Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
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Theory of Writing final draft
Sophia DiStefano
Professor Epelbaum
Writ 101
17 December 2019
My Theory of Writing
Writing is a complex topic that many of us may or may not seem to have a developed understanding of. It is a vital topic that we’ve been studying since kindergarten or at even earlier levels. No individual is going to have their writing skills or style perfected from the start. It’s a skill that must be cultivated and tailored to its creator, something that takes time to learn and improve upon. Most importantly, it’s an ancient form of communication. Writing is an act that we are forced to perform in school settings for a grade, or a task we contribute to at home for pleasure and relaxation, it can even be used to create or reflect upon our daily lives and certain situations. Subsequently, we must prompt ourselves to learn something from our achievements as writers. I personally believe that, “To be a good writer means to have purpose in your writing, to be mindful of your subject, and to have a deeper understanding of what you’re writing about besides just what it is” (Artifact 9). This doesn’t just apply to specifically to the work we create but how we create it and what it means to each of us. We each have our own writing styles and ideas of what our writing means to us.
Realizing our Theories of Writing is a powerful step in becoming an advanced author because it helps us push ourselves forward into higher levels of creation. A theory of writing does not only this but also allows us to understand why we write a certain way and helps us maintain focus and purpose in our writing and in ourselves. Reflecting on each individual’s view of writing, similarly, each person’s theory of writing is bound to be indistinguishable from the next. For example, although one person believes that their writing may stem from, or be benefited by emotions, another person’s writing may be influenced by visuals or even music styles.
Personally, I find that my work is a product of myself and is authentic this way, even if I am forced to write I enjoy it because it is a representation of my progress and past experiences. In addition to this I find that input from my teachers helps my writing and work ethic to become more enhanced. To some, this may be a complex or unusual concept, but to me it makes all the difference. My theory is valid because it showcases the way I conceptualize my strategies and feelings towards my creation in writing. In addition to this, quickly exhibits my intentions towards writing and embodies purpose for my perseverance in the literary realm. It’s astonishingly valuable to me to sustain my personality within my style of writing because I prefer to write with all of my being. My writing must be authentic in a way that tells the story of my experiences and showcases essential parts of knowledge I’ve acquired along the way in my writing journey.
Apart from this, rhetorical devices also are an essential piece to my writing theory, simply because they’ve helped me with developing and understanding my pieces along the way. The most beneficial term that I have come across and used to develop my theory of writing would have to be Authentic Writing. This is an important term to remember because it is most frequently related to my Theory of Writing and one that I use constantly to create more truthful or genuine pieces.
Authentic Writing is a particular skill that typically “goes beyond the student and the teacher. It asks students to apply their reasoning, reading, and writing skills to a task that transcends the classroom and reaches a real-world audience” (http://talkswithteachers.com/authenticwriting/). But I have a slightly different personal definition and use my own viewpoint towards the term itself. Although, Authentic Writing is usually applied towards serving an audience or catering to a specific idea, I use it to be authentic to myself in my own writing. This means straying away from any potential barriers and writing from the deepest part of my mind and heart. I often times strive to be as genuine as possible in my writings, even when I am forced to use guidelines or am constrained. Although I do not prefer to have to write by the rules of a teacher or superior being, I do it gladly because I am creating something that I can call mine and convey a certain message. One of my most treasured examples of my Authentic Writing would be the essay I used when I was applying to colleges in high school titled Home Is Where the Start Is. I stated, “Growing up can be difficult for everyone , but by being in a constructive setting I’ve learned how to use a platform to truly express myself, influence others, and to take a positive stance on issues we face in our communities today” (Artifact 11 ). I believed that this piece has helped me excel in using Authentic Writing. It provides a truthful story that has developed my writing skills. In addition to this, it’s allowed me to pursue my work creatively while contributing to my education and experience as a writer. Overall, it’s a fairly short piece but it gave me insight as to how i’ll perform in the future as an author who takes advantage of Authentic Writing in my future endeavors.
