Writing Process

Ok, many of you are going to completely disagree with my writing process because it is a little bit unusual. You see, one of my greatest complications in writing is that I have a detachment when writing through technology. Thus, I write pen to paper because it is more personal and because I have implemented this tactic since I was 6 years old (wouldn’t you love to see what a 6 year old’s diary consists of).  Now, where this was not problematic as a child or even through high school, in grad school I commenced writing 20-30 page papers…which makes writing pen to paper a daunting task knowing I have to type up my work. So, for smaller papers, I think about what points I am arguing, write it on paper, then complete my revision through typing. However, longer papers are far more tedious. I spend a fairly adequate amount of time outlining (including my research) then write it on paper. Finally, I type it up, which usually takes a significant amount of time, but is still a great revision process. I typically give it a read or so, edit my revised copy, then say a small prayer that someone will find it brilliant.

Voice Con’t

Here are some guidelines to remember when teaching voice:

Here are some suggestions for writing with voice:

list taken from www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com.

• Write honestly and from the heart
• Share personal feelings about the topic
• Speak directly to the reader
• Use language that can bring the topic to life for the reader
• Care about what is written
• Write to be read
• Use more expression than that found in an encyclopedia article
• Give the reader a sense of the person behind the words
• Connect with the reader

The best way to introduce the concept of voice is to read other texts, having students identify and discuss the voice of the author. You can also have students identify words to describe voice in their own writing, or instruct students to rewrite a letter or article with a new voice. It is important to discuss the effect this change in voice may have on the audience.

Here are some suggestions for writing with voice:

list taken from www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com.

• Write honestly and from the heart
• Share personal feelings about the topic
• Speak directly to the reader
• Use language that can bring the topic to life for the reader
• Care about what is written
• Write to be read
• Use more expression than that found in an encyclopedia article
• Give the reader a sense of the person behind the words
• Connect with the reader

The best way to introduce the concept of voice is to read other texts, having students identify and discuss the voice of the author. You can also have students identify words to describe voice in their own writing, or instruct students to rewrite a letter or article with a new voice. It is important to discuss the effect this change in voice may have on the audience.

http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/articles/How_to_Teach_Voice_in_Middle_School_Writing.html

FYC

Teaching FYC is very important to strengthen students’ writing and grammar proficiency and reading comprehension skills. After teaching at the University level for 2 years, I quickly realized that many, many students did not receive adequate English education at the high school level. Don’t get me wrong, many of them wrote very well and practiced wonderful critical thinking skills; however, too many of my students were not at the college level for English. Really it is up to you as their Freshman English instructor to increase these important English skills, or else they are doomed to struggle in ample classes throughout their college career.

Also, as a FYC instructor, you must remember that your students are experiencing a life change. Although most students at Tech are from Texas, you will find some here and there that are seriously assimilating to the West Texas culture and lifestyle. Also, even though the majority of our students are from Texas, we must remind ourselves that this is the first time that they are on their own–trying to figure out a balance of school, liberty, and fun. We should not expect their work to be less than that of the college level, but we also must be aware of whom exactly our students are and what a huge life change this is for them. We must require the college level of thinking and writing…but with realistic expectations.

Blog 1

Blog prompt for this week: What are the 3 most important concepts in composition would you say? These concepts might play a role in your teaching philosophy, so you might think of this question as what are the three most important beliefs about your own teaching do you have?

I actually have 4 important concepts in composition: Writing as a process, writing for a specific audience, the conception (and similarly important re-conception) of genre, and philosophical and social construction.

In regards to my teaching philosophy:

Not only must a teacher consider writing as a process, he/she must consider teaching as a process. It involves similar tasks such as planning, employment, learning what activities were successful, recognizing which were not successful, and correcting those that were abortive.

In teaching, the instructor must be aware of his/her audience, making sure to plan and implement lessons with professionalism and appropriateness.

Conception of genre is important in teaching because the teacher must be able to differentiate between genres, recognize the components within each one, and examine the interrelationship amongst them.  Hence, teachers and writers must both be open to the re-conception of genre because, similar to language, ideas and elements of genre do not typically remain static.

Finally, teaching and writing  both regard social and philosophical construction. Both require attention to audience, theory, conceptual understanding, and successful implementation.

Testing

Does “voice” that resonates compete with or enhance “academic voice”?

Voice both competes and enhances academic voice; let me explain. It enhances voice because it makes it more unique to your personal writing. Understanding and improving your voice will help establish who you are in your writing. Now, it competes with academic voice because many times you want to write less formally and with much more ease. In doing this, you are strengthening your own personal voice, but in the wrong fashion. You CANNOT write like you speak for academic work. Hence it competes with academic voice as well.