A Little Help Please...

When it comes to reading out of a book for assignments, I get pretty lost. I am not very good at interpreting the meaning behind a story or picking out the theme of a person's writing. The section of reading for today says that we should skim through our reading to get an idea of what the general reading is about, and then go back and read it thoroughly. There are many things that can be beneficial about this process. Skimming through gives you the chance to find things that you may not understand and take notes. You can write down questions or make notes of a certain part that you may want to look at more in depth. I think that is a good way to handle readings such as these. You get a better understanding of what you are reading, and you feel better about it. I got some pretty good ideas about how to conquer the readings for this class.

Spelll Chek

This section of reading was about the importance of proofreading. I have written many papers in my school career, and one of the most important aspects of writing a paper is editing. Just because you think you know what you want to say does not mean that is how it turns out on your paper. And it definitely does not mean that is how other people will interpret it. I think that the book is absolutely right about having someone else read your paper and give their opinion. That is what helps you edit your paper. I wrote a paper one time and I did not think that I needed anyone else to read it; it was a good paper and I was set to turn it in. When I got it back, I had made all kinds of mistakes on grammar and spelling because I was relying on Spell Check. Now I know that even if I think a paper is good, I should still have it checked by someone else.

My Righting...I Mean Writing

Have you ever looked at a paper that you wrote years previously and wondered how you could have made so many mistakes on it? I know I have. Part of the problem is that I didn't know how to go about editing my paper. As many people believe, I thought that spell check would catch all my mistakes for me. And instead of rereading it for myself I just let my computer do all the work. Little did I know that the computer would not catch incorrect word usage.

I agree with the book that you should read your work many times before finally submitting it. And it is also a very good idea to have a friend or peer read it as well. They will be able to give you an outside opinion about what needs to be fixed or changed. An outside opinion can help make your paper a success!

To Write Or Not to Write

What makes a good story? When it comes to writing, many people think that good ideas come from outlines and pre-writing, and writing prompts. Most of the time, however, our great story ideas come when we least expect them. Chatting with friends or just thinking to yourself are a few ways that we came up with ideas. Sometimes the best writing comes from thinking on the spot. It may be just rambling to some, but writing down your random thoughts can lead to great structure points for a paper.

Editing is a complex process. I think it is good to have all different people edit papers. People you don't know very well can give you an outsider's opinion, and give you an idea of what details you need to add. Your friends can help you fill in the details that are missing from your work. They know you better so they are able to give more of an insider's perspective.

Pizza Anyone?

We have read many different types of literature in our lives. Whether it is just a friendly email saying hello, or a formal speech given by the President of a company, we have all encountered writing. But what makes the email so much different from the company speech? The answer is simple: detail. The speech is probably going to be filled with tedious details about next month's production projection, but who wants to sit and listen to that? It is much easier for people to enjoy reading when there is something interesting in its content.

Details are like the toppings on a pizza. It's all the toppings that make the pizza interesting, so why not add them? We can use various methods to make the "toppings" for our writing. Flashbacks, dialogue, and point of view are good ways to make our writing more interesting. So the next time we think about writing a paper, we should think "Do I want a boring piece of cheese pizza or a delicious piece of supreme?"

English Anyone??

"I suppose it was inevitable that as my word-base broadened, I could for the first time pick up a book and read and now begin to understand what the book was saying. Anyone who has read a great deal can imagine the new world that opened." This statement by Malcolm X sums up our ability to read and write. As we grow, our vocabulary becomes more expanded; we also learn through social interaction. Growing up in the United States has made me more accustomed to the English language and the way it is used. There are many things that help me read and write using proper English rules. I first think about what I will write and then make a list of topics. Many times I write an outline to get my ideas organized and then I begin to write. I have learned that being prepared makes writing a lot easier.

I Can Read!!

In chapters five and six, Bullock and Goggin state that there are many different ways write and portray ideas. I think that the writers are correct in thinking that we have many options when it comes to writing. Whether we chose to write using formal essays or informal notes to friends, we have all sorts of options. I think these chapters were helpful in allowing us to see how many different varieties of writing are out there; even ones that we would not normally consider, such as leaving a to-do list for ourselves.

"This experience showed me just how differently my writing could be judged by various readers." This statement by Shannon Nichols proves the point that our audeince plays a big part in the way that we choose to write. If our audience is a group of preschoolers, they are not going to want to hear about the latest problems with the economy; on the other hand, economists are not going to choose to read a picture book.

The audience we are writing for will greatly affect the way we portray our thoughts. The quote above proves that everyone has different views on things, and will therefore except things from a different point of view.

My First Blog

This is my first time using a blog. I'm not sure how everything works; still trying to get used to it all.