Outcome 2 (Integrating Ideas) – Be able to integrate their ideas with others using summary, paraphrase, quotation, analysis, and synthesis of relevant sources.
I had an amazing English teacher my senior year of high school who taught me how to integrate quotes using quote sandwiches in my writing in a way that flowed within my Papers. However, one thing that I was struggling with going into the first semester of this year was using sources to back up my ideas effectively. I would always use my voice to back up a quote that connected to my thesis, rather than using a quote to back up my own ideas.
During the first semester I learned the importance of my voice in my writing and how it should have a large portion in papers. An example of this occurs in my first paper. (see image below)
In this image you can see how I use a quote sandwich to better integrate a source. You can also see how I connect the quote to a real life example in my life that connects to the quote. In highschool I wouldn’t have done something like this and ended quote analysis after I explained the quote, but you are able to see how I went beyond the explanation of the quote and included an experience that a reader could possibly connect to.
During this term I also learned what a naysayer and barclay paragraph were. A naysayer paragraph is when you address any skepticism a reader may have about your claims. I had trouble with naysayers, but it could become a great technique I could use if I continue to improve on it. A barclay paragraph is where you utilize two quotes from different sources in one paragraph. This allows you to be able to put two different sources into direct conversation with each other. Barclay paragraphs helped me a lot through the semester and has become a technique I could use if I am ever having trouble connecting two sources to a prompt. In my second paper, I have a paragraph where I tried to use a naysayer inside of a barclay paragraph. (see image below)
You can see in this paragraph how I utilized a naysayer inside of a barclay paragraph. I don’t think it is executed perfectly, but I am still very proud of how it came out. Being forced to use these two techniques in writing throughout the semester has really advanced my writing.
