UWP001V Reflective Essay

        After learning for almost the whole quarter, I can finally sit down and try to reflect on the past quarter. In my research paper, I am deeply amazed by the Overwatch discourse community and therefore decide to write a lot about this community, and at the same time explore the fascinating world of online video games. This reflective essay serves as a window into my academic journey, which is rich with discoveries about the art of reading, speaking, and writing. Over these months, I have not only developed my skills in crafting arguments and analyzing texts but also managed to understand the various types of communications. My research paper on the Overwatch discourse community, which named "Digital Arenas of Growth: Examining the Impact of Overwatch's Community Dynamics on Adolescent Development," serves as a great example to show people what I have been through in this learning journey. In my opinion, this essay of mine exemplifies my engagement with the University Writing Program (UWP) Learning Outcomes because I have learned to use rhetorical knowledge, process-oriented writing, as well as metacognitive reflection. Therefore, in this reflective essay, I will be explaining and reflecting my learning experience, using key aspects of my research as milestones that marked my growth as a reader, writer, and thinker. Hopefully, I will continue to use these skills in the future very often.

        Throughout this quarter, my understanding of rhetorical knowledge has developed significantly, especially through the lens of my research paper on the Overwatch discourse community. I have learned to draw information from different types of sources, like academic source. I have also learned to communicate with other many types of audiences.

        While writing my essay "Digital Arenas of Growth," I did research on rhetorical knowledge and applied these rhetorical concepts thoughtfully. The choice to use a blend of scholarly analysis with engaging narrative was intentional because I needed to make my research paper more authentic and easier to understand for many audiences. As I used a lot of approaches I used in my research essay, I wanted to present facts about Overwatch and its impact on adolescent development. In order to make a story that resonates with the reader's curiosity about online digital communities. I considered aspects like audience engagement, purpose of my research, and the mode of delivery, which was primarily textual but supplemented with visual data.

        The process of crafting the research essay was complicated, I had to write each piece, whether it was an argument, a piece of evidence, or a narrative element, and put them together perfectly to present a coherent, comprehensive picture for audiences to read. After doing some research from use of rhetorical knowledge, I understood the use of rhetorical knowledge was not just about following academic conventions; it was about communicating ideas effectively and creating a meaningful impact on the readers.

                                                         Rhetoric knowledge explanations by Joseph Moxley

                                                                    My thesis statement for my research paper

        While crafting my Overwatch discourse community research paper, I felt challenging when I had to understand the nature of reading, researching, and composing to write great content. When I looked at all types of sources – from academic articles like gemhlab to online forums like Reddit. Each piece of literature offered me a unique perspective, shaping my understanding and guiding the direction of my research.

        Writing draft for my research paper was a long and stressful process. Although my initial draft was to some extent comprehensive, but it lacked coherence and focus. Thanks to my instructor and peers, I have learned a lot to improve the quality of my research paper. Their constructive feedback was very valuable, and clearly showed and highlighted the areas where I needed more work. My instructor especially mentioned that I needed more examples related with the discourse community, so I could link them to the secondary sources I found from the Internet, to make the whole research paper look more authentic. This collaborative process of revising and editing transformed my paper from a collection of ideas into a cohesive and compelling narrative.

                                                                        The feedback from my instructor

        Engaging in this process taught me the importance of flexibility and openness to change in academic writing. I learned to view feedback not as criticism, but as an opportunity for growth and improvement. It was a cycle of writing, receiving feedback, reflecting, and rewriting, which not only enhanced my paper but also honed my skills as a writer. 

        When talking about my experience with the Overwatch research paper, I was given a valuable opportunity to practice and understand the various writing conventions specific to academic discourse. In my opinion, navigating these conventions was very crucial to make sure that my research was not only informative but also adhered to the scholarly standards.

        In adhering to academic conventions, I paid careful attention to the structure of my paper, I ensured that my article would include all necessary components such as: an abstract, introduction, methodology, analysis, and conclusion. I also became more adept in the use of formal language and tone, which is critical in academic writing. This was a departure from the more informal style often used in online forums and discussions that I was analyzing.

                                                                     The method section of my research essay

        Moreover, I was very careful while choosing proper citation and referencing because they were key aspects I focused on while crafting paper, especially research paper. During the process of crafting my research paper, I have practiced the skills to accurately cite sources in APA format as it was important to lend credibility to my paper and to avoid plagiarism. My understanding of these conventions has evolved as I do not consider writing citations as rules, but to consider proper citations as credits added to my research paper because they promote clarity, coherence, and academic integrity. This knowledge, I believe, is transferable across various writing genres and will be very valuable in my future academic journey.

        

                                                                 The APA format citations of my research paper

        Looking ahead, as I continue to do research on how to do better in academic writing, I am excited to carry these skills into future academic writings and beyond. The lessons learned in UWP001 class – particularly the importance of critical thinking, effective communication, and continuous learning are great tools that I will be using in other classes and to become a more rigorous and careful person. Moreover, as a music student,  I wish I can combine what I have learned about rhetoric knowledge with the music theories to write great pieces with beautiful, meaningful and touching content. As a result, this reflective essay will stand as the promise of many more enlightening journeys to come for me.

              Skills for academic writing by Routledge