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Self reflective writing
Self reflective writing
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In his essay, “Becoming a Writer,” Russell Baker explains how something you love can turn into a daunting task. Baker explains that while he loved writing, and even considered himself a writer, he still dreaded his English classes in High School. He felt the assignments were dull and procrastinated to complete most of the assignments. This continued until almost all the way through his third year of High School, towards the end of the year Baker was assigned to write an informal essay based on a list of topics. The night before the assignment was due Baker finally pulled out the homework sheet and started perusing the list of topics.
Dear Reader, Today I am going to be talking about an essay called “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamont. A big part of my summary is going to be the importance of accepting the imperfect nature of writing. But most people do not want to accept that and that could be a downside to my summary. And I am absolutely thrilled to go deeper into this thought-provoking. So, fasten your seatbelts because we're about to embark on an exhilarating journey that will explore the trials, tribulations, anxieties, and discomforts that inevitably accompany the noble art of writing.
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.
Through the many struggles in life, I have been able to distinguish the more challenging struggles, from the lesser challenging. Out of the many obstacles in life, I find writing to be one of the more treacherous ones. Although many works of writing appear to be easily forged by the artist, creating the first draft for any writer has proven to be a very treacherous journey. In Anne Lamott’s excerpt from her book “Bird by Bird”, she describes her own personal struggle with writing first drafts when she worked for the “California Magazine”.
World War II lasted from 1939 until 1945. The vast majority of the world’s nations participated in this global war, eventually forming two opposing alliance’s, the Allies and the Axis. As the most widespread war in history, more than 100 million people from 30 different countries were directly involved. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities into the war effort, which blurred the lines between civilian and military resources. The war resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities, making World War II the deadliest conflict in history (Sommerville 5).
Picture polos’ with kilts, knee-highs with Sperry’s, classrooms with only girls, and a chapel with nuns in the middle of a school. This was four years of Mary Anne’s life. Praying every morning, praying before class, praying at the end of the day, praying, praying, and more praying. Like any student, she disliked her school at times, but her love for the memories and the girls she spent it with outweighed the negatives. In religion classes they read the Bible and other religious works.
“Winnie, are you ready for the math midterm today?” questioned my friend Vivian. I gave her an ‘of-course-I’m-ready’ glance and strolled to my seat. The bell soon rang and our teacher, Mrs. Valise waltzed into the classroom wearing a bright red floral dress that reminded me of fresh picked apples from a farm. She sauntered over to her desk and took the intimidatingly large pile of the test booklets from her table and handed them out. Receiving the midterm from her hand
As a student myself, I understand the dislike for writing and the idea that it's not as useful as other things. This piece shows students that writing is so much more than that, but you can only see this if you understand the purpose and
Anne Lamott 's essay, “Shitty First Drafts” explains to its readers that all writers, even the best, can have “shitty first drafts.” The essay presents the proper writing process from the first draft to the final piece of work. Her essay is intended to encourage writers who are in need of direction when it comes to writing and to teach inexperienced writers ways to become more successful in writing. Anne Lamott uses her personal experiences to build credibility, figurative language to engage the reader and provides the reader with logical steps for the writing process. To build credibility on her processes success, Lamott uses her own personal experiences.
I am now able to see the areas in which I lack in but I also recognize my strengths as well. To become a precise writer, you have to take the initiatives that will help you do so. These initiatives consist of working on different academic genres, planning and organizing material, identifying purpose and audience and for revising intentionally. It is also includes reading different types of texts and learning how to understand a writer’s argument and respond to the ideas of others.
Writing About Writing, A College Reader. Ed. Elizabeth Wardle and Doug Downs. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 481-495.
If I were asked by my boss, family member or friend what I have learned in school thus far, I would tell them that I have learned how to become an author, writing snob, and a self- proclaimed avid reader. All of these traits have enabled me to become a successful student and better professional. Before coming to Bethel University, I felt I had great writing skills as I wrote company policies, job descriptions and other Human Resources related materials every day. However, I now feel that my writing skills are average and can definitely be improved upon.
When I think of myself as a writer, I think of a writing struggle. I struggle with getting things done by the deadline, there are times when I feel “on top of the world” this is when I write my best, and there are times when I can’t write at all, I just feel like dying. I went through a lot during Junior year, and it resulted in me being very depressed; which really affected my ability to write. I hate writing when my heart isn’t in it when this happens it leads me to procrastinate, waiting for a spark of motivation but, during Junior year I realized you just have to fake it occasionally and write with only your intelligent mind. My Junior year I decided to take Mr.Davies Dual Enrollment English class, a college level class.
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.
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.