Portfolio Submission

 

Portfolio Submission

General Reflection on Growth This Semester

This semester has been transformative and difficult for me as a writer, particularly in my understanding of sound, imagery, and revision. At the start of the semester, my creative process was just me writing without an end goal in mind. I would write based on ideas that felt meaningful, but I struggled to convey those ideas with clarity or a purpose. At last though, I learned to approach writing with a more critically, focusing on stuff such as sound, structure, and imagery to enhance the core message of my work.

In poetry (which I liked the best), I saw significant growth in my ability to use sound devices like alliteration, and rhythm to amplify meaning. For example, in my revised poem Sound Riot, I focused on using sound to create a provocative and confrontational tone that matches the poem’s critique of societal systems. In fiction, I learned to ground abstract concepts in sensory-rich details, as seen in my setting piece Dennis’s Apartment. Through this revision, I became more aware of how small details, like the mirror, can serve as metaphors for a character’s emotional state.

Between the two genres, I feel I’ve grown more in poetry because it pushed me to pay closer attention to language and rhythm. However, working on fiction taught me the value of details and how they contribute to the believability of a scene, which I struggled with big time. Both genres challenged me to become more intentional and thoughtful in my creative choices.

Growth Reflection

What do you know about sound devices or plot development that you did not know at the beginning of the semester?


At the beginning of the semester, I understood sound devices at a surface level due to having to teach about them at my school, I only saw them as "useless" tools for rhyme or rhythm. Over time, I realized their potential to amplify a poem’s tone and message. For instance, in Sound Riot, I used alliteration and internal rhyme to create a sharper, more confrontational rhythm. This allowed me to connect sound directly to the emotional weight of my work. 


Goal-Setting Reflection

One thing I still need to work on is ....
One thing I still need to work on is balancing vivid imagery with better language. While my revisions have improved tmy writing, I sometimes lean into overly detailed lines of poetry, or poetry with unconcise language that can disrupt the poem's rhythm or flow. Moving forward, I’ll focus on keeping my imagery sharp to ensure it serves the core message without slowing the pace or the main idea I'm trying to convey. 


Evaluation Reflection

I like this piece of work because ....
I like Dennis’s Apartment Setting because it allowed me to explore a character's internal struggle through physical space. The apartment and its elements, like the mirror and the seasonal light, became metaphors for Dennis’s dissatisfaction with his current life. I’m proud of how the setting reflects the character's emotions without being overly explicit. 


Effort Reflection

I am pleased that I put significant effort into ....
I am pleased that I put significant effort into revising Sunday Dose. The feedback pushed me to rethink how I used imagery and sensory details, which made the poem stronger. Revising it taught me how small changes, like shifting from "prosecutor" to "guardian," can clarify tone and connect the read


Overall Portfolio Reflection

What does the portfolio as a whole reveal about you as a writer?
The portfolio as a whole reveals that I am a writer who values growth!  Each piece showcases my willingness to take feedback seriously and refine my work in ways that improve clarity, tone, and immersion. I'm proud of my work, even if it's mediocre! 


Reflections on Each Revised Work

1. Dennis’s Apartment Setting

·        Creative Process:
This piece was originally written to explore Dennis’s physical space as a reflection of his internal struggles. My goal was to create a setting that felt vivid and alive while symbolizing his sense of monotony and frustration in his own life. The mirror became a central idea, representing the “boring and un-escapable” aspects of his life and his complicated relationship with himself.

·        Focus of Revision:
The feedback I received highlighted the need for more sensory details and a stronger sense of atmosphere. I was encouraged to focus on small, concrete elements that would make the setting more immersive.

·        Changes Made:
I expanded the description of the apartment, particularly the mirror, to emphasize its symbolic role. I also added sensory details like “white dust on his feet” and the “deep orange cascade” of light in the fall, which help ground the setting in a specific, tangible reality.

·        Analysis of Decisions:
The decision to focus on the mirror was intentional; it represents Dennis’s frustrations with his unchangeable life that I eventually changed in my short story submission. By sharpening the sensory details, I aimed to immerse readers more fully in Dennis’s world and make his struggles feel more immediate and real.

2. Sunday Dose (Revised Poem)

·        Creative Process:
This poem began as a reflection on the small, everyday pain reliever pill, and using it as the central idea. My goal was to elevate the mundane into something almost sacred while exploring the tension between reliance and relief.

·        Focus of Revision:
Feedback suggested that the poem needed stronger imagery and a clearer emotional tone. I was encouraged to replace abstract language with sensory details and to unify the poem’s voice and rhythm.

