Studio 7: Writing Theory

5 Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Rhetorical Knowledge
2. Critical Reading
3. Knowledge of Conventions
4. Composing Processes
5. Critical Reflection

Critical Reading
An articulate writer uses critical reading as a way to engage more deeply in a
text. The main components of critical reading are analyzing, interpretation, and
self-reflection. Self reflection is especially significant because it allows readers
and writers to analyze the experiences, assumptions, and knowledge that they
bring to the text. Self-reflection also helps readers to identify any hindsight
bias.
The two examples above exemplify critical reading because i am introducing the
rhetorical situation to better analyze and interpret the text. Knowing the
professor for the smartphone article is a psychology professor will help the
reader better understand why the author is so closely analyzing the social
interactions of students. Knowing the the author of the Harris article is an
Africana Studies professors establishes credibility for the information she is
giving. Critical reading is based on the understanding the reader has of the
rhetorical situation.
Composing Process
An articulate writer uses the composing process to engage in the social aspect
of writer. The composing process is essentially when the writer receives
feedback from other readers and writers. The writer anticipates and answers
the readers’. In this part of the writing process, the writer removes what is
unnecessary and adds what will emphasize the writer’s main point(s). Your final
product of how you composed it through organization.
The above examples show my peers and I critiquing each others’ work. The first
screenshot shows me critiquing my own flaws in my writing and correcting
them. The second screenshot shows some changes I made in the data I found
due to feedback from Shaylea. The third screenshot shows me leaving feedback
on Shaylea’s article and her taking my suggestions. This process of writing has
to be my favorite because it allowed me to see my flaws in writing.
Knowledge of Conventions
An articulate writer uses their knowledge of conventions invoke common
expectations between themselves and the readers. Knowledge of conventions
influence content, style, and organization. Successful writer use their
knowledge of conventions to define the genre, purpose, and audience to
contribute to their text.
The above examples show me analyzing Edgar Allan Poe’s knowledge of
conventions. Reading Poe’s poems helped me to realize that having an advanced
knowledge of conventions helps to convey specific emotions in your reader. In
my examples, I talked about how dashes and commas are conventions that can
communicate a peaceful tone or an urgent tone to readers. I now know that by
using dashes in my writing, I can communicate urgency.
Critical Reflection
An articulate writer uses critical reflection to sharpen analyzation skills. Critical
reflection strengthens analytic skills important for reading writing because it
requires persistent inquiry. Critical reflection connects the writers’ experiences
with the text and makes them more relatable to readers. The more rigorously
writers challenge their own assumptions in their writings, the more likely they
are to gain meaningful insight into their topic. Critical reflection is critical
because
The above examples show me critiquing my work. Through my process of
critical reflection I found that I have trouble articulating what I am trying to say.
As a writer, my inability often translates to me having long and wordy
sentences. Critical reading also helped me to realize that as a college student I
was biased in my inquiry proposal. If it was not for the critical reflection aspect
of the writing process, my paper would have been too hard to understand along
with having hindsight bias.

Rhetorical Knowledge
An articulate writer uses rhetorical knowledge to establish the validity and
purpose of their writing. The three main components of rhetorical knowledge
are the exigence, audience, and constraints. The exigence is the problem and
the constraints make the problem more difficult. Writers change can change the
rhetorical situation to tailor to various audiences. Ethos, logos, and pathos also
influence how the audience perceives a piece of text.
The above examples are showing how I analyzed rhetoric in The Letter From
Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Junior. King used ethos, logos, and
pathos as a tactic to get to the psych of the White Clergymen in his writing. This
assignment was helpful because it taught me how to effectively write
persuasively without coming straight out and saying, “This is why you should
believe this,”