Vea Nicole Muñoz

Rhetoric & Composition 2 (RWS 1302-051)

What Is RWS?  

Rhetoric is the way people use writing, visuals, and communication to express ideas and influence others.

Writing is one of the biggest ways people communicate and show who they are. It gives people a voice and lets them share their thoughts, feelings, opinions, and random late night ideas. Writing can bring people together, start conversations, and help others understand different perspectives. Of course, it can also start arguments when people disagree, but that just shows how powerful words can be. Love it or hate it, writing has a huge role in how people connect every single day.

People write way more than they probably realize. Text messages, emails, social media captions, notes to yourself, and even the song lyrics I’m constantly listening to all count as writing. Writing is not just essays and homework it is part of everyday life. To me, writing has personality because everyone does it differently. Some people write sweet paragraphs, some send one word replies, and some write captions like they deserve awards.

Figure 1. “Slow Emergences: Moving Through Crises” promotional flyer created by the UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance. This visual uses bold colors, layered imagery, and expressive typography to capture attention and communicate themes of struggle, connection, and transformation through dance.

Designing Rhetoric: Analyzing Visual Persuasion

One project that really helped me understand rhetoric was my Designing Rhetoric assignment. In this project, I analyzed a UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance flyer (Figure 1) to understand how design choices communicate a message. I looked at the author, audience, and purpose, but also how visuals like color and imagery grab attention. This assignment showed me that rhetoric is not just in essays, it’s everywhere, even in things like posters and advertisements that we see every day. This project changed the way I look at everyday visuals because now I pay attention to how design is used to influence people without them even realizing it!

Learn More About Rhetoric: Perdue Owl 

Module 1 - Community & Instruction 

In Module 1, I learned how writing can be used to guide people through a process using clear instructions. My assignment focused on creating a step-by-step guide for UTEP students to build a registration plan in Goldmine. This helped me understand how important it is to think about the audience and make sure each step is easy to follow. I also learned that visuals like screenshots can make instructions more effective and easier to understand. Module 1 taught me that writing isn’t just explaining something it’s making sure someone else can actually do it.

Community Instructions Assignment: Goldmine Registration Guide

For this assignment, I created a step-by-step instructional guide to help UTEP students build a registration plan using Goldmine. The purpose of this guide is to make the registration process easier to understand and less stressful by breaking it down into clear, organized steps. This assignment helped me focus on writing for a specific audience by making sure each step was simple, clear, and easy to follow.

My instructional guide is shown to the right →

Figure 2. Example from my instructional guide showing how visuals help guide the user through each step clearly

Module 2 – Genre & Writing Choices

Genres are different types of writing that follow specific styles, structures, and purposes. Each genre is designed for a particular audience and situation. For example, an essay, a poem, a social media post, and a letter are all different genres because they communicate in different ways.

In Module 2, I learned that choosing the right genre is important because it affects how a message is understood. The same idea can be presented differently depending on the audience and purpose, and the genre helps shape how that message is delivered.

Genre Analysis Assignment

For this assignment, I analyzed three different types of genres. A song, a local news article, and an academic handbook. The goal was to understand how each genre communicates a message differently depending on the audience and purpose.

For example, I analyzed the song “The Bigger Picture” by Lil Baby, which uses music as a form of protest and social awareness. The audience includes people affected by systemic racism as well as the general public, and the purpose is to raise awareness about injustice and encourage change.

I also looked at a local news article about the border wall controversy in Big Bend National Park. This genre focuses on informing the public about real world events while also highlighting different perspectives and concerns from the community.

Lastly, I analyzed the FYC Handbook, which is an academic genre designed to guide students through writing expectations and help them succeed in college-level courses.

The same idea can be communicated in completely different ways depending on the genre being used.

Figure 3. Example from my Genre Analysis assignment, showing how different genres are analyzed based on audience, purpose, and message.

Module 3: Community Research & Social Issues

In Module 3, I focused on researching a real issue in my local community by studying a nonprofit organization. The issue I explored is the lack of support and resources for single mothers and families in El Paso. Through this module, I learned how to ask research questions, gather information, and better understand how organizations work to create positive change in the community.

Figure 4. Adopt-A-Mom El Paso Community Research Assignment, analyzing a local nonprofit organization and exploring the issue of limited support for single mothers in the El Paso community.

