Paul T. Samotis
(psamotis@yahoo.com)

Monkey See, Monkey Do.
My portfolio is based on the aspects of rhetoric and how it applies to the known world as we see it today. Ironically, people tend to believe that what they will do in the future, and more so, in the real world, is what they will be trained to do. My portfolio will explain otherwise. It wll prove, essentially, what is specifically wrong with the skew of that assumption. Moreso, it will refine the idea that rhetoric is a part of the entire process. What you know is what you will be hired for in the future, not what is already assumed of what will benifit a specific organization in the future.

On the right are four links to which there are convincing allegations against the idea of reagularly trained documents that benifit a certain business or cause. Specifically, these documents shift the idea of "monkey see, monkey do" and focus on the idea of human thought of rhetoric. Ideally, I hope to specify the huge gap between the "monkey see, monkey do" routine and lead the average "professional writer" to a more higher ground in the thoughts of writing and rhetoric.

The Team Introduction Memo (TIM) and Process Documentation Memo (PDM): Introduction to 424: A Process in the Making.

Contextualizing the TIM & PDM

A Class of Confusion Equals the Self in Confusion
The introduction is not only a specific document of proof dealing with the essential problem with students in writing. But, it also shows specifically what entails the thoughts of using rhetoric in a class of this magnitude. Primarily, this becomes an issue because it was so early in the semester. The purpose in this project was to point out the specifications of writing in a certain context. In this case, the context was Technical Writing 424. In order to successfully complete this project, the patron writing this ordeal had to guess how to describe and introduce oneself without essentially knowing anyone else. By putting everyone else in this context into order by obvious similarities. Forexample, we are all upper level college students in similar major realms such as writing.

Reflecting on the TIM & PDM

Now that the project is done. I understand how difficult it is to assume that describing oneself is easy. Especially since it's impossible to conclude what the context really includes. The magnitude at which the context was proposed was beyond simplicity on the second week of class. However, the ideas of doing the project behind closed doors away from the actual context only triggered several brainwaves to conclude the final product. What I've lerned in doing this project overall is that it is very difficult to write for a context that nearly impossible to assume the overall aspect of.

The Creative Rhetoric Scenario: Work, Management and Fun with Laborers.

Contextualizing the Creative Rhetoric Scenario

Issues of Online Gobbledegook!
In the Creative Rhetoric Scenario, alot took place in terms of learning what rhetoric is. Webster's defines Rhetoric as "using language effectively to please or persuade 2: high flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation [syn: grandiosity, magniloquence, grandiloquence] 3: loud and confused and empty talk; "mere rhetoric" [syn: palaver, hot air, empty words, empty talk] 4: study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking)." Though that meaning may be exhaustive. It's not generic and certainly goes beyond what most might consider as "rhetoric". Furthermore, there's a thin line to the idea of rhetoric in context and it's actual meaning. For example, this specific idea of rhetoric in this context understands the ideas that float beyond the specifics of it's definition. The fact that others have intentions beyond their words when they speak kind of puts a "don't trust anybody" connotation to the idea. However, the specific idea of rhetoric is demonstrated in this scenario between a Supervisor and a Manager and the specifics of what rhetoricism is demonstrates itself in this context.

Reflecting on the Creative Rhetoric Scenario
At the completion of this project, I realized the importance of understanding the context in order to understand the language. If it is difficult for a manager to assume the specifics of rhetoric, then, it must be fairly difficult for the business to be successful. Ironically, this isn't an uncommon situation in most businesses which is why our readings in this class make sense. Though this project was meant to be fictitious, I'm sure the situation is not uncommon.

HTML & Online Design
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.

The Airbag Letter Case: Project Title

Contextualizing the Airbag Case

Issues of Online Tutorial Design
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.

Reflecting on the Airbag Case

Finding TC Online Tasks
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.

HTML & Online Design
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.

The Context & Genre Analysis Project: Project Title

Contextualizing the Context & Genre Analysis Project

Limiting the Scope
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.

Usability vs. Usefulness
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.


Reflecting on the Context & Genre Analysis Project:

Be Careful What You Ask For
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.

Tech Report Structure is Odd
The technical writing skills just mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things document users take for granted.  One issue brought out that seems to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the document.  Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be effective in my writing career.  Because of this, my experience in English 424, has been extremely valuable.