Course Reflection

Outcome One

Outcome One is all about analyzing and evaluating texts. I interpret Outcome One as the ability to look at other compositions and evaluate the different modes used, as well as how the usage of those modes contributes to the author’s overall purpose in the text. While I was very familiar before this class with the analysis of texts, I had less experience with specifically analyzing the multimodality of texts. This outcome is important because being able to evaluate the multimodality of texts allows us to analyze them even more deeply, enabling us to have a better and more complete understanding of them. Furthermore, being able to analyze and recognize other text’s multimodality allows us to better understand and be able to utilize different modes in our own writing.

I think I grew a lot in this outcome throughout the quarter. At the beginning of this course, I was familiar with the concept of multimodality and could identify some of the more obvious modes, like linguistic or visual, but I wasn’t super experienced in evaluating a text’s different modes and how the contribute to the overall effectiveness of the text. In my Short Assignment One, I was able to identify some of the different modes present in the text I was analyzing, but I didn’t really identify how they were contributing to the text as a whole.

However, over the quarter I learned how to evaluate the ways the different modes utilized in a text impact the reception of the text by the audience. In Short Assignment Two, I was able to both identify the multimodal elements present in the Shadow and Bone TV show and analyze how effective they were in creating a more well-rounded and emotionally impactful story:

Additionally, I practiced analyzing and assessing multimodal texts through my peer revision. In all of my peer review sessions, I identified different multimodal elements in my peer’s projects and gave feedback based on how effective I thought they were.

In this peer review for MP1, I identified the multimodal elements I thought were effective (the visual drawings), and gave some feedback on the multimodal elements I thought could enhance the project (color and sound cues).

Overall, throughout this course I was able to develop my text analysis skills from just being able to analyze linguistic texts and identify multimodal elements to being able to analyze multimodal texts and evaluate the effectiveness of the different modes within the overall purpose of the text.

On this slide in SA1, I identify the spatial mode.

"In the Crows’ storyline, the aural mode relies primarily on music and dialogue, with some tasteful sound effects (like in the ubiquitous fight scenes). The show was scored by composer Joseph Trapanese, who worked with Bardugo to create a unique soundtrack inspired by Romani and Slavic music. The orchestral music, while not revolutionary, does a good job of supporting the tone of the show and whatever vibe is present, whether playful or dangerous. The dialogue is pretty standard, often pulling directly from the novels." (SA2)

“Your storyboard conveyed the images/scenes you want to have in the short film really well. I liked the drawings, one thing I would say could be helpful is color, assuming the film is going to be in color. Also like I said today, music/sound cues could be helpful for the storyboard format.”

Outcome Two

Outcome Two encompasses the goal of creating multifaceted compositions that integrate multiple modes to become a deeper and more meaningful text, as well as using the knowledge of audience, context, stakes, and genre to make the work more appropriate, convincing, and impactful. Prior to this class, I was very familiar with linguistic composition, and fairly familiar with multimodal composition, but I hadn’t composed multimodal texts in a very intentional way. Throughout this course, I learned how to purposefully incorporate different modes into my texts to better achieve my purpose in composing them. Being able to produce meaningful and multifaceted compositions is essential in communication. Being able to integrate awareness of audience, context, stakes, genre and different modes allows us to create more effective and meaningful texts. I think that composing texts with various modes was one of my favorite elements of this class: it was fun to create texts that were engaging and visually appealing.

In my Major Project 1, I practiced using the linguistic, visual, and spatial modes while composing my pitch bible. I also tailored the pitch to a specific audience (potential producers for the show) and used a pitch tone throughout to make the pitch more compelling, playing heavily into the pitch genre. By engaging multiple modes, making it both linguistically and visually appealing, and utilizing the proper genre conventions, I made my pitch bible more convincing.

In my Major Project 2, I used primarily the aural mode, though I analyzed more modes in my source texts. I used my voice, as well as music and sound clips, to create a more textured and engaging podcast. I tailored my project to a specific audience (those familiar with Six of Crows) and followed the genre conventions of a podcast. By doing all of these things, I made the podcast more interesting to listen to and easier to understand, better conveying my critical takeaway.

Throughout this class, I developed my ability to intentionally integrate multiple modes into a text to better achieve my purpose in creating that text. I also grew my skills in tailoring my texts to specific audiences and utilizing genre conventions. All of this helped me to be able to create more compelling and engaging texts.

