Course Reflection

           Enrolling in a research-based course was not something I was too thrilled about. The assignment of a research paper could possibly be a student’s worst nightmare. However, as the semester went on I realized that it wasn’t such a daunting task after all. Taking it step by step really enabled me to focus on each individual part of my paper and eventually turn it into a complete and final product that I was proud of. Although it wasn’t entirely easy, researching a topic that was personal and interesting made it a lot less painful. Analysis, providing evidence to support my claims and arguments, and even revising my work was the main outcomes that I managed to excel in throughout the duration of the course. Prior to my enrollment in the course, I viewed research as a tedious and daunting task that I just never saw myself enjoying, but after completing ENC1102 I had come to the realization that research isn’t this scary monster that every student fears. Writing a research paper is much easier than my peers and I originally thought. Taking it step-by-step and focusing on the outcomes that were guaranteed to make us successful in the class made for a more enjoyable overall experience and a final product that we were proud of completing.

            I found out that I was more capable of analyzing and synthesizing texts than I thought I was. Incorporating outside texts into my own paper was something I have always dreaded. Not only did I have to include an annotated bibliography, but I also had to explain why the sources were relevant, what they lacked in content, and why they helped to support the concept of my project. After sifting through thousands of academic journals, I found several sources that related to my project. Not only did the research conducted in the academic journals help to support several claims and arguments that I intended to highlight in my paper, but they also provided me with a gap that I intended to fill with my own personal research study. Creating a conversation between the texts and my own ideas was another concept that was relatively foreign to me. I found that I was able to accomplish this goal relatively easily once I was able to analyze the texts and identify what their intentions were.  My Literature Review exemplified my understanding and ability to analyze and synthesize texts and provide textual analysis. Not only was I able to successful incorporate sources into my own writing, but also I was also able to provide support as to why I initially chose that source and what the author is attempting to convey. “Felonies began to be implemented for the mistreatment of animals, but providing evidence for such a crime has become increasingly difficult for law enforcement, since the cases are typically built around hearsay (Iannacone; Burger). The definitions of “animal cruelty” and even “animal” have become items of concern in courtrooms across the nation. Vague definitions “leave courts confused and prosecutors without the proper tools to punish an individual” (Iannacone 765).  The vague descriptions and limited amount of animal cruelty legislation has resulted in the inability to provide consistent implementation.” Through proper citations and analysis, I believe that I have ultimately accomplished one of the major outcomes the course had highlighted since the beginning.

   Persuasive writing has always proved to be a challenge for me. Personally, I would not describe myself as a good debater and it certainly translated that way through my writing prior to entering ENC1102. However, as the course progressed and we learned more and more about how to make an argument and support the conversation we had created, the persuasive element in my writing had definitely improved. I had planned to focus on printed advertisements since they were often overlooked when concerning the animal rights movement and its overall success. When I created my first draft for my Literature Review, I didn’t even incorporate a gap that I intended to fill in my conclusion. I was so confused, especially since the first part of my paper was regarded as being so well constructed. After focusing in on what my research was going to accomplish, I realized that the conclusion of my Literature Review had to make an attempt to convey that to my audience and persuade them to believe that it was important and necessary to the success of animal rights campaigns. “Although a majority of the research conducted on animal rights advertisements seems to be geared towards those aired on television and online, printed ads still possess high value to the overall success of a campaign. Televised advertisements are typically able to reach a wider audience, but printed advertisements may actually have a greater impact on those who are exposed to them, which is the animal welfare movement’s ultimate goal. Even though reaching a large audience is one of the main goals of animal rights activists, printed campaigns may actually serve to be more effective and impactful than those attempting to be mass marketed through commercials.” Even though it is not the strongest element of my final paper, I think that the outcome ultimately reached.

Revision was a huge part of completing every part of my paper. Through multiple drafts, I was able to perfect each assignment according to the feedback I was given from my peers and instructor. I also found myself deleting entire sentences, and occasionally even paragraphs. It was a struggle to figure out what to omit oftentimes, since I tend to make my writing incredibly wordy in order to make it sound sophisticated. However, I learned that precision could sometimes be more effective than long, detailed paragraphs. I especially found this tactic useful in my Method Section. My first draft was almost three pages, and after omitting several useless words and phrases I was able to shorten it to less than two. Not only does this make it easier for my audience to read and understand, but it also leaves less room for misinterpretation and unnecessary complications of the content. “I conducted a focus group in order to determine what makes an effective animal rights advertisement. I selected 5 students at UCF for the study to collect data on what people believe makes a successful ad. My participants were chosen based on availability and had claimed to bear witness to some type of animal rights advertising campaign before. I chose these criteria so my study could be done efficiently and without much difficulty. These subjects were also selected because they had prior knowledge of the study I was asking them to be a part of. The focus group was conducted on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.” Getting right to the point really made a difference in the final outcome of my paper and really made me consider the importance of revision.

All in all, three major outcomes stuck out to me regarding my own writing. Through analysis, revision, and persuasion I was able to produce a rather effective paper that I was proud to put my name on. I had definitely improved since the first week of class and it could be evidenced through the final drafts of the assignments we were asked to complete. When I first found out that I had to take ENC1102 as part of my general education, I was really not looking forward to it. Research was not only something I wasn’t very familiar with, but it was also something that just seemed difficult and overwhelming. With a little instruction from my professor and peers, I was able to develop a final paper that accomplished all of the outcomes that the course intended to teach its students, and ultimately I learned that writing research papers isn’t so bad after all.