Please respond to the following questions:
(a) what is writing, in other words, what are the definitions, ideas, thoughts, expressions, etc. that you associate with writing. What makes writing good to you? When you think of research and writing--what comes to mind?
(b) What type of writer do you see yourself as? Do you believe you are a novice or an expert? Why?
(c) Create a list of 5-8 key terms you believe define good writing.
By the end of this first blog post, I want you to come up with a definition of writing that includes a list of key terms.
In-Class Writing for Thursday, January 8, 2015.
Writing is an expression of thought and feeling, the transcription of ideas for circulation, and for some, an act of catharsis. Writing is the process of taking original ideas, and forming them into something that can be translated by the reader. Writing is helping someone to see something from your own perspective, while simultaneously expanding theirs.
ReplyDeletePersonally, writing is good when it is completely original in thought and form. Additionally, not only the content of what is written should be of quality, but the aesthetics must also contribute to what is written. Literary devices should enhance writing, using words in multiple ways-not just as descriptors, or verbs, or nouns, but bringing sentences to life.
Research and writing brings to mind the perusal of academic journals, and talk of abstracts, methods, and results. As someone who has done a lot of research writing in my life, I know that it can be an arduous process, including interviews, information overload, and exhaustion.
When it comes to my ability to write, I don’t believe that anyone can be an expert writer, because there is always more to learn about writing, and always more to be said. Even published authors, long-standing members of the best seller lists, and professors who dedicate their lives to the craft of writing will always be able to improve, learn new words, and create original thoughts to be shared with readers. As a result, I am absolutely a novice, because I realize I can always stand to practice, and read more.
Writing is the fusion of original words, placed into unique form, with the inclusion of literary devices to enhance the aesthetics of a work. Writings purpose is to enlighten readers with thoughtful content designed to broaden and shift perspective.
key terms: form, originality, aesthetics, content, literary devices, perspective
DeleteHey Helen! It's me, Katie! I really enjoyed how you wrote this blog entry-- it was captivating, and I thought it really captured everything that I was thinking about writing, yet in a more elegant and sufficient manner. I thought that what you said about writing being completely original in both thought and form is something great to strive for, but how can you ever be certain that it is original? If you think about it, I find it extremely rare to have a completely innovative and unique idea or thought. However, I think that you were doing a good job of incorporating ideas that have been previously expressed (whether in lectures by professors, or textbooks, etc.) in a unique and individualized fashion.
DeleteI believe that your definition of writing is quite rigid and I encourage you to see it as something a little more free-flowing, similar to what Shawn said. You have such excellent word choice and you're so clear and succinct in what you're trying to say and that's super impressive! Many kudos for writing so cleanly and professionally in such a short amount of time!
DeleteI really liked what you said about how every writer can stand to improve. Besides writing, in every activity in life, everyone can always have room for improvement. But why is the existence of “experts” non-existent. Is it just a random word in your dictionary? Just because an expert is an expert at what they do, are they not allowed to work on improvement? Oh hey! I’m an expert at this. Looks like I can’t ever touch this thing again because I’m an expert at it. Hur. Hur. Hur.
DeleteI’m not harshly critiquing your response or anything. No! I really meant what I said before when I liked what you wrote. Each individual idea makes total sense. But I just don’t like how you’ve tied them together. Long-standing members on best seller lists are experts at what _they_ do. The fact that they keep writing, is them making improvements. It doesn’t mean that they’re NOT an expert.
To me, writing is putting words in a distinct and thoughtful manner on paper. When I think of research and writing, little comes to mind, because I have disliked research papers so much in the past that I try to suppress thoughts of them. This being said, predominantly negative thoughts arise when I force myself to think of research and writing in conjunction. However, thinking about the research aspect of writing more thoroughly, I find it to be more interrelated with each piece of writing, regardless of whether it is a research paper for a class or a piece of prose. While writing, I come to new conclusions during the brainstorming process or even during the writing of the piece itself, that I hadn't expected when I began to write. I don’t see myself as a novice or an expert. I am not sure how you would assess either in writing. I think that, if writers are creative, use a unique voice, descriptive words and other imagery, clever and thought provoking ideas, and connect these aspects in a way in which it seems seamlessly created to the reader, then they are a good writer. I make an attempt to incorporate these aspects into my writing, but I still cannot determine whether I am an “expert” or “novice” writer. I hope I am somewhere in between. There are a lot of authors I would consider to be expert writers, but I do not know if they would even call themselves that. With those I see as expert authors, I find that their writing has a consistency, and a flow to it that allows it to be accessible to readers that share the author’s interest in the topics. Even if they don’t, however, I find that if great authors write passionately (which, if they’re great, they do) then the reader will become more engaged in the piece. Writing is the synthesis of words, in a unique and creative fashion, organized in a way such that it flows seamlessly and exudes the author’s passion for what is written in a unique and flavorful voice with imagery that creates a vivid scene in the readers’ minds.
