Rhetorical Analysis

For the majority of my educational career, my relationship with writing has been one of great variance. Every time I would feel as if I was on the right track to mastering a strategy, I would be challenged in a way that left me uncertain about my overall capabilities as a writer. Thus, at the beginning of the quarter, I was especially anxious about taking Writing 39B, my first college-level writing course. My initial hesitancy towards composition primarily arose from my fear of failure. Put simply, I did not want to be unsuccessful in achieving my goals as writer. Prior to this class, I often struggled to find my voice in writing, as I tended to focus too closely on the technical aspects of my pieces. I found myself chained to pre-established …show more content…
The process of developing the essay not only allowed me to redefine my understanding of rhetoric, but allowed me to deviate from the trite formulas I often applied in my works. Towards the early stages of drafting, for example, I struggled to compose a thesis that effectively reflected my understanding of the author’s rhetorical efforts. Having learned and consistently incorporated a three-point-thesis in the past, I initially approached my essay in that manner. I quickly realized however, that the same structural formula would not suffice in terms of bring to attention the author’s most important arguments. Without a doubt, this highlights the ways in which writing can be hindered as a result of clichéed formulas. In the end, I came to the realization that diverging from the overused tactics that I was so accustomed to in order creatively challenge myself would be the best route to success. And, sure enough, it …show more content…
Firstly, I have learned that limiting myself to restrictive patterns and molds would only limit my chances to grow. As a result, this course has encouraged me to actively seek out new and diverse strategies that I can effectively apply in my writings. Furthermore, I have learned that writing is a collaborative effort. I have always struggled to let others read and critique my work. Over the past weeks, however, I noticed the ways in which I took initiative in order to seek guidance and feedback from others. I engaged in class discussions, visited during office hours, and sought advice from a variety of individuals both during and beyond class sessions. The most important takeaway that I have gained from this course, however, is that writing knows no boundaries. There is always more room to learn and more room to improve. My experiences in this course has inspired me to continue on in my journey in composition. With a goal-oriented mindset and an eagerness to continue refining my skills, I plan to fully immerse myself in all of my writing-related endeavors in the years to

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