For this specific assignment, I was tasked with explaining what my theory of writing was coming into English 101, how it evolved with each paper, and what is my theory now. Also, what contributed to my theory the most and how I will use said theory in the future. In my final essay I am tasked of picking one genre of composition. Naturally, the genre in which I am writing this assignment is in an essay format. It seemed only adequate to chose this genre because this is the kind of writing I have been doing the most during this course and will likely be the register most used when at work (I assume) - so the choice was obvious to me. 

English is not my first language, considering that, I assume I do not sound nor write as eloquently as native speakers do. Even though English is taught in Europe, a student in the 90’s would hardly go beyond “Hello, Goodbye”, “Nice to meet you”, “Where is the train station?”, “Do you have the time?”, “Thank you very much”. Coming to the United States and, living in an anglophone country, did boost my English a little. There were always – and, sometimes, still subsist – doubts which a native speaker would (or at least should) not even have: is it “a” or “an”? “Do” or “Make”? “In” or “On”? Should this be Present Perfect or Past Simple? Of course, when speaking a second/foreign language this becomes much harder.

Studying ‘’Gloria Anzaldua’s essay/memoir on language, culture, and identity’’-  “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” spoke volumes to me. Her rhetoric, how she reaches out to her audience her purpose is clear, those spoke to me right away from the very beginning. In the following passage of her book when she says, '' So, if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language. Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity - I am my language. '' (Gloria Anzaldua’s pp.39 “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”). Like her, I am my language I will always be my language. My culture, my legacy, starts with my language - my accent.

I believe there may be a problem that people in general may not realize second language speakers face. That I face. Speaking and writing are actually two different skills. I always knew that, even with the linguistic boost of living in an anglophone country, some things would simply take their time. As for writing it goes far beyond just sitting at a computer-desk and start typing, therefore, an extra effort would have to be made in order to complete this course. That effort, was not giving up and persevering.

Looking back at my writing theory before coming into English 101, I would write like people talk, instinctively but of course aware of the audience (the difference between writing to a friend or writing to a Queen). Genre I had a slight notion of as I knew the difference between a poem and a prose but, even though I used it instinctively, my awareness of purpose was maturing.

After realizing that register matters in English too and the matters of register, it was one of my priorities to show that now I was aware of certain words and idioms which must be avoided when writing an essay or other formal genres. When I mentioned that “heck” or “gosh” should be avoided I meant it in formal writing it should, as I was actually criticizing papers written by me for the college’s placement tests.

Once the course began, I had not reached a definition for good writing that had left me content, I must say. I mostly questioned it for the most part of the short essay one: ‘’ (…), what is good writing? Or what skills does one need for good writing? It is a great question, especially, but overall, considering my meager understanding.’’ (Short Assignment #1); ‘’ Nonetheless, words cannot fully explain what good writing all is about. The power of writing is much about sharing.’’ (Short Assignment #1); ‘’ (…) really it is both a simple, yet complex answer because it mostly comes down to how well the writer connects with his target audience.‘’ (Short Assignment #1). I said prior I was already aware of audience - to whom we are writing to, and purpose I have used it intrinsically, making my theory of writing at that stage in time pathos oriented. I envisioned my writing style in short essay number one as: ‘’ (…) sometime from now, using the art of writing as holding a tinny brush and with each brush-stroke, setting an image as of a painting or composing a symphony (…).’’ (Short Assignment 1 SA), I cannot help but smirk at how I started writing in the beginning of the semester, but as I continued reading back into my work, I may have sometimes sounded, (or not), like a broken record.

My manual defined genre as: ‘’ A genre is a type of writing – from an informative report to a blog posting – and each type of writing requires particular rhetorical moves’’. Blau and Burak pp.3-5 (Writing in the Works). Genre and audience I knew what they were, but the English nomenclature was unknown to me up to that point. Purpose was somewhat clear. I was already aware of the concept of genre and audience. The way they all work together,’’ Rhetorical moves, ways of persuading the reader, are essential in any piece of literature. ‘’ (Short Assignment #2 SA); ‘’ (…)  who will read what we have written, is always associated with the purpose and the Genre.’’ (Short assignment #3 SA).