Apart from Authentic Writing, I do have an additional component that influences my writing and contributes to my Theory of Writing and that is Feedback. Feedback from my teachers and peers helps me gain the best of experiences in order to generate modern work that enhances my experience as a writer. I once wrote on a free write that,“At first, in middle or high school, I honestly wouldn’t pay attention to the feedback I was given. I didn’t believe it really meant much because people were just criticizing me. But now in college, I realize that that was stubborn and immature, for feedback helps students prosper in class and create new goals to reach. Now, a paper that I receive feedback on, I really take it into account of how to better myself and keep up with everyone else in the class” (Artifact 4). This statement, for the most part, was immature of me not only because I was closed minded to the idea feedback but because I didn’t my feedback to my advantage. It’s a glorious feeling to have the upper hand and to be able to improve your work after reading feedback and seriously taking it into account. I now find it important to myself that I take the feedback I’m given, dissect it, and use it to enhance my writing next time. Furthermore, feedback is also helpful because I have gained a few more tips that I didn’t think I needed and it’s provided future guidance for tasks that I found difficult. I can recall saying, “You may even receive feedback you didn’t expect on a new work just because the concept or level of difficulty was new to you. Every student is different and handles different types of work in various ways”(Artifact 3). But after all I do appreciate this feedback, weather these notions are from my teachers, peers, or family it helps me become a stronger writer and gives me the confidence to say that I’ve experienced and am able to move on to producing better work.
I have gained a multitude of responses on my homework assignments, projects and essays giving me advice on how to improve my work. It’s essential in my schooling to look back on past academic events to see how I have failed, learned and grown as a creator. Some of the best examples of my progression as a writer due to using my feedback have been in my New York City Seminar with Professor Julie Huntington and my Storytelling Across Media class with Professor Daniel Hunt. Moving forward, at the beginning of my first semester in college I had to encounter some very unfamiliar courses, two of them being the classes previously stated. Although I tried my best, I didn’t get the homework and project grades that I was used to getting in high school, but luckily enough I got feedback from my teachers to help me succeed.
On one of my first projects in my Storytelling Across Media class I had received a “B” grade and my Professor exclaimed “Late. Nice use of music – well mixed – it sounds like you had to loop the music a few too many times, it’s makes the piece feel repetitive. Interview could be cut down quite a bit. Interesting character. Don’t forget to listen to the piece for pacing issues – pauses would help. Beware of rough edits” (Artifact 1). With this new piece of information I worked hard on my next project to fix my mistakes and ended up scoring with the slightly higher grade of “B+”. He then stated that I had “Strong photos”, “Nice use of music.” , and that my new project proved to be “Very nice work!!!” (Artifact 2). As I improved, I still wrote my stories for my projects authentically. I also learned with this information to edit better, have better overall story quality and that deadlines are crucial.
Something very similar had also occurred in my other class, my NYC Seminar. I had always completed my homework to the best of my ability but something was different this time. We had just gone on an excursion with an adventurer named Wild-man Steve, it was an exhilarating learning experience and it became a memory I treasured. So, I was eager to write my reflection on it. I wrote all about our ‘wild’ adventure and even included a thank you note at the bottom! It was a piece that I truly poured my heart into while exclaiming my excitement, s perfect example of my Authentic Writing. Professor Huntington said “I’m glad you enjoyed it. [But] Just be mindful to follow assignment prompts in the future” (Artifact 5). I ended up receiving a ⅗ for my efforts but then realized to look more into directions when completing my next homework assignment, my Seneca Village reflection. For this assignment I was sure to re-read directions and strictly follow the prompt while incorporating my own opinions and flare. While grading, Professor Huntington reminded me to “be specific in terms of what kinds of records are true and untrue” (Artifact 6). This lead me to receiving a 4.5/5, better than last time but not my best. Lastly, I had handed in my Park and the People ch.1 and 2 reflections, which I had received a full 5/5 on. “Superb & well balanced summary analysis !” (Artifact 7). Throughout these assignments, I had learn to follow directions better and to be clearer, which has improved my writing and grades to a great extent.
In conclusion, I have experienced many things, especially within the duration of recent months, that have changed my perspective as a writer and that’s contributed to my Theory of Writing. At first I saw my college experience as “ diverse and engaging. My experience has also consisted of hard work, learning to put pieces together in new ways, learning time management, and improving upon social skills.” (Artifact 8). But after receiving input from my teachers, being put into new environments and courses, and developing a Theory of Writing that is true to myself and that I can work off of; “My college experience consists of learning to balance things at a more intense level. The work has become more difficult and the stress levels increase, especially after realizing you’re starting from scratch and are in need of learning independence all over again. It’s not only learning strategic ways to create a good and productive work environment, but also ways to balance a social life, school, and maintain a good mental health”(Artifact 10). I am grateful for my experiences of overcoming closed mindedness and learning to use the feedback given to me in addition to using Authentic Writing in all of my pieces. I find that my theory not only helped me as a writer, but a person, to develop confidence and authentic ideas that don’t need to follow structure but also push me along the way to succeed. I Intend to use my Theory of Writing to remind myself of why I write, I want to use it as not only a reason to develop my writing sense and fabricate influential works but to propel myself further and to enhance my future.
