Creating Writing Structure

Kelsey Allen

Rebecca Brunson

EN105 First Year Writing Seminar I: Critical Reading, Writing and Thinking Across Context

March 15, 2016

Creating Writing Structure

        What do you already know about writing? This question is exceptionally broad, although I do find it quite easy to answer. Going into High School you thought that you knew everything there is to know about reading and writing, right? But, then coming to realize that there are other steps to learning about this particular subject along with a whole new level of schooling attached, which is the college level of writing. I know this to be true because of previous experiences with being complacent in thinking I knew everything, believing that the rules and guidelines were the same for every essay, and from taking advice from very wise and educated teachers from previous schooling.

        All throughout my years of English classes from Elementary to High School, we were taught the same concept of writing. We were always told to indent at the beginning of a paragraph, capitalize the first letter of every sentence, and use proper punctuation. The various teachers that I have had, failed to mention that every essay is different, but similar in many ways. I use to think that every essay was written like a persuasive essay, I became so complacent and focused on that one essay type that I wasn’t doing well on other types of essays that were given. “Comfort yields complacency. Break free.” A.D. Posey. This quote about complacency is perfect for my thought towards persuasive essays; I was allowing myself comfortability with the thought that persuasive essays were the only types of writing I ever bothered to learn.

        Every essay is different. Synthesis essays require reliable sources and developing a position on whether you agree or disagree. For a research paper you need to select a topic and create a tentative thesis. A narrative essay is when you’re telling a story from real-life experiences. Descriptive essays are like painting a picture from your imagination. As you can see the list can keep going and going, but as from experience I have come to realize that all essays have something in common. The common ground between papers is that you have to fully commit with having to create ideas to complete the ultimate paper possible. I have learned some interesting tips on writing a great paper, and citing would have to be one of them. No matter what essay you are writing citing should be attached at the end to give the proper credit to the author of those sources used in your writing. But what I have come to realize is that at every grade level it seems to me that the guidelines and standards for writing are always changing, bringing in new rules to develop our education and intellect.

        “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good teacher.” Temple Grandin. I’ve had some outstanding teachers in my lifetime. The teacher that I was fondest of was my eighth grade English teacher Mrs. Gavin. I was not of the upmost students in her class, I struggled with the material and never asked for help. She noticed that I wasn’t one of her best students so she did everything in her power to help me understand. English was and is still one of my weakest subjects to this day, her advice will never leave my mind. One of the most important sayings that she used to help me get through a writing prompt would be “remember, when you’re writing just let your mind go blank, write what’s in your heart and your mind will fill in the rest.” To this day I still say that to myself every time I’m writing an email to a colleague or writing a resume for a new job.