Myra's Presentation

I have left specific comments on Myra's Blog regarding her presentation. To sum them up here, I think it is wonderful that exercise, and the Zumba workout in particular can be used to decrease symptoms relevant to Bipolar disorder. And, I think it is outstanding that Myra uses her own experience in the presentation to give a more personal touch. Zumba sounds like an excellent workout, and I have no doubt that it will continue to gain popularity.

Three Very Important Lessons

While in English 112, I have learned many valuable writing techniques - techniques that I will take with me to all future classes. Three of the most important techniques I have learned are as follows. First, I learned that even though using sources to support an argument in argumentative writing is important, making sure that there is also some of "you" in these essays is also important. I learned this lesson quite early in the course (during the writing process of my first essay), and the lesson has stayed with me. Second, I learned how to effectively draft introductions and conclusions. While I already had some experience in doing so in past writing, our textbook for the course showed me some other options that I may consider in future writings (e.g. beginning an introduction with a narrative and the minding the gap introduction, and showing readers what is new and answering the question "So what?" in the conclusion). Last, but certainly not least, I learned how to correctly cite sources both within my work and on the works cited page, especially online academic journal articles. This lesson, like the others mentioned here will be quite helpful in future classes especially when research papers are a regular part of course work.

My Presentation - Essay 3

To make my presentation of essay 3, I decided to use a PBWiki. On it, there is a brief overview, pictures, and a link to a video. The link to my wiki is:
www.seriousaffectsofdomesticviolence.pbwiki.com

If you are asked for a password to log in it is: tigger02.

Applying Lessons Learned

Much of what I have learned in English 112 I feel will be useful in other classes as well. For example, annotating texts and paying close attention to how writers frame their arguments can be helpful in any writing assignment (whether it is to be an argumentative paper or an informative one). Drafting effective introductions and conclusions can be useful in that they will give anyone who reads my work in the future a better idea of my overall points. Writing effective main points by using topic sentences is another helpful thing I have learned. This will be effective in my future writing because it will help my reader(s) to better understand what direction each point is going in. And, combined, each of these aspects will make for what I am sure will be extremely strong essays overall.

Another skill that I have learned that I feel will be helpful in writing for future classes is writing a proposal. In doing so, I can organize my own ideas as well as give my instructor and readers a better idea of which direction my writing will be going in and what specific sources I will use. All of the skills listed in the above paragraph will also be useful in writing proposals for pieces I intend to write in other classes, and an effective proposal can help make an effective essay.

Writing as a Process

My writing process for Essay 3 has been a fruitful expedition. Along the way I have come across facts that I recognized as well as being enlightened to others. An example of my enlightenment concerns the phases of domestic violence and how one phase tends to lead to the next. For example, the first phase of domestic violence is often a "nonviolent" phase and is centered around emotional abuse. This phase in turn leads to a progression of violence.

Without my textbook, it is very likely that my writing would not be nearly as strong on this subject as it has become. In reading the chapters assigned throughout the semester, I have learned a great deal. For example, I have learned the value of inquiry as well as the value of annotation of texts. I have learned how to research a topic and what kinds of articles are best for academic research. I have learned how to effectively draft both an introduction and conclusion, and I have learned how synthesis has a strong impact on essays and the audiences who read them. Had I not learned about each of these skills, no progress in my writing would have occurred.