Working on arrangement * Transitions

By doing the transition activity I perceived that were a few paragraphs that needed to be reviewed. By adding those transition words,  I feel that my sentences have a better flow when reading it and the ideas seem more connected.

Reflecting on my own reflection

What got stuck is that a writer  reviews the lessons from the past, past experiences, material they had encountered, and make conclusions, or relate to their current personal life based on what they learned. I think that my reflection address that. Also, I agree with Leah's take on how the writer has learned something  "when you can see the progression of the argument and information." 

I still need to revise the end part of my reflection, and put some more thought to it. I think that I've made connections with what I've learned and my personal experiences, and i think that it reflects on my learning.

Reflecting on Reflective Writing in our Class

Peter and Evan

An indication that a writer is thinking can be perceived throughout a acknowledgment of a counter argument; a moment in which a writer goes back in time to remember and reflect on something that has happened in the past; or when there is a clear engagement with utilized sources like discussion, argumentation, back-and-forth, etc.

The writing feels honest when a writer is direct to the point in their writing, speaks in an organized way that is considerate of the reader, gives personal significance or examples that shows the writer’s attachment to the subject(s), rather than completely shutting out the opposing arguments.

It seems that a writer has honestly and thoughtfully engaged with other texts, when he/she is aware that their audience might share the counter argument’s apprehension or reluctance and finds a way to be considerate of that skepticism.  Rather than selecting one favorable section of a counter argument source, the writer addresses the opposing source as a whole and finds a way to converse with it, explains their own understanding of the sources, how they relate to their writing, and how to express that to the reader(s).

As mentioned before, a writer who is open to the opposing view might show the reader that they took something of value from those sources. And by reviewing the lessons from the past, past experiences, material they had encountered, and make conclusions, or relate to their current personal life based on what they learned

 writer might describing learning.

Draft Eval

For my paper become a polish product I still need to work on:

Better work with my sources, or engaging with them, provide a list of work cited in MLA format, and add an Academic source to show hard data for my audience. Also, I need to work in structure and organization.

Poster Draft

When drafting my poster I started with invention. I researched figures, photos and other possible ideas in what to make out of my poster. I attempted two different approaches and decided which could be the most effective. Then, I moved to arrangement and style by arranging the pictures and text in different positions, changing color of boarders and re-sized it.  I think that style and arrangement were one of the most important parts on this exercise, which makes me reflect that is perhaps the most important parts of written composition as well. 

Visual Composition and Writing Composition

When making a poster or any kind of visual composition, there are many guidelines, strategies, and techniques to be taken in consideration. This is perhaps what most surprised me from this week’s readings. I’ve made many visual communication posters at my workplace, and despite that I’ve done it thinking in ways to facilitate productivity, I never perceived how many techniques were available to make my posters more effective. With the readings I came to the realization that visual composition is just complex as writing composition.

In visual composition content and form is primarily expressed, taken in consideration the audience in a visual composition. Bang explains that the principles work in conjunction with each other and they are subservient to context and content - to the picture meaning. To add, Dondis states that a message is composed with purpose: to tell, express, explain, direct, inspire, affect. In pursuit of any purpose, choices are made to reinforce and strengthen expressive intentions for maximum control of response. The visual elements have basic substance of what we see, and they are few in number: the dot, line, shape, direction, tone, color, texture, dimension, scale, and movement. Written composition has many of those elements like shape, style, tone, and movement throughout paragraphs. Visual composition like writing composition also has unity. Unity is a proper balance of diverse elements into one totality that is visually all of a piece. The collection of many units should dovetail so completely that it is viewed and considered as a single thing. But, while any visual work can be analyzed from many points of view, most writing compositions provides an explicit point of view from the author.

