Through the progression of ENC 2135, I have developed a deeper understanding of the function of writing across a series of specificities as well as refined my writing for clarity, precision, and purpose. While the course built on foundational skills that I have touched on in previous AP courses taken thought high school, it pushed me further by emphasizing research practices. Thought the cumulative projects, I learned not only how to construct a research based project, but also how to adjust my writing strategies depending on the context and expectation for each assignment. This course has taught me that clarity in writing is not only about using clear language, but also about making intentional rhetorical choices that allow readers to easily follow and connect with my work.
One of the earliest lessons in the course involved understanding that certain areas of academia and profession have their own shared values, conventions, and preferred forms of expression. Writing clearly within a community involves both understanding those expectations and adapting your stylistic choices to cater to the audience. I examined the writing that occurs in my own field in order to identify specific rhetorical practices that enhance my writing. This expanded my ability to contract clear writing that is audience-dependent rather than universal.
The research project was the first major assignment we had, and it challenged me substantially. Through this essay, I learned how clarity begins with the research and it’s important to maintain clear boundaries in your topic in order to maintain a distinct focus. I learned to extract relevant evidence from larger works, and how to break it down to use in separate projects.
The rhetorical analysis assignment strengthened my attention to how clarity functions differently depending on the medium. Through the analysis of one text-based artifact and one non-text-based artifact from my field, I noticed the nuanced collaboration of visual, structural, and linguistic choices as they are used to shape meaning. I learned that clarity in writing is not dissimilar to clarity in design. Aspects such as layout, emphasis, and rhetorical framing can make information more accessible and persuasive when used in a clear way. This project demonstrated that effective writers must consider how different forms of media and rhetoric influence how audiences absorb information.
In the multigenre campaign project, I had to express a singular position across multiple genres, each aimed at a distinct audience with its own expectations and conventions. This assignment required me to think strategically about how to best adapt my message while maintaining a distinct ideal in a coherent format. Crafting a full figured campaign allowed me to see that success in rhetorical manipulation is the result of deliberate decision making rather than a single stylistic profile.
To close the semester this ePortfolio has allowed me to reflect on my growth throughout my time in ENC 2135. I have spent time revisiting my drafts, crafting revisions, and navigating feedback. I recognize my largest improvement int he progression of how clear and purposeful my writing has become. I have learned to carefully articulate my composition, rather than word dump onto the page. This realization has allowed me to shift my view on clarity within writing. It is not the result of carefully monitored writing shifts, it is a habit developed through continuous practice and adaptation.