Cora Wiegel

Ms. Diaz
English 120
30 April 2015
SLO Reflection Essay
F. Analyze, compose, and reflect on arguments in a variety of genres, considering the
strategies, claims, evidence, and various mediums and technologies that are
appropriate to the rhetorical situation.
My interpretation: Find similar arguments/debates that apply to the same topic you are
discussing and research them to understand what was effective about them, how they
worked, and how they did not work. Primarily these arguments will be presented in a
persuasive essay but can also be found in many other genres such as proposals or reports.
Researching and utilizing these other arguments/debates can provide your writing with a
foundation or framing for your presentation and will strengthen your stance. After
establishing a clear understanding, the same techniques and similar argument can be
applied to your own writing.
How it was used throughout the semester: In the memorandum for LSA 3, I analyzed
the problems with the weight room in UNMs Johnson Gym. I had to successfully
convey an argument that would allow my teams idea for renovation to be funded. The
argument and the presentation of the argument are key in this paper because if the writer
cannot successfully attract the readers attention, it means a detrimental loss. In the
example of the LSA 3, without a strong argument and attractive presentation, the
audience would not feel it necessary to give the presenter the $10,000 grant to fund his or

her cause. After reading the argument, the department should feel convinced that the
suggested improvement project is absolutely necessary and believe just as strongly in the
cause as the presenter does. In order to really allow the audience to agree with our
stance, I had to present all of the different factors that build up to the overall issue. I
included examples of what has caused the weight rooms current conditions and how they
can be improved. I also explained who the problem affects, why, and the unfairness of
the situation. The memorandum presents a reasonable, affordable solution to the current
problems with the Johnson Gym weight room.
F. Evaluate your development as a writer over the course of the semester and
describe how composing in multiple genres and mediums using various technologies
can be applied in other contexts to advance your goals
My interpretation: To restate: describe how writing in different genres and writing
forms has progressed you as a writer and how will these newly attained skills be applied
in the future. Having the ability to write different genres makes us more versatile with
our skill base and can give you an edge in the professional world. There are so many
different formats for papers and having a basic understanding for all of them is far better
than excelling on simply one style of writing. Familiarity with multiple genres and
mediums is something that professors and employers look for and it heightens potential
for any field you desire to enter.
How it was used throughout the semester: This SLO can be applied to any written
piece we worked on this semester. I see it most obviously applicable to the proposal
because this is a format of both writing and language usage that will be absolutely
necessary to be comfortable using. I believe a proposal will be most prominently used in

the writing we do in the future. This proposal was an extremely realistic practice
example of something that we will commonly have to use in the real world, especially as
we graduate from college. Throughout the semester, the common factor that has tied into
all of the sequences is practicing persuasion. This is by far one of the most important
attributes to carry throughout life. Discovering, studying, analyzing and practicing
persuasion through advertisements, position papers, and proposal has improved my
writing style immensely and completely changed the way I approach writing a paper to
get my point across.
J. Analyze and describe the writing and research conventions of an academic field in
order to understand the different ways of creating and communicating knowledge.
My interpretation: Before writing a paper using your own techniques, first approach
your writing from the perspective of the appropriate academic field. If you first consider
an approach to apply your writing specifically to the genre of a certain academic field, it
creates much more strength within the writing. While also giving the writer much more
material to go off of, it also make the writing much more appealing to the audience.
Incorporating academic fields makes writing, especially when presenting an argument,
more relatable.
How it was used throughout the semester: I applied this technique during the final
MWA by providing the argument that our solution will be beneficial to the overall selfimprovement of the student body. I approached this argument though the fields of
psychology and sociology in saying that the intimidating interaction between other
students creates a negative impact that drives students away from this environment in the
long run. These two academic fields focus on the interactions between human beings and

the assessment of social behavior based on reactions in the mind. They supported by
writing because they explain that there is a correlation between whether or not people
will use the gym based on their experience. Using an academic field to support your
writing provides a sense of statistical evidence, which is a useful technique when trying
to create a feeling of trust with your audience.
H: Integrate others positions and perspectives into your writing ethically,
appropriately and effectively in various mediums and technologies
My interpretation: Make your paper more subjective by incorporating the opinions of
others in your writing. This can be useful whether you are using an opposing argument
or and stance similar to your own. Using a persons argument that conflicts with your
position on a topic is a good way of setting up a rebuttal. In contrast, using a persons
statements that agree with your stance, strengthen your position and provide framework
to build off of.
How it was used throughout the semester: I used this SLO most effectively when
writing my MWA 2 on the role that media plays in politics. I found it somewhat of a
challenge to find the right place to insert the rebuttal to my argument. However, I
realized the key importance of the rebuttal in a position paper because of how efficiently
it can also bring out the writers argument. When writing the rebuttal, it was a challenge
to state the facts without showing bias and preference. I see how it makes the initial
argument stronger if the rebuttal is stated in a way that is not attacking the opposition.
Whenever I used sources that were in agreement with my stance, I was able to regain
organization and work up to leading argument. They also gave me a lot of material to
work off of and expand on, and even helped me develop my opinion on something I

otherwise might not have though of. Another example where the usage of this SLO can
be found is in the proposal. For the persuasive essay, the primary other opinion that
needed to be included was that of the opposing argument. In contrast, for the proposal,
we had to include the position and opinions of those who use Johnson Gym to further
support our solution to receive funding.