There is so much to take from these readings that I would have to retype Dobis whole paper to talk about some of the points to remember. It is so rich in information, that is impossible to choose just one part. But, some of the techniques like the importance of balance, symmetry, predictability and so on, and the guidelines are key to compose an effective visual craft, and I hope to never forget. I also hope to remember where I saved these articles and be able to comeback to it, any time that I compose a visual craft.

Draft revision

For this draft I made revisions on arrangement, and delivery. I added some new information and made some grammatical corrections. I believed that it strengthened my writing because it shows to be more concise and it maps out what I will be discussing throughout the body. I also narrowed my audience and worked with my sources with more depth.     

What I want to hold on from today's class

First, language is used as form to achieve power. There are standards set by those who are in power, and those who follow or master the standards are likely to be successful. There is a perceived importance to have standards in a language, so that there is a concise power in communication.
Second, there is a culture of power which are not the same as having authority. Authority is something given or entrusted by others, while power can be defeated or terminated if the person does not have authority.

The Power of Language

Vershawn A. Young, analyzes the disconnection between literacy WEV and black culture BEV by conflicting his own Identity with other black male students from the ghetto, like Eric Smith. Young explains that there is a racial, Identity, and gender endangerment when black boys venture literacy. He cites, David Holmes, Kermit Campbell, Hence Cam, Malcolm X, Phillip Harper, William Labov, and others, to build on and support his case. Young concludes that schools are a symptom of the problem, and implicitly suggests that both BEV and WEV should be incorporated into elementary and high school. 

On the other hand, Lisa Delpit, believes that “good teachers incorporate a range of pedagogical orientations. In her article she address the concerns raised by White and Black respondents, debates over skills versus process to understand the alienation and miscommunication between different races, and analyzes five aspects of power, which is essential in deciding what is best for poor children and children of color. She suggests that the community should decide what is best to the children’s education and that teachers have an ideal position in this role: to bring the issues to the table and to break the silence.  

I’ve been affected in many different ways by how others perceive my background because of my language use, some times positively others not so much. A few years ago I was working for JCPenney as their customer service representative. I was shocked to observe people’s reaction to my accent. Many people tend to relate different accents with “language deficiency” or stupidity. It was funny to encounter some costumers, whom requested to speak with someone else just because of my accent, but I was the only one that could authorize their specific requests. In less than one year I got promoted three times, and became their corporate representative. Delpit explains that is easier to acquire power when we are explicitly told the rules of a culture. If I think of a company as a form of culture, and with the willing help from someone that is already part of the culture, than it becomes easier to gain power.  Not only my hard work gave me the opportunity to gain power, someone else was willing to coach me through the process.  

What is my definition of writing

Writing for college students should be perceived as a method of discovery, a  representation of communication accepted by society, in respect to it's time. Writing, then, should invoke a constant mode of learning which will shape consciousness.


 is passed along throughout generations and becomes either stronger or lost with time.

The implication of this definition

To finish...

“in class”: reflective writing

The most effective part was to think on possible main points to argue. The idea to draft an outline, though it was not the goal, helped me to perceive the importance of an outline to map out my own paper. I would recommend others to write a quick outline to jot down ideas for writing an essay.

The tone was welcoming and friendly, even asked me to celebrate at the end, unfortunately I didn’t get to the end of it. It actually engaged me do the assignment and was very clear in what was asked me do, though would be impossible to do in one day! I learned that assignments should be tried at least once by the author to make sure it will work!

I am going to create an outline to make sure that I have said all that I wanted to say

Revision Plan

There are a couple of things that I have to do for my revision plan.

First, I have to edit it to correct grammar issues and draft my work cited page.

Second, I have to reread to make sure that I am getting my point across to the reader. Then I have to take to the writing center to be proofread and ask questions about their thoughts. For example what they understood, what they perceived as important, and where they stand about my issue.

Third, I have to revise it again and add or delete new points of view that were offered to me by my readers.

Then I have to go back to my first task above anytime that I make new changes on my essay. If no changes were made, then I can move to my conclusion.

