Rhetorical Situation and Genre

This class allowed my mind to explore various types of rhetoric. I had never considered Death Rhetoric before and found it extremely interesting and not as morbid as I had originally thought it would be. I see how important it is to choose our words appropriately when having discussions, no matter what the topic in life. This has inspired me to contemplate my use of language and how I can make changes to provide clarity.

Writing as a Social Act

Writing as a social act enables me to communicate my passions and, in turn, absorb and learn about the passions of others. My overall attitude about gaming coming into this class, I will admit, was a negative one, though after observing the presentations of others, I am now enlightened to the mental approach that accompanies this subculture. I learned about the moral dilemmas considered when playing these games and am surprised by the complexity and contemplation involved. Now, if we could inspire a balance of physical movement as part of the process, it would satisfy my health-conscious brain.

Writing as a Process

Writing as a process has been extremely helpful for me by allowing me to take the time needed with each step. Typically, my nature tends to get me in a flurry where I rush things. Having this approach enabled me to slow it down and examine each aspect of the process. I feel that the pacing of the class was perfect to allow ample time for this crucial aspect.

Grammar and Usage

This class format provided space for me to explore and figure out what type of rhetoric I should use for each project. I appreciate having the freedom to expand the concepts of what it means to communicate with others. Over the last 54 years, there has been a shift in how words are used by each generation. I now understand how and why meanings and uses morph over time. Language is constantly evolving, and communities define what works for them.

Reflection

As a writer, I now notice more hesitation as I type. My sentences are revisited and checked for clarity, and my mind has an easier time wrapping itself around these concepts that I had been fearful of in the past. My entire life has been a lesson in throat chakra communication. As a child and young adult, I carried the frustration of “clouded communication”, basically being misunderstood most of the time. I really struggled with making my points because I was so passionate and emotional. Age has provided the opportunity for me to tackle this lifelong struggle in many ways. This class is another layer in finding better ways to communicate as a human.

Research

The research aspect of writing is newer to me. I enjoyed exploring the UNM Library database, though the research articles are very intense reading. It will take a bit of time for me to get accustomed to sifting through these vast amounts of information throughout my education here at UNM. As our culture is inundated with massive amounts of misinformation and disinformation, it is more important than ever for people like me to learn how to translate the data into a tangible form for the public. It feels like I am on this path from a broad perspective. I am excited to move forward with my studies and find ways to distribute knowledge in a way that impacts us on a global level. There’s so much misunderstanding causing problems.

Next semester, I will be completing two courses that cover many of these concepts. I will have the chance to work with multimodal formats that are engaging as I learn the key aspects. Our world needs some clarity. Maybe I can help.