Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

For my causal paper, I reached out to Professor Hodges for recommendations of how to go about writing. He gave some advice on how to move forward and how to write the paper, which when combined with my current research at the time helped me to approach my hypothesis from a different perspective. For instance, I wasn’t thinking too much about the mental and cognitive side of my hypothesis until he recommended I look into the effects of drumming on the brain.

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

For both my causal and rebuttal papers I used approximately 4 sources for each, dissecting my hypothesis that drummers live healthier lives and breaking it down into the physical, mental, and social aspects. My sources discussed all three of those pillars and by actively reading I was able to better understand and implement the material said sources contained. Throughout my essays, I was able to smoothly connect my ideas with that of the sources, and used them to the best of my ability to better understand and find the truth behind my hypothesis.

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

When it comes to focusing on why an author/ director chose to say or show something rather than what was being said or shown, I believe the main and only example is in my visual rhetoric paper. While watching the thirty second ad, I broke down each frame and deciphered the meaning behind each item to the best of my ability. Although my first draft missed some details, I was able to understand how in depth and purposeful each choice from the director was. Through this assignment I was able to look at each detail, such as what pictures were pinned in the background, or even the expressions on the faces of the characters, and come to a conclusion as to the purpose behind it.

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

I was able to find several sources, most through Google Scholar, that were pertinent to my topic. All sources assisted in finding the truth behind my hypothesis, whether it supported my initial idea or not, and in the end they all helped me come to what I believe to be a conclusion in favor of my hypothesis. After locating positive evidence through the sources for my causal paper, I was able to locate sources that were against my hypothesis for my rebuttal paper. By comparing the two I was able to disprove many of the claims made in the negative sources by evaluating the evidence from my casual sources.

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

While searching for sources through Google Scholar, I initially wanted to mainly find some that proved my hypothesis. However as I continues with my research and looked for more sources, I became more interested in coming to a true conclusion supported by any evidence that I obtained rather than simply using hand picked evidence to prove my initial claim. In the end, the evidence overwhelmingly supported my hypothesis about drummers being healthier without conclusive evidence supporting their elongated lifespan, but I still did my best to remain unbiased when it came to evaluating and choosing the sources to come to the truest conclusion possible. I referenced all sources for my short essays and gave credit when due (even though for my first drafts they were cited incorrectly using parenthesis following the quote), and provided links in the works cited pages of my essays.