Ramsey Arram
Professor Mark Canada
Eng. 106
November 6, 2001

    I am currently a student of Mark Canada's English 106 class.  I believe I deserve at least an A- for this class because I have learned utilize many of  writing techniques that have been taught.  These techniques include research, paragraph organization, rhetorical questions, attributive phrases, different approaches to arguements, and increasesed use of paraphrases versus quotes to ensure personal voice continuity throughout my papers.  My arguments have proven to be influential to my peers because of the organization skills, extensive research skills, and writing techniques that I have abtained from this class.  I have proven to fulfill every requirement of this class and stayed within the guidelines of the UNCP policy on plagarism and composition  
    The organization of paragraphs is a skill that results in better clarity and argument.  I have found in the past that outlines can be used to create paragraphs in organized patterns, however my paragraphs were still monotous and drifting.  During our class period dealing with paragraph organization I found that an anaylsis of my papers from this class revealed unorganized patterns.  I would drift off the subject without supporting or returning to my claims in the topic sentences of the paragraphs.  Whenever I write a paper or revise it I now ask myself questions such as;  is this drifting, or are these sentences supportive to my claim?  The end result is stronger argument.   Particularly interesting was the interplay of psychology and composition.  Information chunking has shown to be a very effective technique to absorb and store information in the human brain as a result of psychological studies.  It is equally effective to chunk information when writing or revising so the reader may absorb and remember your argument and supporting facts with increased clarity.  I have learned to chunk information, support and return to my original claims throughout my papers to produce effective clear arguments.  
    Research techniques have been extremely stressed in this course to provide easy access to credible sources.  We have learned to use bravecat, electronic resources, and interlibrary loans.   I have used these research skills to cut my research time in half with a larger number of credible sources.  My friends have requested for me to help them research their topic because of my full my understanding of the different types of databases and their different search techniques that I learned of in this class.  The skill to access credible sources on any subject quickly will be utilized throughout my whole college career, working career, and even my own personal writing projects.  I believe you can find my claim to be apparent in my writing.  At a glance in most of my papers you will notice a large number of cited works.  This is because I will locate many different resources that support my claim to show support from many experts in the field I am working on.  For example, I have used nine different sources in my essay The Demise of the Preacher Physician .  This proves I have learned that research is the supporting foundation for any credible claim.  In this class I have learned that research techniques can save you time and provide sources from around the world to strengthen your claim with credibility. 
    Utilization of paraphrases ensures personal voice continuity throughout my papers.  I have learned that direct quotes interupt the voice of the writer in essays and research papers.  The reader must continually read a different writer's style throughout the paper losing the originality and personal voice of the original writer.  Professor Canada has told us that when we read and understand a supporting fact from a source, we should look away and restate it in our own words.  We then can use an attributive phrase along with our reproduction of the statement with proper citation to lead to the preservation of the writer's voice throughout a paper.  This technique is found in all of my papers now, I utilize paraphrases and attributive phrases almost everytime I use a source unless the quote cannot not be restated into better terms. I believe I have fully understood attributive phrases and paraphrases, and utilize them in all of my papers.  
    Other techniques of writing is the use of rhetorical questions, and transitional phrases to keep papers interesting.  Shouldn't all of Professor Canada's students recieve A's if they fulfill the class and UNCP requirements for composition?  It is rhetorical questions like these that I have learned to keep the reader's attention and stimulate their thoughts.  A rhetorical question is not the most important part of writing, yet I believe it shows a new technique of writing I have obtained from this class that has proved useful.  I have utilzed transitional phrases excessively in all of my school papers to link and form ideas.  After this class I have also found transitional phrases useful to prepare the reader for explanations and to pinpoint main ideas when I am the reader.  Utilization of transitional words and phrases is another writing technique that isn't extremely important, but  they are good indicators of the writing techniques I have absorbed and utilized from English 106.
         To show further reason  for that I deserve at least an A- in this course is the compliance I will show with our English composition policy at UNCP.  The UNCP policy implies about attendance and plagiarism, and the results of absence and plagiarism.  As an English student, I have believed that attendance of class is mandatory for the full education and understanding of that class.  When I have missed a class it has only been a hassle to catch up and you do miss out on class activities.  I’m in college to learn about the world and further my education in many fields including writing, and I believe it is only a self inflicted loss of knowledge to miss a class.  Throughout my past school and work career my colleagues, co-workers, and supervisors have always enjoyed my reliability.  Plagiarism is very similar to absences in the effect that they both result in a loss of knowledge.  Plagiarism is heavier in punishment though, because it the direct violation to the rights of the authors that wrote the book, essay, etc. that you are stealing their words from.  One’s own research and writing is the only way to learn and further their education, absences and plagiarism only result in a loss of knowledge. 
    I believe that the reasons I have given in this paper should be sufficient reasons for an A- on this paper.  I have shown that my paragraph organizing skills have grown to where my arguments are clearer, chunked, and strengthened.  I have understood the importance of voice continuity in a paper, and also the importance of good research skills for any good argument.  I believe I have fulfilled both the requirements of English 106 and the UNCP policy.  I have never plagairized, and I attend class regularly. With the proof of my new writing skills in my papers, I believe it is apparent that I deserve at least an A- for this course.