As far as a writing process goes, mine is not the most structured. I have a very difficult time sitting down and forcing something down on paper, especially if it is anything but factual or research based. I find that I rely heavily on inspiration or intuition. If I overthink a topic or try to force it, it rarely comes to me. So, the first and main thing I try to do is read and reread the assignment. I make sure the idea of what I need to do is planted firmly in my mind, then I walk away. Over the next few days, I try to think about the assignment and the material periodically, and usually, if I’m lucky, and when I’m not thinking about it, an idea comes to me. After the idea comes I am able to sit down and start fleshing out something resembling a paper.
When it comes to revision I try to get at least two academic opinions and at least one opinion from a friend or confidant. I keep those suggestions in mind as I reread my essay. The things I look for most, myself, when revising an essay are coherence and flow. Does it make sense? Does it flow smoothly through all the points and ideas I wanted to make? I look for things that may be unclear or superfluous then I try to tighten it up by getting rid of unnecessary things and rearranging where necessary to make everything as smooth as possible. For me, the benefit of revising a paper is simply to make it more clearly the expression of ideas that it was meant to be and a paper that engages the reader.
For essay #2 I am still in process so I don’t have totally specific examples yet. I want to reevaluate my thesis and try to make it clearer, and then make sure that I have tied my paragraphs neatly to it. Since analysis is new for me, I will be looking hard at whether I have satisfied the P.I.E. format for each of my statements and eliminating any extra or unclear information.
image source: http://girlfriendbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/by-laura-spinella-topic-this-cycle-is.html
Well I can say one thing, you have a far more structured writing process than I do. I tend to go at it willy nilly style, and don't have much of an idea as to what I'm doing till I'm done. If I don't have a specific reason or subject to write about, then my writing actually seems to come easy, and flows well. when I have a subject (like the poem analysis), I seem to stumble around until I have an essay in front of me. I tend to like creative writing much more than structured. The only exception to this rule is if I am writing about an event in my life. This type of paper is easy and fun.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to comment that I love your visual. I don't know about everyone else, but I often look and feel like the woman in the picture when it comes to really having to get all my thoughts and ideas on paper. One of my revisions is also going back and making my thesis clearer. I think that most of the paper and arguments can be best thought out if the thesis is clear and you know the direction your taking with it. My problem is getting the thesis to be just that.