For your first blog assignment, I'd like you to consider your own writing process. Just what do you do when you write? How do you start? When do you start? What do you at subsequent stages? How does your approach to the writing process help or hinder your ability to write effectively (and on time)?
Check out the first three chapters of the Handbook. Is there anything there that can help you be a better writer? Or is the whole mess just a bunch of English teacher BS that you've heard a million times before? If you argue the latter, you'd better be ready to justify your claim. :-)
Tom Burns
When I write, I usually spend a lot of time staring at the page hoping I will be divinely inspired or words will magically appear on the paper. Writing can be frustrating for me because it is usually about some book or article that I did not like or did not understand. Sometimes I start with the title yet other times I save the title for last. Usually I skip the brainstorming and outlining step unless it is a big, important paper (and by important I mean worth a lot of points). So if I put more planning into my essays before I just start writing then I would probably be able to sketch out my ideas more and not ramble so much throughout my papers, like this response for example. And honestly, I have no idea what ever to say in an introduction or conclusion, and I usually just end up repeating myself in the paragraphs. I have no yet received my copy of the handbook yet, but hopefully Amazon will help me out a little and make the mail work faster!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being the first poster, Megan. I know the pain of the blank screen very well, and I've developed a few techniques to get over that painful hump. Make sure we talk about this issue in class!
ReplyDeleteTom B.
I often have trouble when writing because I usually don't start with an organized outline. This makes it difficult because then I do not have a clear direction and sometimes leads me to writing about something off topic. Also, I do not decide on my title right away because my original idea for a paper may change or further develop into something else.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first three chapters of the handbook, I found several good points such as the stages of writing in chapter one. Hopefully I will be able to follow these guidelines to help make the writing process more organized and improve my writing in general.
I don't start with an outline either. I often "freewrite" looking for an idea to write about. An outline can be helpful, but what most folks really need is to do a little "research," even if it's just in the form of thinking about a topic, reading an article, or talking to people. Jot down ideas based on your research, and then use them as the basis for a freewrite to get the writing juices flowing.
ReplyDeleteAlso, oh my students, please do not forget to sign your comments. It's often difficult to tell who you are from your online ID's or even your emails.
Cordially,
Tom B.
I usually start a paper fairly soon after it's been assigned to try and get a head start on it. I start by writing out some of my ideas on notebook paper, and then work on connecting ideas and adding on to what I've already written. Part way through writing papers, I tend to get distracted, and then end up procrastinating finishing it until much closer to the due date.
ReplyDeleteI think the handbook is very useful. The last time I used a handbook was my freshman year of high school, so it's refreshing to look at the suggestions for ways to organize and what to think about when planning a paper.
Laura
After receiving an assignment for a paper, I tend to let ideas bounce around in my head for a while and write down anything that I know I at least want to touch on in the paper. I generally do a rough outline, but it doesn't usually go into anymore depth than the topic of each paragraph in the body. When I do start writing, I almost always start with the intro, but I don't generally write the thesis statement until I have a better idea of where my thoughts are going to end up. Another thing that is definitely helpful to me is writing my drafts on paper, instead of just starting out typing. I find that this is a much more effective way to organize my thoughts and have a better finished product.
ReplyDeleteThe first three chapters of the handbook were surprisingly close to what I do myself. Generally, I don't use all of the writing techniques that some writing books suggest, but I felt that the "stages of writing" mentioned in Chap 1 were more practical than many that I had come across before.
Paige
When I start writing a paper, I usually decide what prompt I feel would make the best paper, and I start writing ideas down on paper on what I want to say. If I don't free write and brainstorm my ideas and get then in order, my paper usually seems to jump all around. I tend to take a break after doing this before writing my actual paper, to see if more ideas come to me. My introduction paragraph is usually what takes me the most time because I feel like I'm always repeating myself. I usually start a day or so after the assignment is given, so I don't force myself to write it all in one sitting, although procrastination does get to me. I feel that not having a strong introduction paragraph hinders my paper, and my not be clear to the audience. The first few chapters of this book were very useful, and I feel by using these tips effectively I can improve my own writing.
ReplyDeleteChelsea
Writing is a pretty easy process for me once I get started. I do experience a bit of writers block, but usually after I get the first few sentences out the rest flow. I don't do much pre writing as far as planning the paper goes. I do most of that mentally, working over ideas in my head. I normally plan most of the idead and the structure of paragraphs, and work the rest out as I write. Usually my final draft isn't changed much from the first draft. Only some structural problems are fixed, grammar, awkward sentences, the like.
ReplyDeleteBrian
I read the prompt before reading the material if there is any. Then again in the middle of reading said material. I then make a rough outline in my head and get some food and begin writing/typing. I prefer typing because I edit and revise after every few sentences and typing is much easier to edit and revise than handwriting. Once I have a full draft, I take a break and let my mind forget what I wrote before proofreading. Because I try to do most of my writing in a single sitting, I often put it off, like this one, that hinders me. But I think the benefit of continuity and good flow in the paper outweighs that downside. I have trouble with run-on sentences, so I could work on that to become a better writer.
ReplyDeleteWriting comes and goes for me. Some days I can write a decent paper but most of the time I also find myself starring at the screen like Megan does. Its for me to write because I am a procrastinator. This definately doesn't help my paper at all. Tho it might be on time it usually is not written to the best of my ability. Also there aren't many things I have to write about that interest me. Although when I do start a paper I usaul start out mentioning the main things I want to cover in the body of my essay. I just build around those main focus points with other information. I find this is the easiest way for me to write but however it doesn't always work for me to do it that way.
ReplyDelete