Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

Going into this class, I was unsure if I was going to be able to find a topic that was counter intuitive enough. I ended with picking a topic with which I was already comfortable with because it had to do with sports, but I have realized that it would have been better to step out of my comfort zone. When I asked for feed back I was met by a plethora of critiques which I found very useful. Although the some of the criteria was difficult to work on, I still made revisions to the best of my ability. I was also able to find many different articles that could reach many different audiences. For example I found an article describing various types of performance enhancement drugs, and I found an article that talked about athletes and alcoholism in my white paper. I didn’t have to find articles that had to do with PED’s and mental health. I could use one article to only define what PED’s are, and use another article to define various mental health issues.

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

The ability to analyze texts and draw connections between them can showcase a writer’s ability to engage with different perspectives and contribute to larger conversations in their field. In my definition argument, I was able to link retirement to mental health issues by describing how they can lose the structure that they have been living with for so long, and much of a difficult transition that can be. Through extensive research, I’ve traced how various concepts and theories interconnect to create a comprehensive understanding of mental challenges faced by athletes. Also, close reading allowed me to understand the writer’s message and the nuances of their argument, while critical reading enabled me to evaluate the validity of their claims. By combining these two strategies, I was able to develop a more nuanced understanding of mental health in athletes and its impact on their performance.

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

In my purposeful summaries assignment, I was able to analyze the purpose and contexts of other texts. In this assignment I was able to evaluate and critique other sources by creating an argument against the articles, but also being flexible enough to create a solution at the same time. For example I critiqued Toms “Buy-one-give-one” program by saying that only the people in the areas that this program is trying to help know what is needed, and shoes might not be the answer. But I critiqued the article I was still able to propose a solution, saying that the program needs to work with the actual communities which would help them figure out what is actually needed. Being able to create a counterintuitive argument, and then finding a solution to the argument, shows my ability to adapt to an argument and be flexible enough to find a solution to the argument I created.

Core Value 4: 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.

After writing this paper, I can say that my work demonstrates my ability to meet the expectations of academic writing. Throughout the writing process, I spent a significant amount of time reading academic articles, books and other sources to gather evidence and support my arguments. I also made sure to evaluate each source carefully to ensure that it was credible, reliable and relevant to my topic. By incorporating a variety of evidence, I was able to provide a well-rounded and nuanced analysis of the issues surrounding mental health and athletes. Also when it came to citing sources, I made some little mistakes that I was able to fix. The main mistake that I made was introducing the quote and citing it, when all I had to do was introduce it. Also, I was able to find enough sources for the required number needed for each of the three short arguments.

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

Throughout my research and writing process, I made concerted effort to ensure that I was accurately representing the viewpoints and arguments of all the sources I consulted. I recognized that it was crucial to provide appropriate citation to all my sources, whether they were academic articles, books, or online sources, to acknowledge their contribution to my work. By demonstrating my respect for ethical responsibility, I was able to strengthen the integrity of my research and credibility of my arguments. It is essential to give proper credit to the sources that inform our ideas. I understand that accurately representing complex ideas requires careful thought and analysis. In doing so, I have also gained a deeper appreciation for the value of ethical research practices and the critical role they play in producing high-quality academic work.