Final Portfolio

My final portfolio contains three pieces; my final paper, revised paper of assignment number 2, and a peer review of Nick's final paper. I have chose these three assignments because, because I believe that these reflect my effort and thoughts toward the course. I believe that final paper brings many good points for people to think about grammar. The sources in which I used greatly back up the arguments that I make. The main weakness that I had while writing this paper was researching grammar and turning it into a conversational piece. I thought that the revision of paper 2 would be very difficult, however, I found it to be not as difficult to explain my writing process in a different way that I did before. I still make the same claims and arguments, but I explain them in a different way. I also included my peer revision of Nick's final paper because, it shows my effort that I put into the course. I have received peer revisions that just tell me how good my writing is and does not help me out at all when I go to revise my paper, and I think that I make very effective comments in which Nick can use to make his paper better. 

This leads me to my argument to raise my grade from my C to possibly a B. I believe that the effort I put towards this course was great enough for me to receive a B. English has never been and will never be my strongest subject, I am more of a mathematical student, which leads me to continually struggle with these type of courses. However, I really did try to get a better understanding of the subject by reading our assigned readings and answering the questions to the best of my ability.

I think that this course brought up many good things to consider in the writing community, however, I wish that we didn't have all of our writing assignments over the thoughts of the "Writing About Writing", book because, it lead me to have little motivation to write after paper number 2. The course began to be repetitive and dull once we got halfway through the quarter, a nice change of pace may have been what was needed for the course. I would have done a lot better on a research paper that was over a subject other than that about writing in the academic community. 

http://www.scribd.com/hartmanb93/d/85258907-Grammar-Paper

http://www.scribd.com/doc/85882360/Paper-2-Revised

http://www.scribd.com/hartmanb93/d/84643741-Nick-s-Peer-Response

Final Paper

In my research paper I am trying to show that the thoughts and teachings of grammar are flawed. The main thesis that I was trying to get across is that people put too much emphasis on how writing is structured, rather than what the content within the text is saying. I used sources to describe what grammar is and what is wrong with the teaching methods we use for grammar. This paper was very difficult, because I found it difficult to use research about a subject such as grammar. I realized there didn’t seem to be much to discuss about the subject. I found it extremely difficult to make my paper lengthy because my sources repeated themselves throughout, or had conflicting viewpoints. 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/85258907/Grammar-Paper

new url for paper

I noticed that my first url was not working properly. Hopefully you will be able to peer edit it before tomorrow

http://www.scribd.com/doc/84580631/Grammar-Paper

Cover Letter Paper 4

My main thesis statement for this paper was very similar to what I discussed in my first paper. I discussed how the teachings of grammar are flawed leaving students with a skewed thought process of the subject. I also brought to the readers attention how standardized tests lead teachers to teach what is necessary and now what should be being taught. I did find much difficulty when I wrote this paper. The sources that I wanted to use for this paper ended up to be very repetitive and lead me to not be able to use them all. The lack of sources lead me to not fully develop my thoughts. For my final, I will find more sources that will add to my argument, which will also lengthen my paper. Link is below

http://www.scribd.com/doc/83940249/Grammar-Paper

Introduction

The educational systems in the United States continually add standardized tests and laws in which to have every student on the same intellectual level. Although these laws and tests do give every student an opportunity in the academic world, they lead to teaching methods being flawed in certain subjects. One subject in which teaching methods have become controversial is grammar. The way that grammar is taught throughout America leads to the crippling of writing composition among students. To resolve this problem, teachers must integrate the ideas of grammar along with other aspects of the English language and writing.

Annotative Bib

http://www.scribd.com/doc/83455586/Annotated-Bib

Feb 27

Summary

In the article Reading and Writing without Authority Penrose and Geisler argue that knowledge or lack of knowledge is not what determines one’s authority. To show this, Penrose and Geisler examine a text from a first year student and a text on the same subject written by a doctoral student. After the two texts were examined Penrose and Geisler came to the conclusion that authority is determined by the level of one’s experience with writing and the confidence that comes with it.

QDs

3. The information transfer model refers to Janet’s writing because she is still a student in the writing world, and the way that she writes is by finding research and transferring the information into her writing. Another reason that Janet uses this method is a lack of knowledge of the subject, which leaves her with no other choice than to regurgitate information. Roger, on the other hand, is a graduate and may look at writing in a different way then Janet because, he sees his writing as conversational and less structured. Also his knowledge of the subject allows him to have a “continual process”.

4. I think that this was the case because as a student Janet was probably more confident in her sources because they are published articles and she probably looks at herself as an amateur. I also experience this with my writings, and I would rather rely on my sources then my own thoughts.

5. My writing is more like Janet’s because I am more of an information- transfer model rather than a constructivist model of knowledge. I am an information- transfer model because I feel that I am an amateur with my writings, so I rely on my sources and findings to compose my texts.

MM

After reading this article, the next time I write a research paper I will try not to just regurgitate the information I find. I will write with more a constructive and conversational way. Also, I will not lessen my abilities by second guessing my own thoughts and relying mainly on my sources.

Reflection

This article really made me think about how I lessen my ability to have authority. The whole article I referred to Janet’s ways of writing as my way because we share many similarities. I hope that from now on when I write I will be able to have more authority in my writing.