Reflecting more on my writing experiences

1. What were the biggest challenges you faced this semester, overall? My biggest challenge this semester was an overall lack of motivation and excitement about school. For some reason I really lost some steam this semester. I think that it may have had something to do with a lack of direction about what I'm even in school for. I also worked alot this semester, especially in October. This contributed to pretty high stress levels and not as much importance placed on my classes.

2. What did you learn this semester about your own time management, writing and editorial skills? I learned that the entire process is more enjoyable and efficient when I care about what I'm writing about and put focused effort into my writing. I did a fair bit of bullshitting to try and finish blog-posts faster, but looking back I wish I would've just put the work in. I think that I would've gotten more out of it, and the process would've been easier if I had just buckled down and put effort into everything. Producing mediocre work doesn't feel very good.

3. What do you know about the concept of 'genre'? Explain how understanding this concept is central to being a more effective writer. Genre is the format and conventions that one uses in writing a piece on a specific platform for a specific audience. It's important to understand this concept as a writer, because your job is very different depending on what genre you're writing in: A scientific research proposal is going to have different conventions, style, and language use than an article or a creative writing piece.

4. What skills from this course might you use and/or develop further in the next few years of college coursework? I think that I need to learn the conventions of all the different genres that I might be writing in, especially some of the more practical styles. I would like to know how to effectively write a grant proposal, conference proposal, hard science research paper, and newspaper article. I also need to work on being concise and not over-wording.

5. What was your most effective moment from this semester in 109H? My most effective moment was when I got pretty excited about the last project and actually put good work in. I'm proud of my final product for that project, and it's because I put effort into it.

6. What was your least effective moment from this semester in 109H? My least effective moment was some of the early blog-posts that I didn't put a whole lot of effort into.

Webb, Michaela. "Compost Farm" 2015

Revisiting my Writing Process

As I look back on my first few posts of the course a few thoughts come up. To answer the question for this post, I don't think that my writing style has changes drastically since then. I have had to approach writing differently for this course, simply because of time constraints in my life this semester. Many of the blog posts for this class were an exercise in speed-typing and divesting myself from caring about quality. This is because I was working too many hours and I was prioritizing spending time with my friends over school work. I think that once I return to a saner schedule, my writing style will return to normal. Reading the calendar reflection makes me realize that something was off this semester. In the calendar reflection I say that I have "good work ethic" and have never had a hard time focusing and getting things done. This has not been the case this semester. I have had an incredibly hard time just sitting down and studying/focusing on one thing. My mind is always going in 10 different directions, and I'm rarely productive in the way that I used to be. I'm hoping that this is a temporary problem, because poor work ethic is one of the things that I hate the most in other people and hate even more in myself!

Webb, Michaela "Floodwater Canoeing on the Santa Cruz" 2015

Reflection on Project 3

1. What did you revise globally from one draft to another? Why? How do the changes that you made affect your argument, audience, and credibility as an author? My main revisions were global: I moved some paragraphs around to make the logic of the piece flow better. I also added two paragraphs about the San Carlos Apache's connection to Oak Flat once I decided that my purpose was to convince climbers to stand with the Apache. I think that adding in more information about the history of destruction of San Carlos sacred sites helped my argument gain strength because it highlighted the importance of the area and the need to join together with the San Carlos. I think that adding these sections increased my credibility because it showed that I have depth of knowledge on the subject its historical context. Although my audience isn't directly connected to the San Carlos Apache, and awareness of Native American struggles is part of our culture today. Whether you're a climber, a scientist, or a barista at a coffee shop it's likely that you're aware of the historical disadvantages that Native American groups face and that you care at at least a little bit.
2. What local revisions did you make? How did they improve clarity for your audience? Did you have to reconsider conventions of the genre? I didn't make a whole lot of local revisions to this piece. I read it over a few times to make sure there weren't any grammar errors, but I feel that it came out pretty well the first time around. I typically write using more words than necessary, and so my local revision process is mostly paring down and getting rid of clutter words. TNB columns typically have a conversational, narratice, informal style, so I didn't have to pare it down the way that I would for a lab report or a more formal essay. 
3. How does the process of reflection help you consider your identity as a writer? I've recently been writing in a lot of different styles. I've been blogging, and writing in different genres for this class, and I just finished a research grant proposal for money to investigate the potential of certain anthropogenic compounds in our finished compost. I've also been writing lab reports for soils. Switching between these different styles has been a little challenging for me, but I've realized how important audience and purpose are. When I write science stuff I just have to remember that the purpose is to convey objective information as clearly and concisely as possible. No flowery language, no more words than necessary. When I write something like the public argument about Oak Flat I have much more creative license to convey the information and employ rhetoric however I want to. I would like to develop both styles of writing so that I can be effective in both. 

Webb, Michaela "San Fran from Alcatraz" 2014

Publishing Project 3

Here is a PDF version of my final draft. The PDF contains captions for the photos, and is formatted exactly how I want it. Unfortunately the hyperlinks don't work in that form, so here is a google docs version in which the hyperlinks work.

