University of Michigan Class of 2015
B.S Cellular and Molecular Biology
Minor in Writing
Writing 220: MINOR IN WRITING GATEWAY
This was the very first course my cohort took and we did it together. Pictured above is my section from the Gateway, taught by Naomi Silver. We had a 3 part project to complete along with an e-portfolio similar to this one.
For the last piece of my project, I chose to create a video on Body Image and Sexuality. View it here:
Courses Taken to Satisfy My Minor
English 225: ACADEMIC ARGUMENTATION
Although I thought this class would be somewhat boring, I found it challenging and exciting because we were able to create many new pieces of writing that I hadn't considered before such as op-eds, open letters, and film analyses. Our first assignment was to argue the same thing with three different tactics. See my version of
One Argument, Three Ways here:
If you ask me, the decision to apply to become a Sweetland Minor in Writing student was 1 of probably 3 of the best decisions I ever made at college. Growing with this cohort has been an experience that has changed my educational goals and pushed me as not only a writer, but a person as well. Thank you to the people at Sweetland for spending the time to help us mold ourselves into great writers.
Below are some pieces of me that have been born out of the Minor and represent steps toward finding my identity as a writer.
The Sweetland Minor in Writing
Environment 320: ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM
I was deeply challenged in this course as I had never experienced true journalism before. It was quite difficult to write journalistically for the first time and I have concluded that journalism is definitely not for me. However, I did create a great profile story on a physician in the UM Medical System. View it here:
Writing 420: WRITING CAPSTONE
The final chapter of my time in the Minor in Writing has been the most challenging of them all. We were tasked simply with creating a project and an eportfolio that both showcase our achievements throughout this minor. It was not easy to compile all that I've learned in the courses listed above, but alas, it has been done. My project reflects not only what I've learned, but also the experiences I have had as a Minor in Writing. You can view my final
project here or choose the main tab "MINOR IN WRITING CAPSTONE PROJECT":
Women's Studies 400: WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
I have long enjoyed empowering other people and the couple of women's studies courses I've taken have given me an avenue to do just that. This particular class satisfied the minor requirement of an Upper Level Writing Requirement outside my major. View my final paper for the course here:
The Reflection: AS I LOOK BACK
The Evolution Essay serves to reflect on who I am as a writer, but this piece serves to capture my emotions as I graduate from undergraduate school. Mixed emotions met a personal poem for a brutally honest look inside my mind during this chaotic process of tying up loose ends and learning that the end is simply a new beginning. See it here:
The Evolution Essay: THE WRITER AND THE CHEF
No, this essay is not about the science topic of evolution. This essay portrays how I've grown as a writer throughout my time in the minor. It's about who I was and how far I've come. Two years ago, when I applied for the Minor in Writing through Sweetland, I would not have called myself a writer.
Read more here to find out why I have now added writer to my list of identities:
Minor in Writing Capstone Course - Final Thoughts
