Introduction

Self Assessment
 
Composition for WCGI History and culture: food, history, and society was a FIQWS led by professor Rodwell. In the beginning, there was a separation among the students due to the unfamiliar environment they were out in. At the beginning of the course, we were advised that the class was not about consuming food but more so of analyzing food and how it shapes a certain group of people’s culture. The assignments assigned throughout the course help to create different perspectives on the origins of a certain food item and how arguments and debates surround food. We grew up with the consumption and cultivation of food to be second nature that only a few stops to think about where their food originated from and it’s a journey to a specific region of the world.
As the semester started we were assigned a group who was responsible for each other throughout the time we were together. We had to review each other’s writings, aided in making sure each of the other group members completed assignments. Due to the creation of the group, there’s much more of a connection and everyone is able to communicate freely. There’s a significant amount of group work outside of us being required to do so, the non-structured way of communication developed a level of trust and community throughout the fall semester. 
There was an assessment of any difficulties and strengths pertaining to the students writing capabilities, grammar and punctuation were deemed more prominent among the class which was later addressed and developed on through readings and practice by creating essay drafts. 
Entering this class I was introverted and had little confidence in my writing abilities, I feared not being on the same level as my peers because high school and college class had different writing requirements and grading systems. That fear later dissipates when I realized that many of the students in the class were struggling with some of the same things I had worrying me, we were able to work our weaknesses using text messages and blackboard in which we ask our peers to peer edit any writing assignments that need to be done. We depended on each other and we all had a level of responsibility that would benefit another, from creating the narrative essay to creating the historiography essay. My narrative essay was less structured and required a lot less than the essays that followed because there was more analyzing of documents and citation of sources, whereas in the narrative essay it was focused on peer review and remember the event that is being written about. 
My grammar and punctuation still need help in developing because while writing there fewer thoughts about where certain punctuation than trying to getting all of the thoughts on paper. However, there was progress between the essays in the way that I analyzed my sources and dedicating time to finish my essays. 
This class assists helping me to stay focused and present when I’ve written a paper, the self-reflection allows being to reflect on the decisions I took in order to complete the assignment. This creates a progress report within itself because it lays out how I began with nothing to having a complete essay that presented my arguments. I learned the different aspects that are required for an essay such as knowing the audience that I am targeting, the purpose as to why I’m creating the document at this moment and the structure in converting my points across. 
This portfolio consists of my narrative essay, exploratory essay, annotated bibliography, historiography essay, field trip presentation along with required self reflect for each. Each assignment shows growth in vocabulary, structuring, analysis, and grammar. There’s still more to learn when it comes to writing because there’s no one way of writing so it’s a process of finding out what the author feels comfortable creating a document on. The fundamentals of writing change depending on the situation and audience so there’s no right or wrong in literature.
Contents
Narrative Essay
Research Paper: Curry
Annotated bibliography
Fieldtrip presentation
Exploratory Essay