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.

For my definition argument, I used core value 1. To get started, I created a proposal plus five sources. For the sources I had to further research my topic to find good and viable sources. One I found sources I liked, I had to write an annotated bibliography for them. I had to write why I wanted to use them in my paper and how I intended to use them in my paper. After I finished the proposal, I had a zoom conference with my professor to further go over my sources and topic. After my professor helped me, I started to write my definition argument. After my first draft was submitted, I was able to get feedback from my professor. After I had incorporated the feedback into my draft, my final draft was complete.

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 definition paper topic was part of a larger academic and cultural topic. I wrote about how school anxiety is hurting today’s students. Through research, I was able to get quotes and sources from teachers and institutions. As well as quotes from students and parents. While reading sources, I was able to put my own two cents in through my definition argument. In my definition argument I was able to support my own ideas through quotes from my reliable sources. I was also able to add different ways of thinking in regard to my topic. I was able to identify the problems within the current grading system and offer solutions on how to fix the problem. With my own ideas and help from the sources I was able to present a topic that could change one’s perception.

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.

I used core value 3 for my Rebuttal Argument. My paper was in defense of today’s students. At first, I thought that my opponents to my thesis would be teachers or school board directors. I realized that changing a whole grading system would have to be voted on democratically. So, I broadened my horizons and figured that my opponents were the older generations as whole. Now that my audience was clear, it became easier to explain what I was trying to convey to them. I was able to use their opinions and generalizations of the younger generations against them. I was able to explain my reasoning in way that would make sense to them. Rather than only writing to educators or school board directors.

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.

I used core value 4 in my definition argument. One source I used in my paper was Grades Are at the Center of the Student Mental Health Crisis by Inside Higher Ed. What first drew me to the article was the title. The title seemed similar to my thesis, so I analyzed the article further. With further investigation, the article seemed credible. Although the website/article is not a scholarly source, it was still informative. The website itself is dedicated to articles related to academic topics. Also, the article referenced multiple sources and was able to embed links directly into the article. Since my topic is a newer revelation, mental health, it was easier to find well-written articles such as Grades Are at the Center of the Student Mental Health Crisis than to use the library resources to find older articles.

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. 

I used core value 5 in my causal argument. Throughout the body paragraphs, I was giving examples that supported my thesis. Since I did not offer resolutions to all my examples, there were possible disputable claims that I had to acknowledge. In the last paragraph of my causal argument, I acknowledged my opponent’s point of view. While acknowledging my opponent, I also gave a statistic supporting my thesis against the opponent’s point of view. Although I am partial to thinking my paper could defend against the opponents and execute my supporting claims perfectly. It is important to acknowledge the opponents first in the causal argument before going on full defense in my rebuttal argument. It is always important to be respectful when arguing your point of view in any paper.