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.
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. There is a problem that people 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 and, therefore, an extra effort would have to be made in order to complete this course.
Looking back at my theory of writing when 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). I knew the difference between a prose and a poem. I would write what I felt I should. My writings were for me and me alone. It only needed to rhyme and express my feelings. Maybe that is my own theory for it, - writing to feel understood.
In the beginning of the course, I had not reached a definition for good writing that had left me content, I mostly questioned it: ‘’ (…), 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.’’; ‘’ Nonetheless, words cannot fully explain what good writing all is about. The power of writing is much about sharing.’’; ‘’ (…) 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). By then, I realized I was aware of audience and purpose - the purpose though I have used it intrinsically, making my theory of writing at that stage in time pathos oriented.
In retrospective, I must say my theory of writing has changed with each piece of study that was introduced. I had 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). 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 (or not) sometimes sounded 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). Rhetorical moves were used when diving in my short assignments that lead into all my major assignments. Genre and audience I knew what they were, but the English nomenclature was unknown to me up to that point. I was already aware of the concept of audience. Purpose was also quite clear – why one does something. The way they all work together, in tandem,’’ 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, Gloria Anzaldua and Donovan Livingston, Commencement Address, are fine examples of the good lessons learnt this semester that 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’, ‘’look’’ at that, how my vocabulary grew!
When I began to develop - ‘’A theory of writing’’ 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, even although I must say my theory regarding writing was not a severely complex one. The same goes for my theory of running, singing or just breathing. I considered writing to be a “variant” of speaking, but more elaborate.
Before English101 I did not see e-mails, common letters from common people, etc., as genres. That was new to me. Instantly, drawers started to form in my mind. In those drawers, boxes with smaller boxes inside them later appeared, much like a Matryoshka doll – sub-genres. Diving in short assignment #3 Audience ‘’who will read what we have written’’; ‘’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);
My final question, ‘’Do games benefit modern society?’’, for Major assignment number two, focused greatly on genre, purpose, and audience, paving the way for the assignments that followed. One shall not forget the importance of these key terms. My theory nowadays is that logic must always be a substantial part of how and what one writes. For example, if writing to family, a demonstration of love is usually appreciated, even if not truly felt. In writing lies humanity’s greatest deceptions. The words used depend on to whom one is writing.
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.
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 and value to how my theory of writing grew to be versatile - being able to use different tools and genres to convey a message.
Post Write:
Q. Did this assignment remind you of any writing that you’ve done previously? Please describe that work.
A. This assignment reminds me of my first short assignment I completed in the very beginning of the semester in English 101, followed by major assignments number one, drafts one and two. It is funny that back then I had already formulated a theory of good writing.
Q. What was new about this assignment? Please be precise.
A. It was new that I had to not only quote my own writing but also paraphrase myself.
Q. What kinds of knowledge/writing skills did you draw on to produce this draft? Please begin to use some of the key terms that have begun to form the basis of your theory of writing. For example, did you draw upon your understanding of audience awareness or genre? How so?
Q. I believe I was already aware of the concept genre and audience. Purpose was also quite clear – to whom one is writing. This final essay once more helped me internalize how a person should write.
Q. When drafting and revising, what choices did you make? Please explain.
A. When drafting and revising after I decided over the genre I checked for mistakes and rearrange some paragraphs, observed grammar, bearing in mind how I wanted everything to be structured. Looking back at the very beginning, it came came together in an informative and chronologic approach, thus fitting the purpose of this assignment in essay genre.
Q. What questions do you have for readers about the piece?
At this time, my only question is, what do you think of my theory of writing?
Works Cited:
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5Dec. 2020. Web. 6Dec. 2020 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_learning
Blau S. and Burak K. Writing in the works pp.3-5 (2016) Publisher Lyn Uhi
Short Assignment #1
Short Assignment #2
Short Assignment #3
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