My first writing foray into WTI pretty much summed up my WTI experience.  Considering the subject matter of Shiva's environmentalism, it's almost antithetical to be neutral when writing to inform.  Attempting to balance the equation between destroying the planet on the scale of a James Bond villain and just trying to sustain the needs of the human race doesn't seem possible.  However, through a few class conversations and group work, I'm able to see how you can have bias, make your points, then address and destroy the other oppositions' arguments - all while writing to inform.

The team/group writing aspect went as expected.  A couple of us put in most of the work, while others ... didn't.  It pretty much went the way every other group project I've done in a learning environment.  I'm certain studies show students learn more in groups than alone.  I'm also certain those studies show an 'average'.  Averages where the students who do poorly alone improved in groups and students who work better alone did worse in groups.  My GPA isn't a team effort with my fellow students, so I don't know why so many of my course grades are based on group work ... but that's a complaint where I'm outnumbered, seemingly scholastically as well in the real-world.  Working in teams is the soup of the day.  So I'll persist in team think.

I did enjoy connecting with other students in class where cliques were partially broken and the 'old guy' got to bond a little.  I enjoyed learning about the issues my classmates were excited about.  So in that respect, the team effort was a success. 

A couple of major events occurred during the WTI unit.  Events that impacted me on a personal level.  Instead of focusing on Shiva's book and the topics contained therein, I branched out a little bit with independent essays.  I talked about the military ban on openly gay servicemembers and how the Senate voted down an effort to pass repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.  I also wrote about five kids who were bullied towards suicide because they were perceived to be gay.  September 2010 - a brutal month if you were a gay in America.

I tried to write dispassionately about each of these issues.  I'm sure I wasn't completely successful, but it was an exercise of restraint and editing for me.  Both issues cut me to the bone.  Applying lessons from WTI and dialing down the pathos and dialing up the logos and ethos arguments were a definite challenge.

In my essay about Don't Ask, Don't Tell (this is not WTI) - I channeled my inner Sergeant Joe Friday and tried to stick to the facts.  Using the indefinite pronoun "it", I wrote about the military policy without naming it outright.  Using hyperlinks for references, I backed up my claims if the reader was incredulous at the lunacy I described.  The method to my madness seemed to resonate as I got positive feedback for 'hiding' the subject of the essay.

My essay about bullying (They're Just Words) was more in your face - literally.  I introduced the essay with photos and bios of five young boys and men who committed suicide because of bullies.  Then I argued my claim that American laws of the land actually empower bullies and set up an environment where gay kids feel like they have no choice but to end their young lives.  This essay was more traditional in composition, but I still kept to the WTI manta.  Claims, arguments, and evidence with a splash of pathos in the form of five dead kids.  Though I didn't advertise the essay, those who found it provided positive comments leading me to believe I'm communicating as I intend.

The group essay (Living Economies) was less successful.  Many good points - but less coherent overall.  My team came up with a good thesis - how globalism is ruining the world.  However, a lack of effort of all team members weakened the essay.  I could overhaul the essay to make it work, but then it would be mine - not my group's.  Resisting my instinct to "just take over" and make it work, I'm risking a lower grade for the essay - but I want the group to be graded - not just me.  I resisted my Master Sergeant instincts to take charge.  Instead, I tried to inspire everyone within their strengths and what interested them about Shiva's book.  Not so much of a successful experiment.  It'll be a first for me to go down with the ship - so this will be a learning experience for me.  My stomach is anxious just thinking about it.  Again ... group think ... I hate it.

Overall, my reflection on the entire process was a mixed bag.  On the individual side, I grew as a writer by turning down pathos about subjects that I'm deeply connected to.  The team writing side ... looks like if I want the quality I require of my self, ground rules will have to be addressed up front.  My tech writing class uses a team charter to remind the group about an agreed to level of participation and quality of work.  Maybe that will have to be brought into this class to bring the unwilling over to the side of the willing.  We'll see...

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