My New Understanding of the Writing Process

Before I enrolled in English 225, Academic Argumentation, I thought I understood the writing process. However, two weeks into the class I realized I was completely wrong in this assumption. Slowly, throughout the semester I learned through the study of identity, about rhetoric, the art of argument, and how different rhetorical situations can be created in order to argue in very specific ways. I have come to understand the rhetorical situation of inquiry to focus on writing about the exploration of ideas and sources. Inquiry seems to allow the writer to explore a field of interest by evaluating what different sources think and then formulating an opinion based on all of the findings, leading to the formulation of a thesis. The writing process fully describes the writers thought process and details their comparisons amongst sources, their opinions on sources, and the progression of their ideas. Ultimately this type of paper gives a writer a free space to write about how they came to their thesis or conclusion on an issue. I learned that in this type of rhetorical format it is important to have strong transitions in order for the reader to clearly follow your thought process.

The writing process for the next rhetorical situation, convincing, was very different. This strategy required the formulation of a thesis, the defining of a specific target audience that needed to be convinced, and different academic sources to constitute the reasons and evidence of the argument. This process is unique because it only employs ethos and logos, and aims to convince the audience of the writers claim. However, the rhetorical situation of persuasion added the component of pathos, in order to appeal to the reader’s emotions. Once again in this writing process it was essential to clarify and define a specific target audience that needed to be persuaded in order to persuade them based on their common belief system. The combination of ethos, pathos, and logos can persuade an audience to not only agree with the writer but want to take an action. In each rhetorical situation the elements of clear transitions, defining an audience, and making revisions to drafts are essential components in the writing process.

Overall, the way I think about the writing process has vastly and dramatically changed after taking this class. Before this class I felt bound to the five paragraph essay format and had never written a paper longer than six pages. I also was afraid of writing and dreaded it. Now I feel I have acquired new knowledge that has allowed me to become comfortable writing longer papers that employ different rhetorical situations. I have also gained an awareness of my audience which allows me to more accurately write for them and create effective arguments. In addition, I feel my transitions and grammar have greatly improved, which allow my reader to follow my thought process with greater ease. The methods that we learned in class, such as theme/ new theme and nominalizations have allowed me to make my writing clearer and more concise, which make it more effective because the audience is better able to understand me. I feel that despite my thoughts prior to beginning the class, I have in fact greatly improved as a writer throughout the course of the semester, and am extremely grateful for this.

Semester Reflection

At the beginning of the semester I was extremely hesitant about writing blogs because I really did not quite understand what they were or what their purpose was. I began the semester by strictly following Brett's guidelines with the goal of trying to get a good grade in the class. I originally thought blogs were busy work and would become frustrated when trying to think of ideas to write about. I had a poor attitude about the class in general because of the bad experiences I have had in my other English classes, and could not understand why English 225 was needed for a movement science major and to gain admissions into medical school. However, after a short period of time my attitude changed. I am not quite sure what triggered this transition, whether it was Brett's enthusiasm about writing and the ways she presented the material that emphasized its relevance in all fields of study, or if it was the excitement of getting to research and write about topics that actually interested me and I desired to learn more about, but either way I began to enjoy the class. I actually began to enjoy asking questions and trying to use identity theorists to help me answer them. I think at this point in the semester my blogs became more enjoyable and I think this can be seen in the content and writing. I began to ask questions that were of sincere interest to me and used the blog as an avenue to explore ideas. I never before had found writing as therapeutic and satisfying as I do now. I find that I am now perfectly comfortable sitting down and just writing what is on my mind or analyzing the rhetorical elements of a paper or idea or presentation.

I think one of the most important things I have learned from this class is the importance of knowing your audience, or according to Charland, calling or creating an audience. I never before realized the crucial role that one's audience plays in one's argument, but essentially you need an audience to argue with and by defining and understanding your audience you are more effectively able to argue a point of view and take a stance. My writing has greatly changed as a result of this knowledge. I began my blogs by writing about things without providing explanations and assuming that whoever was reading my blog understood what I was talking about, which is entirely not true. However, now that I understand the importance of audience I feel I can draw on the common knowledge that I share with them in order to create an appealing and persuasive argument. I learned in my inquiry and convincing paper that I need to explain to the reader what my thought process is and explain how I go from one idea to the next, something I had previously just assumed that they knew. I have also learned how to draw from multiple credible sources to support my arguments and of the rhetorical significance of doing so. Overall, I feel I have learned so much from this semester and feel my writing has greatly improved and I feel more comfortable writing. I would like to thank Brett and my classmates for this.

