Reflective Essay
Throughout the course of the semester, I have learned many valuable skills and tools that will assist me throughout the course of my life. One of the primary goals of the course was to be able to recognize, analyze, and utilize rhetoric and other forms of persuasion in an effective manner. We studied several ways in which to employ these forms of rhetoric to maximum effect. I believe that I have gained much from this course as I am now far more able to effectively use rhetoric and persuasive techniques within my writing.
During my time with the course, we studied the ways in which others have used these rhetorical and persuasive strategies (often to great success). This has made me far more capable of discerning the persuasive tools that are employed within a piece of work or writing. Analyzing the rhetoric of others has made me much more conscious and aware of the rhetoric that I personally employ. The abundant use of peer review was instrumental to the course. This peer review has allowed me to see if what I had written was clear and well written. It also allowed me to see common mistakes that others have made—and avoid them.
The completion of this course has contributed to my becoming a more accomplished writer, skeptic, and critical thinker. Critical reasoning, properly employed skepticism, and the ability to analyze the forms of persuasion and coercion that are often used in our culture will benefit me (and anyone for that matter) greatly. These skills will allow me to ensure that I am always aware of the motivations that a writer possesses and asserts through their writing. This allows me to view their works through the prism of rationality and reason. The advantage that this affords me is the ability to see the true purpose of a piece of writing—or of a piece of work (such as a restaurant’s menu that we analyzed).
When the motivations and persuasive strategies of an author are clear, one is better able to make informed decisions. Recognizing the persuasive tactics that a writer uses affords us a more complete set of information to come to more educated decisions and conclusions. As an informed decision is always better than one that is made through ignorance and impulsive decision-making practices, I am grateful for the set of skills that I have learned throughout the course. Armed with these essential skills, I will be better prepared and more informed throughout the course of my life.
clayboitnott 