In last night’s class we listened to a podcast that discussed how everyone gets stuck or at least feels stuck. Now that goes for many different circumstances, for example like being in the wrong job, relationship, city, life, whatever it may be. Christine Metzger felt as though she was stuck after working in education administration for 10 years. After quitting her job and selling her belongings she wanted to start a new life in New England with a new job at a boarding school. Throughout the process she faced many circumstances like being unable to get a work visa and not being hired. So, she turned to Dave Evans who was running a workshop in New York at the time. According to Dave Evans, ex Silicon Valley worker, before you can even attempt at problem solving, you must complete problem finding. He teaches a class at Stanford University called “Designing your Life” where he speaks about creating and designing your life as you go along. He notes that people often ask themselves the wrong question which is, “how do I figure out that one, best solution to my life?" and there isn’t one answer. The concept of design thinking is recognizing there are many paths you can take, and that nobody knows the future so simply design your life how you want it to be. The next step is “odyssey planning” which is when you map out multiple ways in which your life could unfold. They also mention “wayfinding” which is the idea that you may not have just one destination and being comfortable with that mindset. Also, Dave Evans comments that designers aren't necessarily more creative than everybody else, but they are better at getting unstuck. Facing problems throughout your journey is a normal and common occurrence. The three main problems are tame problems, wicked problems, and gravity problems. Tame problems can be solved by correct algorithm, whereas wicked problems have no known algorithm. Lastly, gravity problems are what people perceive to be problems when really, they are just circumstances that paralyze us from taking action. This problem is the most time consuming of the wrong kinds of problems we put energy into. But, we can overcome these “problems” if we choose to view them in a different light that isn’t so magnifying. It made me think about the problems I have faced in the past and ones I face daily. It brought an awareness that you don’t have to choose one decision, skill, or talent because our goals and options are limitless.
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I was nervous going into my English Composition 1 class, especially because it was my first class at Delaware County Community College. But, I quickly noticed that this was not the average class I was accustomed to. Throughout the semester, I found myself enjoying the class and looking forward to potentional discussions. It was a relaxing yet entertaining environment that kept me in tuned with Professor Mangini but also my classmates. In high school, it was very common for English classes to be boring and all about novels, tests, and many projects. Whereas, we created and designed our own website, put all our work onto this public platform and simultaneously created our own portfolio. I am happy and grateful I was able to experience this class at Delaware County Community College. This class was different and unique, and incorporated many techniques. My teacher taught us the difference between rhetoric and composition and the three main rhetorical purposes. He taught us how to create our first blog posts on a website that we had the ability to create and design. It was great that throughout the semester we could fix or revise any work we previously turned in. There were countless times we interacted as a class, sharing opinions and stories, allowing the class to feel more comfortable. I always found his diagrams and examples to be very useful and effective. I wrote my first life choice memoir and research paper, as my two major assignments. We learned, reviewed, and discussed every assignment or reading as a class which helped me and other students. It is very easy to fall behind and become overwhelmed, and I think this class was paced at a generous speed. I also want to mention the film we watched Where to Invade Next because it was such an eye opening and interesting documentary that I loved. I never heard of Moore’s film beforehand and after watching it, I will never forget it. I liked how he chose a film that was relevant to our class but was able to hold our attention. Professor Mangini taught us many useful tips, which he frequently expressed through diagrams and examples. He created a triangle titled Rhetorical Situation and for the first time explained ethos, telos, logos, pathos, and kairos. Next, we were informed what the acronym DEAN meant and how it would aid our literary analysis. He shortly after showed us the upside-down triangle diagram that modeled how we should structure our introduction for our research paper. He continued with drawing boxes that represented our body paragraphs and included what each should contain to have a strong paper. Lastly, he explained source material and how to properly cite authors and their ideas without taking credit for them accidentally. I am grateful for the time he spent explaining, answering questions, drawing diagrams, and remembering to be proud of ourselves while not giving up entirely. BELOW ARE DIAGRAMS FROM CLASS In this blog assignment we had to write about a time where you had to make an important life choice. We have to incorporate showing and telling writing, to give readers an understanding of the story and how I felt about my situation. But before we could begin, it was necessary to watch a YouTube video called Reflective Writing. This video talks about the three stage process that involves looking back, analyzing, and projecting into the future. They mention the critical questions you should ask yourself while writing, what to avoid writing about, and the benefits you receive like a boost in self confidence. I will be responding to a handful of questions related to my writing process as well.
