Whenever I get a writing assignment for class, it seems like a chore. I don’t have a problem with writing, but papers always seem to take more time than they should. Maybe this is due to poor planning on my part, but essays are usually an ordeal, and I dread actually doing the work to finish one. The task is simple enough, but putting it off always seems like a better alternative to writing. I do think about the paper that I have to write, but I do not put thoughts and ideas into a paper or outline until I absolutely need to do so. From the moment I am given an assignment sheet, I begin brainstorming about the paper. I may not use any of these ideas, but I think of them. I also have a tendency to forget good ideas, which leads me to think that I should write some of them down, but that would be too much work. Whatever ideas that I do remember will be used in some sort of informal outline I make before I start actual work on my paper. Unless it is required for a class, however, I usually just keep this outline in my head. I find it to be more flexible if I don’t have anything written or structured at this point, and rather just have several ideas floating in my head. As soon as there is an outline or introduction paragraph written, I feel more committed to my work. At this point, I’m hopefully comfortable enough with what I have to begin putting in work on my paper.
The introduction is usually the most time-consuming part of the paper. There are so many different aspects of the paper that must go into the intro, and composing one is hard because of this. I need to set the tone for the rest of my paper, and write in a style that captivates my readers at the same time. I try to establish that my paper will be serious and academic...
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...ught. My style is my style, and that’s really all I can say about it. In writing about the process, I don’t feel I have a better understanding of how I write, but I definitely have a better concept of what I actually do when I write. I’m not looking to improve my writing process, because it works for me. To my knowledge, there’s nothing wrong with how I write, and the papers I produce are, in my opinion, quality. I may be stubborn or arrogant, but unless someone tells me otherwise, I may be right as well. As a first-year student at State University, I’m aware that I won’t stop writing any time soon. From what I have seen, however, how I write won’t change too much; my style is my style, and it has been for a long time. A few stylistic changes may occur depending on the class for which an assignment is due, but I will always be me, and my writing will always be mine.
Many times when I write it is difficult to locate a general theme, or even a clear and precise point. Too often, my papers seem to deviate from the intentional purpose stated in the introduction. The topic and primary idea need to be effectively introduced at the beginning so that the reader knows what to look for and what to expect. Many times, my writing consists of a solid introduction with a good idea, but it wanes as it nears the ending and the conclusion is not effective so as to remain consistent with the proper sequence of the sentence (2-3-1). The reader of my work must distinguish the most important point of the work, understanding the general theme, while remaining captivated by a consistently interesting paper. If a primary point exists, it needs to be expanded, emphasized, or supported. The work needs to remain interesting and captivating throughout. For the reader to infer my opinion on the subject matter, I must show approval or disapproval of it in some way. The results of this personal critique correlate to 101 Dalmatians, 7th Heaven, How to Make an American Quilt written by Whitney Otto, and A River Runs Through It written by Norman Maclean. Each of these works contains a main point, a theme, and this is expanded, emphasized, or supported throughout the plot.
I have always had troubles writing the introduction of papers. The introduction is the base and sets the mood of the whole paper. I believe it is the most important paragraph in the paper. But once I develop the introductory paragraph, I find the rest of the paper easier to write. In order for me to better myself in writing introductory paragraphs, I just have to get more in touch with my creative side. After the rough draft, the students of the class would bring their papers to the course and would get into groups to peer review the papers. This would helpful to receive the views of our peers to help edit our assignment. After the peer review of the rough draft, the next step of the writing process was the revision. The revision was when we take the information and opinions from the groups and corporate them into our papers. Also, for the revision, you would offer work days for you to proof read our paper before we had to type our final copy. This was extremely beneficial for us to get your opinion on our paper d...
I agree with what Allen states in the article “The Inspired Writer vs. the Real Writer” because of how much my writing skills had evolved over the years. When I first started in high school, I believed I was a horrible writer and I struggled a lot just to write a few paragraphs. However, after determination, and several trials and errors, I was able to improve greatly on my skills. In Irvin’s article, “What is ‘Academic’ Writing?” goes over the myths about writing. When I first started to write essays, I believed some of the myths that Irvin talks about in the article. Such myths were the five paragraph essay and the use of “I.” However, the more experience I gained in writing, the more I realized how the five paragraph essay is more of a suggestion. The format might had helped when I first started, but I had grown apart of it now. In addition, I had learned how the use of “I” is situational. In some of my past essays, I have used “I” to help develop my essays. In Bunn’s article “How to Read Like a Writer,” it mentions the importance of Reading Like a Writer. When I first started writing essays in high school, my essays were cookie cutter. The essays were not imaginative and lack literary devices. However, the more I payed attention to how an author writes, the more creative my essays become. I am able to include methods that give creativity in my writing,
Even when I do choose my own topic, I analyze each sentence as I compose an essay instead of simply writing the paper. In Honors Writing, Mrs. Templin told me to sit for at least twenty minutes, with no distractions, and type everything that comes to mind. Type now, edit later. I still struggle with this method because procrastination is another huge weakness of mine, and editing takes more time than writing. My philosophy used to be that if I could write a paper beautifully the first time, edits were unnecessary. After receiving grades I did not like, however, I realized the importance of taking the time to fully revise my writing. Now, editing is the fun part of writing because the writing is, for the most part, finished. Few activities are more satisfying than finding that misplaced comma, misspelled word, or misplaced modifier. It can get complicated when I have to change, move, or delete entire sentences, but I would rather fix a few sentences than write an entire paper the night before it is due. The “type now, edit later” method is significantly easier than my previous writing methods, because I could put my thoughts down quickly. Releasing thoughts is, of course, the first and most important step in constructing an essay. I still struggle sometimes to stop analyzing sentences, but I am seeing
...to be structured in a specific way, I have to follow certain rules for the writing to be successful. I have to have thesis statement, I have to follow grammar, punctuation and spelling. Because of these requirements and English not been my first language it has been hard to performance a good writing style.
