Barbie-Q Reflection

I am writing to you to explain my development during the semester in the Advanced Composition course at Washburn University. The semester consisted of critically analyzing my selected story “Barbie-Q” by Sandra Cisneros over four assignments; the exploration paper, the reading and writing paper, the annotated bibliography, and the academic research paper. The semester began with basic lessons on general writing principles during class. It progressed into a much more complex course, including lessons on expansion and development of evidence and supporting details, as well as the argument of the paper as a whole. Although each assignment taught new elements, each built onto the last and helped transition my progress through each paper.

The

Lessons preceding the paper included learning how to research databases, and how to eliminate wordiness. To begin this assignment, I used the Mabee Library database tool and searched for scholarly journals on Barbie and body image. As I read through each source, I noted significant points from the credible sources to include in my annotations. Constructing these annotations proved to be difficult. I was challenged in including the critical points supporting my argument, as well as trying to be concise in my sentences. This assignment taught me to provide the most details as possible, but only including the important points as to clarify the support for the argument. I learned how vital eliminating wordiness to make sentences concise is. While writing papers, I tend to include insignificant information, adding to the wordiness of the sentences. This is something I continue to struggle with. However, by applying the skills I learned to eliminate empty words and phrases, I feel as though I will find success in this challenge. Overall, I struggled trying to identify each author’s argument without misrepresenting what he or she may have meant. To overcome this, I took my time to read and reread each annotation, adding or eliminating words and phrases when necessary. Although this was a long and difficult assignment, it proved to be essential when finding sources to use in my final academic

My major concerns surrounding this assignment include the paper length and the incorporation of sources. This is a longer paper than I have written before, and I have also never incorporated so many sources into one paper. However, after three papers, I formed my argument around Sandra Cisneros’s childhood and her references to Barbie’s body image in regards to the effect on young girls. I worked hard over the semester in order for this assignment to bring all of my assignments together in one piece, and to be able to view my development as a writer progress over the last few months. Compiling all of the sources into one paper is difficult as I am not quite sure where to add in certain arguments or when to bring in the following author. However, this is a skill I will forever be building on. Although facing numerous obstacles and challenges over the semester, I have felt myself grow as a writer. My success in the semester can be found in this final research paper, constructed from a strong