The Importance of Physician Patient Understanding

Today in English 225 class, Payel gave a presentation on the importance of medical school students using the biopsychosocial approach when treating patients. I thought she both persuasively and effectively explained how physicians need to be educated on how to learn about both the physical and emotional aspects of their patients in order to give a proper diagnosis and effectively treat them. I found that her presentation and my presentation were similar in respect to the fact that we feel if doctors understand their patients they can provide more effective treatment. All the research I have done on my topic has explained that physicians who have a disease or have experience being a patient can relate and empathize more with their patients, making them more understanding and more able to connect and help them. It seems that another option to attaining a more personable physician-patient relationship when the physicians do not have experience being a patient or I have a disease may be using this approach that Payel argues for. In order for physicians to fully understand their patients they should use a biopsychosocial approach. This method allows a physician to really get to know the patient and the person and not just the person's disease and physical ailments.

The most appealing aspect of this biopsychosocial approach is that it facilitates a stronger relationship between the physician and the patient. I think this occurs because patients see that their doctors are making a strong attempt to get to know them and understand what other aspects; psychological, emotional, or social, are playing a role in their lives and may possibly be contributing to the disease state that their patients find themselves in. In using this approach patients become more comfortable with their doctors by having the opportunity to talk to them and explain themselves without just having to get examined and diagnosed within ten minutes. The approach also provides the doctors with a broader knowledge of their patients and the things that they do, which allows the doctor to better understand where the physical ailments are coming from. By getting to know all aspects about their patients and their lives, physicians can connect with their patients and make them feel comfortable and secure that they are receiving the best possible treatment since the doctors know everything in their lives that could be leading to a symptom. Both Payel's presentation and my presentation explained the necessity for physician understanding of where their patients are coming from in an effort to provide more effective treatment. Physicians need to really understand their patients and to do so need to devote time and energy to getting to know them, rather than just seeing them for ten minutes, giving hem medication, and sending them on their way to deal with the adverse effects their new conditions will have on their identities. They should take the time to get to know the different aspects of their patients lives so that they know how to more effectively and efficiently treat them. The understanding that doctors seek in this case proves to lead to more effective treatment options for patients, and can be best employed by using the biopsychosocial approach when visiting with and treating patients.

Home Care for elderly patients vs. Residential Care Facilities

In English 225 class yesterday one of my fellow students gave a presentation arguing for increased use of home care treatment for Alzheimer's patients. She gave a persuasive argument which really made me think about the available treatment options for elderly patients who are slowly losing their motor skills, memories, and the ability to properly and adequately perform basic tasks and care for themselves. Although I found the presentation to be very effective, I feel that the decision to enter a residential care facility or pursue home care is situational and is largely dependent on the family of the elderly person and the person with the condition as well. Although home care is a great way to keep families together, it is not always the best or most convenient plan for some families.

For one, some families that consist of full time working parents and young children may find it difficult to care for a sick parent and find enough time to complete all of their daily tasks in addition to caring for and providing the proper medical and emotional attention for their loved one. Although I think this sounds terrible and do not think I would personally ever find it to be the case, some families can not find the time to care for their loved ones because of the strains and pressures of raising and feeding a family and paying the bills. In these familial situations having to care and look after an ill loved one causes extra pressure and stress and may thus lead to negative results and conflict within the family. In these scenarios residential care facilities provide a helpful and resourceful option for families.

However, there are families that being together is the most important thing. In this case they would reek the benefits of the advantages of home care for their sick loved ones. For instance, when my great grandmother became ill, my grandmother opted to have her live with her and my grandpa and mom and uncle. My great grandmother lived with them for years and they had hired home care to come and help take care of her. My grandma also devoted a great deal of her time caring and providing the medical attention my great grandmother needed. In this situation home care proved to be extremely beneficial since it fulfilled what was important to my family, being together all the time.

Overall, I think home care is equally effective as residential care facilities but the option to chose one over the other is extremely situational, and is dependent on the families of the ill loved one and their morals, values, and situation.