Throughout this course I have learned a lot more about writing than I thought I would when the semester first began. Before taking this class, I knew very little about genres, rhetorical analysis, and proper citation practices. Writing is far from being my best skill, but after taking this class it has given me confidence boosts when it comes to writing. I now feel like a more well-rounded student, and I have started to notice ways I can apply the skills I learned while in this course to my everyday practices.  

  One of the most interesting things I have learned about is genres. Before this class, I thought genres were like movie themes. However, now I realize how genres are shaped by influence, community expectations, and rhetorical situations. Also, they expand beyond just movies. Once I learned that genres evolve based on how people use them and what they need them for, I started to notice these patterns everywhere like social media posts, emails, videos, articles, and even conversations. Understanding genres made me recognize why certain messages are curated the way they are and how different forms of communication serve different purposes. 

Audience awareness was another important skill I learned. I used to write without really thinking about who would read my work, but now I understand that audience determines almost everything like the tone I use, the vocabulary I choose, the medium I deliver the message in, and the types of rhetorical strategies I incorporate. Knowing how to appeal to a specific audience makes writing much more intentional, and I’ve already begun applying this in my everyday life. 

Rhetorical analysis was also something I didn’t expect to understand so clearly. I was already familiar with ethos, pathos, and logos, but I didn’t know how to use them effectively or analyze them in depth. This course showed me how to break down the text and analyze the whole thing to get a better understanding of what the text is trying to get me to understand. Now I can pick up on why the author chose to do certain things and why it mattered. It helped me see how rhetorical strategies shape the impact of a message. Now I can not only identify them but also apply them purposefully in my own writing. 

When revising my major project, I used feedback from my professor and peer reviews to guide my decisions when it came to revising my project. Even though I did fairly well on the assignment, I knew there were areas where I could make my ideas clearer and more effective. I reworded confusing sentences, reorganized sections to strengthen my analysis, and removed repetitive information. I also paid attention to the tone and made sure my writing sounded appropriate for the genre I was working within. These revisions made my arguments more focused and improved the flow of the project. 

Overall, the discussion boards, revisions, and assignments I completed throughout the semester clearly show how much I have grown as a writer. I now understand concepts like rhetorical situations, genre theory, audience, and analysis on a much deeper level. I am able to explain why I make certain choices in my writing, and I feel more confident in my ability to communicate effectively in different contexts. The work I produced and the feedback I received throughout this course reflect just how much my skills have developed, and I am proud of the progress I made.