Reflection On English 131

This portfolio is a compilation of the written works I completed in English 131 during the 2012 fall quarter, all of which support my definite comprehension and execution of the course outcomes. Consisting of four short papers and two major papers, my portfolio explores the new techniques I have learned as a college student writer, the themes of culture and language, and the four main outcomes of English 131. Over the course of ten weeks, the professionalism and effectiveness of my writing developed into that of a college student. Transitioning from high school to college level writing is a challenge that is ongoing as a student expands there knowledge of writing tactics, writes on different topics and themes, and reflects on their writing consistently. English 131 was the perfect …show more content…
The syllabus for English 131 is structured around four main outcomes, the first of which is to “Demonstrate an awareness of strategies writers use in different writing context.” As a class we read multiple pieces of writing, ranging from essays to short stories to advertisements that provided examples of how authors effectively portray their claims and/or themes, specifically through pathos, ethos, and logos. I demonstrate an exploration and adoption of authors’ techniques in Short Assignment 3, when I discuss the effectiveness of two authors in an interactive hypothetical conversation through written letters. While the first outcome develops an eye for recognizing authors’ techniques, the second focuses on analyzing and supporting those techniques with multiple kinds of evidence. My first major paper, comparing the effectiveness of two authors, Amy Tan and James Baldwin, not only studies the two pieces written and highlights their tactics in persuading an audience but also provides numerous examples in proving that Tan’s essay