I reviewed Olivia Kanterman's and Maurice Saade’s essays. From Olivia’s work, I learned the importance of using specific examples and very detailed references to strengthen personal narratives, making the argument more convincing and relatable. There were many references and detailed examples on how she has used multiple methods towards her literacy. Her detailed anecdotes about her literacy development, like writing blogs for a nonprofit, showed how concrete experiences can effectively illustrate growth. From Saade’s essay, I realized how powerful personal storytelling can be when combined with scholarly insights; her detailed childhood memories and reflections highlighted the deep connection between early literacy experiences and identity. Being able to relate literacy to her getting to a high position in her job so quick opened my eyes to how literacy really plays a key role in our lives. Both essays taught me that combining personal stories with academic sources creates compelling, meaningful narratives.
This reflection demonstrates how I am meeting Outcome 2: Multiple Literacies & Goal Setting by analyzing and synthesizing different types of texts—personal essays by Olivia Kanterman and Maurice Saade—and applying their insights to my understanding of literacy. By reviewing their essays, I learned the value of using specific examples, detailed references, and personal storytelling to strengthen narratives and make arguments more convincing and relatable. Olivia’s detailed anecdotes about her literacy development, such as writing blogs for a nonprofit, showed me how concrete experiences can illustrate growth effectively. Similarly, Saade’s blending of personal childhood memories with scholarly insights revealed how early literacy experiences shape identity and influence future success. These essays expanded my awareness of multiple literacies and highlighted the importance of goal setting—for example, understanding how literacy skills can impact career advancement. Reflecting on these texts has helped me recognize the power of combining personal stories with academic sources, motivating me to set clear literacy goals and incorporate diverse literacies into my own writing. Overall, this coursework and reflection show my growth in understanding multiple literacies and how to use them purposefully to achieve personal and academic goals, fulfilling Outcome 2.
In their articles both Lamott and Sommers emphasize that writing is a process that is rooted in embracing imperfection, effort, and learning from mistakes. Lamott advocates for accepting the messiness of writing, saying that perfection should not worsen the progress. Lamott highlights this idea with the statement, "The only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really badly and then fix it," which shows that initial drafts are meant to be rough and imperfect (why we call them rough drafts). There is also emphasis on perseverance, saying, "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts," this can be shown as encouraging writers to accept their flaws and keep pushing working despite setbacks they may face. On the other hand, Sommers focuses on the idea that writing is a craft that can be developed through effort and discipline. Sommers emphasizes that talent alone is not enough, saying, "Writing is not just talent—it’s a skill that can be developed through discipline." Underscoring that failure and mistakes are essential parts of growth, stating, "Failure is a necessary step in mastering the craft." Both authors highlight that improvement comes from consistent effort and that mistakes are needed in order to becoming a better writer.
A quote that stood out to me from Lamott is, "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts," because it reassures me that struggling with drafts is normal and part of the process. It makes me feel less discouraged about producing imperfect work initially and encourages perseverance. From Sommers, the statement, "Writing is not just talent—it’s a skill that can be developed," caught my eye because it shifts the focus from the ability with effort, making writing feel more accessible. After reading both articles, my understanding of the writing process changed a little. Writing is less of a showing of talent and more as a skill that needs persistence, practice, and patience. The idea that making mistakes and producing rough drafts are necessary steps makes the process feel more forgiving and less intimidating, which now makes me comfortable to make mistakes when writing.
Major Project 2 Interview Questions.pdf
This reflection aligns well with Outcome 2: Multiple Literacies & Goal Setting by demonstrating how I engaged with different perspectives on writing—particularly Lamott’s and Sommers’—and how their ideas helped shape my understanding of the writing process. By analyzing their emphasis on embracing imperfection, effort, and learning from mistakes, I expanded my awareness of multiple literacies related to writing as a skill that can be developed through perseverance and discipline. I used specific quotes, such as Lamott’s statement that "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts," to reflect on my own experiences and feelings about producing rough drafts, which has helped me set realistic goals for myself. Similarly, Sommers’ emphasis that writing is a skill that can be cultivated through effort shifted my perception from viewing talent as the primary factor to understanding the importance of discipline and persistence. Reflecting on these ideas has empowered me to set achievable goals, accept mistakes as part of growth, and approach writing with a more positive mindset. Overall, this coursework and reflection demonstrate my development in understanding multiple literacies related to writing and my ability to set goals that foster continuous improvement, fulfilling Outcome 2.