My writing looks like the game Tetris – I write according to how my ideas flow from my head to my paper. The English 1010 lessons are designed to impact my writing processes and since being in the course I have realized the importance of the process while preparing the paper. While I knew that practice and revisions were important to the writing process, the ideas of writing as inherently collaborative or as an extension of technology were not concepts that I had considered at length. For the assignment, I chose to record myself and reflect on my process. The observation of my writing process and decisions took place in an awkward way. I began sitting at my desk in my dorm with a black ink pen, wide-ruled paper, and the prompt of my essay. It took a good bit of time for the process to begin – all the distractions had to run out, frequent checks on social media, quick trip to the snack machine, and responding to text messages. Finally, it was time to start. I can begin. “Ok, outline” I said to myself. “What’s your main point?” And so, I started, pen to paper, writing the three main ideas I knew I wanted to cover in the paper. I did discover, however, that I scratch my head while I am thinking and as I write I would catch myself reading aloud.
Following the outline process, I decided to start typing the rough draft. I first started my introduction giving the audience an idea of what the essay will be about. I did not know entirely what I wanted the audience to know so I found myself typing and deleting a lot. I decided to divide the essay in proportions to what I want to explain. I chose to discuss improvements, changes, and goals for the following semester. I noticed I then spent five minutes staring at how I was going to start the explanation. This could be for two reasons – perhaps I needed a break from writing or perhaps I did not take enough time planning. I honestly did not know. I eventually figured out how to gather the information to begin the paper.
After typing for fifteen minutes, I realized I repeatedly reviewed the previous typed words constantly. I stopped for a few minutes and reread my entire paper out loud to myself. I was not loud more like soft spoken. The practice allowed me to
For one reason or another, I'm never able to get the ideas out of my head and on to paper. I can literally go hours looking at the computer ready to start my paper, and the ideas will never come to me. Then, once it is down to the real deal and the deadline around the corner, I stress more trying to put everything together the last minute. In addition, I’m over critical of myself during the drafting process. When it comes to letting my thoughts flow more naturally, I get frustrated with myself when my thoughts are not as organized as I want them to be. In my opinion, my writing process is ineffective because out of the four writing process steps needed to effectively write an essay, I only used drafting. I used it to write my first copy of the draft. It might be imperfect, there may be some grammatical errors, things may be a little out of place - but it's just a rough draft that I can tweak and edit as I go through the writing process. While developing my drafts, I can change and rework each one to be precise. Furthermore, drafting could be the most difficult part of the writing process for many people. For instance, it can be really overwhelming when you have an idea or a topic, but now you have to gather sources, write an outline of how you want an essay to look and figure out how to include enough information to meet word count
I have improved very much in my writing process over this semester. I have grown as a writer in each writing process step such as prewriting, drafting, revising and editing, and overall. Outlining, writing a good thesis, getting peer reviewed, and giving myself plenty of time to finish a paper are new strengths that I have learned over the semester. I will reflect on all the topics in the writing process and my growth in argumentation essays. In fact, my previous attitude and feelings about writing was that I disliked it, and I knew that it was a weakness of mine. Now, I feel that I can write a strong argumentation essay. I have the sense that I have progressed a considerable amount from my first essay to my last.
When I have an essay to write I make sure to pick a day that I am not busy. My children are in school and my house is quiet. I turn off my cell phone and any other noise distraction which breaks my mind concentration. Before I start I make sure my brain is not tired and well rested so it would not feel disoriented or losses focus during the process. In the beginning of the writing I usually get stuck on the first line because of a habit of uncertainty by going back and revising before I actually complete the whole sentence. I try constantly and instantly to re-read what I wrote and make instant changes. I would reconstruct phrases by switching them around to different places or reword any unlike words. There were days that
Reflecting at my own writing process and using my experiences as a way to shape my future practice as an English teacher, has brought light to the concepts of style, providing opportunities for multiple forms of writing, creating low-stakes writing opportunities, addressing authentic audiences, and establishing non-judgmental/safe space classrooms. Based on the theory that Milner et al. outline in the "Process Model," (2012, p.339) I would almost explicitly follow this pedagogy as a way to help students explore writing. For example, I would focus on the steps relating to revision (step 2), teaching multiple forms of writing (step 3), creating opportunities for teacher conferences (Step 4), and providing students with authentic, and divers audiences
People have many ways that they write. Some do a process of doing drafts so they can look through, edit and make the paper better. Others will just write a paper and turn it in. My process consist of starting with making a thesis. Then from the thesis I create the topic sentences for the topic at hand. The best way to write the essay in a good format and have good detail in the writing I would write a paragraph a day. By doing that process it allows me to get what is needed out on the paper so none of the paragraphs are mixing content and making the paragraphs less structured. This process not only makes writing essays less stressful while also getting the paper done quickly.