Below is my self-evaluation of the purpose of my public argument. My opinions are added in blue:


1. Mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience currently stands on the issue (before reading/watching/hearing your argument) below:

←-----------------------------x----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

2. Now mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience should be (after they've read/watched/heard your argument) below:

←----------x-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

3. Check one (and only one) of the argument types below for your public argument:

         _______ My public argument establishes an original pro position on an issue of debate.

         _______ My public argument establishes an original con position on an issue of debate.

         _______ My public argument clarifies the causes for a problem that is being debated.

         ___x___ My public argument proposes a solution for a problem that is being debated.

         _______ My public argument positively evaluate a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm supporting).

         _______ My public argument openly refutes a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm refuting).

Although my argument contains multiple elements, its main goal is to convince the climbing community to join together with the San Carlos Apache in the fight to protect Oak Flat


4. Briefly explain how your public argument doesn’t simply restate information from other sources, but provides original context and insight into the situation:
There is almost no public discourse or meaningful action within the climbing community to protect Oak Flat. My article is original because of the audience that it addresses. I use information from other sources to explain the issue, but my argument that the climbing community needs to join in the fight to protect Oak Flat is original. 

5. Identify the specific rhetorical appeals you believe you've employed n your public argument below:


Ethical or credibility-establishing appeals

                    __x_ Telling personal stories that establish a credible point-of-view

                    ___x_ Referring to credible sources (established journalism, credentialed experts, etc.) (only through hyperlinking)

                    __x__ Employing carefully chosen key words or phrases that demonstrate you are credible (proper terminology, strong but clear vocabulary, etc.)

                    __x__ Adopting a tone that is inviting and trustworthy rather than distancing or alienating

                    ___x_ Arranging visual elements properly (not employing watermarked images, cropping images carefully, avoiding sloppy presentation)

                    _____ Establishing your own public image in an inviting way (using an appropriate images of yourself, if you appear on camera dressing in a warm or friendly or professional manner, appearing against a background that’s welcoming or credibility-establishing)

                    _____ Sharing any personal expertise you may possess about the subject (your identity as a student in your discipline affords you some authority here)

                    _____ Openly acknowledging counterarguments and refuting them intelligently

                    _x___ Appealing openly to the values and beliefs shared by the audience (remember that the website/platform/YouTube channel your argument is designed for helps determine the kind of audience who will encounter your piece)

                    __x__ Other: I gain credibility with the climbers through use of climbing lingo ("sport and trad lines" "pocket lover's paradise" "weekend warriors"). In my experience the climbing community is a very tribal group, and they are more likely to trust what I have to say if I'm speaking their language.

Emotional appeals

                    ____ Telling personal stories that create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    ___x_ Telling emotionally compelling narratives drawn from history and/or the current culture

                    ____ Employing the repetition of key words or phrases that create an appropriate emotional impact

                    _____ Employing an appropriate level of formality for the subject matter (through appearance, formatting, style of language, etc.)

                    _____ Appropriate use of humor for subject matter, platform/website, audience

                    __x__ Use of “shocking” statistics in order to underline a specific point

                    __x__ Use of imagery to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    __x__ Employing an attractive color palette that sets an appropriate emotional tone (no clashing or ‘ugly’ colors, no overuse of too many variant colors, etc.)

                    _____ Use of music to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _____ Use of sound effects to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _x__ Employing an engaging and appropriate tone of voice for the debate

                    _____ Other: My main rhetorical appeal is emotional. I really want to make the readers feel the importance of the area, both as a climbing area and a sacred site for the San Carlos. I try to do this through vivid descriptions of the beauty of area and historical evidence of the continued destruction of San Carlos Apache sacred sites. The photos that I chose to incorporate are intended to elicit and emotional response: The one of climbing shows how incredible the area is, and the one of the protest is an emotionally charged image. 

The pull-quote that I included is also part of my emotional rhetoric. 

Logical or rational appeals
                    ____ Using historical records from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    _____ Using statistics from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    _____ Using interviews from stakeholders that help affirm your stance or position

                    _____ Using expert opinions that help affirm your stance or position

                    __x__ Effective organization of elements, images, text, etc.

                    _____ Clear transitions between different sections of the argument (by using title cards, interstitial music, voiceover, etc.)

                    ____ Crafted sequencing of images/text/content in order to make linear arguments

                    ___x_ Intentional emphasis on specific images/text/content in order to strengthen argument

                    _____ Careful design of size/color relationships between objects to effectively direct the viewer’s attention/gaze (for visual arguments)

                    _____ Other:

6. Below, provide us with working hyperlinks to THREE good examples of the genre you've chosen to write in. These examples can come from Blog Post 11.3 or they can be new examples. But they should all come from the same specific website/platform and should demonstrate the conventions for your piece:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Webb, Michaela "That way!" 2015

Reflection on Project 3 draft

I wrote peer reviews for Alex's and Austin's drafts. Bailey peer reviewed my draft. I found Bailey's review to be very thorough, helpful, and positive. The most valuable suggestion was that I should provide some tangible ways that climbers can get involved at the end of my piece. I think that this is great advice, because the main goal of my piece is to convince climbers that they should do something about the issue. I also still need to cite the images that I used.

