My Position As A First Year Composition Student - 1568 Words

I am in a unique position as a First-year Composition student in his mid-thirties: I have a vast amount I would like to say about myself and the world, yet I lack the technical and rhetorical prowess to express myself efficiently. So, while I may have a lot to say, I don’t have the skills necessary to say much of anything. At least, this was my position in August of this year, at the start of the semester and at my introduction to college-level writing. For as long as I can remember, I have always been a big proponent of the written word. I have been a lover of books and writing for my entire life, and learned the â€Å"Dos† and â€Å"Don’ts† of writing through my exposure to books. Which is to say, I might be a damn good reader, but good readers†¦show more content†¦But I was still by no means an â€Å"expert† in rhetoric. Ten years later, despite a decade of professional, full-time employment as a technical writer, I am still severely lacking in any real rhetorical or literary expertise. At the start of this semester, I could not differentiate between simple and complex sentences, nor explain a transitive vs. intransitive verb, nor did I understand any but the most simplistic rhetorical devices. In other words, I lacked the rhetoric of rhetoric. Consider this: you bring your vehicle to an auto mechanic to resolve an issue, and you are attempting to explain in mutually-understood terms where the problem lies. The mechanic may have the most advanced knowledge possible in his or her field. He or she will be able to diagnose your issue using expensive, specialized equipment, and be able to draw upon years of experience to do so. Yet, as the owner of the vehicle, and someone with no technical knowledge in this field, it is still up to you to attempt to explain to the mechanic where to start looking for the problem. It makes a noise when I turn left,† you might say. What kind of noise?† the mechanic asks, â€Å"Like a grinding noise? A bumping or knocking sound? You’re at a loss, but stammer out, It kind of goes, Whirl-whirl-whirl-whiiiiirl, and makes a grinding sound, then goes away once I straighten out the steering wheel. Without skipping a beat, the mechanic replies: It sounds like a bad wheelShow MoreRelatedAdmission Essay1021 Words   |  5 PagesI write to express my interest in the tenure-track appointment in guitar at the assistant or associate professor level beginning fall 2018 at the Arizona State University School of Music. While I have taught at a number of institutions, my position at Georgia State University (GSU) has offered the greatest opportunities for professional growth. 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