Dr. Martin Luther King’s - Letter from Birmingham Jail, Gloria Anzaldua - essay/memoir on language, culture, and identity How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, and Donovan Livingston, Commencement Address speech, are fine examples of genre an author choses in delivering his message. they are fine examples of the use of appropriate rhetoric. Analyzing these readings have contributed to my theory of writing - different genres filled with rhetorical moves that show the co-relation between audience and context. I cannot fully equate which is the most valuable! ‘equate’, - another great vocabulary addition!

When I began to develop - ''The Theory of Writing or The writer’s guide to utter, unequivocal success.'' for major assignment one, I realized soon after the partnership peer review task, that the review itself did not define my writing as bad at all, but that it transpired the need for more focus and direction, a good example is shown in the following paragraph: ''Imagine an automobile. Picture it. If you have driven one before, you will be surely imagining its inside by now. The cockpit not only provides you with a comfortable seat but also with the means of driving the said automobile. While there may be those who would feel satisfied by simply sitting in the said seat, most, I believe, would probably need the instruments provided in the cockpit.'' (Major Assignment #1). It is an over barring paragraph and somewhat redundant. 

As I am working with short assignment #3 Audience - who is it that will be reading what we have written? I re-considered my own style I assume because I was, (and still am), my only audience. - ‘’Making sense of the structure is empirical by the audience and so the natural need to follow it with attention to planning.’’ (Short Assignment # 3 SA) Why one does something? The need for a plan? Writing with purpose and the importance of choosing the accurate genre to the right audience.

It was revealing and those three, first, short assignments leading up to my first Major assignment, guided me in formulating a better or more refined theory. The follow quotation shows that I am aware to whom, why, and how the writing process flows. The beauty of these tools, all of them working together as an oily machine, ''So, we can now observe that these three independent tools are not really independent but rather autonomous.  One will always need the others. The same goes for writing, being the car - the book, the gas pedal – the genre, the steering wheel – the audience, and, last but not least, the brakes – the purpose. If one of these three fails, the others will not perform as they are intended.''(Major Assignment #1 SA). When I started, my reasoning for writing ''The Theory of Writing or The writer’s guide to utter, unequivocal success.'' - I said that, ''The fact that the GENRE (kind of writing), PURPOSE (why do we write), and AUDIENCE (to whom we are writing; who will read what we have written) are always connected gives us a better understanding of how a person can write well. It is also important to understand that writing can be FICTIONAL or NON-FICTIONAL. What compels us to write (...).'' (Major Assignment #1 SA).

I am satisfied in my choice of words and how I am expressing my thoughts. I am aware of fictional and non-fictional writing. In addition, and to make the message clear, I also say write about the importance of planning (preparing) the layout of all the main parts of the text - structuring the text, ''It is impossible to stress enough the importance of knowing how many guards a bank does have, the type of alarm, and when the vault most is filled with live money before robbing it. Failure to do so will result in a shameful arrest and a consequent non-consensual love affair at the state penitentiary. This is called planning. Just like a proper bank robbing, we must plan our text properly. A good planning consists of defining the type of text (as mentioned before), making a list of the ideas/topics, organizing those topics, and structuring the text into three main parts (introduction, body, and conclusion).'' (Major Assignment #1 SA). In retrospective, I must say my theory of writing has changed with each piece of study that was introduced.  My Major assignment # 1 is one of those essays that shows how now I am much more aware of the importance of the key term purpose, and how now I use ethos, logos and pathos in a much more balanced and effective way.

Carrying into my second major essay, I added even more vocabulary, it was more than writing like one speaks: ‘’ What end is it for? Is it just for the sake of entertainment?’’ (Major Assignment #2 SA). This easy, drafts one and two, focused greatly on genre, purpose, and audience. One shall not forget the importance of these key terms. Major Assignment number two was my first source based oriented paper. Involving a lot of research and critical analysis. The ultimate goal was to create our own personal question. It was one of my most challenging essay’s up to that point.

