Original Writing Process
Writing a fitting definition is a vital - yet often overlooked - component in technical writing. A good definition sets the tone of the rest of the writing and develops a common understanding across all readers. This week's assignment allowed me to take a step back and put myself in the readers' shoes.
I made a series of choices during the defining process. I began by choosing a term that was little-known but relevant to most people; this way, even if the reader were unfamiliar with the term, they would still be interested in continuing reading. The next challenge was to decide on the expansion strategies most applicable and useful in explaining my selected term, just transition. In making that decision, I asked myself, if I were a reader, what would I want to know about just transition? How did just transition relate to something I already know? Would I be interested in knowing more or fewer details? Thinking from the perspective of the readers allowed me to predict their expectations and choose the expansion strategies accordingly. I also learned to be being mindful of the language I used when explaining the term since the definitions were intended for readers outside of the field of environmental protection.
Peer-review Process
Peer-reviewing was a rewarding experience. I could observe how my peers approached the same assignment differently and learned from their writing styles, elaboration techniques, and language usage. Diane's writing was particularly on-point and effective, which contrasted with my wordy definitions. The way she explained her term, transformative learning, was clear and easy to follow, especially with the use of lists to demonstrate its operating principles. I would love to apply these tips to my next assignments.
Editing Process
Diane paid great attention to detail when reviewing my definition assignment. She pointed out a range of grammatical, punctuation, and formatting mistakes I missed and suggested ways to avoid them. Her comments served as a great reminder that these details are as important as the content itself. I also appreciated her suggestions on writing concisely, which is something I struggled with the most. I would undoubtedly utilize Diane's editing skills to review my writings in the future, and I hope to be a more careful writer as encouraged by Diane throughout the semester.
Link to definition
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