Reagan Free-Write 12/2

• Problem Solving
  • I had a lot of trouble over the course of the semester with some technical issues. First, my Twitter report ended up losing its graphs, not to mention the fact that two little emojis put off its posting for days because it was glitching the website. I also had problems with Audacity, which made me have to use Garageband for my Audio Essay and learn how to use that software on my own through self-learning and the internet. Then, even with the App Project, I ended up losing everything that I had built because the Adobe Cloud system force quit on me and wasn't auto-saving like it should have been. I have really been through the wringer. But, I got every project done, worked out all the kinks, and was able to accomplish all the projects with the caliber of work that I wanted them to have. I still have some editing to do this week leading up to the final submission, but I feel that my ability to calmly problem solve and ask for help has been strengthened through all of these misfortunes. 
• Leadership
  • I think leadership has to do with a person's ability to read cues from a group of people and act on the things that need to be accomplished by that group. For the portfolio assignment, I felt that I took a small leadership role during the behind the scenes aspects, writing things down for the group, delegating tasks, and helping provide some structure for conversation when needed. I also volunteered to be the emcee for our podcast, which meant sometimes making questions and comments on the fly that would help segway into the next person talking. I tried to take a need-based leadership role. One that would allow me to take charge only when it seemed that my groupmates were looking for someone to do that. I always tried to make them feel like their views were just as important, and I attempted to be as inclusive as possible both in the creation and performance of the podcast. I think that came across to my groupmates and made for a cohesive and happy group project. 
• Reflection
  • This whole semester has focused largely about getting a draft completed and then focusing heavily on revision. After all, the final exam isn't even an exam, it is one big revision and reflection piece. I think that says a lot. Just like good writing takes revision and time, Dan made it clear with the structure of the class that arguing on the internet has similar requirements. Learning new software, composition techniques, and all of that jazz takes time to learn. By accepting peer and instructor criticism, I was able to look back at projects and see what an actual audience may think of my work, and then edit where necessary. If we had just composed projects and gotten a grade on them, I don't think I would have learned as much, nor would I have been able to assess the growth that I have made over the semester. Reflecting on what went wrong, what worked well, and what needs just a little bit of tweaking, was the technique that I think really impacted my projects and learning in this class.

Role of visual, sonic, and textual media

• There is a huge difference between these three aspects of media. That's probably the biggest thing I learned this semester. When certain senses are limited and others heightened, it means that the little details, like the click of a microphone, a typo, or a missing gif frame can be the difference between a solid media project and one that ends up being weak, unconvincing, or unprofessional. No one wants to listen to white noise in the background while they are trying to hear someone making a speech or audio essay, so if that is happening in a project because of a mic that is set up incorrectly or a loud AC unit nearby, that might make listeners less likely to pay attention to what is actually being said. Ultimately, you've got to pay attention to the details, or your ability to argue on the internet may be hindered by them to the point that you don't get as many hits/views/likes/shares and then, you weren't really successful.