comment task

Follow these steps:

Choose one of the items below. Insert your cursor below the item, and then write about the projects in this class in terms of that item for four minutes.

Choose another of the items, and then write freely about the projects in this class in terms of that item for four minutes.

Choose a third item from the list. Without discussing directly the projects, write freely about the activities and processes experienced in this class in terms of that item for five minutes.

• Creativity
  • Creativity was central to all of the assignments in this class, as we consistently were able to choose our own topics. The most obvious examples are the meme and gif assignments, where I was able to explore the mediums and learn how to formulate a cohesive argument while operating within the bounds of those mediums. For example, with the meme assignment, I learned how a reader must be aware of certain cultural trends in order to understand the point a meme makes. This was made obvious as I developed memes of my own and formed arguments within the context of social or cultural trends, such as Michael Jordan's lack of success as an NBA owner. 
• Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
  • Critical thinking was crucial in this class, as each new medium had to be evaluated in terms of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as how to use or perform them most effectively. When comparing mediums and looking at what works and what does not, I had to think critically about why some components were effective or why different mediums required different approaches. Further, when reviewing drafts in class, I had to think critically about what was effective and what could be improved, which lends further understanding into how to use those mediums in the most productive way possible. Critically analyzing drafts of my peers allowed me to be more thoughtful, understanding and effective in carrying out the tasks individually. 
• Leadership
• Communication
• Collaboration
  • Collaboration was most relevant during the podcast assignment, one of my favorites of the semester, where we worked as a group to develop a cohesive recorded conversation regarding social media. I found that working as a team was crucial to not only completing a recording of the required length, but also to make the podcast sound conversational and natural. Had we not worked together, it would have been more like multiple audio essays stacked together, but the collaborative nature allowed us to achieve a more conversational tone and one which was more enjoyable for a listener. Further, in nearly every assignment we were presented with new software which I had little to no experience with, and collaborating with classmates helped me to learn the software and become comfortable with it more quickly. Collaboration was also instrumental in the feedback process.
• Information 
• Risk taking
• Adaptability
• Curiosity
• Reflection
• Motivation

Finally, choose one item from the list below. Write freely about the projects in this class in terms of that item for five minutes.

• Logic versus emotions
  • The use of logic versus emotion in argumentation is central to internet discourse. I found that the meme and gif assignments were rooted much more largely in emotion rather than logic, whereas the twitter analysis report and audio essay were deeply rooted in logic and reason. However, while conducting my twitter analysis, I found many of the tweets I looked at were based in emotion rather than logic, which speaks to its larger role in web discourse. Further, I found that both logic and emotion were options for almost all of the projects, but one was often more effective than the other given the medium. For example, some podcasts we listened to were obviously emotionally based and thus had less value in terms of persuasion, whereas others progressed through topics logically to make a more meaningful and influential point. Contrarily, based on the meme and gif formats, the funnier or more effective ones in my opinion were those which were presented emotionally. Those specific mediums are more frequently based in emotion rather than logic, which is likely why I enjoyed those more and saw them as authentic versions of the medium.
• Role of visual, sonic, and textual media
• Networks and social exchange