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          Throughout the course of this semester, I was able to not only fulfill the course learning objectives, but I was also able to utilize language and rhetorical devices in order to persuade my audience. Yet what I was also able to take away from this class was how to develop my own unique approach to the writing process. Often times, it can be difficult to effectively command the English language in order to convince an audience of the argument, and to write something that is as engaging as it is creative. 

          In order to approach writing, I developed my own “Theory of Writing:” it is essential to not only come up with a thesis that is arguing something imaginative and creative, but to also overcome the challenge of writer’s block by practicing free writing. For example, whenever I was unsure of what to say or what approach to take, I would begin by free writing about the topic. Freewriting is the process of writing whatever comes to mind, and the point of this is to allow ideas to flow by writing any opinions about the topic. Yet the most important part of this is to write continuously without lifting my hands from the keypad–allowing me to get used to the process of writing, and open up my mind. Then, I would re-read what I had written, and see which part of my free write could be a topic for my paper. After that, I composed my thesis and began searching for evidence. This was my approach to writing, and allowed me to overcome several obstacles of writing.

        Furthermore, it became evident to me that the purpose of writing is to say something new and controversial–something that has never been said before, something that can be argued and debated. Throughout the writing process of the many assignments given to me over the course of the semester, I learned the benefits of writing, and that the skills necessary to adhere to the discipline of writing are useful, as it has allowed me to become more persuasive. In order to write something effectively, an author must understand the significance of rhetorical techniques. An effective piece of writing has to appeal to logic, emotion, and credibility. Command of language is essential, as an author also has to utilize specific diction and tone. For instance, while writing my essay about The Underground Railroad, I utilized emotive language to appeal to the emotion my audience while discussing the tragedies faced by the characters in the novel–ultimately allowing my essay to be more engaging and compelling. While creating my poems, I utilized several rhetorical devices, such as repetition, metaphor, imagery, and point of view. These devices allowed me to create poems that were figuratively creative, and compelling for readers, as each poem could be interpreted in various ways. 

          While learning about the rhetorical situation, I understood the necessity of applying  all five components into my writing. It is essential to comprehend the purpose of a piece, the audience that is being addressed, the genre of work, the stance or attitude regarding the subject, and the means of communicating these ideas. In order to write an effective paper, I learned how to define all of these circumstances, and create my thesis with them in mind. For instance, while writing my paper about The Underground Railroad, it was essential to take into account the audience of my piece. Due to the fact that my audience was well-informed about the genre and the topic, I had to make sure that my argument was intellectually stimulating, and was also historically accurate. Furthermore, while writing my paper about the communities I identity with, it was essential to take into account that my audience was possibly not familiar or well informed about my community, allowing me to take on a more informative tone. 

          Throughout this semester, I made many efforts to fulfil each course learning outcomes. The first course learning outcome was to explore and analyze different genres, which I was able to do, as I analyzed poetry, nonfiction writing, and historical fiction. In order to analyze each of these genres effectively, I developed strategies for drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing. I implemented the practice of free writing to draft, as well as peer review to collaborate as well as revise my pieces. Furthermore, I recognized the different rhetorical situations for each of my pieces by defining the purpose/subject, audience, and genre of my pieces before composing my thesis. I was able to locate research sources through the CUNY databases, and was also able to practice the application of MLA citation in each of my pieces. While creating my annotated bibliography, I used online sources to verify that I was using the correct MLA citation for my works cited page. I made efforts to use digital technologies by creating a website that is viewable to all people, allowing me to reach a wide range of audiences. In order to engage with the living legacy of the historical and literary African American presence in their local community, I read several pieces not only about the hardships they faced in the past, but also about the hardships they continue to endure. I also made an effort to share my original work developed throughout the course of the semester by sharing my poetry at the Schomburg, a forum that was open to the public and local community. 

          Throughout the semester, I learned about the importance of commanding language through understanding the rhetorical situation, and implementing rhetorical devices to strengthen my argument and my pieces. In order to fulfill each course learning outcome, I made efforts to reach out to my community, learn about various genres, and develop my own strategies for approaching the writing process. The most valuable thing that I learned, however, was that despite the challenges that come with writing, the discipline and skills it takes to write are extremely beneficial, as the art of persuasion is essential in all scopes of life.