Barbara Ulloa Ms.

Ingram English 1102 024 27 November 2012 More Thought in the Writing Process Throughout the English 1102 course this semester, I have been assigned different assignments to write on, but all relating to a theme on What its like to be healthy. Every assignment I completed came together in forming my inquiry question of what its like to be healthy. We started off with the book Peace, Butter and Jelly I was able to get an idea of what I thought it meant to be healthy. Then we met the author and we viewed his life from the book, and then we asked him questions, on how he stays healthy. We continued to ask how he stays healthy physically and mentally. The annotated bibliography assignment continued into the scholars, doctors, and anorexics, facts and claims about anorexia and eating disorders. Which i researched throughout the semester, with very researched and good facts and claims I was able to explore and get the viewpoints on what exactly anorexia was. I was then able to gather all my research from different sources to began a thought process on my argumentative essay, that will be interested in reading about anorexia. Every assignment allowed me to think and get involved in the research and the writing process. These assignments put me to work and use everything Ive learned in my past english classes, such as note taking, research, reading, and peer editing. By now I am well developed engaged writer and know how to take information, translate it and use it to my ability. The first assignment was to write an essay describing what its like to be you. In my evidence the first thing I went back to was the journal writing we had the first day of class. That ba-

sically introduced me to Ms.Ingram and told her a little bit about me. When I started revising my essay my peers had gave me lots great ideas, and input on how I should change or rearrange sentences so they would make better sense, Ms.Ingram included stuff too that helped out a lot. In the essay I focused on how my present is going to make for a better future, like David said in his book. I got very personal in my what its like to be me, not so someone could feel sorry for me, I wanted to get the whole me and not just part of me. I lost my father when I was younger, and one of the peers who helped edit my paper encouraged me and wrote something really nice in my paper. Also told me God has control, and knows what he is doing at all times, and that my dad is sitting on the right hand of the Lord. It touched me on how sweet it was, made my eyes water up some, just to think about it like that. I took the reader to my childhood, high school, now and how I want to be in the future with my college education as a psychologist. I also included how Im accident prone to this day since I was a little girl. How my life was when I started at UNCC first it was terrible, felt like it was going down hill because my iphone was stolen, and how my hair straightener had broke. Things changed thanks to the help of David because he helped me mediate and take deep breaths and relax. By exposing the reader to this quality I feel like in my revised essay the audience can get a better understanding of my present life, and future dreams. In the essay it allows the reader to get a grasp and full story of what its really like to be me. As a part of the writing process I had to read, and research about the academic conversation that was interested in the topic I choose which was anorexia nervosa. In my evidence to the topic I chose, was somewhat Peace, Butter, and Jelly, David had recipes in there and talked about health. Then I was in the library searching typing in random topics. But then I remembered about my friends, some family members, and myself about how we all had an eating disorder. The neg-

ative image I had on myself over the years was pretty intense. The negativity I would hear from my brother while I was thin, working out, barely eating would just make me go harder and stick to being ana. My doctor would be shocked when I would go in every week because I would be losing five pounds, she would ask if I was eating. I was eating, but I was burning the calories I had in my body at the gym. My friends and family that hadnt seen me in forever where shocked at how I looked, but I was proud. So my academic conversation I was looking for was do recovering patients really know what recovery means. In my group we had did a brainstorming activity of what we thought was was healthy, sexually, mentally, and physically. I was reminded of Davids positive attitude, and positive mind-set, I was then took back and thought that what it is like to be healthy. For me finding my topic was easy, and interesting. Even though anorexias have it tough, they still have supporters to support them and help them get through the day. They encourage and keep a positive mind-set, dealing with a eating disorder is hard and it gets tough. I read that some anorexias do mediate instead of eating, and have different rituals too. I was able to make a personal investment to the topic. Being interested in the topic motivated me to research as much as I could about anorexia, so I could have personal knowledge and if anyone suffers from it I could help. In the future too being a psychologist when I get the degree. After choosing my topic I began researching anorexia nervosa in order to complete my annotated bibliography assignment. Looking at feedback I had received, and given, included in my evidence. I mentioned the audience of the sources were meant for, and the credibility of the source. As we gathered three or more sources from the annotated bibliography, we got an assignment. The three-sided-argument which consisted of different viewpoints of your research. I in-

cluded in my three viewpoints, first one was pro-ana, second patients and the third was doctors. What helped me on picking those three arguments was the conference we had with our group members and teacher. I was able to discuss how I wanted my paper to be, and when I explained it, it sounded like I could write some excellent arguments. Those all have a little bit in common with me which, I have knowledge in and gained some knowledge too. What helped me put my essay more put together was all the feedback I had got from my group, and the different peers that edited my paper. They lead me to a better perspective. I like when they tell me Im going on a good path and that I am using my sources usefully. What also helped me was my inquiry book the orange book as I call it. I would take notes every time I got assigned to read pages. This one of the easiest assignments I feel like because I had all the information, and research all I had to do was put it together. The last assignment which I struggled with was the research paper. I have no idea why this gave me such problems. I had past information from all the other assignments all I had to do was put it together, and get more research done. Introducing the argument, defining and explaining anorexia and the pro-ana stuff. Who and why they disagree and why they are wrong. That is how I went with my research paper. The conference meeting we had was useful. I got the help I needed and pointed to the right direction. My problem is that Im unorganized and all over the place with my work and research. Very scattered brained. I started using a outline on it when I revised it I had too, only way I could focus and go about writing and stay on topic. It concluded that everyone can be a anorexic, and when you recover from anorexia you can still go back to it like relapsing. Im glad I chose the topic I had a joy writing the papers, and getting so deep into the community of pro-ana

communities. Getting the doctors view and recovering views too. Its like you have to put yourself into there shoes and see how they feel. The semester has came to an end, and so have the assignments. I must say my academic writing has improved greatly, and my texting is still the same. Drafting, editing, revising is what I will keep in mind when I write any further papers. I never noticed reading out loud can make such a difference and catch simple errors. Cover letters were the best thing invented to so your group knows what is about to happen and how you want them to interpret the paper they are about to read. But just like everything else this paper and class is over, but my academic writing is not.