Dear Future Self,

 

This semester of spring 2022, I took writing for engineers, which expanded my view of writing for the better. I was so used to conventional writing classes which just assigned readings and essays on those readings over and over again. This class was different in that it showed me the technical side of writing . It showed me how to write in an optimal way when it comes to writing as an engineer. I will now answer questions that help me to reflect on this semester for my future self to remember.

 

To what extent have I achieved the course learning objectives? 

 

In my opinion, I did an overall good job at completing the CLOS. It felt like every assignment got me closer and closer to completing them. The social aspect of the class helped to experience a similar environment to one that would be normal in an engineering environment. we will have to work in teams and rely on teammates’ feedback just like we did this semester.

In what ways have my perceptions on what writing is and does evolve this semester?

 

My perceptions of what writing is and does evolve for the better. Before this semester I thought of writing as an endless cycle of writing essays and reading literature. I have grown to love the technical side of writing more than all other sides, from using rhetorical elements to resolve a certain goal in writing, to analyzing and researching the audience to better accommodate your writing to them, I think of it all as important skills every engineer should have. you can be the best engineer, but won’t get funding unless you know how to propose an engineering proposal and actually get funding for your and or your team’s goals.

 -How does the audience impact the content and purpose of the text?

I Would say that the way you format your content depends on your audience. Of course, your purpose will most likely already be known before you analyze your audience, but who the audience plays a big role in how you express that purpose. For example, if your audience is an older demographic who is used to reading paper, you probably wouldn’t address something to them on social media.

 

was there a challenge in writing across genres and addressing specific audiences?

In my case, I didn’t have many challenges while doing this because once the teacher explained all the rhetorical elements to use the rest was mostly just common sense.

what happens to the other rhetorical elements when you change one of the elements within the situation? for example, when you change media, do the other elements change?

When you change one rhetorical element, at times it can change the rest.  For example, when you change media, It might change what genre you use. You most likely won’t express the whole lab report if you’re using social media. most people’s attention span on social media is low, to begin with so they probably worn read the whole thing.

*this is the semester of “re-entry to ‘traditional education.’” we have spent the last 2 years, give or take, conducting learning and teaching online. some of us may have hated it, while others were able to thrive in these “abnormal” conditions. NOW, we have returned to the traditional teaching/learning in our “appropriate” environment of the classroom. discuss how the shift back to the classroom has affected your educational experience? Does conducting group work? student life? which do you prefer? discuss your transition and experience.  (some students found practicality and usefulness in the online learning approach, while others struggled and suffered tremendously because they were unable to focus being outside of the classroom)

I personally prefer the traditional route of learning because it’s just easier for me. I think it’s hard to fully learn something online because there may be so many distractions around you. a Good example would be would you rather do something in person or watch a video of someone doing it. Of course, I had to adapt to going back to the traditional learning methods but I still prefer it over the others. it was kind of odd to have the social aspect of in-person learning back. You could almost say it took a while for everyone to open up because they were so used to being without that much human contact for a long time.