Thinking Toward a Revision Plan

I am solid about the issue, and how to address it. I am solid about my audience and on my argument. Also, I am solid on my sources, and how they support my thesis. I am not so solid yet on my closing, but I am working on it.

My argument states that most academically successful children have solid hard and soft skills and few social and emotional stresses. Solid hard and soft skills, fewer emotional stresses result from playtime. Therefore, academically successful children result from playtime. There are at least four sources that support my claim. I have included two other sources that counter the necessity of play during school hours but do not take in consideration my point of view. To make sure that my readers understand the purpose of each paragraph, I’ve included the thesis on my introduction and argued each point respectively on the paragraphs.

I believe that my essay will engage readers, because not many people perceived the importance of play. Many people have the assumption that play is a privilege or a form of entertainment. My introduction engages readers with my argument and address initial concerns and my transitions help readers move from one paragraph to the next.  I am working on my conclusion sum up my argument and end memorably for readers.

My trial assignment for you

How to Make a Conclusion with Closure

The conclusion is one of the most import parts of an essay. It is the last chance a writer has to go back and provide everything a reader is expected to remember. Summarizing the main points and restating the thesis should not be the only elements in a conclusion. To make readers satisfied, there must be a sense of closure on the conclusion. Is it best to give a warning or an advice at the end; to refer back to the introduction or to place your topic in a larger context? There are many ways to conclude an essay and there are a few techniques to assist writers with such closure. The assignment below will assist writers in concluding their papers.

A. restate your argument and summarize your main points below:

Thesis:

Main points:

B. Please respond the following questions to find out if you are using a closing technique to concluding your essay.

1.  Does your conclusion end with a quotation? If yes, then how does this quotation support or connect with your thesis and drive readers to think more about your argument?

2.  Is your conclusion placing your topic in a larger context? Then, what or where else may your topic contribute to or should be considered by readers?

3. Is your conclusion giving an advice? If yes, then, what should they do? Whom should they contact?

4. Is your conclusion making a prediction about the future or giving a warning? If yes, then, when? What may happen?

5. Is your conclusion referring back to the introduction? If yes, copy it bellow. How are they connecting?  

Attention gather:

Closure statement:

C. With your essay in mind, go back and attempt to write a sentence or two to address each method (1-5) that you skipped. For question number 1, come up with a quote if you don’t one. Once you tried each technique, choose the method which best fit the goal of your essay and consider that one method may overlap with another. 

Now, try to craft your concluding paragraph!

Thesis:

Main points:

Chosen Closure:

Bartholomae

Bartholomeau states "To begin to write is to know what cannot be known." In this sense, a student that is attempting to become a teacher has to learn what teachers known, and uncover a language or method that is not their own, rather the language which is accepted by society: "The struggle of the student writer is not the struggle to bring out that which is within; it is the struggle to carry out those ritual activities that grant one entrance into a closed society." To inform prospect teachers about the making of assignments, Bartholomae argues that an intellectual project requires indoctrination, assistance, interference and trust, which he breaks down into four principles throughout four stories or examples. On the first principle of assignment making, assignments lead students through successive approximations, resulting in a cycle of expectations and disappointments. Second principle for assignment making provides the occasion for translation, instead of subject only. On the third principle individual assignments should be part of a larger, group project and the last principle assists students toward a subject by interfering with their immediate procedure for dominating a subject by reducing it to a closed set. With those principles, Bartholomae offered a defense on redundant assignments, assignments that define both project and a way for working on a project, and assignments that are designed inform students that there are no schematic methods to make everything simple.

I think it is odd that there are no schematic methods to make things simple. I find that writing can be simple or complex depending of the writer or assignment's goal. I agree that redundancy like repetition, is a good method for learning and developing skills, specially with assignments. For my future as a teacher, most of the assignments that I plan to use will be towards the individual, but with the goal to unify or create discussions with the whole class. 

