Learning Objective #1: Examine how attitudes toward linguistic standards empower and oppress language users.

My paraphrase: I learned how ideas about what is considered “correct” English can help some people while hurting or silencing others.

Evidence of learning:
In my language and literacy narrative, I wrote about my experience learning English and feeling insecure about my accent. This helped me understand how language standards can make people feel confident or ashamed. Reading Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” and June Jordan’s “Nobody Means More to Me Than You” showed me that non-standard English varieties are meaningful and powerful, even though society often treats them as wrong. In class discussions and my synthesis essay, I explored how language discrimination affects people’s opportunities and self-esteem. These activities helped me see that communication and meaning matter more than sounding “perfect.”

My score (0–5): 5

Learning Objective #2: Explore and analyze, in writing and reading, a variety of genres and rhetorical situations.

My paraphrase: I learned how to read and write different types of texts for different purposes and audiences.

Evidence of learning:
Throughout the semester, I worked with many genres, including a language and literacy narrative, discussion posts, a synthesis essay, and a reflection essay. Each assignment required a different writing style and purpose. For example, my narrative focused on personal experience, while the synthesis essay required academic analysis and use of sources. Learning to adjust my tone and structure depending on the assignment helped me become a more flexible writer.

My score (0–5): 4

Learning Objective #3: Develop strategies for reading, drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing.

My paraphrase: I learned how to improve my writing through planning, feedback, revision, and editing.

Evidence of learning:
I practiced drafting and revising multiple essays during the semester. Peer review workshops helped me understand how others read my work and what needed improvement. Writing cover letters for revisions helped me reflect on the changes I made and why. I also learned to break assignments into steps, such as outlining, drafting, and revising, which made writing less overwhelming.

My score (0–5): 5

Learning Objective #4: Recognize and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies when engaged in writing situations.

My paraphrase: I learned how to use rhetorical concepts like audience, purpose, claims, and evidence in my writing.

Evidence of learning:
In class, we discussed rhetorical terms such as audience, purpose, genre, and argument. I applied these concepts when writing my synthesis essay by making clear claims and supporting them with evidence from readings. I also thought more carefully about who my audience was and how to explain my ideas clearly. This helped make my writing more focused and persuasive.

My score (0–5): 4

Learning Objective #5: Understand and use print and digital technologies to address a range of audiences.

My paraphrase: I learned how to use digital tools to share my writing and communicate with others.

Evidence of learning:
I used Brightspace to submit assignments, participate in discussion forums, and receive feedback. I also worked with digital documents to revise my essays and organize my portfolio. Using these tools helped me understand how writing can reach different audiences in online spaces and how technology supports the writing process.

My score (0–5): 4

Learning Objective #6: Locate research sources and evaluate them for credibility, accuracy, and bias.

My paraphrase: I learned how to find reliable sources and decide whether they are trustworthy.

Evidence of learning:
For my synthesis essay, I used assigned readings and practiced evaluating sources based on the author, purpose, and context. I learned to distinguish between scholarly sources and less reliable ones. Class discussions and annotations helped me think critically about whose voices are included and whose are left out.

My score (0–5): 3

Learning Objective #7: Compose texts that integrate a stance with appropriate sources.

My paraphrase: I learned how to combine my own ideas with sources to make a strong argument.

Evidence of learning:
In my synthesis essay, I developed a clear stance about language and identity and supported it using ideas from Amy Tan, June Jordan, and class discussions. I practiced summarizing, analyzing, and synthesizing sources instead of just quoting them. This helped me create a more unified and convincing argument.

My score (0–5): 5

Learning Objective #8: Practice citing sources accurately and consistently.

My paraphrase: I learned how to give credit to sources correctly.

Evidence of learning:
I practiced citing readings in my essays and discussion posts using MLA-style in-text citations. I learned why citation is important for academic honesty and credibility. Although this is still an area I want to improve, I now feel more comfortable including and citing sources in my writing.

My score (0–5): 4