In this character bio from MP1, I used the visual, linguistic, and spatial modes.

In this snapshot of my script for MP2, I integrate a clip from the show into my podcast.

Outcome Three

Outcome Three is all about the ability to find and utilize various sources, as well as the ability to use different technologies. I started out a little ahead on this outcome technology-wise, being familiar with “the big two”: Canva and Audacity. However, I still had to learn how to use these technologies to create multimodal composition. I had used Canva before, but I’d never had to think to hard about the spatial mode, so in this class, I had to learn how to work with the technology and tweak it to make sure my spatial arrangement was pleasing. In my Major Project 1, my spatial arrangement was one thing that I got lots of feedback on, mainly due to having too much text and not enough space or images. I also struggled with the fact that Canva doesn’t allow text wrap. However, in my peer revisions I made some strides in reducing the amount of text and making the slides look more balanced. Being able to understand this technology was essential because it allowed me to integrate multiple modes into my texts in a satisfying and appealing way, which enhanced the effectiveness of my text.

My experience with Audacity was similar. I’d used Audacity a few years ago, so I was familiar but still had to relearn how to make it work best for me. I was able to fiddle around with it and look online for instructions, and even though I had an issue converting my files over, I was still able to make it work for me. I figured out how to overlay different tracks, fade music in and out, and do good transitions. All of this allowed me to create a more engaging and genre-appropriate podcast.

I was pretty familiar with the source finding and using aspect of Outcome Three. All throughout high school, I wrote texts referencing reliable sources, so I generally knew how to find and identify good sources, and then make use of them. However, I did further develop my source skills in this class, especially for Major Project 2, where I cited a variety of sources, both academic and opinion. I also learned how to utilize the UW Libraries Databases, which is a super valuable skill to have for my time at UW. Using a variety of sources enhanced the credibility of my texts, which was valuable in further engaging my audience.

Overall, my main growth for Outcome Three was in my ability to use different technologies, specifically with the purpose of utilizing different modes. I also practiced my skills in finding, evaluating, and using credible sources, which is an important skill in creating effective texts.

By breaking up the texts from the original (left) to the revised (right), I was able to make the slide more digestible.

Outcome Four

Outcome Four surrounds being able to examine your own work and evaluate it, as well as receive and incorporate feedback while revising. It also includes the ability to connect the skills learned in class to outside interests and pursuits. This outcome is important because reflection is essential to improving work, as is listening to other people’s feedback and incorporating it. Texts can always be improved, and other people often can see things the composer can’t, so being able to revise based on your own perspective and other’s is what allows us to create better compositions.

I practiced this skill in my revisions to my major projects after each peer review sessions, as well as the revision plans I’ve created for those projects in this portfolio. In my Major Project 1 peer review session, I received a lot of feedback that I had too much text on my slides and that it was overwhelming. I agreed with this feedback, and in my revision I broke up the chunks of text and changed the design of my characterization pages to be more organized and less intimidating. I also recognized that my project wasn’t organized in the best or most appealing way, and revised it accordingly.

For my Major Project 2, I received feedback that I was trying to cover too much ground and needed to narrow it down. In my revision, I focused in on one relationship and a narrower audience and rewrote my script to be more specific. I also recognized that my critical takeaway needed to be adjusted for my new focus and did so. I Finally, I reflected more on my projects and further revised them in my revision plans for Major Project 1 and Major Project 2.

Finally, all of the skills I learned in this class surrounding multimodal analysis and composition have applications in my future. In any sort of writing I do in my future classes, being able to use different modes of communication will allow me to create more layered and compelling texts. In my future, I hope to go into the medical field, potentially doing research. If I do research, I will need to be able to communicate that research in a clear and easy-to-understand way. The skills in multimodal composition I learned in this class will allow me to write papers and articles using various modes (like linguistic and visual) to convey my research to a broader audience. This is essential because research is basically meaningless unless you can convey it to people. The skills I developed in this class will be useful in any pursuit I have in the future, because they are essentially communicating effectively, which is a necessity in all veins of life.

By narrowing down my audience to people already familiar with my texts, I was able to cut down my intro by removing context. The left is the first part of my original intro, and the right is my complete final intro.