Responding to drafts

I believe that the hardest part about responding is to not impose my own point of view about the issue. I try to stay away from commenting on what I think it should be addressed or how it should be addressed, as Harris states that evaluating the writing is his or her own job. The easy part on revising the drafts was that we had access to the authors' expectation of revision. With that, I believe my feedback was useful to the writer , because it was the expectation they had.

I want to remember that each person has a unique voice, and style to address and issue and ways to do it, and there are different level of where people stand on their own writing.... respecting that


What king of feedback i need right now....?

The composing process

The composing process is made up of such parts as invention, arrangement, style, delivery and revising.

The first step is invention. With Invention the writer jot ideas before they start composing a rough draft, which can be perceived as the pre-writing stage. It takes most of the time of the writing process because it includes brainstorming about an issue and have some background information about it.  Such background can be gathered by reading about it or even from the writer's personal experience. So, in other words what writers need to find out before they can write.

The second step is arrangement.  The arrangement part consist in organizing the writing in a way that ideas are connected. In other words, it deals with function and organization or the grouping of ideas and their relationship with each other. A well organized or arranged essay will drive readers with a natural flow. To explain the importance of arrangement I have to go back to Podis: “…not only is an effective arrangement achieved through an understanding of purpose, but so too may purpose itself be better understood through a refinement of arrangement.” 

The third step is style. The stylistic part of the composing process deals with how a writer writes. By that I mean, the language used and how it connects with the audience. For instance, if i am to write a speech to the medical school board about the rise in heart failure condition, I am likely to use technical terms as my assumption is that my audience understand such terms. If I had to give the same speech to a high school for students, I would not use technical terms without giving their definition because my audience will not understand. Thus, style deals with clarity of the message according to the audience.

The fourth step is delivery, which can also overlap with the last step of the composing process. On delivery the writer goes back and correct grammatical mistakes, and any mechanics that are included with the writing. For instance, adjusting a essay to fit MLA or APA style can be part of this process. But, it also address voice, or tone according to cultural standards.

The last step of the composing process is revising. The revision part is the chance the writer has before submitting the final product. On this stage, writers are sent back to the initial stages of composition so they can make final adjustment for their final product. In other words I will refer to Sommers clear definition which the revision process as a sequence of changes in a composition, which are initiated by cues and occur continually throughout the the writing of a work. 

Since I learned this steps, I am more aware of my writing style and techniques. I am constantly thinking in whom my audience may be before I even start drafting a paper. I wish I knew that before so that I could write more concisely. I understand that I have my own language barrier, and that my writing may never be as good as any native, but this is my voice, this is my writing and this is what I've learned so far.

After response

I responded the drafts according to the author's request.. at least I tried. I made some notes throughout the paper and made two comments at the end. Those where their expectation and thats why I did. It was mostly about grammar and arrangement.   

Effective responses to writing

I believe that an effective way to respond to a writing piece is to first understand the expectation from the author and the goal of the piece of writing. In the writing Center, many students ask my help to review their writing, and the first question I ask is if they did their own revision before I help them. If the answer is yes, then I ask about the assignment information and what he or she is trying to achieve as a response. Most of the students only request to check their grammar and if it makes sense for me.

When responding to any piece of writing I place some personal boundaries. For example I don't interfere in how it written, but I can point out what I understood or make questions when I don't fully understand. Also, I could infer about the audience and provide a feedback about my point of view as a reader, though I advice that it is only a point of view, and reiterate not to change on the whole paper because of it.

Summary of Harris and Fangley

Lester Fangley first explains that definitions of good writing are either “circular or absent altogether” because in recent decades the wrong criteria is being used to explain grading judgments, especially when “writing teachers have been as much or more interested in who they want their students to be as in what they want their students to write.” He points out that textbooks, are of little help because they speak of good writing in general terms such as those Michael Adelstein and Jean Pival use to define good writing: "clear," "concise," "effective," "interesting," and projecting "the authentic voice of the writer". Seeking to change the way many teachers evaluate student writing, Fangley examines assumptions about selves in writing evaluation, and contrast a report from 1929 test in English that was used for making college admissions decisions with a recent collection of "best" student essays from Coles and Vopat's What Makes Writing Good.

