Dear Dr.

Hartman,
Being in this class has taught me lots of things and has helped me progress as a
reader, writer, and thinker. I learned new skills on how to become the best reader, writer,
and thinker I can be. The more I apply these skills the more I grow and develop. In this
class we had several places to showcase our development and learning of these new skills.
The following places include our daybooks, weekly drafts and writing groups, polished
pieces, and our reflections/self-assessments. And in each of these there were eight course
objectives that were met as well.
First I would like to start off with reviewing my daybook entries. Over the course I
have presented about 15 daybook entries and had wrote reflections on each of these. I
have many more daybook entries in my daybook, of course, but these are the ones I chose
to showcase in my portfolios. In my daybook entries you can see that I have showed
course objective numbers 1 and 3, which tie in together: developed a metacognitive
awareness of their literacy, gained intellectual courage and a capacity for sustained,
focused attention to reading, and demonstrated these skills through discussion, oral and
written reflection that would show self-awareness that might lead students to employ
techniques, such as annotation. Demonstrated in their writing that they are making
decisions about their own content, form, and diction appropriate to a variety of writing
situations. I have showed this by completing my writing into the day. Every class at the
very beginning we had time to reflect upon a topic of our choosing or a topic given to us.
Also in class once a week we would have identity leader discussions and I would take notes
on what we discussed and some main points to help me write my weekly drafts. Another
course objective presented in my daybook has been number 5: Students will read and
analyze a variety of texts and write responses that reflect, explain, or analyze those texts.
This is shown by the different activities involving sticky notes in my journal. Also, we were
asked to reflect upon certain items that were discussed in class or ways to improve our
writing. In this section I would give myself a Strong =Above average work, distinct work;
mastery in this area, grade. I feel that this is what I deserve going back and reflecting upon
my work in all my daybook entries.
My weekly drafts and writing groups were pieces that really showed progression over
time. Each weekly draft seemed to get better and were stepping stones to things I know
that I could and can achieve. The course objectives shown were 1 and 3: Students will
develop a metacognitive awareness of their literacy, gaining intellectual courage and a
capacity for sustained, focused attention to reading. Students will demonstrate these skills
through discussion, oral and written reflection that would show self awareness that might
lead students to employ techniques, such as annotation. Students will demonstrate in their
writing that they are making decisions about their own content, form, and diction appropriate
to a variety of writing situations. This was shown in all the weekly drafts because I was
able to write down my ideas and understand how to develop them into better pieces. I also
used course object 2, which deals with the rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, and
writer/author). When I used the rhetorical situation I noticed a big difference on how clear
my topic was presented and how well it all flowed together. Using this made me realize the
skills needed to create a well-rounded piece of writing. I also used course objectives 4, 5,
and 6. Course objective 4 deals with understanding that reading and writing are the key
points to help develop effective strategies for analyzing, composing, and organizing
thoughts. For our weekly drafts we had to read and write about the different identity
leaders topics presented to us, which also pertains to objectives 5 and 6: Students will
read and analyze a variety of texts and write responses that reflect, explain, or analyze

those texts. Students will demonstrate the ability to focus, organize, support and elaborate
their ideas in a variety of writing situations (in-class essay, out-of-class drafted essays).
For this section I would give myself the grade: a Strong =Above average work, distinct work;
mastery in this area. I feel that I have tried to always apply the skill learned in my weekly
drafts and writing groups.
My polished pieces gave me a chance to show off how great of a writer I can be.
Also it allowed me to showcase all of the course objectives. The revision process was
strenuous, but well worth it after I saw what I could achieve. For my polished pieces I
showed my understanding of the rhetorical situation and how to apply it to get your best
results. I showed that I can make my own decisions about form, content, and diction. As
well as displaying my ability to analyze, compose, and organize thoughts from my reading
and writing. I feel that this was one of my stronger sections in the class and loved creating
them. In this particular section I would give me the grade of Strong =Above average work,
distinct work; mastery in this area because there is always room of improvement, but I feel
that I presented some of my best work here.
In my reflection/self-assessment areas I feel that I always reflect upon my work
honestly. Writing my reflection/self-assessment pieces gives me a chance to really reflect
upon individual pieces and my work as a whole in the class. I feel that all the course
objectives were presented here in all of my reflection and self-assessments I have given
myself and written for the class. The main course objectives I feel that are presented here
are numbers 2, 3, 5, and 6. These all deal with analyzing ideals and or demonstrating
appropriate writing for and your ability as a writer. I would give me the grade of Strong
=Above average work, distinct work; mastery in this area here as well, because again there
is always room for improvement.
I am glad to have learned all these new skills and have seen my growth in this class.
I know that my writing will keep improving greatly the more I use the skills and apply them. I
have seen my worst pieces and I have seen my best pieces in this class. I know what I can
achieve if I apply my new skill and I know that because of this I am a better reader, writer,
and thinker than I ever was. And the great thing is there is only room for improvement and
the only way to go now is up. Thank you for all you have done and showed me in this class
Sincerely,
Cheyanne Hotchkiss