1. Cover Letter

2. Padlet Portfolio

3. Logical Fallacies and Appeals

Module 2:

1. Danger of a Single Story

2. Applying Literary Devices 

3. Essay 1

Module 3:

1. Finding Simple Facts Isn't So Simple

2. Who’s behind the information?

3. Annotated Bibliography

Module 4:

1. Argument and Counter Argument

2. Essay 2 Outline

3. Essay 2

Hiring Manager

100 Fluor Daniel Drive

Greenville, SC 29607

Dear Ms May,

When I saw this job posting on Indeed I thought that it would be a perfect fit for me. I will soon be graduating from college with a four year degree in computer science, as desired by the posting. I also think that it will be a great opportunity to build real world skills in this line of work, and put my knowledge to the test. I believe that I have a lot that I can bring to this job, and a lot that I can learn from it as well

As I briefly mentioned before, I will have a four year computer science degree from Clemson University by the time I start working if I do get this job. Beyond just knowledge I also took on several internships at local companies to grow my understanding of what working at a job like this is like. I also think that I do very well with collaborative work, which I see as a must for larger projects in these types of jobs.

Apart from my education and experience in the field, I also have always loved this type of work. Programming has been an interest of mine since I was a kid, and I don’t think it is something I could see myself becoming tired of. If hired I would always show up ready to work, and willing to do whatever is needed of me. I also am hardworking and always willing to help others when they need it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my cover letter. I appreciate that I am being considered for the job, and hope to hear more from you about the position.

Sincerely,

Daniel Moore

The commercial I have selected is one I found on Youtube for Mint Mobile. This ad, as well as the vast majority of the ads I have seen from the company, uses the appeal to doubtful authority fallacy. This fallacy is when someone attempts to give their argument credibility by using someone who is not an expert in the subject to support the argument. In this case Mint Mobile has gotten Ryan Reynolds as their spokesperson in hopes that people will view the company as trustworthy, when he has no authority on internet service providers. I believe that this fallacy was intentional, since the company likely knew that Ryan Reynolds is a well liked celebrity and assumed having him in the ads would boost sales rates.

The two main rhetorical appeals used in this commercial are ethos and pathos. Surprisingly, this commercial uses no logos, and is instead relying on the fact that the viewer already knows the main selling points for Mint Mobile, and is swayed by their act of charity. Ethos is established in the commercial through the use of Ryan Reynolds, since many viewers will see him as likable and trustworthy, and may begin to view the company that way by extension. I think this appeal works somewhat well, since many people like him, but it doesn't really feel like a genuine endorsement in the commercial. Pathos is invoked mainly through the promotion in which a portion of proceeds will go to a children's hospital. This paints the company as kindhearted and goodwilled, which makes the audience trust them, and increases the likelihood that they will buy a wireless plan. I think this is an effective appeal because people like to support good causes, and this would be an easy way for them to do so.

Daniel Moore

Mimi Hume

English 102 W05

March 2nd 2025

Efficacy of the Arguments Presented in “Find More Ways to be an Outsider”

How does staying outside of the crowd make a person change and grow? In the article

“Find More Ways to be an Outsider,” Arthur Brooks argues that people see numerous benefits

when they go against the flow. He claims that when someone is an outsider they will become

more flexible, resilient, and they will have greater social awareness due to their experiences

working with people different from them. However, the argument made in “Find More Ways to

be an Outsider” is overall ineffective, due to its inability to be applied to the population as a

whole, as well as an overreliance on logos.

One of the main flaws of “Find More Ways to be an Outsider” is its inability to be

generalized to a large portion of the population. In the article Brooks brings up the concept of a

third culture kid, a child whose culture is a blend of that of the country they live in and the

country their parents are from, to further his point. However, after this point in the article he

keeps a large portion of the focus of his argument on third culture kids, or TCKs. For example,

several paragraphs after his first mention of the group Brooks says that studies have shown third

culture kids “don’t usually wind up insecure” and commonly have better “psychological and

emotional well-being” (Brooks 3). These studies sound promising for his argument, however

TCKs have a very unique situation in which they are almost raised as an outsider to many of

their peers. Being an outsider is something TCKs have experienced throughout their childhood,

which is very different from choosing to be an outsider as an adult. This means that there is a

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good possibility of other variables causing these effects that most people won't be affected by,

which the author fails to take into account, or even acknowledge. In doing this he has fallen

victim to the hasty generalization fallacy by basing his claim on a group that doesn’t represent

the general population. While Brooks does effectively display that third culture kids thrive from

being outsiders, his overreliance on them as an example hinders his construction of a convincing

argument.

