English 250 Course Reflection

The purpose of the English 250 course was to help students like myself realize the importance of all aspects of WOVE in their daily lives and future careers. In addition to writing papers, we practiced slideshow presentations, discussion panels, web design, and professional emails. The assignments and in-class activities for English 250 formed me into a skilled communicator in the WOVE areas of visual and oral communication, and I plan to continue practicing these skills through the communication that is necessary for future leadership opportunities.
I have improved most in the WOVE area of visual communication this semester. Beginning the course, I did not know the correct way to create a powerpoint presentation that supports the speaker without being a distraction. This semester, I learned that only minimal wording is required on the slides to deliver the main points. The majority of the slideshow can be pictures, charts, or graphs, so long as it remains relevant to the topic. I specifically remember using this new technique for my part of the visual analysis presentation, keeping my bullet points to under five words, if possible.
In the WOVE area of electronic communication, I have learned the professional way to correspond with my

superiors over email. Since electronic communication will continue to be a major part of my life, and hopefully career, it is important that I know how to communicate with my professor or boss. This semester, I learned how to be professional, polite, and clear while communicating over email; I put these skills into practice whenever I had an immediate question for my professor about the English 250 course.
I plan to continue improving my communication skills in the future by attaining leadership positions on campus, which will give me more opportunities to communicate in the WOVE areas.

More specifically, I plan on becoming a First-Year Honors Program class leader next fall. This summer, I will send each of my twelve students a written letter introducing myself and explaining how the class will flow. Then, twice a week during the semester, I will conduct group discussions, make announcements to the class, and answer questions; all of which will be valuable oral communication practice. Finally, I will be updating my class on important events through the GroupMe app, a convenient way to communicate electronically to a large

group.
This course has sharpened my skills the most as a WOVE communicator in the oral and visual aspects, and I will continue to improve my communication abilities through future leadership positions. Over the span of this semester, the class covered a myriad of forms of communication, leaving very few WOVE aspects untouched. I know that when the time comes to write an email to my superior, present a design to a panel of critics, or hold group discussions in meetings, I will be prepared, because English 250 has placed me on the best track to succeed as a communicator.