The Issue: Lack of Support for Single Mothers in El Paso

Many single mothers in El Paso face challenges such as financial struggles, lack of childcare, and limited access to resources. These challenges can make it difficult to provide stability for their families. Organizations like Adopt-A-Mom El Paso work to address these issues by offering both physical support and emotional encouragement.

Research Questions

As part of this assignment, I developed questions to better understand the organization and the issue it addresses. Some of the questions I explored included:

  • What is the mission of Adopt-A-Mom El Paso?
  • Who does the organization help?
  • What challenges do these families face?
  • What services are provided to support them?
  • How does the organization impact the local community?

Research Methods

To complete this assignment, I used online sources, reviewed information from the organization, and analyzed responses to my research questions. This helped me gain a better understanding of both the organization and the issue it addresses.

Learn more about this organization here

Adopt-A-Mom 

What I learned

Through this research, I learned how important local nonprofits are in supporting communities. Adopt-A-Mom El Paso not only provides essential resources but also creates a sense of belonging and emotional support for families. This assignment showed me that research is not just about finding information, but about understanding real issues that affect people’s lives.

Module 4: Evaluating Sources & Research

In Module 4, I learned how to evaluate sources and understand research articles using tools like the CRAAP Test and the scientific method. This module helped me develop skills in analyzing credibility, understanding research structure, and interpreting data. It showed me how important it is to use reliable sources when writing and researching.

CRAAP Test Evaluation

For this assignment, I used the CRAAP Test to evaluate the credibility of a research article focused on mental health among college students after COVID-19. I analyzed the article based on currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

I found that the article was highly credible because it was recently published, written by qualified researchers, and included reliable data from a longitudinal study. It was also relevant to my major, psychology, since it focuses on anxiety and depression in college students.

Scientific Method Analysis

In this assignment, I analyzed a research article by breaking down its scientific components, including the introduction, background, methods, results, and conclusion. The study focused on postpartum depression and how factors like social support and education levels affect mental health.

This assignment helped me understand how research is structured and how data is collected and analyzed. It also connected to my interest in psychology by showing how real studies are used to understand mental health issues.

Reflection

This module helped me realize how important it is to evaluate sources before using them. It showed me that not all information is reliable, and understanding how to analyze research helps me become a more informed student and writer.

Learn More About CRAAP Test

CRAAP UTEP

Figure 5. CRAAP Test Evaluation Assignment, analyzing a research article on college students’ mental health. 

Figure 6. Scientific Method Analysis Assignment, breaking down a research study on postpartum depression by examining its introduction, methods, results, and conclusions.

Module 5: Infographic & Visual Communication

In Module 5, I learned how to present information visually through an infographic. This module focused on combining design and writing to communicate ideas in a clear and engaging way. I used this assignment to explore my major in psychology and my future career goals.

Figure 7. Infographic Planning Responses, outlining my major, career goals, and future plans in preparation for my final infographic.

Infographic Planning & Written Responses

Before creating my infographic, I answered a series of questions about my major, career goals, and future plans. These responses helped me organize my ideas and decide what information to include in my final design.

In this document, I explain my interest in psychology, my goal of becoming a BCBA, and how I am already working toward becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT).

Figure 8. Infographic titled “Shaping Futures Through Behavior,” presenting information about my psychology major and future career as a BCBA.

Shaping Futures Through Behavior

Using my written responses, I created an infographic that presents key information about my major, career path, and future goals. The infographic highlights what is studied in psychology, possible careers, salary expectations, and what I plan to do in this field.

 

This project helped me understand how to turn written ideas into visual communication. I learned that planning is important because it helps organize information before designing. Creating the infographic showed me how visuals can make information more engaging and easier to understand for an audience.

About me

Future Behavior Analyst | Psychology Major

I am a freshman at UTEP majoring in psychology with a strong interest in developmental psychology. I am currently working toward becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and hope to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

I am passionate about helping children with autism and behavioral challenges and making a positive impact in their lives.

Fun fact: I’m not a D-backs fan—I’m a Yankees fan.

This website represents my growth as a writer and communicator throughout this course. Each module helped me develop new skills, from understanding rhetoric to conducting research and creating visual communication. Overall, this experience has changed the way I think about writing and how it can be used to inform, guide, and impact other