Language
120 class is an information literacy intensive course with three distinct
student-learning outcomes. The main goal of the class is to help students
develop their writing, critical thinking, and foundational skills for academic
and other forms of public discourse. Throughout this course, students are
expected to develop the three learning outcomes (SLOs). The three
student-learning outcomes are to engage in critical inquiry and reflection,
develop information literacy, and to communicate in rhetorically effective
ways. There are three main projects that we worked on over the course of the
semester, and each focused on one of the three learning outcomes more intensely
than the other.
Compare to the other two projects, project one helped me focus on SLO one at a deeper
level. According to the rubric, the goal of SLO one is to help us discover and refine critical questions/problems and investigate
them from multiple perspectives. Project one was a language and learning memoir,
which required us to explore how language has shaped our view towards the world
around us, and challenged us to discover a question and a way to answer that
question. This project was my favorite assignment from this semester because I
was able to critically reflect upon my experiences and discover something new
about myself. The question I came up with was as to why I hated English. If it
wasn’t for this assignment, I wouldn’t be able to answer that question in an
ethical manner. Also, the first few reading assignments at the beginning of the
semester such as “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott, “Lost in Translation” by
Lera Boroditsky, “Storytelling, Narration, and the ‘Who I Am’ s Story” by
Catherine ramsdell, and “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan helped me accomplished project
one by giving me a new perspective on language and writing.
After project one was completed, we
started reading The Rhetoric of Rhetoric
by Wayne Booth. At the beginning of the semester, all I knew about rhetoric was
a vague understanding about ethos, pathos, and logos. It was truly interesting
and valuable to learn and discuss about the misconception when it comes to
rhetoric, and its importance to effective communication. In second conversation paper I had a chance to analyze Wayne
Booth’s book. Second conversational paper was challenging because it was my
first time rhetorically analyzing and summarizing a book about rhetoric. It
required me to access, and evaluate the text, which is part of SLO two. There were
five different conversation papers we had to complete, and I believe they were
very effective at helping us practice and achieve SLOs. Also, in practicing and
achieving SLO two, project two was most effective compare to the other two
projects. For project two, our task was to investigate a public discourse, by
discovering, refining, and investigating a research question which relates to a
specific public discourse that we chose to analyze in the third conversation
paper. We had to research and create an annotated bibliography that
investigates and help us answer our question. In a way, project two was set up
to help us create project three. Project two and three was the most
challenging project I’ve ever done in an English class. After the second
conference with my Lang 120 professor, I was confused and stuck with my
original research question I investigated. I couldn’t answer as to why my
question is worthy of everyone’s attention, and I didn’t know what or how to create project three. Unfortunately, this was during the third exams for my three other
classes. I ended up making a big mistake by not seeking help from
professor Graves whom I know would help me if I just asked. I have a natural tendency
to not show up for a class if I am not prepared, so I ended up missing classes
as well. By the time everyone started his or her project three, I felt as if it
was impossible for me to actually complete this last two project.
However, I managed to gather all my courage and asked for help
by the time everyone else completed his or her projects and final portfolio. I
am still amazed that I actually managed to complete and accomplished project two and three. After my meeting with professor graves, I revised my
annotated bibliography, did some more research, revised my introduction and
conclusion for project two. After finishing project two with a small changes to my
original research question, project three was much easier to accomplished. I’ve
never done such an intense and deep critical evaluation and integration of
different sources like I did on project two. I believe I’ve tried and achieved
SLO two and three in the process of completing the last two projects.
In project three, I was challenged as to how I was going to
present my research in a way that communicates most effectively to my audience.
I had to rhetorically think about my choices in focus, structure, and style in
which I am presenting my text. In project three, I focused mainly on
communicating rhetorically effective ways, which is essentially SLO three. Although
the last month of Lang 120 has been a very long and challenging journey for me,
I am proud that I managed to complete the tasks that I thought was nearly
impossible to accomplish. Lang 120 has not only taught me valuable lessons
about writing, critical thinking, and rhetoric, it has also taught me a great
life lesson. I have learned that I should never hesitate to ask for help, and I
should always complete my task no matter how challenging it is. I will never forget the importance of rhetoric, how to write annotated bibliography,
and how to present my idea effectively in an ethical manner.
Also, at the beginning of the semester, I have chosen
intellectual autonomy trait as one of the essential intellectual traits to
focus on throughout the semester. Intellectual autonomy trait is being able to
control one's personal beliefs, value, and inferences and not be easily tamed. When I
chose this trait, I did not know how to develop such a trait. Now, I’ve learned
that by listening rhetorically, I believe I will be able to acquire that trait. I know
for a fact that I will continue to pay close attention to the use of rhetoric
in almost every communication and public discourse I come in contact with beyond
this class and for a lifetime.
