Gus Van Weelden
Analyze my own writing process.
1. First thoughts
Looking at my writing process I see an undertone of lazyness. I know that I
should go back over my papers with the intent of a huge overhaul, I know I should
think critically about wording my argument but I don’t. There is some thought put
into my written works but most of that thought occurs as I throw the writing onto a
page for the first time. Rarely do I go back and make large changes to my written
works and never have I done a full re write of a paper with the same topic. A paper
looking at improving writing process, has to be mostly about the post draft revision.
2. Prejudices
Why don’t I review my essays (in general)
I have misplaced trust in my writing. I guess I assume that just because I am
talking, others will listen. When I am writing, I know my Professor Will read my
paper because he needs to evaluate it. When I write a letter, I assume that the
receiver Will read it because I sent it. Whether this is based in an ego problem or a
‘missing social queue’s’ problem, it needs to be addressed. I think if I can get over
that assumption of ‘they Will read my paper’ and start writing with an attitude of
‘how can I make them want to read my paper’ I will find the motivation and see the
benefit of large revisions.
3. Instant version- My paper, as written right now
I will start off with something about audiences. Something about revising a
paper to specifically address the audience (first paper). I will talk about microcalibration, addressing the needs of each individual audience member etc (again,
all first paper.) That’s all well and good, aslong as your audience members feel
motivated enough to actually hear you out, spend the time to enter the rhetorical
situation and take in the argument you are supplying. If the reader does not buy
into the paper, the arguments you make will fall on deaf ears.
Body Paragraphs
-Characteristics needed
-Good hook
grab attention
-flowing train of thought
no major jumps or gaps in logic
-visually appealing (if they do that with a comma, what will they do
with a nail, Conversation 8 intro
-How to get there
-Where it can go wrong
Computer program use
Laziness (personal problem)
No assumptions of audience buying in, MAKE them WANT to
read
Leads to motivation to revise
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Gus Van Weelden
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-Revision
Methods of revision
Conv 8 intro
Others reading your paper before final draft
Reading aloud
Confrences
-Proof reading
Catching the aesthetic errors, grammar, punctuation
5. Narrative thinking
The way I see writing is me talking to a paper, then a paper being read by
someone else. The problem with this model is that there is an underlying
assumption that the audience wants to read my paper. (I think I covered this
topic already, I’m just going to move on to the voyage home)
14. The voyage home
The assignment is to reflect on my own writing process and through that
reflection, produce a paper that is free of grammatical and punctual errors. I feel
like this paper is a chance for me to take time to dive into my personal writing
habits with a paintbrush and a hammer and change, fix, and redesign those writing
habits. At this point, my audience has little to do with my paper. Because this paper
is directed at my own writing habits, I want to treat this paper as though the
audience is ME. Similar to an ink shed. After I have a paper I am happy with, I will
try to re purpose the paper from a personal reflection, to informing someone else
about the personal reflection I just went through. THAT is when I will take my
audience into consideration.
The question is, who is my audience. I think I want to use this as my final portfolio
paper, so my final audience is some unknown professor, probably in an library with
leather bound books, mahogany shelves, sitting at a large desk with a glass of scotch
and a feather quill, tearing apart my paper, while contemplating going quail hunting
with his fellow intellectuals and his new bloodhound (see what happens when I let
my imagination go…) Back to the question
I want my main point to be an account of a personal discovery. Detailing my
thought process, finally arriving in some answer to the question ‘how can I make my
writing better?’ Most likely, it will be about what I have to do to motivate myself to
revise my papers, rather then just writeproofread (ish) hand in.
I think I have found a good starting point for my essay. The overlying theme of:
benefits of, and motivation to revise has a lot to talk about, but still is specific
enough to come to a final point. I also think that the mood of the paper being set as
a personal revelation is one that fits this topic quite well, and will push and
challenge my writing style. I think the only way for me to pull this paper off is to
actually follow the advice I am writing the paper on and revise the hell out of it.
Gus Van Weelden
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I want to go back and read a little further into conversation 8, focusing on revising. I
think that I will be able to find some great sources in there. It would be a good
starting point for gathering my different voices and making up my own opinion on
the subject.
I wrote the rough outline above based on what I think of the topic right now. I think
that I will be tweaking that outline as time moves on. As I review some of the
writings in conversation 8 that outline may morph into a whole other monster, or
worst case scenario, I may realize that everything I am trying to say is redundant
and I will have to find a new topic. (I really hope not)