Core Value I. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

This class as taught me to really focus in on my work and learn how to take the time to dissect the research that I do making me better understand the topic that I am writing about. For example, in my research for the Natural Hair Movement, my intent was to write about the basics of the movement and not really dig deep into the subject matter. I chose to research more and dig deeper so that I, myself could have a better understanding of my research topic. In doing so, the reader will have a whole understanding of the topic, because I took the time to understand what the natural hair movement was about. This class has really broadened my horizons on research.

Core Value II. My work demonstrates that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

In Comp II, my mind has really opened up to using multiple resources in order to write and prompt and complete essay. Before taking this class I would use one, maybe two sources just because that is all I needed. That was not enough , I now know how to cut the surface and do not be afraid to research deeper, if I didn’t agree with a source try another until I felt as though the website or article was valid enough to put in my topic of research. having multiple literature sources at my disposal is great, rather than just choosing random articles or websites just because it fits into my article, I now know what to look for, and how to look for it. My knowledge on valuable and non-valuable sources have opened up!

Core Value III. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

Taking the audience into consideration was never my forte in the writing field. Professor Hodges really taught me to include my audience because they will be the one reading the research paper. Before, I never included the audience because I just would assume that by reading this you already would know the background of the topic and therefore why include others into my essay? Taking this course and including the audience in my writings not only improved my papers but also improved my writing technique as well. I gave more detailed information and understood the knowledge of what I was writing about, instead of just not understand my topic and just throwing a paper together as I use to do in the past. Professor Hodges is a tough professor but really pushes the student so that we understand what writing is and how much passion we give will reflect on what others read.

Core Value IV: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

My freshman year of college i took English 101 and when I started that course my writing and evaluating my writing was terrible. Then I had a great professor who really acknowledged us as writers and gave us a better understanding of how to edit and edit because a writing piece is never finished it always can be revised and rewritten. Leaving English 101 with an A- I really thought my editing skills were top notch, I was wrong, Professor Hodges brought my skills that were already at a high level and took them to a level that I never would of imagined I would be at in life. I am now happy with my evaluation skills and editing skills because I now know that whoever reads my writings will not be confused or lost in my writing because I took the time to rewrite and edit my pieces several times.

Core Value V. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

My responsibility for making sure that I do not plagerize has increased by a ton! I never use to realize it was that important not to rewrite what I found in words of a better understanding. I learned how to cite and uses the sources of my writings and put them into my own words. I love citing now because of the fact I gave proof that I may have used this source but I took it to another level and wrote the information that I found in my own words. Professor Hodges really made it a point that we as students do not need to copy and paste, we are at a point where we can gather our own information and put a lovely piece of art together because our minds are so bright!