TOW #27: TOW Reflection

     My TOWs throughout the year have gone through a huge metamorphosis that I can only attribute to APELC. In the beginning of the year, I could tell that my TOWs were a little formulaic. I had just been taught to write an analysis essay, and I was sticking to the basics. An intro, a short thesis, at least two devices to analyze the piece, and a short conclusion. In the middle of the year, I was branching out a bit, using various sources, using different and new devices, and I could tell that my analysis of what the devices did for the piece was really maturing. By the end of the year, I was doing all this and more; I even dared to write a few TOWs on how the authors did not achieve their purpose through their devices. I also thing my general tone has evolved throughout the year in that I can pinpoint when an academic vs a casual tone may be used.
     I think overall, I've really mastered telling which devices are utilized in the piece. I think towards the middle and end of the year, all of the devices I said were in the passage really were there, and not only that, they were used in abundance. In the beginning of the year, I wasn't as familiar with all of the different devices I could use to analyze a piece and I was new to the writing. As I progressed and learned the devices, I was able to use this wide variety to describe pieces with better accuracy.
   However, not all is perfect in my writing (and I know it will never be). I still strive to improve analyzing the effect that the devices had on the piece. Sometimes, my analysis is completely on point with what effect they have, but others, I can find the devices, but can't figure out what they actually do for the author. Thus, my analysis of the devices has its good days and bad days, so I'm still working to make that even stronger.
   Overall, I think these TOWs benefitted me in that it gave me a way to constantly practice, or rather, made me constantly practice (lets be real, no kid wants to practice analysis essays on their free time). It helped me keep up my analysis skills into the argument and synthesis portions of the year. Not only that, the TOWs made it easy to see where I was clearly improving and where I still needed work. I think occasionally, I would get lax on my TOWs, and those weeks the TOW wasn't necessarily benefitting me. Of course, it added stress to my weekly load, and if I forgot about them Sunday night, and had a bunch due on Monday, taking the time to do the TOW could be infuriating. However, I think overall there is no doubt that the TOWs were helpful and my writing matured through them. So, thank you TOWs!