Unit 3- Reflection
So far, personally unit 3 has been the most interesting and challenging part of English 301. We are building off of the previous units and applying the course material to a relevant workplace problem. A limited number of courses are relevant to real life applications. For that reason, I feel fully engaged and enthusiastic about learning our course material. This course has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my time at UBC. I would love to have the opportunity to take another technical communications class, there’s so much to learn!
Formal Draft Report
Creating a formal report draft has been challenging at times, but I have learned a lot in the process. The challenging part is that I have never written anything like this before. I am trying to present my employer with a feasibility and comparative analysis. I have written many science-based research reports, and at this point, I am questioning if I have a draft research report or feasibility analysis?
Research
I found myself going down a wormhole as I researched online. After receiving information from one of my contacts, I learned about a technique of digital radiography that I had no prior knowledge. This started the wormhole. As the research process progressed and I was learning new information, I had to re-think my goals so I would be able to find exactly what information I needed. This was tricky at times, trying to find the balance between adequate but not excessive data.
The survey component was time-consuming, it’s something I’ve never done before. Once I had it completed and posted, it was satisfying to have figured out how to create an online survey. The initial survey included Likert scale type questions and was posted to a private dental hygiene Facebook group. I then posted some open-ended questions to generate a discussion. I was surprised to see that an online discussion had been sparked. Several of the dental hygienists had valuable feedback to offer on their own views and experiences with digital radiography. The additional information will be included in the final report.
Organizing
Organizing my report has been a struggle. I’m surprised I have had challenges with the organization because the previous outline assignments were clear and intended to make organizing the data simpler. Perhaps, I have strayed too far?
I have referred to the textbook and the course blog for examples. The flow of my draft needs some improvement, it will take a considerable amount of time to re-structure my assignment.
Writing
In my outline, I presented a personal bias towards the implementation of digital radiography. As I was researching and writing the draft, I kept in mind that I wanted to present an impartial analysis based on evidence. In order to demonstrate a balanced analysis, I incorporated both advantages and disadvantages in a point-by-point pattern outlined on page 532 of our textbook.
Peer Review
The peer review process has become easier as we progress through the course. Assignment 3.1; writing with a You Attitude hand-out was especially helpful in writing a peer review. The hand-out has several great tips and includes writing etiquette that is often overlooked. The tricky area is de-emphasizing “I,” while still getting the point across, and with as few words as possible.
My partners draft report is organized, and well written. The sequence of her report is in a logical order. After evaluating her report, I have a better idea of how to change some of the content of my report before submission.