Who did you work with to compose your life-choice memoir? Was this a good approach? I was unsure of what to write about initially for this particular assignment. I haven't experienced many tough life choices, where I had to choose a certain path. But once I sorted through my memories, I picked a topic to write about. I talked to my Mom about the situation and she helped me gain some clarity. I also discussed it with my older sister and by doing that, she validated my feelings. She aided in the process of simply understanding, being supportive of my decision, and giving structure to my story. I feel as though this was a good and positive approach because my Mom played a role in my story, and my sister is the person I often open up to and feel most comfortable around. What rhetorical mode and genre are you using? The rhetorical mode for my life choice memoir is a narrative and the genre I am using is creative nonfiction. When did you write this project? Good approach? I began writing this project probably about a week after it was assigned to the class. I struggled with finding a situation that was "high stakes" or major. I debated between the story I chose to speak about and another one. But, since this is reflective writing I ended up going with the more personal narrative. I think it was a good approach because even though I didn't know what to write about from the beginning I bounced my ideas back and forth. I didn't settle until I was content with my topic, feelings, and understanding the entire circumstance. Where did you write this project? Good approach? I originally attempted to write this project in class, but I was having trouble trying to pick a real life situation that was difficult for me on a bigger scale. So, I ended up writing this project at home in my bedroom. I think it was a good approach, because I was comfortable when writing this story so when I needed to go into detail I found it was much easier. I could think clearly, and visualize the past and everything that took place. Why did you choose to write about your chosen topic? Good choice? I chose to write about this topic because it was difficult for me and other family members. I think it's also very relatable in the fact that relationships end all the time, whether we want them to or not. Sometimes it's in your best interest to terminate a relationship with someone, especially when you know it's unfixable and not in your control. I think it's a good choice because for me personally, it was a tough and long-drawn-out issue that I ignored and never spoke about. I also believe it was a good and healthy option because it assisted in me reflecting back on the situation, my emotions, and my overall decision. How did it feel to write this narrative ("during, after, and since")? Do you have any "if only" moments that can help you revise the draft? While I was writing this narrative it was strange and definitely not easy. I was experiencing frustration towards the person I spoke about and as a result, my fingers did not want to stay on the keyboard but my anger sure did. I would go from writing at a speed of zero words per minute, to nearly fifty words per minute. It was a constant back and forth battle. After I was finished writing I was satisfied to get my thoughts and inner perspective into the world, which I very often shelter. Ever since I wrote my narrative I think about it more, but not in a negative way. I tend to remember the situation, and it's unfortunate but I'm confident and at peace with my decision. As of now, I do not have any "if only" moments that can help revise my draft, but if any occur I will use them to improve my writing. How will you revise your narrative? I revised my narrative multiple times through my drafts, and by critiquing my own work. I used helpful tips that the YouTube video mentioned and explained, and I also took inspiration from everything we learned in class. *UPDATED* In class we were to share our life-choice memoirs out loud during our last two classes. When I was listening to their meaningful pieces of writing and they were expressing raw emotion, it changed my mind. I reverted back to my original story that I wrote, which I felt very strongly about. I'm glad we had the group readings because if we hadn't, I would have stuck to my story called No Prescription. It made me want to open up and share a story that I was hesitant about. I thoroughly enjoyed both of my stories, but I did come to the conclusion that my story In Bloom held a deeper meaning. If my classmates could share their personal truths, so could I. I have chosen quotes from each of these three readings about the author's writing processes. I will be looking at three texts, the first being Teach Writing as a Process Not a Product by Don Murray. The second text will be The Daily Writing Routines of Great Writers by Maria Popova. Lastly, I will be reading Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. There will also be three of my own quotes at the end of the blog about my personal writing process.
Teach Writing as a Process Not a Product by Don Murray "Don't look back. Yes, the draft needs fixing. But first it needs writing." (Don Murray) "Be patient, listen quietly, the writing will come. The voice of the writing will tell you what to do." (Don Murray) "Writing is primarily not a matter of talent, of dedication, of vision, of vocabulary, of style, but simply a matter of sitting. The writer is a person who writes." (Don Murray) The Daily Writing Routines of Great Writers by Maria Popova "And then, usually, a nap. Naps are essential to my process. Not dreams, but that state adjacent to sleep, the mind on waking." (William Gibson) "I write in spurts. I write when I have to because the pressure builds up and I feel enough confidence that something has matured in my head and I can write it down. But once something is really under way, I don’t want to do anything else. I don’t go out, much of the time I forget to eat, I sleep very little. It’s a very undisciplined way of working and makes me not very prolific. But I’m too interested in many other things." (Susan Sontag) "A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper." (E.B. White) Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." (E.L. Doctorow) "The first draft is the child's draft, where you let it all pour out and then let it romp all over the place, knowing that no one is going to see it and that you can shape it later. You just let this childlike part of you channel whatever voices and visions come through and onto the page." (Anne Lamott) "It reminds me that all I have to do is to write down as much as I can see through a one-inch picture frame. This is all I have to bite off for the time being." (Anne Lamott) "But feedback from someone I'm close to gives me confidence, or at least it gives me time to improve." (Anne Lamott) My writing process "I find a comfortable and quiet space, I relax and take a deep breath, and begin writing. Just type whatever comes to mind, you can make corrections later." "On occasion, if I have a clear idea of what I want to write I'll jot down my ideas beforehand to make sure I hit those points." "After I've completed my writing and even throughout I will read it out loud to myself multiple times to make sure it flows. Afterwards I'll try and find someone to read it to so I can have another perspective and opinion that isn't just my own." |
AuthorHi, I'm Rebecca Stevens and this is my blog for my English Composition I class! Through my blog posts, I hope to show you bits and pieces of my life and character. Archives
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