Theory of Writing Works Cited
-Artifact #1: Hunt, Daniel. “Re: project 2 grade”. Storytelling Across Media Project Grade, Office 365 Outlook, November 1st 2019,
-Artifact #2: Hunt, Daniel. “slideshow grade”. Storytelling Across Media Project Grade, Office 365 Outlook, November 17th 2019,
-Artifact #3: DiStefano, Sophia. “Freewrite 3: META Questions”. Feedback Freewrite Marathon, MMC Blackboard, November 13th 2019,
-Artifact #4: DiStefano, Sophia. “Freewrite 4: Self-Reflection and Effective Use of Feedback ”. Feedback Freewrite Marathon, MMC Blackboard, November 13th 2019,
-Artifact #5: DiStefano, Sophia. “WILD MAN STEVE EXCURSION FUN!”. Excursion Reflection, New York City Seminar, Fall 2019,
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qmC99FsEkNI0IH2TuVcwUTx0bZc_uHCv__CnL5KFjoc/edit
-Artifact #6: DiStefano, Sophia. “Seneca Village Reflection and Response”. Excursion Reflection, New York City Seminar, Fall 2019,
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18VduGMAQkSqLBQmRWgAckwPPMa-2GSt79_w5iPgABdQ/edit
-Artifact #7: DiStefano, Sophia. “The Park and the People ch.1 and 2”. Homework Reflection and summary, New York City Seminar, Fall 2019,
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15TfuNY9jnSTUVIsANsu0qQ-Nsf7Z7cPJqbat39sOaV8/edit
-Artifact #8: DiStefano, Sophia. “WAW Class Survey”. Survey Monkey, Writ 101, September 11th 2019,
-Artifact #9: DiStefano, Sophia. “WAW Class Survey”. Survey Monkey, Writ 101, October 23rd 2019
-Artifact #10: DiStefano, Sophia. “WAW Class Survey”. Survey Monkey, Writ 101, December 11th 2019
-Artifact #11: DiStefano, Sophia. “Home Is Where the Start Is”. College essay, SHSW Docs, January 2018
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oCK0KlpYde2xawzCLJwcBw_OxDmDin9zyqRzj2GImVY/edit
What I’ve Learned About Myself In College So Far…
(personal blog post #5)-Sophia DiStefano- Professor Epelbaum-Writ 101 Fall 2019
During our final class of our New York City Seminar with Professor Julie Huntington this past Friday, we were asked to reflect one one thing that we’ve learned about our lives/ourselves. Throughout this process I started to realize many things that weren’t apparent to me before. As I continued to write and reflect, a very important message dawned upon me- and this message was that I must learn to balance the happiness of myself and others to have a prosperous life.
It’s been a difficult journey for me to find this balance but I think I’m figuring it out. I’ve always struggled with putting others before myself, which lead to me over working myself and not being as happy as I could potentially be. I was always seen as a caregiver or a ‘mom’ and even though helping people made me happy, it hurt to not be seen as one of the girls. So, when I got to college I decided to leave it all behind and focus on myself and my own emotions, while blocking out the feelings of others.
This was a mistake on my part but I quickly learned that. But since the start of the year here I have realized that I can’t only focus on myself, because to be happy I must allow others into my life and help them too. In addition to this I’ve learned to take my maturity in stride and use it to my ability because after all it is a big part of my personality and will effect how I make decisions and live.
Q U O T E S
(personal blog post #4)-Sophia DiStefano-Professor Epelbaum-Writ 101 Fall 2019
Here’s a few of my favorite inspirational quotes that get me through tough times…
My Top 10 NYC
(Personal blog post #3)-Sophia DiStefano-Professor Epelbaum-Writ 101 Fall 2019
As the semester comes to a close, I’ve decided to reflect and share my top 10 favorite destinations and experiences I have encountered while living in New York City full time. My rankings aren’t necessarily worst to best, its just a collection of things or places I have enjoyed.
