Reflective Assessment
- General Overview of Feedback – Getting feedback on my research paper has been super insightful. One major takeaway is the need to balance my own voice with the sources I use. The feedback pointed out that while my essay is well-supported by research, it could use more of my personal thoughts and experiences. This is crucial because it highlights the need for a persuasive, not just expository, approach. The comment about adding more of my own thoughts and experiences, especially my travel experiences from NYC, really hit home. It made me realize that my personal connection to the topic can make the argument more compelling and relatable.
- Impactful and Helpful Comments – Two comments stood out as particularly impactful:
- “Your introduction is very straight to the point and I like that you added the link to Expedia.com in your intro.” This comment was effective because it validated my approach to making the introduction engaging and relevant. It reassured me that my initial hook was strong and set a good foundation for the essay.
- “I want to hear that experience in your essay. It would definitely help to connect to the readers who take flights.” This comment was particularly helpful because it encouraged me to incorporate more of my personal travel experiences. It highlighted the importance of connecting with the audience on a personal level, which can make the argument more persuasive. I plan to apply this by adding anecdotes from my own travel experiences to illustrate points about trust and decision-making.
- Ineffective Comments – While most feedback was constructive, a few comments were less helpful:
- “You should add more of an APA style into your essay; it would definitely help with how it’s structured.” This comment was somewhat vague and didn’t provide specific guidance on what aspects of APA style to incorporate. It seemed to misinterpret the current structure of my essay, which already follows a clear format. I believe my commenter might have been looking for more detailed formatting elements, which I will address by ensuring all APA guidelines are followed.
- “It has a title and makes sense but you forgot the indentations and you need to add the beginning of an essay, your name, the course and the teacher’s name to make it look more formal.” While this comment is valid, it focuses more on formatting than content. It didn’t provide much insight into the substance of my argument or how to strengthen it. This teaches me that while formatting is important, feedback should also address the core arguments and content.
- Moving Forward – Based on the feedback, I plan to make several changes to my research project:
- Incorporate Personal Experiences: I will add more of my own travel experiences to make the essay more relatable and persuasive. This will help connect with readers who have similar experiences and enhance the overall argument.
- Enhance Clarity and Style: I will ensure that my voice is more prominent throughout the essay, balancing it with the sources I use. This includes adding more of my own thoughts and reflections on the topic.
- Improve Formatting: I will in detail, follow APA guidelines, including proper indentations, title page formatting, and in-text citations. I will also add visual elements, such as pictures of statistics, to support my findings and make the essay more engaging.
By applying these changes, I aim to create a more compelling, well-rounded, and polished research paper that effectively communicates my argument and engages the reader.