1. Describe your essay’s most notable strength, using at least one direct quote from your work to support your choice. 
2. My essay’s most notable strength is my integration of quotes. I think that I integrate my quotes very smoothly, which helps my writing flow.  Ex.- According to Bloom, “Empathy is a spotlight with a narrow focus; it shines brightly on those we love and gets dim for those who are different and strange”( 3). I think that because my quotes being integrated smoothly helps keep the momentum in my paper and keeps the reader interested. 
3. Describe the differences in your revision process from Essay #1 to Essay #2. How has your revision process improved? Call attention to one place in your 2nd essay where revision helped significantly. 

My revision process has improved because I know better what comments are meaningful and which ones aren’t. I read aloud each edit to make sure it sounds good and if it doesn’t then I ignore it. My first revision process I just made the edits and didn’t read them aloud to see how they would sound in my writing. The spot where the revision helped was my intro. When I made the necessary edits by taking out the pieces that were minor contributors to my essay it made my intro less like a list and made it flow more smoothly. 

3. Briefly analyze your integration of source material. What techniques did you use to synthesize source materials within your 2nd essay?

I think I used my direct quotes and paraphrasing well. I think I still need to work on the quote sandwich model but I think I have been getting much better. I feel like I do the explanation well but I think that I need to work on the context of the quote. I think it sometimes stops the flow of the writing, so that is something I could work on. I think that I integrate the quotes and paraphrases well into my own writing. I feel that when I add the direct quotes and paraphrases it fits and flows well into my own words, it reinforces my ideas instead of being something separate. 

4. Copy and paste your final draft’s strongest claim sentence into your post, then analyze it briefly. What makes it your strongest claim? How has your voice been integrated as part of your academic writing so far this semester? 

Secondly, if I disagree with someone about a topic and I understand where their point of view is coming from I can actually learn something new and open my mind up to a new perspective. I think this is my strongest claim sentence because it unifies the idea of people being set in their ways from both Bloom and Wallace and it brings my own voice in too. I think my own voice has been integrated well into my writing. I feel more confident putting my own life experiences in my writing than at the beginning of the semester. 

5. Paste then analyze your thesis statements from the first and second essay. How do they compare? Note similarities/differences. Which is stronger and why? 

2nd:  I think it is worth changing my perspective on the daily frustrations to a more positive perspective and understanding that maybe the people around you are having a hard day too because it will allow me to find more meaning in life and be more compassionate.

1st: Social media is a blessing and a curse to our generation, it can spread information, and help us have a broader perspective, but define our identity even if we don’t want it to. 

My first thesis is more broad and not as focused as my second thesis and a bit less wordy than my second thesis. My second thesis seems to be wordier than my first thesis but I think it is more focused on my main ideas and my voice is more present.  I think my second thesis is stronger because it gives the reader a better idea of what the main ideas of my essay are and gives more of my opinion on the topic.