Writing 122

Writing is essential to college success and beyond. Every major will ask you to analyze, synthesize, and interpret information in your own words. Often, you will do this while making your own arguments in structured essays. Most professional situations expect you to communicate clearly with others. Writing in most any situation is a chance to express your ideas, opinions, questions, or needs to others. This first writing assignment asks you to reflect on the role writing and communication have played in your life. This assignment will be my first opportunity to see your more formal writing, as well as help me get to know a bit about you, your writing background, and what matters to you. We will return to this document at various times in the term.

Task
Write a well-developed paragraph for each prompt. There is no word count for this assignment. Use your best judgment on what are fully-developed and thoughtful paragraphs. Please number your two responses.

Describe a time when your writing or communication let you down. Imagine you are telling this story to a younger sibling or friend who has had a writing or communication setback. Explain what the situation was, what you hoped the outcome would be, and what you think went wrong. What feelings did you experience? Why do you think this moment stands out to you? What did you learn? You can choose any writing or communication situation: one from school, home, friends, social media, a relationship, a job, a consumer situation, etc.
Describe a time when your writing or communication exceeded your expectations. Imagine you are telling this story in a job interview. Explain what the situation was, what you hoped the outcome would be, and how you achieved your goal. What feelings did you experience? Why do you think this moment stands out to you? What did you learn? Again, you can choose any writing or communication situation: one from school, home, friends, social media, a relationship, a job, a consumer situation, etc.