If anything reflects my learning how to effectively communicate, it is my research brief (Evidence 1). I wrote about gentrification: what it is, and whether it is as bad as popular opinion seems to think it is right now. I collected a lot of information because I was excited about the topic, but putting all of my points into words was difficult for me. I'm a very bad organizer, especially when it comes to long papers. Dr. Gerwing and Stephanie helped me take my revision slowly and carefully, with specific changes that needed to be made to get my points across. I learned that there are ways to organize your writing that, even with the same content organized a different way, can really change how your reader interprets what you're saying. I also learned, for the first time, how to make a visually appealing paper that captured my reader's attention with interesting graphics and a sleek design. This is important for holding the reader's attention.

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In my energy audit (Evidence 2), I had to think both about what I was willing to change to reduce my ecological footprint, and explain what I wasn't willing to change, like spending time with my grandfather in his latest years. I communicated this by coming up with a compromise (moving my grandfather closer to me when he needs 24/7 nursing care), and by showing my energy reduction in colorful and engaging charts. 

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In all of my climate change exercises, but particularly my climate change exercise #3 (Evidence 3), it is apparent how important it is to use a lot of textual evidence to explain all of the facts. Climate change exercise 3 examines America's dependence on foreign oil through factors of environmental impact and economic behaviors. Dry fact needs to be explained and broken up with textual evidence. 

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Evidence #1

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Evidence #2

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Evidence #3

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