Metacognitive Cover Letter

The first assignment given to me as a student in my English 2 class was a Syllabus of what the
professor expects of us throughout the course of the semester. During our first day in class, I had
to learn how to breakdown the syllabus and critically think of what the implicit and explicit
message was. This helped me learn how to annotate the syllabus and highlight the important
messages of my Student Learning Outcomes (SLO).
During the first part of our course, we were given 2 short stories to read and rhetorically
analyze. Those short stories were Paulo Freire and Gloria Anzaldua. I was instructed to read the
stories and choose only one to rhetorically analyze and annotate the short story and state if they
provide sufficient proof of their purpose and if they are using cogent or fallacious reasoning to
get the point across to the audience. Finally, I would have to explain if the author is rhetorically
effective. After reviewing the rhetorical analysis, I did on Anzaldua I could view that I did not
clearly understand how to write a rhetorical analysis even after asking many questions. However,
what helped me understand that in the other assignments was our peer reviews, free writing and
quote sandwiches. This assisted me to improve my writing process and reading skills along with
critical thinking. Our second analysis I was assigned, was an Advertisement Analysis. I was
instructed to critically analyze the advertisement and figure out their implicit and explicit
message, find out who the audience is and if they clearly stated their purpose with that one
advertisement.
These assignments have proven I have met each SLO by actively reading Logic and
Contemporary Rhetoric (L&CR). It has taught me how to find cogent and fallacious reasoning.
However, the most important assignment that was given that helped me analyze things
thoroughly was reading The Invisible Gorilla. We needed to use active reading and annotation.
Actively reading helped me get a better understanding as to finding the hidden message such as
implicit and explicit message and evaluate the textbook reading. It also helped as I could read the
chapters and in a way, see the pictures in my head and piece it together and compose a rhetorical
analysis.
When I first started the course of my English 2 class it was a little difficult as I had taken
four semesters off and it had been a while since I had been in an English class. I was very
introvert during the first few sessions of the class as I did not know what to expect. I know I was
not the introvert person in there, but it felt as I was. Slowly, I became more confident and able to
be extrovert as to participate in group discussions or class discussions. The participations in class
discussions will affect my grade in a positive way. This is because I can give my feedback and
thoughts and its importance of being correct or wrong is low, it is the feedback I am getting for
myself that will change my grade as if I am incorrect I will learn the correct answer from my
peers and receive feedback myself on how to make it better, which causes me to learn something
new. Due to this participation, I know for future classes it will benefit me to do so as I am not
only getting my own answers and thoughts reviewed by a professor, but I am getting my fellow
classmates feedback which counts as a reviewed draft that will help improve my final draft
before getting my professors feedback. In all, participating in group discussions or class
discussions, will help me improve my overall grade and get a better understanding in the material
or lectures being presented to me.
After reviewing my portfolio and the obstacles I have gone through to get a better
understanding of the course shows how much I have succeeded over the course of the semester.
The writing process we were taught during the semester was not easy, but more critical thinking,
which I feel this has helped me to go outside the box of my comfort zone. I look at the first

formal writing assignment and then I reviewed the second formal writing assignment and I was
able to see the major difference, including the overall grade given to me for those two formal
writing assignments. I knew that taking any English class was going to be a challenge especially
since I am a full-time employee, but the overall help and Professor Connellys strategies of
teaching and writing process were a help to me. Professor Connellys techniques of peer reviews,
editing and student and teacher feedback was such a help to strengthening my writing
assignment.