Barry Alford, the author of Freirean Voices, Student Choices is an English professor at Mid Michigan Community College. In this specific piece of writing, he states that “particularly when they find themselves following some formula organizing the topic instead of the trail of their own thinking” (P. 280). Meaning that students just do exactly what they are told to do instead of venturing out and making it their own writing. Alford talks about how students need to have more in depth and creative forms of writing rather than being boring. A major thing he believes is that students need to hear themselves and their other classmates before they start writing.
John Duffy makes a pivotal point. Us students should take advantage of the vital writing courses offered at the universities to further our education as well as our life skills. Learning to make a valid argument is a necessary tool in college to achieve a valid viewpoint from both sides of the given
When registering for this class, a wave of worry ran through me, because I had minimal skill when it came to writing, particularly in the field of formal writing. The high school I attended was academically poor, we never wrote formal papers, just informal book and movie responses. Therefore I was apprehensive about this class. This course was quite intricate, but I attend skills that will aid me for the rest of my academic career. Rhetorical knowledge, critical inquiry, process, and conventions are all concepts I have acquired.
Graff thinks that a lot of kids would much rather read a magazine or book about their favorite sports player, car, or fashion designer rather than read Shakespeare or other writer you read about in school (270). Students like to learn about what they like to do, and even if they don’t like to write about what they read Graff explains “ Even if they don’t , the magazine reading will make them more literate and reflective than they would otherwise” (270). Writing is writing as long as the student likes to write, they will get better at it no matter what they write about. Graff would much rather have, “the student anytime who writes a sharply argued, sociologically acute analysis of an issue of Source over the student who writes a lifeless explication of Hamlet or Socrates’s Apology” (270). A student who writes well doesn’t have to be writing about great works throughout history, they just need to know how to write well even if it comes from a
1. According to the documentary Eyes on the Prize what does "sit-ins" refer to? Sit-ins refer to Non-Violent protest. 2. What city was known as the Athens of the South?
“Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves and be free.” -Cesar Chavez. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez both fought for the rights of people who were treated unfairly. Cesar Chavez fought for the rights of the farm workers in California.
The article by Donald Murray entitled, “The Maker’s Eye: Revising Your Own Manuscripts” provides readers a better understanding of the writing process and argues that writers learn to write, by writing and rewriting. Murray also contends that writers must learn to be their own best enemy. Well, I believe I have this trait covered! I will confess, that I purposely saved this course for last, due to the number of years between my last structured learning experience and returning to school to complete a BSN degree.
He calls the students to action in a way that they can relate to by talking about the necessity to use their education outside of the workplace and question the world around
Sanders offers a new perspective of angle on the concept of learning. When thinking of learning, most jump to memorization or intelligence, but Sanders argues that is not actually learning. He views learning as improving one’s self-image and comprehension so that they can use those skills in the future. He also offers a new perspective on the questions to ask about a college education. One shouldn’t ask how can I get my degree, but rather how they can get the most out of their degree.
Throughout my education, writing strategies persisted to be a challenge for me. I dreaded writing because I could never find ways to transition my thoughts from my mind to the paper. Ironically, a class that petrified me due to the amount of required writing ended up helping me in numerous ways. English 1301 and my professor prepared me for college and real life by giving me a foundation of effective learning strategies.
As I was reading Melissa Duffy’s “Inspiration, and Craig Vetter’s “Bonehead Writing,” I found myself connecting with Vetter’s paper more than Duffy’s. I found that the presentation in “Bonehead Writing” to capture my attention, and that Vetter’s feelings about writing was similar to my opinion on writing. Through his wording and humor, I think Craig Vetter wrote the best essay. I find that the wording and presentation of an article or essay influences my opinion of the writer, and it affects how I receive the idea they are trying to present to me. Craig Vetter uses a blunt approach to convey his idea that writing is nearly impossible to teach, and describes writing as “A blood sport, a walk in the garden of agony every time out.”
Tawney Nodland – As I look back over the past semester of English Composition, I realize that I have grown as a writer. Not onlyhas my understanding of the writing process changed, my whole attitude towards composition has too. This composition course has made a significant impact on my learning experience and has given me tools to take forward into my future educational and professional goals. Throughout this course, I have discovered things about myself as a writer and know some of my strengths and weaknesses. I now feel more prepared for future writing assignments, whether for work or for school.
King has provided his opinion about education is building character. Dr. King uses his words to create an audience awareness to think for yourself isn’t the same as you may call it critical thinking. Against the common assumption that colleges should teach their students “critical reasoning,” Dr. King argues that critical thinking alone is insufficient and even dangerous. Teaching one to think critically is no small task. Most students learn by constructing knowledge based on an engaged learning process rather than by absorbing knowledge from passive sources.
Part of my literacy experience was about learning an important lesson in a book and how each page carries a story that’s brought to life. At the time, I didn’t learn about learning critical literacy until I was in my English 91 class. In my English 91 class, I was taught how to use critical thinking in my papers. I imagine how much literacy has been involve in my life from childhood till college. The books I’ve read in my childhood is how I ‘ve taught how to write.
Writing has always been an issue but yet interesting subject of mine. As hard as I try and write essays, and papers I just can’t get the hang of writing. But after taking this class, I did learn different writing technique and improved my writing proficiency, material body of formatting, and how to uncovering and properly use sources. Through class exams, essays, and a research paper, I was able to learn new writing skills. Although I have learned a variety of things, my writing still needs improvement.
