Crystal Davidson

UWRT 1102

Ingram

4/28/2015

Final Portfolio Essay

What’s Up With All The Glitter and Pictures?

My HOME page is very flashy, glittery, and bright…it’s just me! I am an

extremely exuberant and wild individual and I wanted to showcase that on my web

page. Although, I did tone it down for all of my other pages, because I did not want

to take away from the page itself. For example, my WILDCARD page has a

completely white background, with two pictures and two captions. With it being so

simple, the reader is able to get straight to the point and not get strayed away from

what the purpose of the page is, which is to talk about the other genres of writing I

worked with this semester.

I included many pictures as well, because like the famous quote says: “a

picture is worth a thousand words” and they really help portray my message. For

instance, for my Race Card Project, without having pictures of the couple the

message would not have a strong ethical appeal. Actually reading the couple’s

experiences and then actually seeing what they look like, (happy and in love) the

reader is able to feel a stronger connection to those couples. I also added meme’s

and cute graphics on my e-Portfolio just to add a bit more flair. I am a picture girl,

and I know I tend to get bored when I am just staring (…or let us say “glimpsing”,

because by that time I am pretty sure I am tired of reading) at words!

Trying to make my e-Portfolio easily navigable was a challenge, because

sometimes I like to do some off the wall things, but I really toned it down this

semester, and tried to make everything readily available right on my webpage. For

example, on my Race Card Project page, instead of providing a link to the YouTube

video, I went ahead and attached the actual video right on the page! Easy huh? Last

semester, I had a lot going on, with many links that took my readers every which

way, but this semester I really wanted to make it clean and simple.

How Has My Writing Grown?

My writing has grown tremendously from my first semester here at UNC-

Charlotte to the present, especially since the beginning of this spring 2015 semester.

I feel as though I have definitely become more open minded as a writer. For

example, I was not sure of the many other genres of writing there are like from the

list you provided on the Multi-Genre Assignment Instructions worksheet. You

included a lesson plan and speech or debate, which are both genres I worked with

this semester. Here is an example of a speech outline I wrote:

There Is More to Makeup Than What Meets the Eye

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that there is more to makeup than just “enhancing” ones self and covering impurities and blemishes.

Thesis Statement: Makeup Artists should get more credit for the hard and rigorous work they put in. Whether it is, cinematic makeup or personal creations, the beauty world deserves more credit, than just being known as creating “camouflage” instead of art.

Main Points:

I. Cinematic Makeup

a. They play a major role in the production of a film.b. Work long hours and involves vigorous workc. Lump sum of money

II. YouTube Stardoma. Used for tutorials, reviews, etc.b. Great rewards: money, awards (the silver/gold play button plaque)c. Michelle Phan

i. Her accomplishmentsii. YouTube has opened many doors, ex.) Dr. Pepper commercial

and Teen Choice Awards Nominee

III. A Way To Express Oneselfa. Use artistic abilities in a unique wayb. Face and body is the new “canvas”c. Creates joy and happiness

While I was engaged in this assignment, I did not make the connection that this was

a type of genre until I was made aware of it in my UWRT 1102 class. Due to the

increase of knowledge I have gained about the many different genres in writing, I

believe that my writing had improved tremendously because I am now able to write

in many other genres that I have not had experience in before.

The Research project was actually very challenging for me, which got really

frustrating because I have written plenty of research papers before this one…so I

was not sure what was going wrong. To start, when I came up with my topic, I knew

I was going to be set on it, but I just did not know what route to go because it was so

broad. But after writing a question to Ms. Ingram saying: “My main question for this

project would be, how could I narrow this topic down. Right now, I feel it is too

broad a topic.” She responded: “Maybe you can look at culture/attitude differences

within this U.S.?” Although I did not exactly do just that, I geared my research more

toward individuals in the south, but especially North Carolina. After figuring out

what I wanted to research, I decided that I wanted to conduct interviews and those

went very well. I started off by just jotting some questions down, and then I ended

up creating a mass email that I sent out to my prospective interviewees. In that

email I stated:

“Here are the questions for the survey! You can look over them and begin forming

answers. I would prefer to have a phone interview so that you don’t have to type out

your responses and you can elaborate as much as you please, but whatever is best

for you, is good for me!