Overall I'm feeling pretty good about the project. I really like writing in prose style, which is something that I was able to integrate into this project. I have gotten positive feedback about the descriptions that I wrote from everyone who has read it.

Webb, Michaela "In High Places" 2015

Draft of Public Argument

Here is the rough draft of project 3. The thing that I struggle with the most in writing this is that the formate that I'm writing in is very informal: it's essentially a blog post. I want to make sure that I'm constructing an effective argument while still adhering to the informal, narrative-style of the Tuesday Night Bouldering weekly column. So, as you read my draft, please let me know how you think I could've done this better or differently. Thanks!

Webb, Michaela "morning in Bishop" 2014

Considering visual elements

In this post I will answer some questions about the visual structure and elements of my project:


Is the theme that the image produces relevant to the theme of my argument?
I want the images to evoke the importance of protecting Oak Flat, especially for recreational purposes. I also want an image to evoke distrust of Mccain and Flake and to highlight the tactics that they used to open the area to mining.  

Does the image inform or emphasize my argument in an important way?
My plan for my project is to use images in the same way that the genre typically uses them. I will use a couple key images to evoke the natural beauty of Oak Flat, as well as one of the rock climbing there.

Is the image in close proximity to the argument that it is emphasizing or illustrating?
I plan to place images close to the parts of the argument that they are connected with. I will put an image of rock climbing at oak flat next to the paragraph about the climbing there. I will do this for all of my images.

Do the different textual and visual elements come together as a whole?
Ideally they will. It will be easier to answer this question after I actually write the article and put the images in. If they don't, I will do some revision to make sure that they do.

Are your images sequenced in the most powerful way possible?
I plan to sequence images in a way that builds up the natural beauty of Oak Flat in reader's minds, and then shows what it might look like after mining. I want to visually illustrate what will be lost if the mine is built.

Are blocks of text broken up by images?
I will make sure to break up the text with images. That's a convention of the genre that I'm writing in, so it's especially important.

Webb, Michaela "bark" 2014

Project 3 outline

In this post I will create an outline for project 3.

Introduction:

• Begin by framing the consequences of the issue: That another rock climbing area is likely going to be destroyed/ climbing access will be restricted. I will use an example of this happening in the past (maybe cave rock at lake tahoe, the Virgin River Gorge in Utah, or Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah.) 

Body:

• Major supporting arguments:
• Oak Flat is a rock climbing treasure and should be protected. There is an annual bouldering competition there (Queen Creek bouldering comp). It's one of the main outdoor areas for the Phoenix area.
• The tactics used by McCain and Flake to give the area to Rio Tinto for mining were underhanded and sleezy, not to mention that both get a large chunk of campaign contributions from the mining company
•  The mine will destroy a San Carlos Apache spiritual and cultural treasure. This is not ok.
• Major Criticisms:
• The economic benefits of a mine
• Rebuttals:
• The economic benefits don't outweigh the value of the areas a a natural, cultural, and recreational treasure to the San Carlos Apache, the climbing community, the ecosystem, and the people of Arizona.
• Evidence:
• I will take evidence from previous research.

Webb, Michaela "Oak Flat" 2015

Conclusion:

• I will use a call to action to conclude my argument. Climbers need to be more involved in this conversation and fight. If we get all the stakeholders together to fight this, we may be able to win.

Analyzing my genre

In this blog post I will present 5 examples from the genre that I'm going to write project 3 in, and answer the questions in the photo below to further analyze my genre:

Webb, Michaela "Screenshot" 2015

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5


Social Context:

• The genre is always in Rock and Ice magazine website. It's a weekly blog column that addresses the hottest issues in the climbing community. The readership is entirely rock climbers. The column serves to casually raise awareness about issues, sometimes make people laugh, sometimes pay tribute to a climber who recently died. It ranges alot. 

Rhetorical patterns:

• The content ranges from very serious to very silly, but the tone is typically casual. They often include narrative elements. The most consistent norm of the genre is that they are all written using climber's language. Climbers have a very specific vocabulary that isn't understood by the general population, and these blog posts are obviously written by a climber, for climbers. There is lots of quoting in the narrative sections, but it varies post to post.

What do the Rhetorical Patterns reveal about the social context of the genre?

• This is a blog written for climbers. They care about climbing, and a large majority of them care about the environment (especially as it pertains to rock climbing). Climbers are generally liberal, but often spend too much time rock climbing to take political action or be very involved in grassroots movements. I can't blame them, rock climbing is fun!
•