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Within this ePortfolio, I intend to show my progress in WOVE communication throughout English 250. My growth as a communicator has been constant, and I have developed habits that will make me a more effective speaker, writer, and communicator in general. My writing process has become easier for me with each assignment, as I learn what methods of organization and drafting work best for me.
With the first assignment, I wrote a summary with little thought or preplanning, and with the last assignment, I had created an outline, mind map, and draft before the final essay was complete. From now on, I have decided the best way to get my ideas for my pieces is to create a mind map of all the information I have, and the parameters of the assignment at hand. When I have fleshed out the main ideas I want to include in a piece, I turn the mind map into an outline, organizing my thoughts into a more traditional essay format. These methods ensure that I get my main points across in an organized manner. My editing skills are improving as well. I have trouble giving the right amount of detail without my sentence structure becoming confusing. The more I focus on being concise and clear with my thoughts, the better my mechanics are in my pieces.
I have found that the most important part of communication is catering to your audience. The difficulty of language used, the attitude, and the reasoning of my pieces are all affected by the audience. I was most aware of my audience in the rhetorical analysis and visual rhetorical analysis that I wrote. Within those assignments, I repeatedly asked myself why my main points matter to the audience, in order for the piece to remain relevant to the audience. Brainstorming the details of my pieces beforehand is the most effective way I have found to keep my audience focused on my piece. Without English 250, I most likely would have given little to no thought of the audience in my writing.
Because WOVE communication includes many forms of communication, there are a multitude of strengths and weaknesses I have. I have found that I am a better visual communicator, and that it comes more naturally to me. PowerPoint presentations, as well as image-based pieces are my strength. I struggle the most with substance of a paper. Giving the right amount of detail and reasoning behind my main points does not come naturally to me. I naturally assume that everyone in the audience knows the same amount of information I do, and that elaborate explanations are not necessary. I am continuously working on giving more detail.
In the next few pages of this ePortfolio, the best examples of my communication skills will be shown. English 250 has been a class of growth, and I am proud of the positive changes in my writing habits.
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