Throughout the period of this course, as a class we have addressed many topics in the subject of language and explored many writing techniques. With the help of various literary works and essay assignments expanding as writers has been possible in a short amount of time. Starting with the Language and Literary Narrative and Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue”, I was introduced to these topics and broadened my knowledge in not only common language issues and myths but also about my own experience with language and what it meant. I was able to “identify fundamental concepts in my past language experiences and apply” them effectively in my day to day live with a new understanding. It became clear to me in “Mother Tongue” the “role of language attitudes and how they affect those who speak differently”, as her mother was consistently discriminated and belittled for what others believed to be her broken English.

With the help of Walt Wolfram and “Challenging Language Prejudice in the Classroom” it was shown how these “differences in language should be embraced” especially by those of young age as they are more receptive and easily influenced by their surroundings. He explains how this is important because of how “Interconnected language, race, culture, or anyway in which we are different from one another, are. Building prejudice as the title suggests is never good.” Many such viewpoints were presented throughout the readings assigned to us and in our Phase 2 essays we were able to “expand our search to the entire internet and explore ideas that were largely diverse”. In my essay “How Media Representation Affects Language Roles” I delved into the “global scale in concern to culture diversity and how it is represented by different parts of the media”, ranging from television exposure to language exclusion. Our Phase 2 essays also helped out in developing a very good skill, “finding sources in the library’s database and questioning their credibility”. In order to make your argument believable a good trustful source is necessary. Having good and clear citations is also essential in the making of a good research paper.

Aside from the writing assignments, the homework’s on charting the text were also helpful in many ways. I was capable of “recognizing key rhetorical terms in the course readings and practice incorporating them in my own writing”.  For example, how June Jordan and Vershawn Ashanti Young use black English in their texts as they question its use and the classroom and workplace. I was also able to “look for these rhetorical terms in my peers writing as well as give feedback and receive it too”. Working cooperatively as a class rather than relying on the teacher.

Concludingly, I believe I achieved all the course learning outcomes in the progress of completing each of the Phases throughout the semester.