Oh, The Places You’ll Go- Critical Reflection
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
-Dr. Seuss
I realized English was going to be my major in college as I sat in my AP literature class senior year of high school. Reading and writing were always my strong suits and in my previous experience with math and science, I knew that wasn’t going to be the route I’d take. So moving forward, at least I had a major. Now it was time to find the college for me. They were many choices but a friend I trusted told me Georgia State University would be ideal for me. There was a marching band, a diverse campus, and most importantly the major I wanted to explore. So taking Dr. Seuss’ and the advice of my trusty friend, I listened and four years later, here I am. I took that step on faith and I’ve never looked back since.
As an incoming freshman, I thought I had a plan. I would be an English major and go on to become an editor or publisher of Penguin or other established companies without any worries. I spoke with my English 1101 professor, Dr. Horton and she mentioned in detail about the various English concentrations and I realized I had no idea which one served my purpose. I researched multiple concentrations and Advanced Composition and Rhetoric seemed to be the one to help me benefit in my future endeavors. The search was over, a concentration had been made, and now on to gain the experience.
“Step with care and great tact ,and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.”
— Dr. Seuss
Each class in this concentration I’ve taken established my sense of security in the subject and in my future. Pursuing the need to gain valuable information, I registered for Editing (Engl 3140) with Dr. Lori Howard fall semester of 2012. As a class, we edited and highlighted the necessary things editors do in the field. We participated in introduction letters, proof letters and style sheets letting the author know the particular changes needed to make the finished product a success. This class was significant in showing the levels needed to edit a manuscript and how close to detail an editor must look. Being a stickler could have deterred me from my goal of working in this field, but it only strengthened my belief that this subject was right for me. During this time, I was also in organizations on campus trying to find internships projecting me above all other candidates.
Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) an on campus organization allowed me the opportunity to meet Jewel Anderson and intern for Under 30 Following The Vision, a start up magazine, featuring young entrepreneurs in the Atlanta Area. With Dr. Malinda Snow’s assistance, I was able to work on this project for Engl 4500 class credit. Meetings with Dr. Snow to update her on my progress helped me gain insight on how to make my writing more clear and concise. As the internship coordinator for English majors, Dr. Snow has been able to read different students’ work and tell them of their improvement and with her guidance I was able to submit my articles to the magazine with confidence. The magazine was published in November 2013 and has been growing recognition ever since. Highlighted in this portfolio is my biography on the winner: Jeannell Darden.
Concurrently, I was also scheduled for Business Writing for Spring 2013 semester with Helen Cauley. Business writing, an important aspect in any field, taught me to write memos in a more concise manner, continuing with the theme I discovered in composition and rhetoric: getting your point across in a timely manner. The letter I will be using as an example for this class in particular demonstrates being persuasive, while informative. I want to use this essay because the amount of information learned is reflective in this letter to the “Future Panthers.” This assignment was one I enjoyed because I had the chance to speak on my personal experience at GSU in hopes of experiencing more students from my high school to attend. This class taught me how to apply different techniques to pieces of material. For instance, a resume is made with the specific job in mind and your qualifications in the same area. Business writing will apply to my future writing because I will look at the recipient of all documents I write.
Summer 2013 brought with it Introduction of Rhetoric and Composition, taught by Dr. Michael Harker. This may have one of my favorite classes for the concentration and I learned so much. Each day we discussed something of use for future writing and the topics probed different subjects. The history of rhetoric is one subject, in my opinion, that should be featured in all programs at GSU because it teaches so much about the art of rhetoric. There were many essays that helped me understand rhetoric more in depth and understand the part it plays in the 21st century, but my favorite essay featured on my blog is on Beyonce. Seeing how celebrities use the different rhetorician techniques their persona interested me and allowed the subject to really come to life.
Publishing is changing everyday and progressing to a direction completely electronic. With that being said, Electronic Writing and Publishing taught by Dr. Ashley Holmes facilitated discussions in explaining to write to an audience with a particular niche. One assignment in particular I felt was beneficial to learn was blog entries on a niche. My niche started out as celebrities with nonprofits in Atlanta, but I quickly learned the subject was not of interest to me and it also was very specialized. I immediately changed topics to start-up companies in Atlanta and had much more success. English 3120 was instrumental in shaping my perception of the differences in print and electronic works.
Dr. Burmester’s English 4320 Senior Seminar class on composition and rhetoric has brought each lesson learned full circle. This class has allowed me to explore careers like grant writing, teaching, and my career choice: higher education, academic advising more specifically. We have gone in depth in what English majors can do and with all of this I feel confident that I can and will find a job and career path upon graduating. The essay I will highlight is the stylistic analysis of own text. This text, I believe is essential to present because being able to analyze my own text will make me a better writer. Becoming self aware of repetitive actions has been a part of the class and will allow us to produce future writing with more thought. These habits with acute awareness can be highlighted and corrected. This essay uses details from English 3050 with Dr. Harker as mentioned earlier. This essay also illustrates what I think of my style and how it has developed with evidence.
“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.”
― Dr. Seuss
My writing has shifted throughout my time at Georgia State University and with each experience I’ve gained more knowledge. Good writing is like a band with the director; each note is needed to piece together the music and make it sound whole, uninterrupted, full with little intonation. As a flutist in high school and having knowledge on writing, this holds to be true. Writing has a formula. There’s the steady beat of the drum, or in this case the writing being fluid; the half, sixteenth and eighth notes building upon the steady beat of the drum (the essay coming to its pivotal point) with crescendos and decrescendos as needed until its very last note. My writing process follows this pattern, with the conclusion being the last significant note you hear. The term “good writing” holds so many connotations for an author, but in my experience it is the writing that has a relatable trait. Writing deemed “good” leaves a piece of the writer with the reader, engaging them in the story, as if spellbound.
“Only you can control your future.”
― Dr. Seuss
As a result of choosing composition and rhetoric as my concentration, I am sure I can effectively convey my message in future discussions, debates, or any other forum. Delivery and presentation are important as they all give aid to the image. I’ve grown as a writer while taking classes in the English spectrum, noticing what works and what doesn’t. Dr. Harker’s class laid the foundation for me and Dr. Burmester’s senior seminar contributed to putting all the pieces together using each class as a component to finish the product. Grammatical rules seeming distant at first, now are able for me to comprehend and use more fluently. Throughout my time here at Georgia State, I’ve become a well-rounded person, using material taught inside my rhetoric classes to help with organizations, contribute to my marketing minor in classes like advertising, and to help me give persuasive presentations. Because of this concentration, I am able to work in all areas of my life and know how to transfer pathos, ethos, and logos to them. Writing essays, creating presentations from data collected, and editing documents have all educated me on “good writing.” Good writing does not apply to only essays, but to anything requiring attention to detail.
“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”
― Dr. Seuss
The next question asked, “Where do I go from here?” Georgia State’s English program has to be one of the best. I’ve gotten to work on my concentration with amazing professors whose main goal is to help me excel and instill the essentials of writing. After graduation, it’s my hope to continue writing using blogs as my outlet. I also aspire to work in Higher Education and give the attention to students as I have been given attention while attending GSU. Dr. Seuss’ quote, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You,” comes to mind when I think about my future. I’ve had the opportunity to experience GSU and all it has to offer and my journey with rhetoric isn’t over yet. So as this chapter closes another opens, one with my aspirations in life open and I’m ready to explore.
“All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you’ll be quite a lot!”
― Dr. Seuss
