This chapter in Rules for Writers states that a summary is to be written so that it is shown that you understand the main ideas in the author's writing. This chapter gives you some great tips on how to write a proper summary. Summaries need to be kept short, so picking out the points that are most important is crucial. This chapter talks about annotating (or actively reading) while you read the text. It also talks about outlining the key points of the text that you are reading.
Annotating means that you are actively reading. While you are reading you are writing down any questions or thoughts that come to your mind. When you find the thesis statement of the text that you are reading you should underline it. Then underline any thing in the text that supports the thesis. One thing that Rules for Writers states is that you should use a pencil to do your underlining instead of a highlighter. This is a good idea. You may underline something thinking that it is important, and then as you read on into the text, you find that it is not as important as you thought it was. With using a pencil, you can go back and make corrections to your annotating. You can erase stuff that you underlined. A good thing to do is answer any questions that you wrote down as you discover the answer during your reading.Writing a brief outline of the text that you are reading can help you write a summary. Find the thesis statement of the text that you are reading. Then find the main points of the text. An outline does not just follow the author's thoughts, but summarizes the articles main points.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Freewriting Exercises
Freewriting is a way to put thoughts down onto a paper without having to worry about editing. It is a way to help generate ideas for a paper or other writing assignment. Without having to worry about editing, it is easier for a person to get good ideas written down. The article did not really clearly define what a freewrite is, so I am taking little bits of things that I read. A freewrite is a means to generate ideas by just writing with a certain topic in your mind. Then, you can go back and look at the freewrite and pick out some really good ideas. Not having to worry about editing or making mistakes could make some really strong, good ideas to come out on the paper.
Freewrites are facilitate stronger writing because it gives the author a place to just get ideas down onto paper before having to worry about format and editing of the paper. It makes it so that you are almost "speaking" onto the paper. You do not have to worry about being wrong or not being able to think of what to write. As you keep writing in the freewrite, an idea may come into your head and you can write it down. One problem with writing essays is that our mind constantly edits the paper as we write. Freewrites are a way to teach our mind not to do the editing as we write the rough draft. It gives us an opportunity to just get ideas out onto the paper, and then go back and do the editing.
One thing that I found interesting about the reading was that it said that if you cannot think of something to write, just write that. You can repeat the same sentence or same word over and over. I did my freewrite for this week already. I have to say that it was actually kind of fun. I never had a moment during the freewrite that I could not come up with something to say. I was just writing whatever was on my mind. It was rather interesting to go into somewhat curious as to how I was going to be able to have something to write about for 10 mintues. I was surprised at how easy it was to think of something to write about.
Freewrites are facilitate stronger writing because it gives the author a place to just get ideas down onto paper before having to worry about format and editing of the paper. It makes it so that you are almost "speaking" onto the paper. You do not have to worry about being wrong or not being able to think of what to write. As you keep writing in the freewrite, an idea may come into your head and you can write it down. One problem with writing essays is that our mind constantly edits the paper as we write. Freewrites are a way to teach our mind not to do the editing as we write the rough draft. It gives us an opportunity to just get ideas out onto the paper, and then go back and do the editing.
One thing that I found interesting about the reading was that it said that if you cannot think of something to write, just write that. You can repeat the same sentence or same word over and over. I did my freewrite for this week already. I have to say that it was actually kind of fun. I never had a moment during the freewrite that I could not come up with something to say. I was just writing whatever was on my mind. It was rather interesting to go into somewhat curious as to how I was going to be able to have something to write about for 10 mintues. I was surprised at how easy it was to think of something to write about.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Introduction
My name is Michelle Richardson. I am taking this class as a prerequisite for English 1A. I am studying to get my AA degree in Pharmacy Technician. I wanted to do ultrasound, but no school in the area has that program and I cannot relocate because of my children. I have lived in Santa Rosa since I was 8. I was born in Massachussettes. I moved to Virginia when I was to, and then moved to California when I was 8, when my grandpa fell very will to cirrohsis of the liver. I have 3 kids. My youngest baby was just born December 12th, which is why I chose to do all online classes this semester.
I hope to get a brush up on my English writing skills. I have not taken an English class since high school, which was over 6 years ago. My skills in writing essays ex cetera are very rusty. I am hoping that my essay skills will be fine tuned by the end of this class. Currently I work part time 3 days a week cleaning a friend's house. This leaves me plenty of time to focus on my school work. I like to try to pace myself when it comes to school work. With children it doesn't always happen. I plan on getting as much done at the beginning of the week as I can. I try to get my work done as early as possible. Sometimes my week can get ahead of me, so I try to do most of my assignments at the beginning of the week. I have been very successful the last two semesters doing online classes. I am keeping my school load lower than usual due to the new baby and retunring to work on February 1st. I feel very confident that I will do good this summer. I have my fiance to help watch my children while I do homework, and they will also be attending daycare to help me have some alone time to do homework.
I hope to get a brush up on my English writing skills. I have not taken an English class since high school, which was over 6 years ago. My skills in writing essays ex cetera are very rusty. I am hoping that my essay skills will be fine tuned by the end of this class. Currently I work part time 3 days a week cleaning a friend's house. This leaves me plenty of time to focus on my school work. I like to try to pace myself when it comes to school work. With children it doesn't always happen. I plan on getting as much done at the beginning of the week as I can. I try to get my work done as early as possible. Sometimes my week can get ahead of me, so I try to do most of my assignments at the beginning of the week. I have been very successful the last two semesters doing online classes. I am keeping my school load lower than usual due to the new baby and retunring to work on February 1st. I feel very confident that I will do good this summer. I have my fiance to help watch my children while I do homework, and they will also be attending daycare to help me have some alone time to do homework.
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