Learning Outcome 1:
My own approach to revision is simple. It starts by me writing a lot in the first draft. I like to throw all my ideas onto the paper and not worry about simple local edits or stopping my train of thought. This is what one of the writers in Nancy Sommers, “Revision Strategies of Student Writers and Experienced Adult Writers.” They say “I need to keep writing a first draft until I figure out what I want to say. Then in a second draft, I begin to see the structure of an argument and how all the various sub-arguments.” I started doing revision this way after the first paper and It was a valuable adjustment. My papers have always lacked strong evidence, they always just had multiple quotes that may not be related. With this new technique to revision, I now look more at the big picture and less at local edits until future revisions. I chose my third paper as my significant writing project. In this paper I wrote all my ideas out and then went back to find my ideas in my writing. Then I organized those ideas and found evidence in order to support my evidence. Sommers discusses how “students have strategies for handling and phrases… What they lack, however, is a set of strategies to help them identify “something larger” that they sensed was wrong.” I strive to find the “something larger” when revising my papers.
Learning Outcome 2:
Rough:
Research can now be accessed in many different ways. It can be found through databases resulting in hundreds of articles and journals about a certain topic. Libraries now also use this type of information accessing to allow people to find books or titles easier. Instead of physically looking through the information, one can just find it online and either request it at the library or find an ecopy. This helps students mainly but can also be used for recreational use. Another example of this is the instant information that a person can access. Online classes are a practical way for people to learn. They are able to either take classes at home, or in their free time in order to achieve a goal of theirs
Final:
The internet allows information to be connected and synthesized easier by guiding the user. Anderson states while discussing Einstein and Lennon, “What made both men’s achievements so groundbreaking, though, was that they did something modern technology is getting increasingly better at allowing us to do: They very powerfully linked and synthesized things that had previously been unlinked…” (In Defense of Distraction). Internet allows scholars to make connections they would not be able to make without it. The internet increases the quality of education and this will continue to improve as generations continue to grow.
In this example both pieces of evidence are discussing how scholars use the internet as a positive tool. In my rough draft, the wording is sloppy, and my ideas are all over the place. I needed a quote to add to my paragraph to add to my main idea. With the final draft, I was able to place in a quote that discussed the topic and also added a real life example, while connecting to two respected men. The quote is seamlessly integrated into the conversation as if it belongs there. I begin the selected text by setting up the quote saying “Anderson states while discussing Einstein and Lennon.” I then add in the quote and make sure to end it at a point where my reader has enough information where they understand the example, but not too much where the quote is overwhelming. Finally, I explain the quote connecting it back to my original idea. I do that by saying “Internet allows scholars to make connections they would not be able to make without it. The internet increases the quality of education and this will continue to improve as generations continue to grow.” The scholars are Einstein and Lennon. The connection is that the scholars would not be able to make the connections themselves and the internet allowed them to make the connection they needed to.
Learning Outcome 4:
I chose the feedback on Suki’s paper because I think that it showed the best representation of my peer review skills. I begin the process by reading over her paper the first. While reading I make notes on big issues that stick out to me. I then go back and read it a second time. This time keeping in mind the different kinds of revision: ideas, evidence, and organization. I began by praising her for her hook. I thought it was a really good idea and it did a great job at getting the reader’s attention. I then praised her thesis for being another good idea. The thesis was very strong and did a good job explaining her ideas for her paper. A couple sentences later Suki has an overarching statement that could be narrowed down and made more specific. Next, I comment on one of her next points and discuss that she should elaborate on it and add more evidence. I then make some local edits for her that I see as obvious. After that I point out a paragraph that I feel like could be organized differently. After this, I point out another place she can elaborate and then give my final thoughts on her rough draft. I like my way of peer reviewing because by analyzing the paper twice, I’m able to pick up big issues and not focus on little local edits. By reading more than once I also won’t focus on my initial thoughts on the paper. I can really analyze a peer’s work resulting in a very throughout peer review.
Learning Outcome 5+6:
In my selected project example text, I correctly use MLA format. I state my name, the class name, the professor name, and the date. I also have a page number header with my last name. When concerning citations, I cited correctly in MLA format. I either introduced the author so I did not have to cite them, or cited them after the quote. For example, “…the bandwagon effect, as Bill Wasik calls it. He describes it as…” is an introduction citation. Whereas “…had previously been unlinked… (In Defense of Distraction).” is a standard citation. Another example of MLA format is in the work cited page where the sources are cited correctly. When reviewing for the local edits, I like to have multiple people read the paper. This way if I miss a tiny mistake, one of the other people reading it will pick up on it and allow me to make the minimal alteration.
