"Below" Artifact
I chose this essay for my "below" artifact because it was the essay that I got the lowest score on and because of what I learned about my writing. For this essay, I had a very weak claim; a claim has to prove something and in this essay, my claim could not be analyzed properly. After this essay, I became very confused on how to write a claim, which was frustrating because the claim is the main structure of the essay. I also began to feel very confused on how to analyze; when preparing for the essay, I could pick evidence and analyze them in my head, but when it came to writing it down on the paper, I could not write down what I thought in my head. After this essay, I began to work on my claims more for future essays and did my best to make sure I could prove something with them.
"Middle" Artifact
I chose this essay for my middle essay because the score I got is the middle score between my "below" and "above" artifacts. Another reason I chose this essay is the experience I got from it. This essay was the firs 25 minute in class essay that I ever wrote; I felt a lot of stress and anxiety because we had 10 minutes to discuss the our prompts with other students who are doing the same prompt, and then write the essay in 25 minutes. I felt in this essay that I had a decent claim and evidence, however the claim could have been more specific and the evidence could have gone along with the prompt of the pear tree in Their Eyes Were Watching God as a metaphor. My evidence sort of diverged from the prompt and didn't focus on the pear tree solely. My evidence could have also focused on style since that's what the focus was in class. I was rather happy with my score and felt it was the right score to get for this essay.
"Above" Artifact
I chose this essay as my "above" artifact because it was my final essay for 1st semester. This essay was a technically a rewrite of my "middle" artifact, except this time, I was able to correct everything that was weak from that essay to this essay. For this essay, I was very determine to make sure my claim was strong and that I analyze my essay properly and in depth, even if I had just one piece of evidence. I think the essay was stronger than my others but I think one thing I have to improve on using evidence to answer the question "how." I am very happy with the grade I got on the essay, as it shows that I have improved, however I know there is still improvement to be made.