Thursday, September 25, 2008
Peer Review Recap Part 1
I think peer-review is very important. I got a lot of good comments from my group members; some tips that really improved my paper. As always, there were a few sections in my paper that I just wasn't comfortable with. Maybe they sounded odd or flowed poorly or something else, but I just couldn't put my finger on what was wrong. Peer-review helps to tackle these areas and pin down what is really going on. No matter who the writer is, there will always be things that escape him. The human mind cannot escape a certain level of subjectivity that will color its perceptions. A sentence may be poorly written, but I will never be able to recognize this unless I have another person point it out to me, because I am me (if that makes any sense--I'm not at all certain it does). Would any professional writer think of writing without an editor? Two (or three) heads are better than one. I found that when I would re-read my paper, I would read it as I had originally composed it in my head--this is not necessarily how my audience reads it. I have a feel for my own rhythms and how they should play out, but it can be difficult to convey these in a soundless medium. I know how my ideal paper sounds in my head, but I don't necessarily transmit this version to the reader, and certain amount of the revising process is trying to make my actual paper more like my mental paper. One of the best ways to do this is through peer-review.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Blog post 3: "My Writing Technologies"
When I feel compelled or am prompted to write, I use a small assortment of writing tools. The tools I use most are a pen or pencil, and one of a variety of sizes and types of notebooks--each with its own specific purpose.
Often I keep a small steno pad in my pocket for important daily notes, miscellany, and as an aid to memory (as Plato predicted, my memory tends to function poorly). Paired with the pad is a cheap, retractable ballpoint, my preferred stylus. In my backpack I keep one or two larger notebooks for notes, quotes, musings, doodles, poetry, and most of my school business. I take notes for class in several 8 1/2 X 11 spiral notebooks. I also keep a number of 3X5 index cards on which I write quotes or favorite poems. These I use as bookmarks. I also keep one of those black and white marbled composition books as a book journal. When I finish a book I record the date, the city I am in (or the one nearest to me), the title, author, and original publication date. Then I write a short summary and some personal reflections. (This is designed to be a semi-regular writing exercise, but is also another memory crutch.)
At any given time I am reading several books, and I like to underline certain passages and make notes in the margins. For this I use a pencil, standard or mechanical, depending on which is closer to hand. (I do not consider this destructive. Rather, I believe this gives a book character, and besides, if I own a book, I want to feel free to really use it.)
I always have a dictionary close to hand: A large American Heritage in my desk, and a small Webster's in my backpack. This is invaluable for spelling and, of course, making sure I use the correct word to say what I mean.
Perhaps several times a month I will use e-mail, and for that a computer is necessary. Because it usually turns out to be more practical, I also draft longer writings and school assignments on the computer--handwritten texts tend to be unsuitable for submission because they can be illegible, and are rarely accepted by most professors anyway. Frequently though, my initial notes or outline will be handwritten. In addition, I have recently begun keeping a blog, and will soon complete my third post.
My tools have changed over the years in that I keep a greater number and variety of notebooks. I started using the small, pocket pad only in the last couple of years. I've been keeping the book journal since 2004. The index cards are relatively recent as well. I have been using the computer for writing since high school. However, I have always kept at least one notebook for various scribblings, ideas, quotes, and anything else I thought important.
I tend to avoid using the computer because I find it to be detrimental to clear thought, bad for health, unreliable, inconvenient, and generally distasteful. I have a fountain pen but it can be messy. I don't avoid highlighters, but I personally don't find much use for them. I would never be without a Sharpie, but to tell the truth, I really don't use it very much either.
Often I keep a small steno pad in my pocket for important daily notes, miscellany, and as an aid to memory (as Plato predicted, my memory tends to function poorly). Paired with the pad is a cheap, retractable ballpoint, my preferred stylus. In my backpack I keep one or two larger notebooks for notes, quotes, musings, doodles, poetry, and most of my school business. I take notes for class in several 8 1/2 X 11 spiral notebooks. I also keep a number of 3X5 index cards on which I write quotes or favorite poems. These I use as bookmarks. I also keep one of those black and white marbled composition books as a book journal. When I finish a book I record the date, the city I am in (or the one nearest to me), the title, author, and original publication date. Then I write a short summary and some personal reflections. (This is designed to be a semi-regular writing exercise, but is also another memory crutch.)
