As the semester comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on a journey marked by exploration, growth, and a candid acknowledgment of both strengths and weaknesses in the realm of writing and rhetoric. Through a series of projects that encapsulate the essence of storytelling, critical analysis, and research, I have learned to adequately apply key rhetorical terms—rhetorical situation, purpose, audience, genre, and stance—and understand the course learning outcomes, evolving into a more adept writer. 

Our first assignment, “The Outsider Narrative,” introduced me to the concept of rhetorical situations. It became clear that effective communication extends beyond the words on the page. It involves a proper awareness of the context, the audience, and the purpose behind the narrative. Through this exploration, I learned to dissect and respond to various rhetorical situations, tailoring my writing to specific contexts. For instance, in my first draft of “The Outsider Narrative,” I did not properly explain that I had observed the outsider all day due to my school being smaller and us all being in the same class.  After learning about rhetorical situations, I understood that I must take into account that my audience is unaware of this background information. Therefore, I altered my essay and stated, “The small school had 40 juniors split into two classes, and it was my first time attending class with the other half of the juniors”(Omran, p.1, The Outsider Narrative). This allowed the reader to adequately understand the situation before reading my text.  Furthermore, this narrative prompted me to explore the narrative genre and recognize the importance of tailoring language to fit specific rhetorical situations.

Purpose emerged as a vital part of writing throughout this semester. As I wrote my second assignment, “The Metaphor Essay,” I learned the need for a clear purpose. Since it was a transition from a narrative to a piece meant to inform, I began to develop strategies to ensure I fulfilled the purpose. Since “The Metaphor Essay” was to inform, I ensured that I prevented myself from including opinions in this paper. Whether aiming to inform, persuade, or entertain, purpose became the guiding force shaping the tone and structure of my writing. Furthermore, I was able to understand the importance of stance through this assignment. For this essay, I had to determine whether the metaphors I chose harm or benefit the readers’ understanding of pain. Therefore, I made sure to clarify my stance in the thesis statement by stating, “Hemon’s metaphor assists our understanding of pain, suffering, and illness, while Rosenblatt’s metaphor hinders that understanding.”. (Omran, p. 1, The Metaphor Essay). This thesis statement adequately created a roadmap for my paper and reinforced the stance.

“The Critical Lens Essay” introduced me to a new type of writing I was never familiar with. It allowed me to broaden my horizons by challenging me to explore a novel with a seemingly unrelated article. This further enhanced my skills in understanding my audience. I initially made the mistake of making multiple references to the novel, “The Fault in Our Stars” without explaining the novel first. For instance, I spoke of the characters’ love defying societal norms without making it clear that they suffered disabilities (Omran, p.2, The Critical Lens Essay). After receiving feedback from Professor Nochomovitz I recognized that my shortcomings fell in having not explained the storyline first. Therefore, in my final draft, I explained all the necessary information in the novel to cater to my diverse audience. 

Through our final project, “The Research Paper”, navigating library databases, archives, and the vast landscape of the internet, I learned to critically evaluate sources for credibility, accuracy, timeliness, and bias, ensuring a robust foundation for my arguments. This was evident in my annotated bibliography in which I highlight the strengths and weaknesses of every source. For instance, for one of my sources, I state “ The thorough and academic analysis is a noteworthy strength that raises the article’s credibility and allows it to be a strong source to support the research. Nonetheless, there could be prejudices in the article’s material”(Omran, p.1, Annotated Bibliography). Furthermore, this research laid the groundwork for composing texts that seamlessly integrated my personal stance with academic rigor. Strategies like summarizing, critically analyzing, and interpreting information became central to retrieving strong sources. 

The different assignments throughout the semester introduced me to a variety of genres and rhetorical situations. I learned to alter my style with each paper to suit their demands. Furthermore, I was able to develop strategies for reading, drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing. Firstly, by writing initial outlines and drafts, I was able to freely explore my ideas for each assignment while also creating a foundation for the final work. Through peer reviews, I was able to engage in the collaborative and social aspects of the writing process. For every paper, I would read my reviewer’s comments to learn what I should revise. Afterward, if I had any follow-up questions, I would contact my reviewer in order to ensure my paper excelled. For instance, for my research paper, Omar commented on grammatical errors I made and unclear sentences; therefore, I was able to fix them. This allowed me to appreciate different perspectives, which created well-rounded writing. Moreover, through the first three major writing assignments, I excelled in my ability to use MLA format. I learned the intricate details that come with this citation convention, such as placing my last name and page number in the top right corner. With the research paper, I was able to comprehend and apply the citation conventions of the APA format. Lastly, the only learning outcome I felt I did not excel in was “understanding and using print and digital technologies to address a range of audiences.”.  I effectively embraced digital technologies to communicate with diverse audiences in this portfolio by creating my website on CUNY Academic Commons, which is easy to navigate and available to all CUNY students. However, I acknowledge a shortcoming in utilizing print media. While I didn’t get a chance to utilize print media this semester, in the future I aim to expand my communication skills by incorporating print elements, recognizing the importance of a balanced proficiency in both digital technologies and print.

All in all, this semester has been a transformative chapter in my journey through rhetoric and writing. As I stand on the brink of a new chapter, I carry with me the lessons, experiences, and growth cultivated through these diverse projects, each contributing to my evolution as a writer and communicator. Through this portfolio, you will see the growth and development of my writing throughout this semester.

Works Cited

Omran, M. (n.d.). The Outsider Narrative. Mariam Omran.

Omran, M. (n.d.). The Metaphor Essay. Mariam Omran.

Omran, M. (n.d.). The Critical Lens Essay. Mariam Omran.

Omran, M. (n.d.). Annotated Bibliography. Mariam Omran.