Brooks’ argument is also weakened by his dependence on just logos rather than other

rhetorical appeals. Throughout the article scientific studies are used to provide the psychological

and physical benefits of being an outsider. However this evidence is not balanced out by other

appeals, which causes the paper to feel lacking in emotion. For example in one paragraph the

author references three different studies which say that third culture kids “grow up to be happier

and more resilient” and typically have “higher social competence in adulthood,” among other

benefits (Brooks 3). These studies prove Brooks’ point well, but there is no input from him in

that whole paragraph, aside from paraphrasing the research. This hurts his argument because,

even though these statistics are helpful, they are easily overlooked by the audience since they

aren’t tied together with another rhetorical appeal. If Brooks built up ethos by sharing his

personal experiences as an outsider it would show that he understands the topic at hand. It would

also make readers more likely to believe that he cares about what he is saying since he has lived

through it and seen the effects of being an outsider on himself. Using pathos would help the

article’s message resonate with the audience, because, if done right, it would evoke strong

feelings in them about the topic and make it feel personal to them. However, just using logos is

not always enough to build a convincing argument and because of this the article reads, at times,

like a list of facts rather than the author’s opinion. The audience is frequently presented with

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information, but is rarely given a reason for that information to stand out, making Brooks’

argument feel weaker.

“Find More Ways to be an Outsider” argues its point overall ineffectively because a large

portion of its evidence cannot be applied to the general population, and it underutilizes ethos and

pathos. Too many of the article’s paragraphs and sources are focused on third culture kids when

the article is intended to convince all different types of people to try being an outsider. The

article also focuses more on presenting research rather than giving that information emotional

significance to the readers. These issues cause the article’s points to not resonate with the

readers, whether it be because the studies don’t apply to them, or because the facts aren’t

presented in a way that makes readers care.

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Works Cited

Brooks, Arthur C. “Find More Ways to Be an Outsider.” The Atlantic, 10 March 2022,

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/03/being-an-outsider-benefits-third-

culture

-

kids/627011/. Accessed 2 March 2025

After the first three paragraphs I had expected her to focus on the single stories others had of her, and delve into why that may be, as well as the effects that could have on them. I hadn’t expected her to talk about the single stories she realised that she has, and I think it shows how easy it is to fall for those single stories. One of the main claims of the text is that we often reduce groups of people we are unfamiliar with to just one aspect because it is all we are told about them. The main appeal used in the text was pathos, which was done through the sharing of personal experiences with these single stories, and displaying the effects that they can have on people. These personal stories also establish ethos, as it shows that Adichie has been a victim, and believer of these types of stories. This helps the audience to understand that it is not so easy to avoid having a perspective like this since to realize there is something more to a story you have to see the full picture, which is not something that a lot of media does. Similarly to Adichie, I have found myself believing in single stories from time to time, unlike her however, my own story is one that has been shown throughout all types of media, and I haven’t felt the effect of people reducing me to a single perspective.

Daniel Moore

Mimi Hume

English 102 W05

20 February 2025

Literary Devices in Snow

An important literary device used by the author in Snow is dynamic characterization.

Even though the short story is based on the author's experiences, the way he chooses to write

himself characterizes him dynamically, as he grows from his experiences. At the end of the story

the audience gets a glimpse as to how the character's growth from the story has influenced how

he views life.

By using himself as a limited omniscient narrator, Martin allows the audience to see

beyond just the events in the story. This omniscience lets readers understand how the events

shaped the narrator, and why they left such an impact on him

Symbolism is also well utilized throughout the piece with snow representing the ailments

his parents will encounter later in life that will worsen their conditions. The snow is described as

no longer welcome, but lasting, and shown to be something that the narrator’s parents cannot

stop, or avoid. His parents are forced to face the bitter cold, like they will likely have to face the

effects of aging and illness on their bodies.

