Class Work

All of the assignments below have helped significantly with my development as a writer. The first one was a task in which we were individually asked to define the relationship between writing and design. Through this course, design has proved over and over again to be incredibly important in the formation of my writing. I found that both The Photo Essay and The Rhetorical Analysis were the most fun to do because it allowed me to use both the creative aspect of design along with using words to describe what was important in both assignments. The second assignment was a small group activity and we were asked to come up with characteristics of a good communicator. I think being able to bounce ideas off the members of my group was helpful. We were able to come up with a great list that not only helped us form our characteristic as communicators, but also as writers. The third assignment was to take one of the posters in our textbook and analyze it. I picked the Wizard of Oz poster because I love the movie. But, I was able to evaluate it and come to the conclusion that it did not do a good job at attracting attention. This assignment helped me to realize that analyzing something closely can give you an entirely new perspective on it. The last two assignments are my peer reviews of Sarah and Abby's Researched Synthesis. These were not only helpful to Sarah and Abby, but they also helped me with my evaluation skills. I learned how to better review my own essays and to catch things I never use to notice, such as awkward sentence structures and lack of consistency through a paper. Overall, I think the assignments we did in class were worthwhile and beneficial to me as a writer.

What is the relationship between Writing and Design?

The relationship between writing and design and it's effect on good communication is much more relevant than I had previously thought. Lisa Ede's view point makes communication seem like much more than just words and their meaning. People can say what they need to say by using images and the world around us to express the meaning they need to. With the amount of technology in today's world, design has become so much more advanced than it once was. Without design and it's presence in communication, we would have a lesser chance of expressing our thoughts in the fullest way possible.

Characteristics of a Good Communicator:

Checklist

- Know your audience

- Be Confident in what you say

- Tone of Message

- Clarity

- Correct Grammar

- Set Purpose

- Don't repeat yourself

- Structure of main points

Thinking Through Production- Page 331:

My initial response to “The Wizard of Oz” movie poster is that it looks really old fashioned. The purpose is to promote the movie and get people to go see it. It uses bright colors to attract a more cheerful audience. The poster shows a big cast and many theatrical elements. The choices that the maker made was to use bright colors, a lot of wording, and different pictures of different scenes from the movie. The choices work together to create a sense that a lot happens in the movie. With that being said, I actually do not think that the poster works because there is no focus on anything in particular. There is so much going on and it is hard to determine what to expect from the movie.

My Review of Abby's Researched Synthesis:

QUESTIONS FOR REVISING A SYNTHESIS ESSAY

1. Does the title give you some indication of the writer’s attitude toward the topic? If not, suggest a title.
   Yes, the title expresses the importance the writer places on music.
2. Is there an interesting lead that attracts the reader’s attention? If not, suggest how the writer might begin the paper.

Yes, the lead into the paper begins by stating the importance of music is in remembering memories from your past, and then goes into the disease of Alzheimer’s.

3. Does the writer give you sufficient background information on the topic in the introduction so that you understand the context of the discussion? What seems to be missing from that background?
   Yes, there is enough background info.
4. How does the writer make his or her overall purpose clear to the reader? Does the thesis state the paper’s purpose?
   yes, it suggests that music can benefit Alzheimer patients.
5. Restate the writer’s point of view on the topic as expressed in the thesis. After reading the introduction, what three or four main ideas will be developed in the body of the paper?
   Music can help patients with Alzheimers. Main Points: help their memory, vocalization, and overall mood.
6. As you read each body paragraph, answer these questions:

1. What is the purpose that the writer is trying to accomplish in that paragraph?
2. How does the writer develop the main idea of the paragraph?  Is that sufficient to understand the topic?
3. How does the writer relate that purpose back to the thesis?
   The body paragraphs are not written yet, but the points in which she has laid out correlate directly to the introduction.

7. Does the writer introduce each source by qualifying the author and summarizing the article being used? The author has yet to add sources.
8. How does the writer identify relationships among sources? What kinds and where (how often)?  Not yet.
9. In each paragraph, does the writer provide sufficient context about the sources and does the writer use sufficient support from the sources to illustrate and express relationships?
   Not yet.
10. How many sentences of development of topic does the writer provide in each of the paragraphs, before introducing sources? Is it at least 3-4 sentences? Has not completed.
11. Does the conclusion do more than simply summarize the main points of the paper? If so, how?  If not, suggest what else the writer might include in the conclusion. Has not written the conclusion.
12. Does the writer include properly formatted parenthetical documentation where it is necessary and clearly differentiate among sources? Not yet.
13. Is there a Works Cited page? Is it done correctly? No

My Review of Sarah's Researched Synthesis:


QUESTIONS FOR REVISING A SYNTHESIS ESSAY

1. Does the title give you some indication of the writer’s attitude toward the topic? If not, suggest a title.
   No title. Make a title that correlates with the sense of fear expressed in the introduction in order to use that emotional draw to interest readers.
2. Is there an interesting lead that attracts the reader’s attention? If not, suggest how the writer might begin the paper.

Yes, it begins with a simple statement that creates the image of fear in children that causes an emotional response.

3. Does the writer give you sufficient background information on the topic in the introduction so that you understand the context of the discussion? What seems to be missing from that background?
   There is enough background info.
4. How does the writer make his or her overall purpose clear to the reader? Does the thesis state the paper’s purpose?
   She clearly states the wan to help the kids who have suffered.
5. Restate the writer’s point of view on the topic as expressed in the thesis. After reading the introduction, what three or four main ideas will be developed in the body of the paper?
   Help suffering children. Main Points: Reintegration, Counseling, and Healing brokenness
6. As you read each body paragraph, answer these questions:

1. What is the purpose that the writer is trying to accomplish in that paragraph?
2. How does the writer develop the main idea of the paragraph?  Is that sufficient to understand the topic?
3. How does the writer relate that purpose back to the thesis?
   The body paragraphs could use more support and elaboration.

7. Does the writer introduce each source by qualifying the author and summarizing the article being used? No
8. How does the writer identify relationships among sources? What kinds and where (how often)?  
9. In each paragraph, does the writer provide sufficient context about the sources and does the writer use sufficient support from the sources to illustrate and express relationships?
   Yes, but could elaborate.
10. How many sentences of development of topic does the writer provide in each of the paragraphs, before introducing sources? Is it at least 3-4 sentences? Yes, around 3-4 sentences are written
11. Does the conclusion do more than simply summarize the main points of the paper? If so, how?  If not, suggest what else the writer might include in the conclusion. No conclusion.
12. Does the writer include properly formatted parenthetical documentation where it is necessary and clearly differentiate among sources? No, there is only one in text citation.
13.  Is there a Works Cited page? Is it done correctly? No