ReplyDeleteYou are the second post I've read that holds a negative connotation with research papers, and that's a bummer to me! They can be boring but I hope in college you can see how great it feels to make solid arguments that are backed by credible sources. For me, combining research and writing is empowering because it adds credibility to your voice.
DeleteAnyways, I really liked how you wrote about authors having a "flow." I feel that way too about my favorite authors, there's something easy about the prose. Nice post, well written!
I agree! When you state that you don't see yourself as a novice nor an expert. I think that the more feedback you are willing to take from others about your paper, the better; then that way, it does allow you to become that "expert" writer, in a way.
DeleteKatie-
DeleteI enjoy (and identify) with how you articulated your writing process. I never really put thought into it, but I often sit down to write something and the finished product is something completely evolved, so I understood your sentiment when you stated "I come to new conclusions...I hadn't expected when I began to write".
Additionally, I agree with your thoughts regarding research papers (lol).
DeleteHow can you dislike research papers? Research is just another way to learn something new, and writing the paper is a way to tell others about what you learned.
I completely agree with what you said about writer’s passion. To me, writing is an expression of you, and the authors that can express themselves and show their passion and love in their writing will always be considered great writers. Another point well made was wondering if the "expert writers" would consider themselves "experts". I think that even the greats have people that they look up to and feel like they can never call them selves "experts" or "great writers" as they compare themselves to others. In the end it is all a meter of perception.
Writing is getting a message of some sort across to another person or audience. It can be an opinion, a fictional story, a fun fact, or even a lie. The author has power to convey anything they want through their words and descriptions. I think that good writing is when the writer clearly has passion about what they are saying. In all famous speeches, the speaker has passion in their voice. Good writing is being able to hear a unique tone of voice that a person uses to emphasize whatever it is they are saying. Research writing is difficult to be unique when just stating facts over and over, but if the author uses exciting examples and creative words, it will not be dull. However, the writer also needs to be able to use grammar and language skills because no one wants to try to read something that is painful to try to understand. There are many ways to write something well, such as using strong sentence structure and creative words, but a passionate voice sets good writing apart from great writing.
ReplyDeleteI believe I am an intermediate writer because writing is not something I am particularly interested in. I have excellent grammar and spelling skills and I love to read, but I am not as good at being creative, imaginative, and exciting. In high school you learn to make your first few sentences draw the audience in so that they want to read more, and that is something I have trouble doing. Researching things and connecting them to things in my life is a little easier for me to write about.
A few terms I believe define good writing are entertaining, descriptive (or imagery), strong voice, personality, sentence structure/grammar, and overall organization.
Writing is getting a message across in any form, whether an email, speech, essay, novel, or text message.
I like how you said writing can be a lie. And I think you were able to articulate your opinions about research and writing in a very easy to follow manner. I'm sorry you associate research and writing with negativity, because it can be really productive and meaningful! It seems to me that your writing style is pretty structured, maybe for your next post you can try to branch out and break some grammar rules or use them in new ways :) nice post!
DeleteWriting is a fluid term in nearly every sense. Literally, it is the physical action of using some utensil to scratch out words onto paper. The real meaning, however, has evolved far beyond this primitive definition. Writing is like turning your mind into a playground. It requires a childish willingness to explore, fall down, and pick yourself back up again. When words come naturally for a topic, it can be like going down a slide–pretty satisfying and a little thrilling. But when you get stumped, it’s as frustrating as getting stuck in the middle of monkey bars.
