Professor Beth Godbee,
I have pushed myself to excel in Advanced Composition. I have broken into new genres of writing and forced myself to expand from my background in news writing. Before taking this course I would have never been able to write all of these assignments without inserting a news style, but I have worked with my peer group and revised multiple times to find a more suitable voice and style. Now I feel very comfortable with these genres, and I am very proud of my research project. I believe that my research paper and poster will actually promote change in advising. I am not a perfect writer, but I feel that I have grown tremendously this semester. By practicing my writing in this class I learn something new every day.
I learned how to incorporate data and transcribe and code interviews accurately. This class has encouraged me to develop my research and writing skills. Before this class I did not think about what kind of writing I was doing; I just wrote. I now consider my audience, voice, style and genre before I begin.
This portfolio will allow me to showcase my best work. These works illustrate my strengths and improvements as a writer. My personal progress this semester has astounded me. I don’t remember ever putting this much thought and work into my writing. This course has been challenging, but it has encouraged me to work and revise in order to create the best finished possible project. The emphasis on revision and practice in this course gave me the ability to take risks with my writing and move beyond my comfort level. I push myself.
This portfolio contains:
Research paper – This is the culmination of my semester’s research. I have edited and revised many times to create this finished work. I hope to submit this paper to Marquette’s E-publications and share my proposal with the Diederich College of Communication.
Research proposal- I wrote this proposal as if I was outside of the classroom and seeking funding for an important research project. I learned how to format and develop this type of writing. I was able to communicate the relevance and significance of this project.
Research poster- This poster visually engages the audience and communicates my research and proposal as it relates to the university. I incorporated the use of white space and the rule of thirds so that it is aesthetically appealing.
Interview transcript- This transcript shows the flow of conversation and how I presented myself professionally to a dean that has a major impact on the lasting change my proposal can offer to the College of Communication.
Undergraduate Research Poster Fair flyer- I volunteered to use my design experience to create a flyer invitation to the Undergraduate Research Poster Fair.
My peer-review group and our individual conferences have assisted me in learning to adapt my writing for my audience, writing for clarity and using a strong voice and style. I know that I can not just skate by like I have done in past writing classes. I am surrounded by strong and dedicated writers. This class has given me intrinsic motivation to push myself to do my best work possible. I am not writing for a grade. I am writing to further my skills and develop myself as an author.
My goal of participation for this semester was to become an active participant and listener. I wanted to be able to give and receive constructive feedback to improve my writing and discussion skills without dominating the conversation (which I have been prone to do in other classes). In class I have been a good contributor, and I believe my class contributions and listening skills improved greatly after receiving feedback at mid-term. I have learned so much from my peers, and I hope to continue this growth in future classes. I learned how to incorporate myself into the classroom dynamic and learn from the excellent students that surrounded me.
This is not a class that I can just “get by” in. In other classes I have not always turned in my best work because I knew I didn’t have to in order to receive an A. I must prove myself as a writer, not for the grade, but for myself. I want to hand in my best work. I want this course to mean something.
My project on the disconnect between advising and career services is very valuable to me and my experience at Marquette. I want to encourage our university to change the process, so that other students do not have the same experience I had. Doing research and interviews is time consuming, but it excites me. I am empowered by my work, which made me want give my best effort on this project.
For my project I interviewed a student in the College of Communication; Joyce Wolburg, the associate dean of the college; and Kristin Adler, the assistant director of Career Services. I also took observational field notes at a reverse career fair, a mock interview with career services and an advising appointment.
My academic and journalistic experiences at Marquette University before this course had already made me a strong news writer, but now I feel that I am able to adapt to any writing necessary. My journalistic knowledge and experience gave me a strong writing foundation that this course has grown.
