This course was different than any course that I had because it introduced me to a whole new discourse, research writing. While I had done research papers before, they had always been last minute papers thrown together with no structure, just points and arguments. While this is an effective way to argue your point, there is no actual research in a paper like this. This course forced me to step by step work through my research paper, establishing a process that I will never forget.
This course was exceptionally effective at placing me in a different discourse community that I wasn't even aware existed. It especially prepared me for creating an argument specifically for my audience by altering my tone and vocabulary, for example in my Interpretive Summary,
"This change in expectations affects degree-seeking individuals, those who will enter the market in the near future need to be ready."
While this seems like a generalized statement, I'm specifically appealing to college students. An outside observer may see this as a foreboding statement, but in reality it is a call to action. College students, my audience, in particular are very worried about getting a degree and not finding a job. With the wording of my statement, this situation is appearing to have a dire effect on my audience's future.
This course subjected its students, and myself to a thorough research process which included incorporation of many different sources from many different denominations of research, in many different forms. All of these texts required synthesis to compile my individual argument. This was by far the most in depth research and reading of sources that I've ever done.
In conclusion, my writing and research processes were initiated, developed, and neared perfection as a result of this research paper. I had never written and revised so many drafts, and had never done research as extensive as this. This course challenged me in ways I didn't expect, and ultimately I feel like it has made me a much better writer.