‘’Do games benefit modern society?’’, that was my final question for Major assignment number two. Studying the TED talk of game designer Jane McGonigal was a turning point for me. The way she choses to talk to her audience compelled me to want to investigate and write about games and the positive effects drawn from them. Her drive for the topic of games, her passion, and use of powerful, engaging, rhetoric was on point.  

My theory nowadays does not vary much from how it started. I believe that logic must always be a substantial part of how and what one writes. I am able to communicate in different genres and deliver the correct message to the intended audience, those projects helped me recognize even more the connection between audience, purpose, and genre, as well as the importance of ethos, logos, and pathos.

My knowledge grew, observing the importance of writing well. I feel that the way I read and listen to others has improved enormously. Now I deconstruct other people’s speeches and letters, looking for rhetorical moves - understanding them. All people should. Martin Luther King’s - Letter from Birmingham Jail is a fine example of the power of rhetoric. His letter is filled with rhetorical tools. ''Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see the tears welling up in her little eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky, and see her begin to distort her little personality by unconsciously developing a bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking in agonizing pathos: “Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?” (Dr. Martin Luther King’s - Letter from Birmingham Jail).

I had never read this letter before. The words that Dr. Martin Luther King uses in the letter touches a person in a very deep place, particularly if one is a parent. Regardless of color, how can one not have emotion to what he is saying? Would the people have been so easily fooled had they studied Aristotle and learned how to deconstruct what is in another person’s writing/speeches? With this logic one will have a better understanding of the author message if when deconstructing his/ her work.

Major assignment #3 required the class to compose, not in one, not in two, but in three genre compositions in which, one would be building an infographic. All of these compositions would be revolving around the research topic of our choice from Major assignment number 2.  The Infographic piece was quite surprising, made me confused in the beginning but, shortly after excited in learning this way. I am glad I could grasp a method of learning by transfer in this class because it adds more clarity to how my theory of writing grew more - being able to use different rhetorical tools and genres to convey a message plus it adds more into my résumé.

The last article of this semester was – ‘’Transfer of Learning’’. It brought a visible co-relation with the previous work developed in Major assignment number three the Infographic piece. Using Wikipedia I am asked to bring a definition for ''Transfer of Learning'', ‘’ (…) occurring when people apply information, strategies, and skills they have learned to a new situation or context. Transfer is not a discrete activity but, is rather an integral part of the learning process. Researchers attempt to identify when and how transfer occurs and to offer strategies to improve transfer.’’ (Wikipedia 07/12/2020) Analyzing the definition, I one cannot deny how much was absorbed with this method of learning . New gained knowledge is after transferred to an array of many other topics and areas of interest.  

The knowledge gained throughout this semester is invaluable I am sure it shall be used in many capacities in the near future, as I have been for quite some time now. My new gained knowledge helps me produce a better portfolio (Resume - Curriculum Vitae) - It will aid me in filling out a substantial job application, the text will fulfill its purpose, it is well understood and shall be written and delivered according to who my audience might be. If asked to build an infographic piece I am equipped with the knowledge to do so.

Writing is, without a doubt, one of the most valuable communicative resources that human beings have at their disposal. One can conclude that writing will be essential for me not only in a work environment but beyond. My theory of writing is more scientific now. It includes more technical terms, but it is, as it was, a “work in progress”. “Leaves of grass”, if you will...but the content is not much different. In a job interview, I will be the same. This does not mean I did not learn; it means that what I learned was already instinctively being done. From an orthographic point of view, my writing is better (I believe) – simply because practice makes perfect. One should never overlook the power of an error, mistake, or even a slip. And this concludes ‘’Writing, A theory, and I.’’

                                                                             - Thank You Professor Howard, T.-

Sonia Aguiar

 

Works Cited:

 

Blau S. and Burak K. Writing in the works  (2016) Publisher Lyn Uhi

Donovan Livingston, Commencement Address speech

Dr. Martin Luther King’s - Letter from Birmingham Jail).

Gloria Anzaldua’s -  “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

Short Assignment #1, 2, 3 SA

Major Assignment #1, 2, 3 SA

Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5Dec. 2020. Web. 6Dec. 2020 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_learning