As part of the required PWR 2 assignment sequence, this assignment encourages students to consider both what they have learned about how to deliver research arguments in different media as well as to reflect on their own growth as writers and rhetors. To this end, you will reflect specifically on your abilities and experiences in making rhetorical choices in research, argument, writing, and speaking.

This letter should be the final post on your forum folder and accordingly should act as a portfolio cover letter for your collected work (papers, scripts, blogwork, wikiwork, powerpoint slides, etc.).

It can be informal in voice (addressed directly to me), but it needs to have a central point that it makes and it needs to be structured, clear, cohesive, and detailed. Be sure that it has a clear opening and closing (i.e., don't just stop writing and say, "That's it!")

Consider it the written equivalent of a sit-down with me where we review your work for the quarter and what you have learned.

To prepare for writing your reflection, review your different files, including your presentation movies, your scripts, your papers, your blog posts, your free-writes, and your work on the wikis.

In writing your letter, try to synthesize your development over the course of the quarter and the way in which your work reflects this. Refer to specific assignments, specific slides, etc. -- although avoid too much redundancy with your earlier reflection letters. Keep in mind that one of your primary focuses for this letter should be the difference between delivering information in various media -- both in terms of different electronic media (blogs, vs. wikis, vs. traditional academic writing) and in terms of written vs. oral discourse. Finally, let me reiterate: please don't simply speak in generalizations -- use concrete language and example.

Remember to take some care constructing your ethos as a writer. This may involve not only referring to specific concepts we discussed in class, but also establishing your credibility through word choice (i.e. Increase your ethos by talking specifically about different rhetorical terms [pathos, logos, ethos, memory, delivery, etc.] rather than just saying "I tried to make my writing powerful").

Don't forget to that you need to support your argument with specific example, whether this be anecdotal (drawn from your experience) or concrete (links to relevant websites, PowerPoint slides, or other materials). Don't forget the power of the visual:

• Attend to the "look" of your reflection, especially as it relates to your chosen genre
• Include visual evidence directly in your reflection through screenshots and embedded images. Remember to analyze your images; don't simply insert them as decoration!

Finally, try to have fun with this assignment and use it to pull together your final thoughts on Writing and Rhetoric as a soon-to-be PWR graduate.

E-mail me, IM me, or talk to me in class if you have any questions about this assignment.