Revisualizing Composition

            The authors of this article are Jeff Grabill, William Hart-Davidson, Stacey Pigg, Michael McLeod, Paul Curran, Jessie Moore, Paula Rosinski, Tim Peeples, Suzanne Rumsey, Martine Courant Rife, Robyn Tasaka, Dundee Lackey, and Beth Brunk-Chavez. That is a pretty big group of authors for just one artlice.

            The beginning states that our writing processes and the technologies of today have had some pretty big changes over the years. I could not agree more with what they say. People and their writing styles change over time and so does the technology. We have computers, smart phones, auto correct, and spell check. Lots of people still use pen and paper or pencil and paper to write what they want but eventually they will have to transfer what they have written to a computer to either print what they have written or turn it in online, unless they are just writing for fun.

            Some of the findings that this study is interested in are the writing practices and values. Some examples are SMS texts, like short messages and e-mails. Texting and academic writing, which is writing that is assigned in school, are the most frequently valued genres. The writing that is done most often is associated with our cell phones, Facebook, and emails. Students mostly write alone, and writing alone is more preferred rather than writing collaboratively.

            While it is proven that texting, emails, and cellphones are ranked number one in the most frequent writing practices of college students, many people argue that these types of writing do not count as actual writing. People believe that things like texting, sending emails, and making posts on Facebook are not considered actual writing. I think that things like texting and emails can actually be considered writing because what else could they be? I mean, just because it is social does not mean that it is not writing. It is very beneficial to be social and write frequently. Texting is very beneficial in some ways and most people do not realize it.

            Besides social writing like texting, emails, and social sites, over half of the frequently written genres are related to school. Many people write for fun but also, many people do not like to write for fun. It is about half.

Writing, Technology, and Teens: Summary of Findings

Writing, Technology, and Teens: Summary of Findings

            This article is mainly about exactly what the title says. They state “Teenagers’ lives are filled with writing. All teens write for school, and ninety three percent of teens say they write for their own pleasure.” I have yet to meet some one who writes just for fun. Ms. Mosher writes fan fiction so except for her.

            Teens write all the time. Today, not only teens but also almost everyone has a phone that they use to send text messages to each other. I think, in my personal opinion that this is the common form of writing nowadays that everyone uses on a day to day basis. Teens especially, because it is known for teenagers to always be on their phones doing something. Text messaging is not the only way teens write. We now have social networking sites that have taken it to the next level. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other sites like these have brought loads of writing into our lives.

            Another debate that this article deals with is whether or not all of the technology of today is affecting the teen’s habits and styles of writing. They are concerned that the carefree and lack of punctuation teens use while texting or on social media is degrading the quality of their writing. In my opinion, this is halfway true. I do not think that technology, texting, or any kind of social media is degrading teens’ writing. It may make some changes in habits or ways that they write but I do not necessarily think that it is degrading. It is not making their writing any worse. I think that the more a person writes the better that they can get at it. I go by the saying that says, “Practice makes perfect.” I do agree with the when they say that the habits and style of writing is changing. We can all agree that sending a text message and sending a letter in the mail are two very different thing but they have the same purpose. So the habits and writing styles are being changed as newer technology comes about. Most teens don’t even realize that the texts, emails, or thing they put on social media is real writing. They consider it the same as talking on the phone or saying “hey” to a friend in the hallway at school.

Texting and Writing

Texting and Writing

            This article talks about how texting or text messaging has become a popular thing in today’s society. It is very common among the teenagers and even the business world now. You are able to say what you want very quickly without having to actually call on the phone and the other person receiving the message can respond when it is convenient for them to do so. Abbreviations for words have been created to get a message out even faster. They call these abbreviations “text speak”. The problem that this article focuses on is whether or not this so called “text speak” affects the skills or abilities of a person’s writing. The article leans more to the side of saying that it does not affect the ability of someone’s writing.

            There was an article written in 2008 called “Texting, Testing Destroys Kids’ Writing Style” and it basically just summarizes all the complaints about how text speak affects writing in today’s culture. It states; “Only twenty-five percent of high school seniors are proficient writers. This article mostly blames the use of the abbreviations or acronyms for student’s inability to spell and write. I think that this statement is not true at all. When you are using an acronym or abbreviation, you know what the acronym stands for or you know what the whole word is for the word that you are abbreviating. When the article said that texting is the cause of students having an inability to write, I laughed. Some people are just illiterate and using abbreviations and acronyms while texting is not going to make you forget the real words that you are supposed to use while writing a paper or essay.