Please respond with your schedule and availability so we can set up a time to chat or

converse over email (whichever works best).

I really appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. I believe that our voices

need to be heard as an interracial community!

My phone number (just in case) is 336-xxx-xxxx.”

Upon sending out my email, I got many responses from people who wanted

to share their stories which was great news. Although I had a lot of great content, I

just did not know how to include those in my traditional paper. When I began

writing my paper, I started off by just rambling on and on about my boyfriend and

I…I even got annoyed with myself. Then, before I knew it, I had writer’s block and I

literally did not want to finish writing. I had no idea what to say next, and after an

incident that happened within my relationship, I had lost all motivation. After

meeting with Ms. Ingram, she convinced me to try going the Multi-Genre route, and

boy I am glad I did! This situation has definitely helped me grow as a writer, because

I have learned that it is okay to lack motivation and to not feel like I want to finish.

Every writer has gone through this countless times, and I just had to learn that the

hard way this semester.

How Was I Engaged With The Key Concepts?

In my midterm I stated that the key concepts that I was strongly engaged in

were independent inquiry and curiosity, getting out of my comfort zone, and

responsibility for my own learning. I am proud to say that I am still currently

engaged in those key concepts, if not in a more intensified manner. In my midterm I

stated:

“I have gone far and beyond in regards to my research project and have been taking

responsibility for my own learning, because not only have I been looking at online

resources, but I have also been looking at physical texts like books and I have been

relying on live human sources. Although my online recourses give me more than

enough information, interviewing actual people and asking them thought provoking

questions has given my research the spunk that I want. A book can’t pour out the

emotions a person can face-to-face.”

I have taken so much responsibility in my learning that I have decided to do

further research and hope to reach out to more individuals outside of the UNC-

Charlotte community. I have realized that it is my responsibility to learn, and

nobody else’s. Which is why that key concept is so influential and important to me.

In my Multi-Genre Project, I used “The Race Card Project” as a genre, and one day I

hope to reach out to the creator, Michele Norris and interview her myself. It is

amazing how this project inspired me to find a spark of motivation and inquiry I

never knew existed within me.

Other key concepts that I have shown engagement in since the middle of the

semester are multi-modality of print and digital texts. Before I started getting

serious about my research project, I was set on doing the Traditional Research

Paper, but after struggling with getting started and lacking motivation, I decided to

go a different route. Do not get me wrong, I have always been tech-savvy, and have

enjoyed digital texts, but I was not SERIOUS about it this semester. Once I changed

my project to the Multi-Genre, I realized how much I could utilize digital print with

my ideas and information I gathered from my research. I enjoy using multi-modality

of print because it allows readers to get a variety of information in a number of

different ways. For example, I do not prefer reading a ten-page essay over watching

a video, or reading a magazine article…but that is just me. So, I figured, why not use

multi-modality if it is something I am interested in, in the first place.

I Deserve a B-…but why?

I believe I deserve a B because this semester I have not been on my game. I

have not been prompt with work and I have also been incredibly lazy throughout

the entire semester. Being a freshman, I was not sure how my second semester of

college was going to be like. I attempted to start it off with a bang, but that slowly

ended…with a bang. I had a problem with my blog posts, mainly; because I would

get behind and they would just keep accumulating to the point where I would get

overwhelmed. I will make a goal for myself for next semester; and that is to just get

things done and to not wait until the last minute for every assignment (like I did for

this).

BUT, I’m not the most horrible student in the world, though my explanation

above might convince you of such. I believe I deserve a B- because I have put a lot of

work and time into my research project as well as my e-Portfolio. I have gone far

and beyond and have interacted with people from different cities and states to

gather my information. I have also used my creativity and unique ideas to do things

out of the norm. For example, the mock “Race Card Project” which I used to

incorporate all of my interviews.

All in all, I deserve a B- because I did not put forth the effort I should have,

and I acknowledge that, but I have really outdone myself for this e-Portfolio and

research project and I am extremely proud of myself. I cannot wait to continue on

with my research because interracial relationships and race relations in general are

huge passions of mine and I want to share my passions with the world!