Many steps of the writing process came together when I had to write a blog entry for this class about my complicated history with composing first drafts. When I first attempted to start the assignment, I planned
Although my writing process is not where I want it to be yet, I have made significant improvement. This class has been instrument in providing me the necessary guidance to improve my skills and grow in many areas. I feel more confident and will continue to work tirelessly to continue to grow. In regards to the final draft of this week critical essay and my writing process in general focuses on several key techniques. I have found my brainstorm technique to be an effective way to embrace any subject I have to write about. My weakness lies probably in organizing my writing. I’m working on following Dr. Idowu’s guidelines and recommendations to strengthen my abilities to deliver better results. Our professor’s guidance has help me tremendously,
From the first assignment to the last, I realized that my writing process has changed a lot. I usually write my papers in my room, whether on a desk or on my bed. I did not organize my thoughts as eloquently as I should have. My ideas were more sporadic, and I did not give myself as much time to write it out. In addition, I was more worried about the page limit rather than the content of my work. Similar to the other assignments, I did not start my process with an outline. I went straight towards writing my paper without giving any structure, which did not help with the organization of my papers in this class.
For this process reflection I am going to start with is what influences my writing and my process for writing. After that I will go a bit into what I’ve learned so far in the course and how that has add some influence on my writing as well. That being said isn’t all of our writing a reflection of ourselves? I’ll come back to that idea at the end if there’s room with this double spacing nonsense.
Everyone has a different process they usually run through while writing a paper. In the past, I have always gone straight for the computer when I wish to start on a particular assignment. Whereas some may prefer to put their words on paper first or prepare a detailed outline, I stick to opening up a word document and writing the first thoughts that come to mind. Teachers have practically drilled into my mind over the years that outlining will help my writing, but personally I repeatedly struggle with structure, and prefer to write right away and clean up later. Furthermore, often times I will think of a new idea while writing a paragraph completely unrelated. Instead of abandoning this thought, I tend to bullet point at the bottom of the word document to remember to incorporate it at some point in the paper. Thus, I approach a paper more freely and choose to type what’s on my mind currently, as apposed to copying from an outline or a handwritten essay.
Throughout the timespan of a semester could you improve your writing to where there would be noticeable differences? When writing for English 1010, I noticed that there was obvious weaknesses and minimal strengths or lack thereof in my writing abilities. In many ways I do believe that I was able to improve in areas pertaining to reading, thinking, researching, and writing.
My current personal writing process is not consistent. Sometimes I brainstorm, create cluster charts, and lists, but other times I throw together an essay and hope for the best. Most of the time, I read the directions of a writing assignment and make sure I understand the parameters of the assignment very clearly. Next, I ponder upon the assignment for a while. Then, I like to brainstorm some of the ideas that may have come to mind throughout the day. After brainstorming, I will take out anything that does not make sense or is irrelevant to my writing topic. Now, I usually start to organize my ideas into an outline or a flow chart. Once I can see the organization take place, I fill in the details giving me a rough draft. Afterwards, I will
In the beginning of this semester I didn't like writing at all. I had a lot of difficulty when it came to writing. That was my only weakness in high school. But as I started taking basic writing, I have made a lot of progress. Before I had trouble to put detail in my essays, but now I am confident. My attitude toward writing went from negative to positive during this semester. Some aspects of the class have helped me strengthen my writing, I have builded some strengths for myself as a writer, and I know I made a lot of progress by reading my most successful essay, and by comparing my early essays to my more recent ones.
Okay, so I have a lot of writing habits, although most of them are pretty basic, or weird regardless they help me with my writhing. In the first place, when I write I read the rubric and make sure I understand whatever I am supposed to be writing about. Typically, while I’m writing I listen to music, or sit on the couch and watch the green arrow, or heartland while I write mainly because multitasking helps me to think creatively. In addition, I can’t really write well while listening to the clock tic. Another thing I do is take breaks since I seem to get distracted hence my brain dies after about two hours of doing any sort of learning. Furthermore, to make use of the breaks I usually go play my ukulele, or piano, and that usually helps with
My writing skills which I have worked on over the few months I have been in English 102 have changed quite a bit in my opinion. There are many things which I have improved upon that were amongst my weaker writing skills when the year began. On the opposite side of that point, there are also many things which I still need to improve upon if I want to truly elevate my writing to a level that I will be confident in. Finally, I have gained new skills outside of writing from this class, particularly the activities which we did in class at various points throughout the year. These things all cumulate together to give me an appreciation of English courses which I did not previously have.