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ENG4C Portfolio:
A Report Demonstrating My Achievement of the Curriculum Expectations for Grade 12 College
Level English
Prepared by:
Tuyet Giang
ENG4C
St. Catharines Collegiate
Prepared for:
Kursten Ransom
St. Catharines Collegiate
Date:
May 13, 2024
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A. Summary
This report is a comprehensive reflection on my learning journey throughout the course,
organized into several key sections.
In the Knowledge section, I explain three new insights gained across three crucial areas:
research in literature, fear theory as well as fiction basics. Each subtopic delves into specific
ideas like methods of research, psychological theories plus narrative styles and shows a better
understanding of these matters.
The Thinking section is where I talk about how I used cognitive strategies such as
reading, listening and speaking skills in my course work. This has been achieved through
techniques like recalling prior knowledge, setting objectives and improving presentation skills,
hence enabling me to effectively involve myself with complex materials.
The Communication section focuses on communication skills developed throughout this
course starting from creation of personal essays till developing professional memos or reports.
Every subsection stresses the significance of the target audience, keeping focused on purpose and
proper use of mediums written or visual arts to convey messages properly.
Under the Application section, I discuss practical implications of the knowledge, skills
and strategies acquired outside the classroom among other things. Showing how these newfound
abilities can be used in real-life situations; for example, carrying out research in academic areas
or workplaces or literature analysis and effective communication helps me explain my position
on the relevance and applicability of course content.
Primarily, this report is a manifestation of the changes that have taken place in my
learning throughout this term. By extensively engaging with the concepts taught in class,
participating actively during the course work as well as through reflective practices I have
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increased my knowledge base and improved various skills besides realizing more practically
their significance at school or even beyond professionally and personally.
B. Knowledge
I will explore the knowledge I have gained throughout the course in this section, focusing
specifically on three areas outlined in the portfolio:
Conducting Research: From framing research questions to dissecting and synthesizing
findings, I have come to learn the crucial steps that constitute any research process. Similarly,
through techniques such as appraising author’s credentials and cross-checking information
sources, it is now easier for me to ascertain credible online sources. Moreover, I can cite properly
which makes me avoid plagiarism and recognize others’ contributions too. Additionally, my
search skills are more refined with respect to navigating advanced internet functions; thus,
allowing me to probe into details of a subject matter.
Theories of Fear: Studying Freud’s idea of the unconscious mind interacting with horror
fiction has been illuminating. Also, I have learned why any audience is attracted by such authors
as Stephen King, which gave me a broader understanding of what can be called dynamics of
narration. Furthermore, delving into fear’s physiology has shed light on how our bodies react
differently towards stimuli biologically. Therefore, identifying three different types of horror
genres has helped familiarize myself with their wide range and common elements.
Elements of Fiction: The exploration of narrative voice has revealed the nuanced
distinctions between reliable and unreliable narrators, significantly impacting my interpretation
of literary texts. These voices give various perspectives and expectations for readers.
Distinguishing between round and flat characters has enhanced my analysis of character
development, drawing connections between their depth and the narrative's complexity.
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Additionally, differentiating techniques that authors use for realism in fiction have emphasized
the significance of authenticity in storytelling, thus increasing its immersive quality to readers.
C. Thinking
In this piece, I will elaborate more on the cognitive strategies used in this course:
Reading Strategies:
Applying reading strategies such as activating prior knowledge and employing graphic
organizers has significantly enhanced my ability to understand and analyze texts critically. For
example, by activating prior knowledge on addiction and recovery, I was able to relate more
deeply with the main character’s experiences while reading A Million Little Pieces by James
Frey. The background knowledge about these aspects made me understand the text better.
In analyzing the relationships and themes in this novel, using graphic organizers like
mind maps was very useful. This way, I saw links between the characters and events that created
deeper meanings and conveyed purposes of the author. Our close reading exercises benefited
immensely from strategies such as making connections, visualizing, talking back to the text,
asking questions among others. On a broader scale, making connections between what is going
on with the protagonist and real-world issues around drug use helped me realize how societal
matters can be inferred in the story. Additionally, when one talks back to the text as well as poses
some questions during their readings, it keeps them actively participating through thinking
critically or engaging in active reading experiences.
Another impactful assignment was to read a horror story and then tell it again. This task
demanded both careful reading and an understanding of the narrative elements needed to convey
the fear and ambiance that marked the original piece. By seeing the macabre settings and breath-
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taking events, I could retell the story in a way that captures its feeling, which shows deep
understanding of what is written.
Listening Strategies:
This course has helped me improve my listening skills by setting goals, minimizing
distractions, and actively participating in whatever we were being taught. For instance, during
lectures or talks by guest speakers I focused on identifying main points and key arguments so as
to understand what they wanted to communicate. My ability to concentrate fully on the speaker
improved when I minimized distractions, for example finding a quiet study area and putting my
phone away.