The story also makes use of imagery to provide a better picture of what the events were

like. Saying the snow was lingering implies that it has overstayed its welcome, enhancing the

symbolism of the snow. The vivid image created in the description of Martin’s parents walking

back to the house through the snow helps the reader understand why he realized that they were

flawed.

Mimi Hume

English 102-WO5

30 March 2025

Research question: How does the characterization of the misfit and the grandmother reflect the differing ideas of mercy in separate branches of christianity?

Thesis statement: In the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” differing interpretations on mercy in Catholic and Protestant Christianity are represented through the misfit and grandmother respectively.

Annotated Bibliography

Hahn, Judith, and G. (Gunda) Werner, editors. Mercy and Justice : A Challenge for Contemporary Theology. Brill, 2020.

This book is specifically about how mercy and justice can overlap and conflict in the Catholic faith. After a short overlook the source seems to take the side that justice is an important form of mercy, contrary to what other belief systems may think. The book is written by Judith Hahn, a Catholic professor and theologian, which shows she is a credible source that knows a large amount about her religion. This book is mainly intended to persuade and explain to other Catholics about how justice plays a large role in mercy according to their beliefs. This means that when reading I should be wary about how her attempt at persuasion may affect the information she uses, as well as how she presents it. This source

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will be helpful for me to dive deep into the role of mercy through punishment and explain how that connects to the moral code of the misfit.

Moloney, D. (2020). Mercy: What Every Catholic Should Know. Ignatius Press.

This book is focused on the interpretation of mercy as a whole in the Catholic faith. While many opinions are expressed here by the author, some of the more important ones include that mercy is an act of goodness from God, but it is not always in the form of leniency. This source will be used to give readers an overview of how the Catholics view mercy so that I can connect the characterization of the misfit to it. The source itself is credible as it is written by a Catholic priest with a degree in religious studies. However, there is bias in the source as it is meant to convince Catholics of how to view and enact mercy. Although because of this it seems the book would have good insight as to how many Catholics understand and rationalize the concept of mercy. This source supports my ideas as it allows me to explain the Catholic interpretation of mercy and relate that to the actions and characterization of the misfit in “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” This book will for the most part provide few challenges, however I may need to keep in mind the author's original intent of persuasion when reading further.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/blog/mercy?lang=English#:~:text=Mercy%2C%20a%20p rofound%20and%20essential,to%20both%20experience%20and%20demonstrateWylie, S. (2023, December 18). Embracing mercy: A biblical imperative in the Christian walk. Wisdom International. .

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This source is similar to the above book, as it provides an overview of how mercy is viewed in the baptist faith, which is one of the forms of Protestant theology. This source covers what the group believes mercy looks like, how they think believers should demonstrate it, as well as some Bible verses they believe support their conclusion. The source is reputable, as it is made by a group of people who study the Bible in order to provide online resources for Christians. The site also provides Bible verses as sources for their interpretation, which I believe increases the credibility. This source is helpful for providing me with a second angle on mercy in Christianity, which I will connect to the grandmother's morals and actions in “A Good Man is Hard to Find”. It also explains multiple different ways to enact mercy through calls to action, which gives me a more well rounded understanding of Protestant Christianity’s ideas on mercy in everyday life.

Daniel Moore

Mimi Hume

English 102 W05

March 9 2025

How Much Microplastic Does the Average Person Truly Consume?

Does the average person intake a credit card’s worth of plastic each week as the statistic

says? The study that determined that statistic was done by Newcastle University, a college in

Australia and funded by the World Wide Fund of Nature. It turns out the average person can

consume a credit card’s worth of plastic each week, and worse, according to the Plastic Pollution

Coalition, people also inhale a roughly equal amount of microplastics leading us to consume

around 260 grams of plastic in a year (“A Breath of Fresh…Plastic?”). While this sounds

incredibly dangerous, and in theory it would be, this 5 grams is actually a heavily inflated value.