ReplyDeleteSo writing is a journey for the writer, but there’s really two sides to the story. Maintaining the interest of the audience is essential for a successful piece. If your audience isn’t convinced that you have something to offer them, whether it be insight or humor, they just won’t continue reading! If a playground isn’t much fun, kids won’t play on it long and probably won’t come back. Having a strong voice is like having a really cool teeter totter, it keeps the audience on edge and a little bit excited, and likely to return.
It’s also incredibly important to give the audience a purpose to read your words in their entirety. This purpose can vary from morality to educational value and everywhere in between. Often, educational writing is only useful if it has been adequately researched. Think as if you were an eight-year-old again, choosing which park you want your parents to take you. If you don’t know anything about playgrounds, they would all be about the same and it wouldn’t make much of a difference. But if you were a fortunate little kid, you probably played on playgrounds regularly, and know that some are way cooler than others. Some slides are taller, swings larger, jungle gyms…well… funner. The same goes for selecting educational pieces to read. The way the credibility of a paper is determined is not so far off from that of a playground. Where kids seek out tall slides, an educated audience looks for a strong background in the field. Where kids look at the age group and “coolness” of kids at a playground, academics tend to look towards notable critics and peers.
Combining research and writing helps with cultivating credibility. Other terms that define good writing to me include humor, vocabulary, purpose, feel, authenticity, and (of course) an interesting conclusion. I think of myself as an amateur writer, because I do it a lot but don’t publish anything. At the most, I’ve read a few poems at slams. Concluding my extended metaphor, I’m kind of like the kid who goes to the playground that’s quiet simply because I don’t like all the fuss of attention and clamour. I prefer to quietly go about my business, enjoying the playground in my mind as I go.
To flesh out my definition of writing, I’ll call it a spirited exploration of opinion, fact, and authentic beliefs, somehow wrapping these together with purpose, tying the bow with prose.
Julia, I think that it is extremely important to "give the audience a purpose to read your words in their entirety." I never though of writing as having having two sides to it--the other side being keeping the attention of the reader. I think that if you pretty much write about anything, in any style, then you confuse the reader, which makes the paper eventually become a "turn-off."
DeleteI definitely agree with Dimitrius, I think the fact that you talked about the audience too is something we probably didn't all think about. I feel that even if the audience is just yourself or your best friend it is important to take those into account when it comes to deciding if a piece of writing is successful or not.
DeleteI enjoyed your analogy at the beginning with writing being viewed as a playground of sorts, and how you fleshed this out with the rest of your response. I feel this way as well, and it's so incredibly satisfying when my words just flow and are articulated exactly how I want them to be! I also liked reading your response because of your feelings about research and writing. It was interesting for me to read how you feel about it, because I do not have the same passion for it as you do, but your description made me at least slightly more positive about the idea :)
DeleteIn all honesty, is there really a one true definition to what writing is? Sure, there’s the technical term of what writing is. But looking at it, writing is like a grey area. There’s no limits. Being limitless, how can we pin a definition to it? If we compare writing to something like a painting, “writing” is the painting as a whole while ideas and thoughts are the trees and clouds and random sneakers in it. The definition is why the trees and clouds in the painting has eyes. Why? No one really knows, but the writer. The readers are but visitors at a window to a writer’s mind.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know what kind of writer I am. You can call me a jack of all trades, but king of none? I’m not an expert in anything but I do know how to write formally, informally, lab reports, fictionally, and etc. I’ll come off as decent or “meh” of a writer, neither novice nor expert. As I like to say, “Literature has my heart! But Science! Has my mind!” I find myself torn between these two worlds, never having the adequate time to become an expert in either of the two. What blundering idiot decided that we could only have 24 hours in a day anyways???
What defines good writing? To me, good writing can be defined by: awareness, freedom, indifference, sensitivity, and limitless. As mentioned before, you can’t pin a definition to writing. Let Webster’s, dictionary.com, and whoever else wants to, make a definition for writing. But if it were me making dictionaries, I’d leave a blank space next to the bolded word, “Writing,” and whatever you want to write in that space will be the definition to writing, your definition of writing. Writing is nothing but simply translating the thoughts inside one’s head to a format in which an audience can read and explore. To write, one should have full awareness of self and everything in the world, the freedom to write anything, the indifference of the opinions of the audience, the sensitivity of the audience’s opinions, and the limitless plane of the mind where the ideas are harbored.
