Reflection Blog – Unit One
As an author, when I started writing the definition of periodontal disease I thought I knew exactly what and how to write it since it is a word that I define almost everyday in my profession. The feedback and readings helped me realize types of wording that did not come to mind. For instance, I learned to use words that are simple and make my sentences concise. Defining a word that is so familiar is more difficult than you think. It may be obvious since it is a word that is used so often but taking into consideration an audience that does not have the same knowledge is another thing. Instead of trying to sound smart by using or placing words in a sentence that sound intellectual, it is beneficial for a reader to speak with less and common words. As a dental hygienist, I am constantly educating people on periodontal disease in simple terms, however, writing it down is much different than telling and showing someone. Once I learned the differences and usage of definitions (parenthetical, sentence and expanded) I understood previous definitions I have read a lot better.
As a reader trying to understand a definition that was foreign to me, Scrum Software Development Process, I became aware of myself as if I were the author. I opened my mind to understanding different audiences and putting myself in the reader’s shoes when it came to defining periodontal disease. I have little to no computer science knowledge and I realize that people may feel the same about health. But as a reader trying to understand a term I am not familiar with while it is known to the writer is quite the experience. I have the ability to explain familiar terminology but become vulnerable when it is unfamiliar. It was interesting to analyze someone else’s work from that perspective.
In this unit, I appreciated the experience of being both the reader and writer. I enjoyed being able to tell the writer how I felt as a reader, which also helped me understand myself as a writer. Also, I learned that asking the right questions were important when peer reviewing. Overall, the activities were informative with regards to writing styles as well as methods involved in writing a valuable definition.
Peer Review
http://engl301.arts.ubc.ca/2015/05/28/peer-review-periodontal-disease/#comment-3
Revised Definition
Definition-Revised