According to Verifythis, a fact checking website, It isn’t impossible for someone to consume 5

grams of plastic, nor is it terribly unlikely, but it is the highest end of a large range of values

(Decker). The study says that in reality some people will consume as little as 0.1 grams, and

most will lie in between the two values, although the true average is unknown apart from that

range. This range was determined by researchers taking existing information about the average

amount of microplastics in many different foods and then taking into account different diets

regarding those foods.. However, this study could very well be a gross underestimation for many

people for one main reason. Many foods that people commonly eat were left out of the study due

to time constraints, meaning that the microplastics they contain are not reflected in the generated

average. Beyond that, many different areas have entirely different cuisines and diets so the

research team could have easily left out the values of food not commonly found in Australia,

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where the researchers are from. Microplastic intake also varies heavily by region due to dietary

and environmental reasons. A Newsweek article demonstrates this gap in microplastic

consumption showing in a map that many East Asian countries consume around 10 to 15 grams

each month, while the United States consumes less than 3 grams on average.(Dewan et al.). In

conclusion, no one truly knows how much microplastic the average person consumes each week,

since there are many factors that haven’t been taken into account. However, what is known is

that the idea that people eat a credit card’s worth each week isn’t accurate and is making a worst

case scenario seem like the norm.

Lateral Reading of GOPTeens

When reading the post from GOPTeens the first thing I noticed was that the argument

their account was presenting seemed like a strawman. While there are many opinions on the idea

of more armed people in schools, those in support of it do not want it because they think there

“aren’t enough guns in school,” as the post says, but are instead in favor of it to stop any threats

within a school. Due to the fact that their tweet seemed to be poking fun at the argument of the

person GOPTeens replied to, I decided it was best to investigate their account and other posts

they had made. Upon further research it became clear that this was most likely a satire account

due to other posts that were more obviously meant as a joke, such as responding with

“#WEDIDIT” to an image stating that all Republican senators voted against equal pay for

women. On their account page I also found a link to a Wikipedia article on the author of the

original post which identified them as Daniel Kibblesmith. The page said that they had in fact

started the account as a means to parody a Republican youth outreach account. Before finding

the Wikipedia page I had searched the name of the account as well as the platform they used,

which yielded me an Atlantic article discussing the account, labeling it as political satire. In

conclusion this post is not a credible example of a viewpoint expressed by GOP teenagers, since

it was never made to be taken seriously.

Thesis Statement: In the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” differing ideas on mercy in

different branches of Christianity are represented through the characterization of Misfit and

grandmother respectively.

I.Topic 1: The actions taken by the Grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” portray a

more modern view of mercy.

A.The grandmother truly seems to believe that mercy as forgiveness can and should be

extended to anyone, no matter what they have done. Near the end of the story she claims the

Misfit is like her own son knowing what he has done to her family. She is still willing to accept

him as good despite his wrongdoings.

B.The grandmother extends her mercy to the misfit by deeming him a good man despite

his flaws, however he rejects this idea. She is willing to view the Misfit as a good person even

though he may not accept it, which is typical of more modern or protestant interpretations.

Wisdom International says mercy is active in its demonstration, but can be passive in its

reception (Wylie)

II.Topic 2: The Misfit’s actions represent a more traditional interpretation of mercy with justice

being a key factor in his actions.

A.To the misfit, punishment is the only form of mercy for some, as evidenced by his

distaste for the raising of the dead and saving of the corrupt as he interprets it as leniency rather

than acceptance. This idea is not typical for more protestant sects of Christianity, and is backed

up in the Catholic book Mercy and Justice: A Challenge for Contemporary Theology by Judith

Hahn.

B. The Misfit also believes that mercy should be extended only to those who accept it

for it to mean anything. This is evidenced by his criticism of Jesus raising the dead, as well as

his attempts to reject the grandmother's forgiveness of him. This lines up with traditional

Christian views as Catholicism teaches that steps such as baptism, true repentance, as well as

other things are crucial to being allowed the mercy of God.

III.Counterargument: The Misfit can also be seen as representative as a life without religion, and

the lack of a reason for benevolence from this. In turn the grandmother would portray how

goodness can be found through religion alone according to “Religion in ‘A Good Man is Hard to

Find’” by Wiebke Omnus.

A.Rebuttal: Good and evil are seen many places throughout the story both in and out of

the presence of religion.