I am the same way with writing. I have been taught all throughout school how to write a nice essay to get an A, but I am not an exceptional writer by any means. However, at least writing is something that is in our lives enough that we have no choice but to improve. And 24 hours is a lot if you decide to give up sleep!!
DeleteI thought you had some super cool things to say here. I really like that quote "Literature has my heart! But Science! Has my mind!" Did you get it from somewhere?I can relate in that I really like literature and how expressive it is and stuff but I sometimes also feel like I am torn between the worlds of prose and poetry. I also think that trying to define writing, or putting a pin on something so elusive is a kinda fruitless task.
DeleteI believe that writing is whatever you want it to be. I have always said that writing allows you to say everything that you have always wished to say, just on a paper form. When I think of research and writing, I think of numerous topics being researched, argued, and even proven. Furthermore, when I think of research and writing, I think of individuals writing about a topic that they are passionate about. Most times, when a person chooses to write a research paper, it is a topic that they either have a personal connection to, or are just extremely passionate towards. I believe that it is good for someone to choose a topic of their choice, so that they can reach their highest potential for what their paper can be.
ReplyDeleteI see myself more as an argumentative and research writer. I wouldn’t say that I am a novice, but I don’t see myself as an expert either, for the simple reason that there are always corrections to be made to a paper. I remember writing my senior thesis paper in high school, and I thought the first time around that there would be absolutely no mistakes in my paper. However, once it was time to get our rough draft papers back from the teacher, I will never forget how many red marks I saw on the paper, let alone, the grade that I had received for the rough draft. I appreciate the fact that it was above the class average, but it was still technically failing. After having numerous people look over my paper and having constant rewrites of the same paper, I was finally able to turn everything around, and received the grade that I had wished for. Since then, I have had the attitude that everyone has the potential to be an outstanding writer; it is just the time that one has to put into the paper, to receive the expected outcome.
Writing allows people to get in touch with their inner self and find out what it is that they are truly passionate about. Writing is the hidden answer to numerous questions.
I love at the beginning that you stated that writing is a way to say everything you wished you had said, but in paper form. That is probably why it is considered such a good thing for people to keep journals, because sometimes it is unhealthy to keep things bottled up inside you, and I agree that it’s very cool that putting words on paper can “free” you.
DeleteI definitely agree that people can write to their full potential if they are really passionate about the topic because that is one of the ways that I can express my emotions the most. I also think that writing is like a never ending process. Just when you think your paper is good, you find out that there's many more things to make it even better. Nice post!
Deletea. Writing is, in a mechanical sense at least, the act of putting words onto paper (or onto an electronic display in this day in age). So really writing isn’t a very cool task, the cool thing about writing is all of the things that it can be made to do. The purpose of writing has evolved over time, while maintaining many of its original uses. This flexibility is one of the really cool things about writing, it can be used by a heartbroken teenager who wants to vent in a diary or by a government to declare war. Writing doesn't discriminate. Writing is good when it accomplishes what it aims to do. If an author writes a novel that is loved by many, then it's probably good writing. If a toddler wants to help their mom make a shopping list and they accomplish that, then that's a good piece of writing. Writing is hard to judge, because judging something assumes criteria that the author was trying to meet, tying back to what I was saying before; writing is good when it accomplishes what it tries to. When I think of writing and research I definitely have academic associations with that title. I believe that this is because of the scholastic connotations of the word “research”. Research is often tied to scientists and specialists in a field. This isn’t true though because a child learning how they can stack Legos™ so they don’t fall is also research. After typing that, I think I kind of rid myself of feeling like research has to always be so rigid.
ReplyDeleteb. I see myself as a very esoteric writer. I enjoy writing long, detailed guides to explain something to somebody, and I also like to write free-verse poetry. There are plenty of things in the middle I like to write but these two are caricatures of things that I like to write so I’ll use them. I just like writing about certain things, and I don’t even completely know what those are yet. I believe I am an expert in writing when it comes to some things, but a novice when it comes to others. For instance I can usually write poetry that I’m happy with but there’s a lot of rhetorical analysis papers that I wrote in high school that I could live without. It doesn’t feel right to call myself either a novice or an expert, writing has so many facets, and some of them I’m just decent at.
c. expressive, purposeful, natural, interesting, good to read, substantial.
