A2 Assignment

As of right now in my life, I have come developed in the categories of Rhetoric, Argumentation, Information Design and Technology, Research, and Collaboration. Over the years, these skills flourished making myself a better writer.
Whether you notice it or not, you are constantly surrounded by rhetoric. Over the years, I have been able to take in all the information around me and discern; what is important and what is not important. When you’re a child, you notice everything around you and pick it apart. For example, you’re walking down the street and you pass a pizza restaurant, a sales ad for women’s clothing, and a store that sells guitars. When you’re a child, you will go up to each of these different places, explore them and see what their all about. Even if these places do no apply to you, you’re still interested and want to find out more about them. But over the years you develop the ability to understand texts rhetorically. When your older, if your not hungry, not buying women’s clothing and not a fan of guitars, you will pass all these places without even paying attention to them or focusing on them. Also, as you get older you develop the ability to analyze texts rhetorically. You can look at a political cartoon and if you look closely at the details- the choice words, the composition of the image, the particular colors, layout, color placement, and design- then you can gain a deeper understanding of the cartoon’s message.
The skill of argumentation is something that develops, over time. You learn several organizational strategies that help you compose an argument. Some examples of these strategies are chronological structure, cause and effect, problem solution, block structure, thematic structure, and deferred thesis. When making a convincing argument, your style is also a factor. Style concerns choosing the appropriate expression for the ideas of your argument; these choices relate to language, tone syntax, rhetorical appeals, metaphors, imagery, quotations, level of emphasis, and nuance. Learning these different skills of argumentation can make it easier proving your point of view and stand on an issue when writing essays.
These days, information and technology are big factors for students. Students are constantly surrounded by new information and technology. We are being enticed by the big technology companies to buy their new products whether it’s a new computer, gaming system, dvd player, ipod, or any other technology. Students are barraged every minute of their day with information of new technology. This is evident when you walk into a store, see a bulletin board, hear your friend talking about the new item that they bought, or even on television commercials.
Recently it has gotten much easier to do research for projects and work. Ever since the internet was invented, information has become more available and easier to find. With more information available, researching topics has become almost effortless. More websites have been founded to help in this research such as Google, Yahoo, and Wikipedia. Also as you get older, you learn different and better methods and strategies for researching a topic. Right now finding research is easier than it has ever been in the past.
Collaborating is when several students work together on assignments. As you get older, you tend to work in groups with students more often. Working in groups helps students to understand the assignments better. It is also easier for students to talk to their peers with problems with the homework rather than ask a teacher. Studying and completing homework in groups also helps students receive better grades in the class.
As students get older, these several strands constantly surround them. At all times of the day whether you know it or not, you are encountering these five strands. Being exposed to rhetoric, argumentation, information, technology, research and collaboration makes them better students.