Major: Computer Science and Software Engineering
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be an avid reader to be a good writer; you just have to have something to say. Growing up I wasn’t a very strong reader, and as a result of this I tended to avoid books up until almost high school. By this point I wasn’t a very good communicator; I had trouble speaking comfortably to people without the words to express myself. As time went on, I was slowly able to expand my vocabulary. I began seeking out new vocabulary to learn and use, and soon realized the true value of the language I’d been ignoring.
There is a great power to writing that I feel goes unnoticed by a vast majority of students. Contrary to popular belief, good writing is worth more than just a better grade on class papers. Creative writing can enthrall readers and stimulate their most basic emotions and their intellects at once. Expository writing can artfully convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner. The type of writing that is most compelling to me is persuasive writing.
Persuasive writing can be a powerfully interesting thing when viewed through the right lens. To me, it is the physical construction of an entire perspective. Your building material is evidence. Whether statistical or anecdotal, personal or professional, different materials can be used to yield vastly different products. Your tools are your writing skills. While it is possible to build an argument with only your hammer and some paint, adding more tools to your belt can only increase the strength and effectiveness of your projects. My goal is to help you master these rhetorical devices, granting you the tools you’ll need to create a solid and complex argument, and to become a more confident and effective writer.