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.

Throughout this process, I worked to develop my ideas and respond to feedback in an open and thoughtful way. My first draft focused on mental health disparities throughout the pandemic but it didn’t clearly explain whether the pandemic just exposed these issues or actually made them worse. After reviewing feedback, I adjusted my argument to show that the pandemic did both.In my definition rewrite feedback suggested that some of my statements were too vague, I worked on making them more specific and grounded. For example, instead of a general statement about racial trauma, I included specific events like “the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd during the pandemic,” which increased the mental health burden for Black and Latino communities. Adding examples like this was a reminder of the fragile state of the country at the time.

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 work demonstrates critical reading and synthesis by using multiple sources to place texts into conversation and build a cohesive argument about mental health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In my causation argument ” I included data from Rathore, Connolly, and Karter (2020), which showed how the pandemic “deepened pre-existing socioeconomic and related inequities.” I connected this insight to Đoàn et al. (2021), who highlighted the cultural and financial barriers immigrant communities faced. These examples reinforced the argument that the pandemic’s impact was a result of long-standing inequities rather than single events.

I also engaged with solutions like the telehealth approach, which left marginalized groups behind due to technological and language barriers. By evaluating these sources I was able to draw conclusions and establish the reasons people were left to struggle throughout the pandemic.

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.

My work demonstrates that I carefully considered audience, purpose, and context in crafting arguments that effectively communicate complex ideas.In my final paper I tailored the discussion of mental health issues during the pandemic to resonate with a broader audience. For example, in my essay I try to include imagery which can explain someone’s situation through a fresh perspective. I described a low income family’s struggles throughout the lockdown.  “Suddenly, job security vanishes overnight, schools close, and everyone’s packed into a small apartment with no space and no quiet.” This strategy connects with a group of readers who might have never dealt with the struggle of being food insecure or having a lack of space.

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.

My rebuttal argument uses research to support its points about mental health inequities. It explores the issue in depth, like when it cites JAMA’s data showing a $1.03 trillion economic burden caused by health inequities to stress the need for bigger solutions. The rebuttal became important because it focused on issues like personal responsibility and the financial implications of implementing government based programs. By connecting these facts to the bigger picture, my essay makes a strong case for why the government needs to step in to fix these deep-rooted issues. 

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 work demonstrates an ethical commitment to presenting complex ideas fairly and crediting sources appropriately. In my final paper “The hidden cost of neglect” I engaged with multiple perspectives on mental health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, I acknowledged Dr. Sally Satel’s argument emphasizes personal responsibility while countering it with evidence of implicit biases in the healthcare industry. I also used credible sources, like JAMA and Đoàn et al. (2021), to support claims and avoid oversimplification. The most important factor to my paper was establishing cause and making connections to the historical and political context of the healthcare industry. When researching this topic I came across the public charge rule which I was previously unfamiliar with, essentially the policy based on getting legal status on how likely the individual was to use government resources later on. I could have just left it at that; however , I found it important to explain how this related back to the issue of conflicting information and policies that prevented immigrant communities from seeking mental health care.