I now see myself as a successful researcher. I never had heard of an ethnography before this class, but I have learned how to create a project that can affect a lasting change at Marquette in a way I never knew was possible. I was able to present myself as a researcher to deans and university faculty to present my project and give insight into how I created this study. I have gained professional experience in the research world and grown as a student learner.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Doherty
I have pushed myself to excel in Advanced Composition. I have broken into new genres of writing and forced myself to expand from my background in news writing. Before taking this course I would have never been able to write all of these assignments without inserting a news style, but I have worked with my peer group and revised multiple times to find a more suitable voice and style. Now I feel very comfortable with these genres, and I am very proud of my research project. I believe that my research paper and poster will actually promote change in advising. I am not a perfect writer, but I feel that I have grown tremendously this semester. By practicing my writing in this class I learn something new every day.
I learned how to incorporate data and transcribe and code interviews accurately. This class has encouraged me to develop my research and writing skills. Before this class I did not think about what kind of writing I was doing; I just wrote. I now consider my audience, voice, style and genre before I begin.
This portfolio will allow me to showcase my best work. These works illustrate my strengths and improvements as a writer. My personal progress this semester has astounded me. I don’t remember ever putting this much thought and work into my writing. This course has been challenging, but it has encouraged me to work and revise in order to create the best finished possible project. The emphasis on revision and practice in this course gave me the ability to take risks with my writing and move beyond my comfort level. I push myself.
This portfolio contains:
Research paper – This is the culmination of my semester’s research. I have edited and revised many times to create this finished work. I hope to submit this paper to Marquette’s E-publications and share my proposal with the Diederich College of Communication.
Research proposal- I wrote this proposal as if I was outside of the classroom and seeking funding for an important research project. I learned how to format and develop this type of writing. I was able to communicate the relevance and significance of this project.
Research poster- This poster visually engages the audience and communicates my research and proposal as it relates to the university. I incorporated the use of white space and the rule of thirds so that it is aesthetically appealing.
Interview transcript- This transcript shows the flow of conversation and how I presented myself professionally to a dean that has a major impact on the lasting change my proposal can offer to the College of Communication.
Undergraduate Research Poster Fair flyer- I volunteered to use my design experience to create a flyer invitation to the Undergraduate Research Poster Fair.
My peer-review group and our individual conferences have assisted me in learning to adapt my writing for my audience, writing for clarity and using a strong voice and style. I know that I can not just skate by like I have done in past writing classes. I am surrounded by strong and dedicated writers. This class has given me intrinsic motivation to push myself to do my best work possible. I am not writing for a grade. I am writing to further my skills and develop myself as an author.
My goal of participation for this semester was to become an active participant and listener. I wanted to be able to give and receive constructive feedback to improve my writing and discussion skills without dominating the conversation (which I have been prone to do in other classes). In class I have been a good contributor, and I believe my class contributions and listening skills improved greatly after receiving feedback at mid-term. I have learned so much from my peers, and I hope to continue this growth in future classes. I learned how to incorporate myself into the classroom dynamic and learn from the excellent students that surrounded me.
This is not a class that I can just “get by” in. In other classes I have not always turned in my best work because I knew I didn’t have to in order to receive an A. I must prove myself as a writer, not for the grade, but for myself. I want to hand in my best work. I want this course to mean something.
My project on the disconnect between advising and career services is very valuable to me and my experience at Marquette. I want to encourage our university to change the process, so that other students do not have the same experience I had. Doing research and interviews is time consuming, but it excites me. I am empowered by my work, which made me want give my best effort on this project.
For my project I interviewed a student in the College of Communication; Joyce Wolburg, the associate dean of the college; and Kristin Adler, the assistant director of Career Services. I also took observational field notes at a reverse career fair, a mock interview with career services and an advising appointment.
My academic and journalistic experiences at Marquette University before this course had already made me a strong news writer, but now I feel that I am able to adapt to any writing necessary. My journalistic knowledge and experience gave me a strong writing foundation that this course has grown.
I now see myself as a successful researcher. I never had heard of an ethnography before this class, but I have learned how to create a project that can affect a lasting change at Marquette in a way I never knew was possible. I was able to present myself as a researcher to deans and university faculty to present my project and give insight into how I created this study. I have gained professional experience in the research world and grown as a student learner.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Doherty