Writing is basically putting down some words so that people know what you mean and trying to put the words down in a cool way.
I really like your definition of what is good writing. I feel like we put so much stock in perfect formatting and spelling that we let little forms of writing get away from us. I feel like if there is a piece of writing that makes you happy even if a word is spelled wrong in it, doesn't mean it isn't perfect in some sense.
DeleteI enjoy how you stress the universality of writing, when you mention its "flexibility". Inherently, writing is something that all humans are capable of doing with proper instruction, and thus writing must be flexible, to accommodate billions of thoughts that are destined to be written down. I think that word is a very good way to describe writing, as it covers several facets of writing that are salient to its universal importance.
DeleteI like how you defined good writing: when it accomplishes what it aims to do. That's well put.
DeleteOverall, I think you maintained a consistently interesting and thoughtful voice throughout your response. Good luck with developing your other writing skills! Maybe you can shake things up and use your strong poetic abilities to write more interesting rhetorical analyses papers. And if you improve your ability to write rhetorical analyses, maybe your poems will make points more effectively!
I love that you said "writing doesn't discriminate," because at the end of the day writing is what the writer needs it to be, some write for profit, some for justice, some for themselves, it's a medium of expression, it's art. And, like art, writing should be a free flowing form of expression, not simply bound by some strict set of rules or definitions. With that said you also apply this sense of freedom to research, demonstrating the endless possibilities through which it can be applied. And I suppose it is in this way that research and writing tie so well together, because it gives us the freedom to find our own answers, and then the freedom to express what we find.
DeleteI think we over think what writing is, yeah it’s used for essays and assignments and for work but it’s also used in texts and on all social media and in your planner and for grocery lists. So I think there are places where good and bad writing really matter, at least to teachers or your boss, but there are other media that the perfect grammar and vocabulary don’t matter so much. I think there are things that lend to good writing, even in more casual formats like a clear stream of consciousness, spelling and grammar. But as I write this there’s no doubt in my mind that my stream of consciousness and grammar definitely won’t be perfect. But beyond basics like that I think there are bigger differences between good and great writers, I think passion comes across in writing even if it’s an academic based writing. I also think that slightly beyond a clear stream of consciousness, “flow” can be a key factor in what changes a good piece of writing to a great one. I think after twelve years of school I can write a pretty solid essay or lab report, but also thanks to that education I have a hard job even trying to write about something that isn't for a grade. I can’t imagine doing math for fun on the weekends, and writing is definitely up there on that list and I think unless you are really passionate about writing to start with it is hard to do creatively for yourself. I feel that creative and personal writing is so lacking in the public school system that it is hard to do and do confidently outside of school and that confidence is a huge part of what makes a good piece of writing.
ReplyDeletea) Writing is the one of the best ways for people to express all their thoughts onto a piece of paper. I enjoy writing about myself or personal experiences because all my thoughts can just flow out. Not all pieces of writing are meant to be entertaining. Different genres of writing entertain different types of people in their own ways. A person might excel at writing one type of genre, but at the same time might lack qualities for another. For me, the most important quality that good writing must have is the ability to make readers want to keep reading, no matter what topic the writing is about. Sometimes, people who write about boring topics can still make the topic seem interesting in a way because the way they write helps readers stay engaged. When I think about research and writing, I picture myself looking up information on a topic and grasping enough to be able to write a very informative and interesting essay about the topic.
ReplyDeleteb) I see myself as a boring writer because I think that I am lacking in creativity and imagination. I’m definitely not the “think outside the box” kind of guy which probably affects my writing in a negative way. Also, the fact that I don’t enjoy writing and expressing my thoughts doesn’t help out either. If I was more energetic and excited about writing, I would probably have more creative writing. I am definitely a novice in writing because my vocabulary is really weak and I still have some grammar issues that I need to work on.
