As I am writing this letter of introduction, it is only me awake in my house right now. I’m sitting at my desk, with my lamp on as darkness surrounds me. With my headphones on, pretty loud as well, just to drown out any outside noise. Whether that be cars passing by, planes (I live nearby JFK so there’s constantly planes landing and departing, or literally any other noise. This is my typical idea of a great time to write. I notice I like to write secluded from everyone else. I’m a person that can get easily distracted. It’s easy for me to get up and walk away from my desk and not focus on my work. I’ve certainly noticed it during this semester. It’s not because I don’t enjoy writing, I’m pretty fond of writing, as I do it a lot in my free time, whether it be an idea I have for a story, or texting my friends, or just having to get something off my chest. Writing has become integral for me lately. Possibly because we all become isolated with our thoughts for over a year. The beginning of the semester I wasn;t really a fan of doing work so late at night. However, it’s the only time I tend to find it to be really quiet at home. No one’s around to bother me and it’s just me and my thoughts. For many that idea can be terrifying, however, I find it to be essential when it comes to writing now. This semester has helped me a lot when it comes to writing, and I have found new ways to make writing easier everyday for me. 

Throughout the semester there are many things that I haven’t certainly gotten better at. One for certain is to “recognize and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies when engaged in writing situations”. For my initial source-based essay, which you can find under the final essay, I was lost with the idea of rhetorical situations. The idea of having to address the audience about what your paper is about was something I’d been advised against in high school. It almost burned into my brain about not talking to your paper. So when writing my first draft, I basically missed the whole point of what I was addressing. It was almost instinct to almost avoid addressing the audience in such a way. The professor obviously addressed it and helped me advance my writing to a point where I can now feel much more comfortable and knowledgeable about rhetorical situations. Doing so can help me find purpose as to why I am writing what I’m writing. Finding the audience and how to address them is something I’ve started to apply to my own everyday writing. It makes it much easier to look at a blank page and get it filled with ideas. 

I also believed I improved in locating research sources, whether that be from the library’s databases or on the internet. Being able to identify the purpose of other writers, and who they’re writing to, helps ease the idea of whether or not this source fits my piece. I’ve never really thought about it, but finding a piece that addresses the audience you want to address, they may not be on the same page as you, however, it’s certainly helpful. It allows you to get an idea of how to address your audience. Which ties into the third-course learning outcomes, which is to “compose texts that integrate your stance with appropriate sources using strategies such as summary critical analysis, interpretation, synthesis and argumentation”. I feel as if I’ve gotten much more confidence in writing to support my stance. It will certainly vary from topic to topic, however, I do feel as if I’ve improved in arguing for myself. 

Before you jump into the rest, I hope you enjoy reading my work and let me know if there is anything else I can improve on, I’m certainly always looking for ways to improve my writing.

– Freddy Sisalima