How do you define revision? What steps have you taken this semester to revise for different audiences and contexts?
I would define revision as the process of refining a paper to make sure it meets all the expectations (purpose, audience, and context). This semester I became VERY familiar with the process of revising. For me, it started from a place of insecurity due to language barriers, my usual anxiety, and the need to always present my best work. Keeping a sheet next to me with questions that respond to audience/contexts/purpose and notes, personal comments, or outline drafts to organize my ideas so I know where they would fit best, sort of a research log but instead of research, I'd say it's an "idea log". This helped me to keep my paper on the right track and make sure I didn't forget what I'm trying to say. Reading my work as many times as I could while taking breaks in between to come back with a fresh mind was key to all my revisions. I tend to get stuck while writing and taking a break before trying again helped me see the text from different perspectives. The last steps of my revision process included showing the paper to at least 3 different people from my family and group of friends (and this part included translating the text so my Argentinian audience could understand) and asking them what they thought I was trying to say without giving a previous context so I could have a neutral opinion on the work done. And lastly, grammar check that was pretty much done in the previous step while translating.
How does purpose, audience, and context impact the work you did this semester?
Having to check multiple times I was saying what I meant, to those I thought needed to read it, to convince them or inform them of what I was asked definitely made me a better thinker and improved my communication skills. I realized lately I find myself asking those questions in my mind before even saying some things out loud, while before this semester I didn't really stop to analyze if my communication was appropriate. I found this part of the subject very useful with my speeches for COM103 and also with writing emails or communicating in general.
What role did peer review play in your development as a writer?
For a minute, I had a complicated relationship with the Peer Reviews at the beginning. I didn't like the idea of people reading my stuff, much less "judging" my skills as a writer...but after the first one, I really understood it was only a new method for revision coming from students like me, trying to learn the same stuff and probably struggling just like me. It helped me take criticism in a better way than I would have before and use it to improve my job. On the other hand, reading other people's work was very exciting. I always read at least 3 or 4 and to see the variety of styles is very inspiring and refreshing. I hesitated a lot when writing my peer reviews on their work because I often feel like me, criticizing other people's work is ridiculous when English is not even my first language; once again, I understood it's not about having perfect English but communicating and trying to help by taking the place of "audience".
What do you consider to be the most important components to your writing process?
The most important things to me during my writing process are my "idea log" previously mentioned since I need to organize my thoughts before to even start the first draft. I can not do freewriting when I am asked to, only when it comes from me. Second, the willingness to drop an entire page or even more if I feel blocked for days and I just can't find the way around it. It also happens to me a lot that I have to change directions halfway, and for that, I can sacrifice a paper that must've taken me hours to write. Third, taking the criticism from the peer reviews and adjust the advices from my peers to my writing style.
What was your strongest work this semester?
My review on Vikings was undoubtedly my strongest work. Just like all the other assignments, I didn't feel confident at all at first and it took me a long time to research tips on how to write a good review and how not to sound biased while "representing" my favorite show ever. Of course, I did research for other assignments too, but this is the one I enjoyed the most by far... I never thought I'd be searching for bad reviews online, so that was fun.
Beyond the learning outcomes, what individual goals did you have this semester? What have you accomplished that you feel proud of?