c) Creativity, Engaging, Emotion, Grammar, Vocabulary
Writing is a form of self-expression. Writing is thinking on paper, or a computer screen and putting down those words to be seen or thought of again. The ideas that form while writing are like thinking before you speak, or in this case, write it down. Good writing is something that can open your mind to new ideas and opinions, and can make you feel something. The words writing and research come to mind when I think of science research, and the writing of lab reports. The word “writing” alone brings back memories of high school English papers and hours in front of the computer. Research, however, makes me think of data and experiments the find answers. I see myself as an expressive writer. I write down the thoughts in my head that feel as though they will be lost and forgotten if they are not let out. In my mind, the ideas are like little people, all vying to get out and be shared with the world. I may a moderate writer, but my imagination runs wild. I believe I am a moderate writer over a beginner, and definitely not an advanced expert for three simple reasons. One, I took college writing from a wonderful teacher who pounded types of good writing forms into our beings. Two, I like using readable and intriguing words. And three, when I write, I have it make sense. My writing is an expression of an extroverted introvert who has ideas and thoughts to share, about almost any topic. If I were a beginner, my thoughts would be jumbled around, not making the point as clearly as I want it to be read. For this reason, becoming a moderate writer was necessary. With a passion for helping others learn, not being able to correctly express yourself is a heavy burden. I know I am not an expert writer for a very simple reason. I prefer speaking my opinions. If I hated to speak them publicly, or even semi-privately like in a classroom, my writing would have been forced to be better to help illustrate my impressions. Good writing involves having and doing a couple of things. Good writing is having concepts that are interesting. Having a good word choice to better express the interesting concepts. A clear format that brings the word choice and the ideas together. Good grammar, that helps the format. The most important part of good writing is that the reader can feel the emotion and effort that was put into the writing.
ReplyDeleteI really do agree with what you wrote. I especially liked what you said in your second sentence about how, "writing is thinking on paper." It sounds almost poetic to me! Writing is definitely capable of anything from showing passions and feelings and expressions but without a wild imagination, writing can be difficult sometimes. But as long you put in the emotion and effort into the writing, then the reader can feel what you put into the writing.
DeleteI completely agree with the terms that you used for desiring writing. Additionally, I love how you said "manipulative." I believe that most writing is manipulative, in the sense that most of the times, a person reading a topic, may not have any immediate knowledge of what is being read; that is what they re coming to your paper for. Then you have those that may know what it is that you're trying to do.
ReplyDeleteI really like how descriptive you defined what writing truly is, an art. I truly agree that words are like a paintbrush and you can make them into a beautiful piece of art in your own individual way. Writing does take a LOT of practice (which I should do more of) and I agree that the best writers are the ones who find an amazing way to express their feelings.
ReplyDeleteReally descriptive post!
To start I think that at its core writing is simply a method by which people can share and record their ideas. Whether it be short or long, fact or fiction, simple or complex, writing in any form gives ideas substance, a voice through which they can be shared across space and time, long after its creator has passed. However, I also don't believe that any one definition could ever encompass all that writing is, for writing offers far too many variations for any single definition to contain it. As far as what defines good writing, I’m afraid I couldn’t do much better. However, for me personally good writing is expressive, its passionate, it gives an idea not only a voice, but life. To me truly good writing, the kind that lasts the ages, is writing that expands one’s mind, giving them a sense of clarity and purpose that they hadn’t had before. But of course this writing has to make some kind of sense, otherwise who could the ideas be shared with?!
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to research and writing I get a mix of feelings, on the one hand I can imagine the handful of boring research papers that high school decided to shove down my throat, but on the other hand I can see all that research and writing has given us. Where would we be if Einstein never wrote down his theory of general relativity or if no one ever bothered to write down any history at all? On its own research gives mankind the ability to discover new things about themselves and the world around them, but no way to disperse them, much like a cannon with no powder. However, when given writing, research can be spread around the world.
I see myself as a writer with a great deal to learn. Well I’m fairly confident in my abilities as a writer, I’m also sometimes intimidated, by how much more there is to learn. Thus, to put it flatly, I’m a pretty generic writer, having substance, but often running into wall when trying to find my own voice in my writing. While basic conventions and some flowery vocabulary have gotten me this far, there is still a great deal I need to figure out if I want to find my own way.
If I were to name eight key terms that define good writing they’d be passionate, engaging, descriptive, structured, flow, meaningful, creative, and of course good writing should be enjoyable!