Featured Work
This semester I took ENC1102 at Santa Fe College with Professor Valladares, and it was honestly my hardest class this semester. I'll be honest, I don't really like writing and still don't, but this class really pushed me to improve in many areas. The way I think about writing and how I approach putting a paper together has definitely improved since the start of the semester.
The first major assignment we did was the Toulmin argument. Before this class I had no idea what a Toulmin argument even was, even all the tutors at the learning commons didn't know. The Toulmin argument is a specific way of structuring an argument where you have a claim, grounds, a warrant, and backing. Going through that process taught me that a strong argument is not just about having an opinion. Every part of the argument has to connect and support each other or the whole thing falls apart. We first created an annotated bibliography and then an outline and then wrote our paper. These small steps leading up to the final paper, made writing the paper a lot easier.
From there the class moved into the Rogerian argument and that ended up being my favorite assignment of the semester for me. We first did a group presentation on our topic before writing the full paper which that was helpful in getting a solid grasp of the details of our paper before putting it all together in writing. In the Rogerian approach, instead of just building a case for our side we had to understand the opposing viewpoint, treat it fairly and then propose a compromise. This assignment, I found more relatable to my day to day life, and is definitely a useful skill. I had to research both sides of an issue and find common ground between them rather than just trying to tear down the other side.
Research was a big part of both of this whole class. I learned that you cannot just state an opinion and expect people to take it seriously. You need sources but not just any random sources, they have to be credible and actually support what your saying. We learned how to use the Santa Fe College library databases, to find credible sources. Which was a useful tool for improving our research.
Overall this semester in ENC1102 pushed me a lot, and made me a better writer. Like I said previously, still very dislike writing but the way I think about it and approach papers has has improved.
My name is Paul Leber. I'm currently an A.A. student at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida on the transfer track to the University of Florida where I plan to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering.
This portfolio is a collection of the writing work I completed during the Spring 2026 semester under Professor Valladares. It includes argumentative essays, outlines, a group presentation, and a semester reflection on how my approach to writing changed over the course of the class.
Outside of school I like to travel, try different places to eat, and play pickleball. I'm always looking for a good spot to eat wherever I end up and pickleball has become a regular part of my routine.