            People have responded to the article that has complains about texting in the same way that I did. It was claimed that texting is actually beneficial to writing because it can provide motivation or inspiration for writing. It could also provide a chance to practice their writing and their writing skills. It gives them a chance to gain confidence in what they write and allows them to engage in written conversation rather than oral.

            I agree with in the article that texting is actually beneficial to writing.

From Pencils to Pixels

From Pencils to Pixels: The Stages of Literacy Technologies

Dennis Baron

Dennis Baron talks about how the world has switched over or is switching over to only using computers to do all their writing. Every one used pencil and paper or pen and paper and then computers came along and changed everything. Some people even depend on the computer entirely for their writing purposes. Baron says, “I readily admit my dependence on the new technology of writing. The computer becoming so popular nowadays could be a good thing or it could also be a bad thing. For example, the computer is much faster and more efficient than writing everything on paper and keeping up with all the pages and such. On a computer there is lots of space and you can save lots of writing without losing it somewhere. Baron talks about one experience when he did not have his computer with him and he needed to write down a reminder that he needed to get out to his staff by lunch time but he had gotten so used to writing everything down on a keyboard that he no longer felt the desire or need to use pencil and paper and he longed for the flexibility of digitized text.

            The first technology of writing ever was simply just writing. Now writing has evolved into so much more. We can write in several different ways. We use texts, emails; we write papers, make blog posts and write comments, and hundreds or other ways. Plato was a philosopher who actually spoke out against writing. He said that it would weaken our memories. That is not true though. Reading and writing has been proven to make us smarter and improve skills. That is why my dad made me read outside of school for at least one hour everyday.

             Writing did not spread very easily though. It took some time to get around. William Harris states that no more than ten percent of the Roman and Greek populations were literate.

            I think that this article was a good read and interesting because it talks about current events like everyone using computers and then goes all the way back in history and talks about how writing started.

"Murray-2" QDJ 1, 3, & 4

1. The passage describes Murray's surroundings as at a long white wooden table which looks out onto the New Hampshire woods and behind the desk sits a large framed poster of a small boy sitting on a bed and staring at a huge dragon leaning over the railing and staring at him. the poster was captioned "Donald imagined things." I think that where you write and what you write on tells something about you. For example if you write on desk or a flat surface or some sort then you probably are more strict or choosy with how you write. Or on the other hand if you write on the floor or on a bed or something then you're probably more relaxed or laid back with your writing. As for me, I have to have some sort of flat surface that I can write on.

3. Berkenkotter states that his study has one simple, yet elegant answer that lies in a principle that was formulated by Linda Flower and John R. Hayes. He says that writers move back and forth between planning translating and reviewing their work.

4. Berkenkotter found problems like understanding the writer's editing and revising processes perfectly because sometimes it is different.

"Rose" QDJ 1, ,2 & 4

1. There aren't really any rules that interfere for me when I get writer's block. I usually get it when my mind travels and I start thinking about other things unrelated to what I am writing about.

2. The blockers were following rules such as "you need to always grab the readers attention immediately". The non-blockers have different rules like "always keep the audience in mind" and that they can use as many ideas in their thesis that they want.

4. Some rules are good for a writer and some rules can be bad for a writer. My rule is "always stay on topic and don't let your mind wander and start writing off topic".

"Sommers" QDJ 1, 3, 5, & 7

1. Sommers states that revising's primary objective is finding the form or shape of the argument. In other words - finding a "frame work, a pattern, or design".
3. In my own words I think that the difference between speech and writing is that when you are speaking about something it is coming out right off the top of your brain and not very much thinking is done. When you are writing about something, you have some time to brainstorm and think about what you are going to write about.
5. I think that Sommers is trying to say something like - writers don't have a certain set pattern in their writing. I think that she means writing should be done from what you think about and you should no have some straight line process from beginning to end and that experienced writers write this way.
7. I think that students got the idea from all of their English teachers that they have had growing up. It does match the way I have been taught about writing and revising.