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Dear Professor Presnell,
I can honestly say this semester was one of the most effective writing courses I have ever taken. I could tell from the moment I read your introductory letter that you cared about each individual student and their success. I had expected I would gain a lot from the course and that is exactly what happened. My writing has been challenged throughout the semester and particularly during the inquiry project.
The inquiry essay was an essay not like any other I have written before, therefore, I was able to gain a lot from the process. I was used to and accustomed to writing basic research papers, in which at the beginning of the process you are aware of the conclusion and use sources that will enhance your conclusion. Compared to an inquiry paper in which you are searching for your conclusion and using sources to help the search process. For example, during this semester I had to write three research papers in my Geography class, all of which I was aware of how my essay would end. Following is an excerpt from one of my geography research papers, “Another prime example of Japan’s efficiency was how they dealt with their urban challenges in the 1970’s. The government of Japan developed public transportation systems that are viewed as some of the world’s best. The complex systems function with efficiency and punctuality.” In this paper I was proving the efficiency of the country, Japan, and the positive effects that came from globalization. At the beginning of the paper I was already aware of the fact that Japan is an efficient country, therefore, I was searching for sources that would help confirm my conclusion. If this topic were to be an inquiry paper, I would start with the question, “Is Japan an efficient country,” and the process would be focused on my findings and comparisons. An excerpt from my inquiry paper proves the differences amongst the type of papers, “As a researcher and a college student procrastinator, I question if the act of procrastination is much more than delaying of tasks and simply putting them off. Many researchers have offered definitions of procrastination that make the act seem more corrupt than I had originally assumed.” In this excerpt, you can see that I was setting out to answer a question rather than setting out to prove the answer to a question. It shows how I searched through sources despite having contradictions. There are various differences amongst a basic research paper and an inquiry paper, with that said, the purpose of the papers is the main difference due to the way the paper is written and the overall conclusions.
Being able to use first person within my inquiry essay allowed for the purpose of the essay to leave a stronger impact on my own life. I was able to relate personally to what I was researching and after completing my final draft I had a whole new perspective on the effect of procrastination on my life. In my inquiry essay I stated harms of procrastination found in my research, “Burka and Yuen announce that procrastination is a common and, at times, serious problem. Burka and Yuen suggest that internal consequences may include irritation, regret, despair, and self-blame and external consequences may be costly and can include impaired academic and work progress, lost opportunities and strained relationships.” This research really made me understand that I could face harmful effects from procrastination. I could possibly realize this without the use of “I”, however, using first-person allows me to relate the sources and definitions to my life directly and that gives you a full understanding of what could occur in your life. Besides for the use of first person being beneficial to my life, it also makes writing a paper much more interesting as well as keeping you emotionally invested into the paper.
At the beginning of the semester we learned about the art of bullshit and how to eliminate it from our writing. I believe I have improved on my “bullshit” use and improved the overall quality of my work. When writing an inquiry paper there is no reason why you should use any form of bullshit. Besides for the purpose of this inquiry paper being to find the answer of a question, it should have been an answer you wanted to find- since we were able to choose our own topics. So instead of using bullshit, you could have used elaboration. I eliminated bullshit in my paper by going in-depth through my sources and only using the sources that will benefit my writing and the overall purpose. One step I used when searching through my sources was creating a screencast, the screencast allowed me to learn more about my sources and come to the decision on which ones I should be using in my paper. Narrowing down my sources, eliminated bullshit quotations that would be added in the paper for fluff. I only used quotations that would add to the point of my paper.
Looking at the semester as a whole, I believe my writing has truly changed from then to now. My rhetorical knowledge is what has improved and I noticed that most after completing studio 9. I was able to write an inquiry essay in order to answer a question and create an infographic to inform about myself, two very different concepts. You challenged our abilities with many assignments that have various purposes, audiences, and topics. I now feel more well-rounded and confident when approaching writing assignments that have different criteria. I believe this makes me a more mature writer because knowledge allows me to expand upon many topics, that before I was not capable of. For example, prior to this semester I may not have been confident with creating an infographic about starting up a business. Something I am not proficient in. However, I now have the skills to create almost any type of piece in writing when approaching the it in a step by step process.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I am both a creative writer and last minute writer. I say I am a creative writer because I always attempt to think outside the box and make my writing stand out. Whether I do it or not, I always attempt to. I specifically try to be creative when it comes to assignments such as infographics and videos, so my words will leave an impact on the audience. I would say I am a last minute writer which hurts my writing in the long run. I bottle up ideas in my head but wait until I am fully motivated to write a paper and that is when I feel I can work to my best ability. However, waiting till the last minute also doesn’t leave me much room for revising, which can be critical to papers.
At last, my writing career has come to an end and I thank you for allowing me to end it with a bang. I plan on using the skills I have learned to carry me through life because writing is seen every day whether you think about it or not. Skills I have learned will also help me to present myself in a positive way and promote myself as an employee.
Thank you very much Professor Presnell! You are an amazing professor and really had an impact on how I look at “writing.”
Sincerely,
Taylor Apel