Midterm Writing Self-Assessment For Each Question Below Plea

Mid Term Writing Self Assessmentfor Each Question Below Please Respo

For this mid-term self-assessment, I will critically reflect on my current writing skills, progress, and areas for development based on the prompts provided. The focus will be on my upcoming comparison and contrast paper, my current strengths and weaknesses as a writer, my understanding of different writing genres such as comparison and contrast versus descriptive analysis, and insights gained through my coursework at Suffolk University.

Paper For Above instruction

1. Planning for the Next Paper on Comparison and Contrast

When considering my next paper on comparison and contrast, my plan involves carefully selecting two readings that I find engaging and thought-provoking. I intend to choose texts that either demonstrate interesting thematic differences or convergences, or that present contrasting perspectives on a shared subject. My rationale for selecting these readings is driven by my interest in exploring meaningful connections and divergences—perhaps two articles that examine a similar phenomenon but from distinct cultural or ideological standpoints. For example, I am considering comparing a scholarly article on climate change policy with a personal narrative that reflects its social impact because the glaring differences in tone and purpose could yield a rich analysis. Additionally, I look for readings that contain clear, identifiable themes or criteria such as tone, audience, purpose, or evidence, which I can analyze to support my synthesis. These criteria will help me structure my essay around coherent themes and lend clarity to my comparison.

In terms of comparison and contrast, I observe that these texts differ significantly in their approach to the topic—one might be more academic and data-driven, while the other is more emotional and narrative-driven. Yet, they also share common ground in their underlying message or goal, such as raising awareness or influencing behavior. For instance, one reading may employ extensive statistical data, exemplified by a quote from the text: “According to recent studies...,” while the other uses personal anecdotes like, “I remember the day when...” These examples will be instrumental in highlighting both thematic similarities and differences. I plan to focus on themes such as intent, tone, audience, and evidence in my analysis and to support my points with these direct examples from the texts and textbook concepts.

2. An Area of Writing I Would Like to Improve

One area of my writing that I recognize needs further development is clarity. Reviewing my responses and drafts reveals moments where my ideas are somewhat muddled or require additional explanation for the reader to understand my points clearly. For example, in one draft, I wrote, “The text shows contrast in how it discusses the topic,” which is vague, and I could clarify what exactly the contrast is and how it operates. Peer feedback has also pointed out instances where my sentences are convoluted or where I lack explicit connection between ideas, leading to ambiguity. To address this, I plan to focus on refining my sentence structure, using clearer transition phrases, and explicitly stating the relationships between ideas. Applying strategies such as outlining my main points beforehand and reviewing my work with a critical eye will help me improve. I have already begun exercises in paraphrasing and editing for clarity, and I intend to continue practicing these to make my writing more direct and comprehensible.

3. Reflection on Comparison and Contrast versus Descriptive Analysis

Comparing and contrasting as a genre differs significantly from descriptive analysis in its purpose and structure. Descriptive analysis typically aims to create a vivid picture of a subject through detailed observation, focusing on sensory details and mood. In contrast, comparison and contrast seeks to examine the similarities and differences between two or more texts, ideas, or objects, often requiring a more analytical and evaluative approach. I think comparison and contrast could be more challenging because it demands the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and develop nuanced criteria for comparison. It also involves balancing multiple perspectives without favoring one over the other. For example, my descriptive response about a scene from a previous paper involved rich, sensory language, such as “The sunlight filtered softly through the leaves,” whereas my comparison paper will require me to analyze abstract qualities and directly relate different texts through thematic lenses. However, I find this process inviting because it deepens my understanding of how different texts operate and encourages critical thinking. Overall, comparison and contrast may be more complex, but I believe it will be more engaging and intellectually rewarding than descriptive analysis.

4. Reflection on Skills and Strategies Gained in WRI 101

Taking WRI 101 has solidified my understanding of rhetorical strategies, which I now see as a foundational element of effective writing. A key concept reinforced has been the importance of purpose and audience, which guides how I craft my arguments and select supporting evidence. For instance, in past courses, I often focused on descriptive writing, but now I recognize the need for clarity of purpose to shape my thesis and structure my ideas. My writing has developed through extensive practice in structuring paragraphs with clear topic sentences, cohesive transitions, and relevant evidence. For example, revising a paragraph from my previous response to include a clearer topic sentence and more specific support improved its coherence. I have also learned to critically analyze my drafts through peer feedback and self-review, which has sharpened my editing skills. Additionally, my understanding of rhetorical appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—has become more nuanced, allowing me to craft more persuasive arguments. Overall, I value the skills I’ve gained from this course, especially in developing a critical voice and organizing my ideas effectively, which continue to influence my academic writing across disciplines.

References

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