ENGL 1103 Critical Reading and Writing

An applied rhetoric course focusing on intensive practice in basic concepts of written communication; active reading skills; research strategies; MLA documentation conventions; principles of organization and coherence; prewriting, drafting, and revising practices; and surface correctness of sentences. Prerequisite: ENGL 1101 or placement.

College Preparation

At first, I felt uncertain about college, even though I had been heavily prepared for it by teachers and mentors, but I was able to adapt fast and match the pace of the class. Even though the class was different from what I was used to, I learned how to prioritize my schedule and felt comfortable after the first few classes. I found value in my struggles, because every time I solved an issue I acquired new knowledge too. A problem I ran into in the beginning was with my Microsoft email for Catawba, which I was able to reach support to fix. This being my first semester dual-enrolled felt very informative and I believe it’s going to be the most important experience I will ever have in terms of learning and experiencing college. I was glad to not run into too much trouble, thanks to preparation and guidance, but valued the rigor along the way.

Sample Work

My essay: “Social Media Effects: An Exploration of Preserving Our Well-Being”, explores the implication social media bestows upon its users—the good and the bad. Comparing its effects on different age groups along with how it's used, I provide insight on social media's presence in people's lives and how to use it appropriately.