My unit 1 project is most influential to a broad young audience, as it's a topic that people can relate, technology is everywhere, and I provide a comprehensive perspective relating it to art. The Syracuse database was a resource I used throughout all my projects. It was where I located my source for the Unit 1 project, through ProQuest. The name of my source is The Influencers: Van Gogh Immersive Experiences and the Attention-Experience Economy. By the end of the semester, I became very familiar with navigating the database, I found Proquest to be very informative, and PsycInfo.
Growing up, art has always been an interest of mine, I like to paint and draw, and I enjoy immersing myself in new cultures. Taking this course and reflecting on my encounters with art has only deepened my interest and appreciation. For instance, duringmy Unit 4 project the art controversy, I learned about Euphoria, a show I’ve enjoyed, and gained a deeper understanding of through researching different stakeholders perspectives, such as the director Sam Levinson’s. Through my research, I discovered that Levinson is a former addict and incorporated elements of his own life into the show. His message aims to portray the complex relationship with drug addiction. Learning about his background helped me better understand his creative choices in Euphoria, which encouraged me to explore new ideas and dive deeper into my research.
Class time was very helpful and informative in guiding me to apply the skills I learned to my projects. For example, assignments such as History with a Small H, the Charlie Rose interview with Kenneth Lonergan, and the Türkkan interview with Allison Markin Powell were all influential in helping me prepare for my art interview project. All of these readings and assignments, which we explored during the Unit 2 project, provided different topics and interpretations of what an interview could be. This variety reflects how broad the arts are as a genre—covering artifacts, history, translation, music, entertainment, and more.These arts inquiries impacted my engagement and critical dialogue by preparing me to ask thoughtful questions, conduct interviews, and identify meaningful art-related topics. I learned how to keep a neutral stance, stay curious, and recognize important elements that supported my assignment. I’ve learned art is about expression, and there’s a lot of creative flexibility. I feel my values and personality align well with this subject, and I was able to write passionately about topics I genuinely cared about, which showed in my writing. However, if I had to do research in areas like sports, architecture, or science, I think my tone and level of formality would be very different. I wouldn’t have as much creative liberty, and the content would be more fact-based and structured around technical analysis.
The research I’ve done for this class has been more in-depth than what I experienced before. I’m glad I’ve learned proper techniques for researching sources, as they’ve significantly improved the quality of my work. When it came to researching and evaluating my sources, the BEAM handout was incredibly helpful. I used it consistently as a point of reference throughout the research process. Breaking down sources into categories: Background, Exhibit, Argument, and Method, allowed me to better understand and assess their importance and relevance. I also relied on the rhetorical summary heuristic, which further guided my evaluation. These techniques were especially useful during my research for the Unit 3 project. For example, I wrote a rhetorical summary of the source Place Building: The Contribution of Art and Artistic Entrepreneurship by Thomas and Day. This summary helped me analyze the source’s purpose using ethos, pathos, and logos, and also led me to a quote that strengthened my argument that public art contributes to a sense of community. I plan to continue using these practices in my future writing courses. One key understanding I’ve gained about research genres is that the process isn’t linear, it takes time, flexibility, and careful consideration of sources. Ideas can shift, and not every source will end up being useful, even if you’ve spent a lot of time on it
Something I take great pride in is my hard work and determination when it comes to my schoolwork. I find learning both important and genuinely interesting. One aspect I enjoy about writing classes is that they encourage me to think critically about situations on topics I might not typically engage with. In each of my writing projects, I believe it’s clear where my unique voice and perspectives come through. In today’s digital world, I understand that tools like ChatGPT are often used in other classes as a resource. However, if ChatGPT had been used to write my papers, I don't think it could have analyzed the topics as thoroughly or captured the authentic voice I bring to my work. My writing reflects my thoughts, personality, and effort. This is something ChatGPT is not able to replicate.
I’ve always found that in-person work and real-life experience are more valuable than anything you can find online. For instance, I’ve benefited greatly from peer reviews, whether it’s getting advice from my professor or sharing drafts with a friend. I see a strong connection between process and product: the more thought I put into the process, the stronger my final piece becomes. That’s why I always aim to put my best work into my rough drafts, it sets a solid foundation not only for the final content but also for how it's presented. I value the process most of all because it’s what makes the final product successful. If ChatGPT were used as a product in this course, I think it could hinder students critical thinking skills.