Trevor Eichelberger

Ms. Collin Hull

English 2010
4/30/2015

Reflective Essay
To say it short and sweet, English 2010 has helped me understand that anything can be
rhetorically responded to as long as the response fits the occasion and or genre. In other words, I
have learned how to research and respond to different mediums of writing. Comparing the 2010
classroom objectives and my last two sentences, I would argue that this class has easily covered
most, if not all of the classroom objectives.
By composing the issue exploration, I learned to respond through more than just the
traditional two-sided perspectives. After writing our first paper with three or more arguable
viewpoints, I discovered a more open minded writing style which strayed away from bias. On the
contrary, the paper proposal allowed us to voice in our own opinion on the topic and then back
that opinion with creditable research. Although these two papers were somewhat similar in topic,
they are completely different in genres. In this class I have learned that, its extremely important
to match the genre of writing with a fitting response in order optimize your papers overall
effectiveness. With the issue exploration, paper proposal, memoir, letter to an editor, and a few
other responsive journals, I would certainly claim, I have learned to adapt strategies of argument,
style, and design across multiple writing situations and genres.
Along with writing these papers and responding rhetorically, I have simultaneously
learned how to research in depth and actually analyze what Im reading by considering the
authors credentials, the time/context of when it was written, any use of fallacies, etc.. I had sort

of practiced this analytical reading prior to taking this class, however, I would say without doubt
that this class has helped me grasp a stronger sense of analyzing my readings. I have even
noticed myself analyzing my more personal life, checking the authenticity and relevance of
statistics that are used in the silly articles my friends post on Facebook. I believe that analytical
reading is honestly one of the most helpful skills I have learned in class this semester because it
helps me get a more accurate opinion of an article and the points the article is trying to get to the
audience. This skill of analyzing is ultimately beneficial in all of my other courses and any
research or reading we might have to do.
As for peer-reviews, I really enjoy hearing opinions from other students (actually doing
the same assignment) and listening to any advice or tips they have for me. Sometimes the advice
is slightly on the cheesier side, like the classic Good Job. But nevertheless, I do honestly enjoy
getting some real constructive criticism that most usually helps me to compose a better final
paper. Most of the time, other students would help me figure out better transition phrases or help
me rephrase a confusing sentence. I often found myself guiding my peers towards correct MLA
citations or helping them stay away from run on sentences/topics. Overall, my favorite part of
peer review is getting someone else to read your paper and then discussing what message they
got out of it, compared to what you wanted them to get out of it. By using this method, I have
almost always gotten some type of good phrasing advice, which helps me get my message across
to the readers.
For the revision of the Issue Explortation, I condensed the two introduction paragraphs
into one more clear and to-the-point introduction, I clarified a source by introducing him via
attributive tag, and changed up a few misleading word here and there (Nevertheless, you, etc.)
When revising my paper proposal, I rearranged my thesis statement in the introduction

paragraph, I summarized a block quote in my own words before quoting it, I rephrased some of
the wording in my third supporting paragraph, and I extended some of my concluding
thoughts/proposals.
Overall, I have enjoyed my time in this course and I feel that I have once again become
an even stronger writer/reader. I never thought Id say it in an English course but, thank you Ms.
Hull for the great semester!