Additionally, I discovered that active participation played a significant role in improving
my listening skills. The use of images while thinking about ideas made it much easier for me to
remember complex information. For example, when attending a lecture on narrative techniques, I
pictured various types of stories’ structures as diagrams thus making them easy to recall when
writing mine.
Speaking Skills:
By practicing consistently, I have been able to improve my self-assurance and
effectiveness in communication. During these presentations, I ensured that I maintained eye
contact with the audience as well as used visual aids like slides to point out my main ideas while
modulating my tone and pace to stress vital points of my analysis. It also made the presentation
more engaging and prevented any ambiguity around the main messages.
For instance, in group discussions, these speaking skills facilitated effective
communication and collaboration. For example, in a discussion on narrative techniques, I
listened attentively to what they had to say before responding thoughtfully thereby contributing
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ideas that led to a lively exchange of views. The ability to express myself clearly as well as
confidently has served me well both within formal presentation settings and even informal
discussion sections, hence greatly improving my general communication abilities.
D. Communication
This part is going to discuss the communicative competency that was honed throughout
the course.
Personal essay: I have internalized the standards of writing convincing personal essays
focusing on authenticity, logical connection and reaching out to the target audience.
Graphic texts: Understanding the principles of good graphics like hierarchy of visual
elements and legibility has boosted my ability to convey information creatively and make a
point.
Blog post: Knowing how to analyze an audience, matching one's purpose with message
tone, or changing our voice as a writer helped me create interesting blog posts for specific
people.
Business Letter: The ability to recognize what audiences expect, how well our purposes
are established, or in what terms we should communicate in line with those demands assisted me
immensely in understanding protocols while drafting professional letters.
Memo: My strong understanding of recipient’s needs, my careful thought about why I am
writing something, and my skills at shifting registers helped me create concise memos that are
“doable” within organizational culture.
Report: My reports which embody consideration for readership orientation, clear aims
revelation, sound structures and authority of speech have synthesized complicated data into
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reports that promote informed decision-making and interest stakeholders in matters needing their
attention.
E. Application
In this last section, I will be able to expand on the practical implications of the
knowledge, skills, and strategies beyond what is taught in this course:
Research Proficiency:
In academia, professional life and personal endeavors, there is nothing more invaluable
than a good research ability. The skills obtained in this area will enable decision-making and
dissemination of information on any topic whether it is carried out by someone who compiles
market analysis, investigates policy implications or an individual interested in personal hobbies.
For example, to read A Million Little Pieces by James Frey properly, I had to do a close
reading assignment which requires me to carry out extensive research for the background of this
book and the author. Consequently, this experience has helped me in increasing my skills of
collecting credible information from various sources as well as analyzing and synthesizing it.
These are important research capabilities for any profession where accurate and thorough
information is necessary for informed decision making. And likewise, having an idea on how to
organize data produced during research can be very helpful in personal tasks including creating a
blog about one’s favorite sport or investigating a hobby.
Literary Analysis:
The skill of breaking down elements of a story and detecting underlying themes would
enhance my understanding of different genres and modes of literature. This class gave me insight
into how to analyze contemporary novels, classic literature as well as visual storytelling which
makes it easier for me to appreciate art forms better.
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For instance, such an exercise like writing a horror story helped me comprehend what
constitutes suspense; that is its tone, mood and pacing. It also helps one understand different
media forms such as books, movies or televisions; this analytic skill can be used interchangeably
with other narrative works since they all use suspense based on such techniques. Moreover, I can
engage in cultural and artistic literacy improving activities through using literary analysis
approaches thus enjoying better storytelling styles found in dissimilar mediums.
Communication Acumen:
Effective communication strategies are fundamental to success in many areas of life.
These include the ability to express ideas convincingly at work environments or even have
networks with friends that make sense; alternatively, they can also help to persuade others so that
they may get involved at societal level changes thus obliging them to find ways through which
information can be communicated clearly and compellingly.
For instance, in their presentations on narrative techniques, I had to be able to talk about
the complexities of storytelling in a way that was engaging and comprehensible. This occurrence
made me better at speaking in public, which is mandatory, especially in places of work like
formal meetings, seminars or when presenting something to clients. Additionally, taking part in
group discussions around A Million Little Pieces themes enhanced my ability to listen actively
and respond thoughtfully, both of which are crucial for personal and professional relationships.
Through integrating these approaches into specific courses and reflecting upon them, I
have not only improved my reading, listening and speaking skills but also developed a deeper
understanding of the intricacies involved with effective communication. These experiences have
given me important skills that apply both academically and practically; as such, they enable me
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to communicate information effectively, analyze texts critically, as well as performing thorough
research under any circumstances.