·        Changes Made:
I replaced vague phrases like “Prosecutor of hangovers” with more specific, evocative lines like “Guardian of groggy mornings.” I also added sensory details, such as “Dissolving deep in my throat” and “Massaging my throbbing temples,” to make the reader feel the experience.

·        Analysis of Decisions:
The revisions were to create a more immersive sensory experience while maintaining the poem’s focus on the ritualistic nature of taking the pill. By refining the imagery and tone, I was able to better convey the poem’s core message of gratitude and dependence.

3. Sound Riot (Revised Poem)

·        Creative Process:
This poem began as a critique of societal injustice, using sharp, confrontational language to reflect my anger and frustration. My initial goal was to create a rhythm that mirrored the chaotic nature of being in and partaking in not so peaceful riots.

·        Focus of Revision:
Feedback emphasized the need for more concrete imagery and stronger sound devices to enhance the poem’s rhythm and tone. I was also encouraged to clarify the message by changing abstract language.

·        Changes Made:
I revised abstract phrases like “laws are written in a spell” to more concrete and visceral imagery like “Pigs gotta eat, collect rent and draw blood.” I also added sound elements like alliteration (“Sheeple shuffle, people suffer”) and internal rhyme to give the poem a more dynamic, antagonistic rhythm.

·        Analysis of Decisions:
These revisions were made to sharpen the poem’s impact and make the core message more direct. By leaning into sound devices, I was able to create a sense of urgency and anger that matches the poem’s themes.

Final Revised Works

  1. Dennis’s Apartment Setting Link: Revision to "Dennis’s Apartment Setting" - Portfolio Revision Module 6
  2. Sunday Dose (Revised Poem) Link: Sunday Dose Poem Revision 2
  3. Sound Riot (Revised Poem) Link: Sound Poem Revision for Module 15

Reading Reflection

For my reading, I chose Sound Riot because it shows my ability to use sound devices effectively to amplify the tone and core message of the piece. Reading it aloud helped me focus on the rhythm and pacing, showing that the antagonistic tone comes through clearly. I practiced emphasizing key phrases and the poem’s cadence to create a more engaging performance.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"One Hour", by Dashiell Hammet, Reflection Summary

  “One Hour” , By Dashiell Hammett, is a short story about the relationship between police corruption and white-collar crime, set in a gritty, almost modern western tale. At the surface, the story gives the impression to be about a detective who is running around and trying to figure out who committed vehicular manslaughter and grand theft auto, but in actuality the narrative is about the conspiracy to produce counterfeit money by a bunch of weird and seedy people who are all interlinked in some capacity. It all starts out by introducing The Detective , the protagonist and a person who is trying to see who ran over John Newhouse with the car of Mr. Chrostwaite, a drunk who could care less about the situation. Like all good police noir stories though, there is a person in the background, calling the shots and creating a web of lies; and when someone uncovers the truth, they get neutralized to protect cash assets. This narrative sets up the path for someone to bring down the undergro...
Read more

The Poetry of John Updike, "Winter Ocean".

  The poem I chose to analyze was “Winter Ocean”, by John Updike. When I first read the poem, it made me think of a commercial that you would here to advertise some sort of travel; but if the traveling was on a 1800s whaling vessel that had to fight whales for their lantern oil. I've always thought those old fisherman stories where interesting, because they paint the ocean like it's a portal to fight water demons! That's why this poem is really interesting to me. Though this poem is short, it is complex. It’s quite free form and doesn’t adhere to a metric pattern. For instance, Updike uses verbiage such as “Portly pusher of waves, wind-slave,” though the rhymes are not consistent with the rest of the poem. Furthermore, Updike uses strong and heavy imagery that is layered in its meanings. I think the poem is about the sea and how rough it can be. On the surface, the poem looks innocent, but when you read deep into it, it’s very harsh, almost like a paradox of two completely ...
Read more

Viewpoint

  “Obst Vw” by Sharon Solwitz is an interesting read where the viewpoint of the story is in this Third-Person Limited Viewpoint but is written in a way that recalls a very important memory between the main character, Demian, and his father because Demian must write a college essay. The story starts out with introducing Demian, a teenage boy of about 17 years of age (who is also the narrator of the story) and his girlfriend. They’re upstairs in Rachels room, fooling around while her parents are downstairs arguing. This leads to Demian being late coming home and him and his father having a blow up over it because Demian was grounded. Demian reflects on these sorts of moments between the two as to why he hates his father so much, even on his death bed! As if recalling the memory, he describes the day-to-day life he once had to justify the one he wants to have. This story is long and drawn out to describe small details of the setting and plot. For instance, at the end of the story Dem...
Read more