Writing Portfolio

        In this unit, I was meant to learn that the writing process is a very complex process that is unique for each individual. Many people learn differently, and therefore they execute their teachings differently. By this I mean that teaching should become either individualized or broaden, covering more options on how to execute the writing process. It was also intended for me to grasp that everyone, although different, can be very similar. Everyone experiences writer’s block at one point in their writing, and even professionals’ first draft isn’t always perfect. It takes effort to learn about your own system and what works best for you. With this being said, it is also beneficial to look at what makes you experience writer’s block. It could be either that ideas are scrambled in your head and you’re anxious about the final product being perfect, or it could be that you’re focusing so closely on the algorithmic rules of writing that you’ve lost your individuality, or even that the environment you’re in is causing you to be unproductive.

The most useful thing I learned this semester is that being imperfect doesn’t make me a failure. Just because my first draft isn’t pristine, or that I may have writer’s block from time to time, doesn’t mean that I can’t end up with a well-written final draft. The struggles I may face or the barriers preventing me from where I want to be are barriers that I can break down with the knowledge that I’ve gained from Rose, Lamott, Perl, and Prior.

       The most difficult part of this unit was the think-aloud study. Although the concept was clear and rational, trying to not be affected by reading and writing while being recorded was difficult. The other part of the study that was really hard was deciphering the patterns once my research had been coded. I was thinking to the night that I had recorded myself and would feel as though there was no pattern because the distractions weren’t caused by me, such as by a phone, but instead was from neighbors, roommates, and just the noises from outside. Because I felt like the effects of these distractions varied, it was hard for me to notice patterns aside from the one that I focus best while reading the text aloud.

      The concepts that were easiest for me to grasp were Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” and the cause of writer’s block due to rules depicted by Rose. In “Shitty First Drafts,” Lamott wrote on a personal level, as if she was being as candid to a close friend. This helped me realize that professionals were once beginners too, and the same struggles that I face, they do as well. It was also clear because I could relate to writing a first draft that was awful simply to get your ideas on paper. This also corresponded to Perl’s findings that students worked better once their ideas had been drafted on paper rather than just in their minds. The struggle of having “no idea” what to write corresponds to the concept that ideas aren’t completely organized inside someone’s mind.

I feel as though my final draft for the Writing Process paper portrays the important connections that were meant to be made from previous reading assignments. Having references to almost all of the previous assignments, I feel confident that my paper satisfies the purpose of what was meant to be grasped. However, my organization and my word choice could have been improved. I can’t tell if it’s because I am a perfectionist and critique myself harshly, but I always feel as though my work needs tremendous improvements, but when I ask for feedback I get positive responses with few suggestions on how to fix my work. I’m not sure why I never believe the responses I get, whether they are from peers or my parents, I never see my writing as good enough. Overall, I think my final draft of the Writing Process is definitely a success, but there’s always room for improvement.