B.Evidence/Discussion: The character Sammy is not perfect, however his inherent trust

in humanity is what allows him to be portrayed as good rather than religion. Despite having

religion the grandmother is portrayed early on as prejudiced and judgemental.

IV.Conclusion Statement: In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” the grandmother and the Misfit

represent how mercy is seen differently across Christianity

Mimi Hume

English 102 W05

27 April 2025

Mercy in “A Good Man is Hard to FInd”

Mercy, as a concept, is not limited to just a singular definition. Many cultures and religions interpret the idea of mercy and how it should be shown in vastly different ways. This is evident in the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” where the idea of mercy is central to the story’s climax, specifically who receives it, and how they are shown it. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” differing ideas on mercy in different branches of Christianity are represented through the characterization of Misfit and grandmother respectively.

The actions taken by the Grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” portray a more modern view of mercy. Several times in the story the grandmother truly seems to believe that mercy shown through forgiveness can and should be extended to anyone, no matter what they have done. Near the end of the story she claims the Misfit is like her own son, despite knowing what he has done to her family. She also offers him a chance at redemption several times saying that “If [he] would pray Jesus would help [him].” (O’Connor 12) She is clearly still willing to accept him as good despite his wrongdoings. When comparing this to the description of mercy given by Wisdom International, an online Protestant resource, there are quite a few similarities. The author, Scott Wylie, says that this forgiveness is one of the most powerful examples of mercy. Her ability to look past how the Misfit has harmed her and forgive him is a cornerstone of more modern mercy interpretations. Wisdom International also says that while mercy is active in its demonstration, it can be passive in its reception (Wylie). This is another important aspect of

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the grandmother’s mercy, as she extends her mercy to the Misfit by deeming him a good man throughout. She is willing to view the Misfit as a good person even though he neither responds to or accepts her approval. This concept of mercy being important and impactful even if the beneficiary rejects it is typical of more modern or protestant interpretations.

The Misfit’s actions represent a more traditional interpretation of mercy with justice being a key factor in his actions. In contrast to the grandmother, the Misfit has a heavy emphasis on punishment in his moral code and finds that punishment is the only form of mercy for some. This is evidenced by his distaste for the idea of Jesus raising the dead and therefore saving the corrupt. He finds this to mean that many people will not get the punishment they deserve for the wrongs they have committed. This idea is not typical for more protestant sects of Christianity, but is included in the Catholic book Mercy and Justice: A Challenge for Contemporary Theology by Judith Hahn. She explains that, frequently,“God is described as acting in a merciful and forgiving way” and at the same time “he does not leave the guilty unpunished” (Hahn 125). She finds this is needed in order for God to prove that one cannot act against Him and go entirely unpunished. The Misfit also seems to believe that mercy should be extended only to those who accept it for it to mean anything. This is evidenced again by his criticism of Jesus raising the dead, as well as his attempts to reject the grandmother's forgiveness of him. The Misfit reasons that if anyone could receive Jesus’ mercy whether or not they acted in his will then the only logical choice would be to act in one's own best interest. This lines up with traditional Christian views as Catholicism as they teach that steps such as baptism, true repentance, and other things are crucial to being allowed the mercy of God. In turn they cannot truly receive mercy if they have not taken steps to grow stronger in their faith, preventing the scenario he is deterred by. The

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Misfit’s attempts to reject the grandmother's offers of mercy show that he believes that he is not granted this mercy if he does not accept it, which also lines up with this Catholic teaching.

It is important to note that it can also be argued that the Misfit is representative of a life without religion, which is the cause of his wrongdoings, as he believes there is no reason not to do what he has done. According to “Religion in ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’” by Wiebke Omnus the Misfit finds that “goodness does not make any sense” and as a result he “puts the self at the center of human existence”. In this interpretation the grandmother’s actions after having her faith strengthened by her impending death portray how goodness can be found through religion alone. However, good and evil are seen in many places throughout the story both in and out of the presence of religion. For instance, the character Sammy is flawed, but his inherent trust in humanity allows him to be seen as good rather than his religious beliefs. Furthermore, the grandmother says she believes that there “isn't a soul in this green world of God's that you can trust” (O’Connor 5). Despite having religion, as well as being one of the main religious figures in the story, the grandmother is shown to be prejudiced and judgemental towards the rest of the world.

