Inquiry Three: Dangerous Nutrients
Inquiry three is my favorite paper from this class. A week before the assignment was given, I started to question my vitamin use. When I'm curious about something, I like to trawl the web for as much information I can get. That initial, enthusiastic research led to this paper. Overall, my organization improved considerably from my first and second papers. In each paragraph, I added a layer to my argument, explaining biological topics in layman's terms, and addressing common myths regarding vitamin use. I used rhetorical elements more effectively than in other papers, adding doses of humor and mentioning household products such as sensodyne to make the argument more interesting and relatable.
Besides the writing techniques I learned in this class, I attribute my success to my interest in this topic. I enjoyed writing about it, and my research helped me to accrue a breadth of information I could relay to my audience.
An example of using a craft element to make my argument more relatable and illustrate the problem was the story about melatonin I included in my second to fifth paragraphs (follow the blue link to view my paper). I explained how people are quick to pick up something that seems legitimate and use it without really thinking about it, and how they might suffer consequences from that snap judgment in the future.
Like in my other papers, I used rhetorical questions. My introduction illustrated the problem with supplements being unsupported and unregulated using questions. I sparked intrigue by leading the reader on a path to a conclusion that was probably far different from their stance on supplements. I also illustrated the absurdity of the supplement argument by saying "Guess what else is natural? Arsenic." Overall, my use of craft was effective and appropriate.
Even though this was my best paper, it could be improved. As I learned from Amy Tan's narrative, a piece of writing is never finished. I could have addressed the opposing side more, as well as concluded by explicitly stating my argument. The different examples I included in my paper might confuse readers about what my true argument is.
Like with my other papers, I could have drafted more. I literally wrote this entire paper on the day it was due. It was risky. I'm proud of my success, but wary of the risks of procrastination. Luckily, I cared so much about the topic that I was able to synthesize and explain the information easily. If this class has taught me anything about writing papers, it's that I shouldn't procrastinate. Sadly, that habit's hard to break. Hopefully one of these days I'll get to the writing center, too. :)
For Inquiry four, I created a website based on my vitamins idea. I used yellow and black as the main colors to evoke a sense of "caution" in my audience, and tried to keep a professional design to engage the reader. I included myriad sources from respectable organizations so the reader can get as much information as he or she wants. I tried to explain common questions and myths regarding vitamin and supplement use in the "myths" page, and concluded with an explanation of who should consider taking supplements. I provided many different mediums, such as info-graphics, videos, scientific papers, and a "debate" page to keep my reader interested in the content. This was my first website in many years, and I'm proud of it. This and my photo essay are things I wouldn't change.
Click on the photo near the top of the page to visit my site.