At any given time I am reading several books, and I like to underline certain passages and make notes in the margins. For this I use a pencil, standard or mechanical, depending on which is closer to hand. (I do not consider this destructive. Rather, I believe this gives a book character, and besides, if I own a book, I want to feel free to really use it.)
I always have a dictionary close to hand: A large American Heritage in my desk, and a small Webster's in my backpack. This is invaluable for spelling and, of course, making sure I use the correct word to say what I mean.
Perhaps several times a month I will use e-mail, and for that a computer is necessary. Because it usually turns out to be more practical, I also draft longer writings and school assignments on the computer--handwritten texts tend to be unsuitable for submission because they can be illegible, and are rarely accepted by most professors anyway. Frequently though, my initial notes or outline will be handwritten. In addition, I have recently begun keeping a blog, and will soon complete my third post.
My tools have changed over the years in that I keep a greater number and variety of notebooks. I started using the small, pocket pad only in the last couple of years. I've been keeping the book journal since 2004. The index cards are relatively recent as well. I have been using the computer for writing since high school. However, I have always kept at least one notebook for various scribblings, ideas, quotes, and anything else I thought important.
I tend to avoid using the computer because I find it to be detrimental to clear thought, bad for health, unreliable, inconvenient, and generally distasteful. I have a fountain pen but it can be messy. I don't avoid highlighters, but I personally don't find much use for them. I would never be without a Sharpie, but to tell the truth, I really don't use it very much either.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Style
Style is an essential element of most any form of writing. It can be viewed in two ways. One is the style of a culture in general. This type of style ensures that people are able to communicate in a convenient, intelligent fashion. Certain conventions are agreed upon, or more likely are handed down from tradition. By conforming, more or less, to a sensible, or even arbitrary style, communication is facilitated and everyone can (hopefully) work from the same basic background. For instance, dealing with personal pronouns could become a potential hassle for language users. In the Spanish language, "he" is "el" and "she" is "ella." But what does one do when the subject is unclear or unknown? The person's gender may not be known, or the speaker may just be referring to any person. Now, without a common style, one writer might prefer "el o ella," one might prefer "el/ella," or any one of countless variations. However the Spanish style has solved the problem by picking just one pronoun to stand for both. So if there is a question, "el" or "ellos" is used to represent both or either gender. Thanks to style there is a degree of commonality, writing is simplified, readability and flow is preserved, and everyone can get on to more important things.
For the individual, style is a little different. A part of the individuals' style could be to what degree the writer conforms to the preferred style. But further, a writer's style can be thought of as the writers achievement of readability. It is the difference between writing that is simply decipherable and writing that has grace and flows well. It means choosing the correct word to say what you mean, eliminating jarring phrases or obstacles that may trip up a reader. Ideally, a writer will develop a style that is not mearly readable, but enjoyable and pleasurable. Style could be compared to the quality of a person's voice. As each person has a distinct vocal quality, so will a writer's mature style have a distinctness and individuality. And in the same way that a good speaker can be pleasant to listen to, independent of meaning, so will a mature writer's style be enjoyable to read. There are people whose voices I could listen to for hours, regardless of what they are talking about, and there are writers who have such a style that they are a joy to read. They have developed a refined and engaging style.
For the individual, style is a little different. A part of the individuals' style could be to what degree the writer conforms to the preferred style. But further, a writer's style can be thought of as the writers achievement of readability. It is the difference between writing that is simply decipherable and writing that has grace and flows well. It means choosing the correct word to say what you mean, eliminating jarring phrases or obstacles that may trip up a reader. Ideally, a writer will develop a style that is not mearly readable, but enjoyable and pleasurable. Style could be compared to the quality of a person's voice. As each person has a distinct vocal quality, so will a writer's mature style have a distinctness and individuality. And in the same way that a good speaker can be pleasant to listen to, independent of meaning, so will a mature writer's style be enjoyable to read. There are people whose voices I could listen to for hours, regardless of what they are talking about, and there are writers who have such a style that they are a joy to read. They have developed a refined and engaging style.
Friday, September 5, 2008
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