Personally, I cannot identify my exact writing style. I do write with clear, concise, fluidity; however, I have no sense of “personal style.” I construct each written assignment with the intention of being blunt and supporting my assertions with facts and details that will strengthen my argument. After reading Ch. 1 “The Transaction” I agree with that Zinsser proposes: my writing reflects who I am as a person (5). I am blunt and to the point. I get tasks done in the most efficient way. Maybe my personality does come through in my writing more than I thought.
There is so much more information to be gained on the other steps of the writing process. The writing process can be extremely over whelming too many. This is why it is incredibly important to take the adequate time in the early stages of the writing process to create a solid foundation. During the first stage of the writing process be sure to ask what should be written, the parameters of the writing project and know the audience that the project is being written for. Brainstorming the topic, creating an outline and freewriting all help to narrow down a topic and organize thoughts about the subject of the writing project. These steps will aid in creating a draft of the writing project. Drafting is one of the very important steps in the writing process. The first draft will be revised scores of times to create an interesting and successful finished product. These first steps in the writing process can lead to a solid and successful writing
When I am assigned to write an essay, the first thing I do is panic. I panic because I always seem to run into the same problems with my writing process. I have no central idea. I have no clue what I actually want to write about. When I was younger, I always started by making a web or an outline because thats what my teachers encouraged me to do in school, but I don’t do that anymore. Now I sit in front of my laptop, I take a deep breath, close my eyes, gather my thoughts, and type. I just let my thoughts flow onto the page. When I don’t feel the pressure of writing to an audience, my writing is completely different than it is when I am writing something that I know my professor or peers will read. As I am writing this exact sentence, I don’t quite know where I am going with it. My writing process is unorthodox and unorganized, but it is what I do everytime. When I stop trying to follow the linear model of writing, explained by Nancy Sommers as the process of forming an idea, writing about it, then revising afterwards, I feel that I am more capable of discovering something meaningful within my words. When I am forced to write a thesis statement and base my paper solely on it, it doesn’t come out as good as I think it should. It decreases the potential for my ideas to grow and discoveries to be made. It limits me to a single statement and narrows my thoughts, preventing me from discovery.
If you were to ask me to write an essay before August, I would have picked up a pencil right away and just started writing, not understanding how significant an effect that having an outline can have on my writing. My first graded assignment was to write an essay on altering public space, which seems like a simple task at first. However, I turned this simple task into an essay style scrabble tournament, throwing words in wherever I could fit them. There was no organization whatsoever in my essay. I had what I thought were good points and descriptions, but nothing really made sense and there was not much flow to the paper. Subsequently, I made a sixty-nine on my ...
When constructing a piece of writing, a student may sometimes find herself struggling to remember grammar rules or style principles. A handy reference guide would help her out immensely. William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s book, The Elements of Style, and Joseph Williams’ book, Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, assist writers improve their work in various ways. Strunk and Whites’ book took a simple approach, while Williams went more in-depth, with elaborate explanations and varying choices for each writing style.
I am sitting in my bed, thinking about my process of writing as I am trying to go through it. It seems the more I think about it, the less I understand it. When I am writing, I don’t think. Which I know, sounds bad. But, I spend every single moment of every single day over thinking, over analyzing, and over assuming every aspect of my life. When I’m writing, I’m free from that for just a little bit. Until of course, my hands stop typing or the pencil (no pens- never pens) stops moving, then I’m right back on the carousel that is my brain. Heidi Estrem says, “...writers use writing to generate knowledge that they didn’t have before.” (Writing is a Knowledge-Making Activity 18). I believe my ability to write without an exact destination
The process of writing papers can be very frustrating. You must first get your ideas together. Getting your ideas together can be one of the hardest parts of writing because you could possibly not know what di...
There are endless types of writing styles that people use. They use the one that they believe expresses their thoughts most clearly. I’m not sure if my writing style is part of those that are often used and to be honest, I do not know what type of style I use when I write. I think that the hardest part about writing is just getting started. That is why when I have a writing assignments I always start by using an I-chart. The I-chart is kind of shaped like an I, I learned how to make one when I was in elementary and it always has been useful for when I need to write. The I-chart consists of the top being the Intro, the middle having on the left three main topics and on the right there are examples for the main topics, and the bottom of the
“If writing didn 't require thinking then we 'd all be doing it.” (Jeremiah Laabs). Whether a person is aware of it or not, there is a process to writing that everyone goes through. I find it difficult to write essays from time to time, so I follow the writing process. The writing process is an approach to writing that involves pre-writing, drafting, and revising and editing. The writing process helps develop facts and ideas from reading about the topic to writing and editing essays.
I tend to stare at the paper just wondering how I should begin my essay when in reality I’m just going to change it or delete it as I go. Also, I procrastinate on assignments because they intimidate me, especially when I know that my peers will be reading it. By reading this excerpt I feel like it is going to help me on future assignments by pushing me to get started. As she stated multiple times, no one is going to read your first draft so just write whatever is on your mind and go from there. In my argumentative essay I have revised my thesis statement multiple times and deleted more than half of my essay, because I felt that it wasn’t up to