In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” the grandmother and the Misfit represent how mercy is seen differently across Christianity. While the characters can be seen as representative of good and evil that comes from lives with and without religion, the fact that good is clearly shown independently of religion disputes this idea. In summary the characters' opinions on how mercy must be received as well as how it can be given, shown through their actions, display the Misfit and grandmother’s influences of Catholic and Protestant teachings respectively.

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Works Cited

Hahn, Judith. “Mercy and Justice: A Challenge for Contemporary Theology.” Brill Publishers, 2020. Greenville Tech Libraries, https://pascal- gtc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01PASCAL_GTC/12u7dab/alma9910003931502 05637.

O’Connor, F. (1953). A good man is hard to find. Library of America. April 26, 2025, https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/229/O’Connor%20A%20Good%20Man%20is% 20Hard%20to%20Find.pdf

Omnus, Wiebke. “Religion in ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’.” Encyclopedia of Themes in Literature, vol. 1, Facts On File, 2020. Greenville Tech Libraries, https://pascal- gtc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01PASCAL_GTC/sg84gi/cdi_infobase_primary_ WE54_39481_268.

Wylie, S. (2023, December 18). Embracing mercy: A biblical imperative in the Christian walk. Wisdom International. https://www.wisdomonline.org/blog/mercy?lang=English#:~:text=Mercy%2C%20a%20p rofound%20and%20essential,to%20both%20experience%20and%20demonstrate

Mimi Hume

English 102 W05

27 April 2025

Reflection on English 102

As I am nearing the end of this course I believe that it has given me useful experiences that will help me in my future courses. From argument formation to logical fallacies to research questions and essays based off of them, this class has given me the opportunity to learn about helpful concepts for future writing. My experiences with this class have allowed me to perform well on essay one and two, as well promote my personal growth as a writer.

The first essay I wrote for this class was analyzing how effectively the author made his point in the article”Find More Ways to Be an Outsider.” I think my biggest struggle with essay one was just figuring out how to write it. It wasn’t terribly difficult, but I hadn’t written an essay analyzing a person's arguments before, so it was a bit difficult for me to get started. I wasn’t always sure if I was critiquing the points made in a way that I was supposed to. I was worried I was analyzing the statistical side too much by talking about how the argument can not be generalized, rather than addressing the points themselves. Looking back on the essay, were I to rewrite it I might change what I said about the author using no ethos or pathos. I realized when rereading the source the author does use his own personal experiences, which I claimed he doesn’t, however I could have still critiqued how he used the experiences, as well as the ratio of logos to ethos and pathos. Overall I think I did a pretty good job, but some of my arguments just weren’t as effective as I hoped they would be.

The second essay for this class I wrote about my own topic related to the story “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” I chose to write about how actions taken by two prominent characters, the Misfit and the grandmother, were representative of different ideas of mercy in Christianity. One large issue I had with essay two was just that I didn’t always give myself the time that I needed. Despite having much more time to plan ahead and work on the essay I commonly waited to write some parts, and thus they were somewhat rushed. Were I to revise the essay I most likely would just give myself more time working on each part in order to fine tune it. I think I would also go back through my sources to see if I couldn’t find better fitting quotes, especially for the Catholic book, as I was only able to read some sections of it.. Overall I found it to be about the same difficulty as the first essay, but I also found that it was harder to come up with a topic for this essay since it was entirely up to me.

I think that having this class has really helped my development as a writer. Both of the essays we worked on in this class were formats that I was either completely unfamiliar with or not well experienced in. Now after having finished both of them I have a decent understanding about how to write those essays, which will serve me well in future courses. This course also made me more aware of many logical fallacies which are incredibly important to understand when forming an argument. I realized that I am prone to using certain fallacies, such as false analogies, however now that I am aware of this I can work towards fixing this. Beyond that, relearning the logical fallacies and reminding myself of the components that go into an argument has helped me to better understand how to establish a convincing argument.

Throughout the semester essays we’ve done, as well as this class as a whole have helped me to become a better writer. Through writing in new ways, and learning how to better form an argument I believe that I would be able to convince people of an argument more effectively through my writing.