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.

Through out the first half of this semester I struggled with developing a perfect thesis for my research paper. Through a lot of trial and error while researching my topic I discovered things that would cause me to alter my thesis or even strengthen it. Through conferences with my professor I was able to develop a thesis that was arguable and interesting enough to put a large amount of research into. Not only were conferences with my professor beneficial to me in reforming my thesis but I was able to gain valuable feedback that would help me revise my papers and become a better writer. More specifically with my rebuttal paper after gaining feedback on my argument I was able to make my paper’s argument stronger.

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. 

My rebuttal argument paper demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversations. Through the process of researching for this paper I found many articles that proved to be enough in allowing me to strengthen my rebuttal. For me to succeed in arguing my rebuttal I had to spend a large amount of time researching and discovering sources that would help my writing process. Taking notes while researching for my rebuttal argument helped me stay focus and find topics that would help my argument. When I quoted a statistic or some other informing quote in paper it helped me argue my thesis. For example, statistics on deaths from climate change helped me argue that nuclear is far safer then burning fossil fuels.

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.

While writing my research paper I understood that some people would agree and disagree with my argument. My primary goal while writing the paper was to pursue the people who disagreed with my proposal of a clean power gird utilizing both nuclear and renewable sources of power to change their mind and agree with me. More specially in my rebuttal paper I tackled the some of the biggest arguments to my thesis and attempted to argue against them. This argument targeted in persuading people that are against my thesis. But I also had the purpose to better inform the people who agreed with my proposal. While arguments mostly have the goal in changing someone’s mind, I believe my research paper can better inform the audience about nuclear and renewable sources of power.

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.

Writing all my papers that eventually formed my final research paper, I was able to find a large variety of sources that to strengthen my arguments. While researching for each paper I was able to develop new ideas and arguments that would strengthen each paper. I believe my writings did meet expectations of academic writing; I used a large variety of sources to provide a logical argument in my research paper without plagiarizing.  In all my papers I made sure when a quote I would not throw it in randomly without context. Instead I would make sure the placement of the quote would make sense and support my argument. I also made sure to give context with each quote that I used and explained each quote in my writing.

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. 

My writings including my research paper demonstrated that I was ethical and gave correct citation to every source I came across. Academic sources become essential to me when writing my research paper. They were either useful in researching my topic to develop a better understand of my argument or they become useful in allowing me to quote them in order to strengthen my argument. But when quoting each source, I was sure to give full credit to the author. In each paper I wrote I provided a reference page that correctly cited every source that was used throughout my writing.