Blog #3-Michael Kleine

Summary:
I just finished reading Micheal Klein's article, "What Is It We Do When We Write Articles Like This One-and How Can We Get Students To Join Us." It was a very interesting article he talks about doing research papers and how students use there time before on researching about their topic. He tested with four other writers on how they prepare for writing researching papers and compared them. He made up eight different topics (or tasks) and as the writer did them he checked them off. He compared writing to model called the hunting/gathering model. This a model where one must "hunt" and research the information than "gather" it together to come up with a plan. He really wants other students to catch on to this because he thinks that students lack writing skills for researched writings.

Making Connections:
We have read a lot of articles from different writers on the truth, per say, on writing. I think many of the authors would have great conversations about their ways, and some may even be arguments. We read the article, "Shitty First Drafts" and I think Klein and Lamot would have some disagreeing words because of her style. She is saying you need to get something down on paper and get all your thoughts out before you really start to plan out your paper well. Kleine's approach was more organized and he made it as though you needed to prepare and be ready before your paper. I think all authors and writers have their own style so it would be constantly fighting over whose is right. Although I think Lamot and Kleine both hit a topic that many others think differently about writers. Everyone usually thinks all writers can create masterpieces on the first time but that is not the case. Lamot proves that with her, "shitty" first drafts. Kleine proves that my making the point that one must prepare a lot and "hunt" for his information before tackling writing the paper. Producing writings take time and everyone has a different routine on how they write.
 
QDJ #3:
Kleine's view of sources is different from mine. Sources are not as important to the paper rather then all the reading and writing is. He makes it sound like from his experiment sources were nothing compared to other figures. Sources to me are what prove or make my point in a research paper. I am usually using sources to make my point more interesting and more believable. That is usually why they are research papers to me because I have research in my paper and they are not my own words so I have to cite my sources. I think we differ in our idea of sources; mine is the information that I am putting in my paper and his view is more of reading and writing before you write.

Opinions:
I really started off with this reading very confused and I did not know at first what his point was coming off across as. But as I kept reading I really became fond of his point about sources and researching for papers. I have trouble when it comes to sources and having to cite them because I constantly worry I am doing it wrong. I also like the model the though about hunting and gathering all the information I defiantly will be using that for when I write my next research paper.

Analyzing Process for Project #1

My method for keeping track of how my writing process goes is more like a diary. I always struggle  when I write because I do not write a lot, so when I do I have some issues. Every time I would have struggle or a thought I would open up a new document and write down my struggle and how I am feeling at that moment. I really enjoyed doing this because I think it helped me realize how much frustration I go through when I write and also what I need to improve on. I have a paper with all my notes I thought down while I was writing my paper and even the moments leading up to and while I was wrapping up my paper. I think analyzing my process while I write is a good way to improve your writing skills because you can go back to what you have documented. That can help you fix what your major issues on in writing.

Blog #2 Allen/Lamott

Summary:
I just finished the article by Anne Lamot and it was very entertaining. She talks about a topic that we really do not talk about a lot. We can all relate that writing papers can be a pain in the behind and she really hits the nail on the head with the shitty first draft. Everyone has a view that all writers can just pull amazing pieces out of there head in the first try. She explains in her article her process that she goes through when writing an article. She explains that the first time you are writing should be the worst version of it ever because it is just the beginning and getting it down on paper is the most important thing. Lamot really tells the story of how a writer thinks when sitting down to write anything and I think it changes many views on how hard a writers job can be.

The article that Sarah Allen wrote was another article about what it is like in the mind of a writer or an English professor. She hits on the topic that everyone thinks that all writers or those who have degrees in English love to write and read all the time. Although you do have a live for English and writing it does not necessary mean you are always on top of your game and wanting to write all the time. She explains that she realized that many students of hers worried that because they do not like writing that all their writing will be awful pieces. She talks about her opinions and feelings on writing and English and breaking the judgmental views.

#1:
The question have I ever used imitation while writing is very hard to remember? I defiantly have used other writers techniques and styles while writing my own papers. I am not a fan of writing so it is hard to catch on to other styles and techniques because I am not familiar with them. usually when I am writing it is for a research project or a school report, so it usually already has a uniform technique.

#2:
Using imitation is not familiar with me but from how Allen describes it in her text I would say it would be appropriate when trying to prove a point in a writing. You may not have enough style of your own to prove your point or make your topic come across so using some other authors may spice up your piece in a great way. I think you should use imitation when you are writing something not in a personal view or matter. Even though you may not be great at writing you still have a style and you should not take away from that.

Opinions:
I really liked these article that we read about this week. I had views on writers and it really broke all those judgmental views I had on them. Also it helped me with my views on writing itself; I really think I am bad at writing because I do not like to do it. Allen really helped me realize that anyone can write great pieces you just have to have the mind set that you can. Also I liked that article about the shitty first draft because I think everyone needs to realizing writing good pieces takes time for everyone and anyone.

Blog on the Deborah Brandt article

Summary:
The article I just read was by Deborah Brandt. She discusses with her readers about literacy and the sponsors behind it. She is a professor in the English department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She believes that literacy is something that others do not obtain on their own but through sponsors. She describes in her article about sponsors being everywhere and they can be as small as one person or as big as an organization.The article that Brandt writes is mostly all about sponsors in literacy and the access that it has, and also the success that it has. She has many cases about others and their literacy stories. Some of which were Raymond Branch and Dora Lopez. They both were examples of the access they had with literacy in their lives.Other parts of her article were about the standards that literacy upholds now. Dwayne Lowery was the example for this part and his story on his job and the literacy advancement in employment. Brandt really describes in detail how important these sponsors have been in literacy and how we need them to create more literate personals.

Question 5:
In the article about Lopez and Branch they were introduced to access with literacy sponsorship. For example Raymond Branch was introduced to the computer in 1975 in a classroom. So Branch had access to not only academic help but also through technology. Later on Branch went on to graduate from  the local University in the town where he lived. Lopez did not have much access to technology like Branch but she did learn to read and write from the local newspaper and the Spanish-language radio station.Later in her life while being a teachers aide she was able to use a computer to help further children's education with reading and writing. Branch and Lopez attended the same University and had great success because of that.

Question 1:
I have been privileged to a great amount of access to help improve my literacy skills. From the beginning my family was there to help me become the smartest I could be in life. When I was old enough to attend school my local school was also their to teach me great skills to improve my literacy.I think I have had such a great opportunity to receive access with literacy sponsorship and I am so happy about it.

My Opinion:
I do not really know how I feel about the article at first while I was reading it I was very confused and could not put the sponsors about literacy together but after finishing it and thinking about the article I finally put it all together. It really did make sense about how you are not "born" literate its something you obtain over the years through help. I really enjoyed reading the article and it made me think about all the access I had to help me gain all the literacy I need.