Unlike Orwell, I have not grown up with the desire to become a writer. However, I do believe that writing is an important skill. Over the years, I have learned how to combine my love for animals with writing. I grew up in a house filled with animals. We had two
I sit in my room, using my laptop, trying to think of the progression that I made so far during this year in terms of writing. I can say that the journey that I have come across is not easy. I started from the bottom and I feel like I am somewhere in the middle, not quite at the top, yet. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with my current state. I believe that there is only one room for me, which is a room for improvement. Compare to the start the start of the semester, I am a lot better at writing now, especially on research papers. I have realized by looking at the feedbacks and editing my paper several times, I have become a better writer.
When I was in gradeschool, I was always fascinated by reading and writing. I always watched by mom write things down in for grocery lists, to do lists, and simply signing a permission slip for my brothers. I always wondered how one person could contain all of that information in their heads, for knowing how to spell thousands of words.
My learning styles Do I keep orderly notes? Am I good at memorizing lists, definitions, or math formulas easily? Maybe I am a hands-on person who doesn’t feel the need to read the instruction manual. On the other hand, I might be the
Reading your own writing can be excruciatingly boring. Your mind already knows what's on the paper because it made the words form the piece you are looking at. I always try to make the experience an adventure. Thinking of the rereading as a deep dive. Deep diving sounds exciting, almost pirate-like. You get to look for treasure. Or in this case writing devices that keep popping up in your writing. My deep dive produced a few things I hadn’t noticed while writing my journals. I found that in my journals I tend to follow the troupe of chronologically filing the events, that I’m secretive and very emotional.
Sitting in the back of the room, waiting for any sign that class was coming to an end, she stared intently at the clock, counting down as each hand moved barely a centimeter. The room started to black out. Nothing but the clock shined. Gleaming down on her and the desk. Click.click. The hands are almost at the time. She dreaded the number three like black licorice is disgusting to children. Once that bell rings, her life is about to fall down a hill. The count starts down from 3,2,1…
From a young age writing helped me get my point across, or helped me in remembering important times. Through writing, I spoke my mind without a syllable leaving my mouth. This non-verbal interaction was a blessing that I was grateful for. From a young age, I loathed speaking in front of people, I still do but not to that extent. Why did I hate it so much? From around second grade to sixth grade, I took speech therapy for stuttering, combined with stage fright and you can see why I hated talking in front of people. During this time, writing was something to be appreciative for because it was an easy route that allowed my point across to my teachers and receive the credit I deserve. Today I don’t stutter, but I do have stage fright and thus am still appreciative for being able to write assignments rather than a presentation.
I approached this writing assignment like I do for every other essay I have to write; I have to have “The Writing Process.” Last year, I was introduced to this method and it definitely helped me to accomplish every other essay that I get assigned. With this method, I make sure that I brainstorm what my essay could be about, what’s an experience that I would like to share. I also think about what theme I could give out to the readers that are reading my story and what they could learn from it. After that, I start listing out specific concepts about my different stories that I’m choosing from like, if I chose to write about my dad, what would I tell about him and how he’s helped me. Or how my mom’s decision not to work to make sure she’s with her kids whenever we needed her (believe me, we needed her.) Then, I actually skip the free-writing because I don’t feel it’s necessary for me, so I chose what story to write about then start writing.
Reflecting upon my previous work over this past semester I have discovered some reoccurring themes that threaded throughout my weekly writing assignments. I would be the first to say that I am a “writer in progress”. As a young student, I received special education services in literacy and math. My early struggles with literacy has seeped into my writing as I have continued my academic career. Being given the opportunity to take the time to reflect upon my work from one class over a period of time and receive consistent feedback has been a first for me and something that I need to do on my own from now on to grow as a writer.
Introduction In the 2011 article “Helping Students Meet the Challenges of Academic Writing”, educators Linda Fernsten and Mary Reda offer innovative self-reflective writing exercises for post-secondary instructors to employ to help students improve writer self-image and academic writing. The authors’ developed their rationale for reflective and practical writing strategies from direct classroom experience and based it on four (4) assumptions. Their claim that self-reflective writing aids student writers in overcoming conflict (due to dominant culture, upbringing, former writing experiences, gender, and other marginalizing factors) to improve writer self-identity is plausible. However, their argument that improvement in academic writing across the curriculum occurs through self-directed, self-reflective writing requires further investigation.
Sitting in the back of the room waiting for any sign that class was coming to an end. She stared intently at the clock, counting down as each hand moved barely a centimeter. The room started to black out. Nothing but the clock shined. Gleaming down on her and the
Though this course was a required component for my field of study, it’s one of the classes I was most excited to take.
I decided to take Writing 101 not only because it’s a degree requirement but, because I wanted to understand sentence structures and punctuation at a higher level. When I first started writing 101, I had a High School level writing skill that had severely degraded over time and a lack of confidence in my writing capabilities. This entire experience honestly took so much time out of my schedule because I felt like I had to relearn everything. I would take extra time to go through the courses and even reach out and do my own research just to make sure I really understood. I have to say I’m still learning punctuation and probably won’t be comfortable with it for a while but I have a lot more confidence in my writing.
Ever since I was an even littler child, I have always found a way to cope with the world, in happiness, sadness, and anger, through writing and reading. Growing up in a difficult position, it was considered amazing to have an outlet for when things got especially tough. I would read until my eyes became blurry of exhaustion and write until my right ring finger bore the blister of a determined kid- writer. My reading mainly consisted of books above the level of an elementary student and, to this day, always remains higher than average. However, obstacles have risen to claim my steady concentration and it’s quite difficult not to imagine elephants eating skittles or something of the liking whilst reading any select novel. My writing, under the influence of everything I’ve ever read, is the fire behind my eyes. Take away my writing utensils and you remove who I am. My works are an array of plenty subjects and styles; science fiction, songs, horror, poetry, romance, and humorous stories. As far back as I can remember, I have always written.
As a person that has struggled with dyslexia my entire life, I was filled with extreme dread when I found I would have to write a wide range of papers for English 1140. Luckily, after the first few weeks of class, I felt encouraged because I realized the class was a supportive learning environment with the professor and classmates helping to build my creative writing and critical thinking skills, such as, the use of counterarguments, evaluating sources, writing for different audiences or subjects, creating flow with good transitions and adding interesting words. Throughout life, I have felt comfortable talking and explaining my views; however, supporting those same thoughts with the written word has always been a weakness of mine. As I sit here analyzing my work over the last semester, I realize I have gained many strengths but still have to work on a few weaknesses.