Rules for Writing

Question: “Could you suggest a few rules for writers that you believe are essential to follow?”

Answer. David Wroblewski: “Very, very little falls into an absolute category like that. For every rule, there’s someone who has been very successful who has not followed that rule. The only one that seems somewhat universal is to write every day. But then, there are some writers who don’t do that but still write very well. For myself, I try to write every day.” p. 22.

Comment: From a writing teacher’s point of view, writing every day does seem to improve written expression. In my classes, I developed 10-minute essays for two purposes: the first was to correct grammar. The second was to teach students the characteristics of standard written English. If you’re interested in how I used ten-minute essays, write to me at raystop2@comcast.net. RayS. .

Title: “Finding the Right Design”: An Interview with David Wroblewski. Luke Reynolds. The Writer (April 2011), 20-22.

Personal Essays

Question: What is the point of writing personal essays?

Answer/Quote: “Personal essays are just that: personal. It is your job as a writer to illuminate your experiences so that readers think about their lives in more meaningful ways. If you learned a lesson from the event you’re writing about, your readers can learn from you—the very point of personal essay writing.” p. 13.

Comment: For those of you thinking of writing a book about your parent or another loved one, begin with a personal essay. RayS.

Title: “5 Ways to Develop Personal Essays.” R Eddey. The Writer (April 2011), 18.

Personal Essays

Question: What is the point of writing personal essays?

Answer/Quote: “Personal essays are just that: personal. It is your job as a writer to illuminate your experiences so that readers think about their lives in more meaningful ways. If you learned a lesson from the event you’re writing about, your readers can learn from you—the very point of personal essay writing.” p. 13.

Comment: For those of you thinking of writing a book about your parent or another loved one, begin with a personal essay. RayS.

Title: “5 Ways to Develop Personal Essays.” R Eddey. The Writer (April 2011), 18.

Bad Writing

Question: How do you define bad writing?

Answer: Vernon Lott found some terrible poems he had written as a youngster and turned them into a documentary on bad writing. He discussed the subject with several professional writers.

Quote: “The point of the film isn’t so much to make fun of bad writing as it is about embracing where it comes from and recognizing that no writer is immune to it.” P. 12.

Comment: The point of the article is that all writers have defined “bad writing” for themselves, perhaps unconsciously. The thought of defining bad writing never before occurred to me. Defining bad writing might be a good discussion starter for the classroom. RayS.

Title: “A Documentary on ‘Bad Writing Explores the Creative Process.” NM Sylvester. The Writer (April 2011), 12.

Technology

Question: What is the purpose of technology in the classroom?

Answer: “When used properly technology can ignite students’ curiosity in a subject and dramatically increase the quality of their experience.”

Comment: This question and its answer appeared in The New Yorker, in an advertisement for The University of Phoenix. I thought the answer  was worth thinking about. RayS.

Title: “The Conversation on the future of Education in America Continues.” Advertisement in The New Yorker. (I failed to note the date of publication Sorry. 2011.)

Standardized Tests, K-12

Question: “What role should standardized tests play in K-12 education?”

Answer:
Quote: “Students come from different backgrounds with different learning needs; thus to hold them accountable under one spotlight does not make it equitable or fair. Standardized tests also promote the notion of teaching to test over teaching to learn. It takes away the joy and creativity of teaching for teachers and it takes away the process-oriented approach in learning and steers students toward an outcome approach.”

Quote: “I am a certified teacher and have dealt with standardized testing. I believe that standardized testing should be used as a guideline for teachers and parents. The results can be used as an aid to identify areas where a student may be struggling.”

Quote: “I graduated from high school in 2005 in New York State after years of what felt like one standardized test after another. Needless to say retention of that material wasn’t the best in the years to come. Then I experienced what college was like with no state-mandated test at the end of each semester. Syllabuses were created with rich material that was just as living and breathing as the students. That sort of creative freedom allowed us to continue learning after the course ended because we were learning for our own good, not for the standardized test.”

Comment: This question and its answers appeared in The New Yorker, in an advertisement for The University of Phoenix. I thought the answers  were worth thinking about. RayS.

Title: “The Conversation on the future of Education in America Continues.” Advertisement in The New Yorker. (I failed to note the date of publication Sorry. 2011.)

Feedback on Writing

Question: “At what point should I show my work to someone?”

Answer/Quote: “A good general rule is to wait until you have taken the draft as far as you can on your own.” P. 8.

Comment: I have found it most valuable, after I have called on someone I respect to help, to specify what the reader should look for in my writing.

My wife often reads my material in draft, but I specify, “Please look for whatever is confusing to you and put question marks in the margin.” I also specify that I don’t want her to judge my work, either negatively or positively. Judgments don’t help, questions do. In addition, I ask her not to point out misspellings, grammar mistakes or typos. I will take care of them when the time comes to edit. RayS.

 Title: “Ask the Writer: At What Point Should I Show My work to Someone?” Brandi Reissenweber. The Writer (April 2011), 8.