To exam the assumptions of self, Fangley articulates that the notion of a socially constructed self has been discussed in anthropology for several decades, and shows that "I" can in some circumstances refer to others as well as the speaker, assuming multiple voices, constituting a self that is distinctly cultural. Also, he states that although readers might be from different cultures, of different genders, and from different social classes, it does not matter because reading is perceived as the one-way flow from one autonomous mind to another, and the text is a self-contained object for passive consumption. He points that assumptions from expressive realism were commonplace in college English pedagogy before World War 11, both in writing and in literature courses; writing courses at Eastern colleges in particular were based on reading and responding to great works of literature; and student subject was elevated by the experiences of reading great literature and drew moral lessons from those experiences.

Moreover he says that the assumptions underlying the evaluation of the writing of college students today would seem much more complex than in 1931. Given the resulting multiplicity of approaches to the teaching of writing, the relationships between assumptions about "good" writing and the privileging of particular selves among students would seem more difficult to analyze than ever. The Commission began with the same objection about the tautologies that persist in guidelines for writing evaluation. The Commission found these definitions vague, and they read 92 examination books written in June 1929 to determine why particular marks were given. They focused on the three-hour-long comprehensive examination that included three parts. Part I tested for knowledge of literature; Part I1 quoted a poem or prose passage and asked students to interpret it; Part I11 asked students to write a composition on a topic selected from a list of fifteen topics. The Commission saw the sorting of the "intellectually weak" from those with the "power of reflection about what they have read" as just one function of the examination.

Fangley analyzed a count of at least 30 of the examples in the collection as personal experience essays- 20 of them autobiographical narratives-and several of the remaining include writing about the writer and other examples in the genres of professional writing.

He finds that student achieves excellence because he or she is either "honest", writes in an "authentic voice”, or possesses "integrity," To exemplify he cites, Erika Lindemann, "Good writing is most effective when we tell the truth about who we are and what we think.” To conclude Fangley states that even though the ability to write in certain discourses is highly valued in technologically advanced nations, power is exercised in a network of social relations and reconstituted in each act of communicating. No matter how well we teach our students, we cannot confer power as an essential quality of their makeup. We can, however, teach our students to analyze cultural definitions of the self, to understand how historically these definitions are created in discourse, and to recognize how definitions of the self are involved in the configuration of relations of power.

Harris points out that teacher evaluation of student writing, offered as a final judgment on a finished product, is only minimally useful as a tool for learning and for offering feedback to student writers as they move from the unrefined subject to a well articulated written product. Moreover, she states that we need to provide students with different purposes and methods for each stage of evaluation to fit their needs as they develop each piece of writing and as their general skills improve. And, the instructor needs a format or strategy for evaluating the writing skills the student has acquired by the end of the course. The program of evaluation offered by Harris aims at achieving these

goals.

Harris summarizes the teacher's role during the stage of panel evaluation. She says that first teachers should structure the evaluation procedure so that students can practice and refine their critical skills; and second, to be available for help in recording the kind of evaluation that will also be useful to the writer. Moreover she makes it clear that evaluation begins where any writer begins, with the pre-writing stage, which the writer focuses on subject, spots an audience, chooses a form which may carry his subject to his audience. After the final draft is turned in, the instructor's role of evaluation is really that of a facilitator for useful responses. The more the writer is exposed to this kind of feedback, the better able he is to begin building some generalizations about the future audiences he will write for.

She ends the article stating that extensive practice in evaluation through each stage from pre-writing to final draft helps the student to sharpen his skills as a critic of other writing, guides him as he revises, and demonstrates to him that, finally, evaluating his writing is his job.