1)- Central Park: The park has been one of my favorite places for a long time. I’m incredibly content with all that I’ve learned this year in my NYC Seminar, it enhanced my experience because now I know more information and areas in and about Central Park.
2)-The Met: I went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art this past semester and it truly amazed me. I never realized how ginormous the building is and how much it contained. I enjoyed the exhibits and had a relaxing day gazing at the pieces of art.
3)-Good Morning America: This has been one of the best experiences of my life. Although we had to get up at the actual crack of dawn, it was worth it for the interesting interviews and generous prizes we were gifted with.
4)-Feinstein’s 54 Below: Me and my roommate went to see Kara Lindsay at 54 Below this past fall and we have never had more fun. It was so personal and the food was great. 10/10 would recommend.
5)-Dylan’s Candy Bar: yummy! The candy here is so good ( and over priced). But its nice to experience one or two times every once and a while.
6)-The Highline: Beautiful walk at day and night. The highline showcases amazing works of art from all kinds of artists. It’s a great spot to catch up with friends and family.
7)-TKTS ( Times Square): If you’re a college student and love broadway, be sure to get your show tickets through TKTS the day of! You’ll save anywhere from $10-$50 at least 🙂
8)-Radio City Music Hall: I revisited the Radio City Music Hall after about 10 years to see the Rockettes perform at their Holiday show this past week and It was so much better than I remember.
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9)-The New York Public Library: My other roommate forced me to visit this iconic building a few months ago and I was pleasantly surprised. I honestly didn’t realize how huge the inside would be or how beautiful it was.
10)- The American Ballet Theater / Linclon Center: One of my most favorite experiences I’ve had would be seeing a show at the American Ballet Theater. The show was not only gorgeous but so was the building inside and out! I felt so fancy.
Meeting My Roommates
(Personal blog post #2)-Sophia DiStefano- Professor Epelbaum- Writ 101 fall 2019
I have realized that I’ve been reflecting a lot of these past few months now that the my first semester of college is coming to an end. I’ve made a lot of interesting memories and gained new experiences inside and outside of the Marymount Manhattan College campus and dorms. I’ve lived in New York all of my life, and been to the city hundreds of times, but its still drastically different living here than just visiting. You get to know new people and places so well in such a short amount of time; Quicker than I would ever think I’d learn. Although I’m still trying to find my way in and around the Big Apple and I appreciate the experiences I’ve gained.
Even before coming to NYC, I’ve always been so outgoing and loved to be with people. I always knew that I wanted to go away to school but I feared how living with other girls my age would be. This was about the scariest experience of my life. I honestly sometimes don’t know why I decided to live in the dorms considering there was a possibility of being placed with 7 girls and I hated sleepovers to begin with. I wouldn’t mind if I was placed with only the other 3 I requested to live with, because I partially knew them, I picked them because they made me feel comfortable. But with our luck, we got placed in the 7 suite and were forced to live with 3 other strangers. I always thought this concept was bizarre but I didn’t really freak out when the four of us would be living in a 7 suite, I actually was excited in a weird way- more friends! And more friends it was, I ended up becoming so close with the other three girls, they turned out to be super outgoing, kind, welcoming, funny, and not creepy at all- even though I was convinced one of them hated me at first for hugging her (oops!). Overall, it turned out to be really easy living with people my age, and exciting too. I mean yes, I have absolutely no privacy whatsoever, but its alright because were real close now.
theory of writing draft two
this is extremely difficult
Sophia DiStefano
Prof. Epelbaum
Writ 101
10 December 2019
Theory of Writing Draft #2
Writing is a complex topic that many of us seem to have a developed understanding of,
others not as much but that’s understandable. Writing is a topic that we’ve been
studying since kindergarten or even at earlier levels. Some may succeed and thrive in
the art of writing, others may not. It’s something that takes time to learn and improve
upon. It’s an ancient form of communication, it’s an act that we are forced to perform in
school settings for a grade, or a task we contribute to at home for pleasure and
relaxation, it can even be used to create or reflect upon our daily lives and certain
situations. Subsequently, we must prompt ourselves to learn something from our
achievements as writers. This doesn’t just apply to specifically to the work we create but
how we create it and what it means to each of us. We each have our own writing styles
and ideas of what our writing means to us. Realizing our theories of writing is a powerful
step in becoming a mature author because it helps us push forward into new levels of
creation. A theory of writing does not only this but also allows us to understand why we
write a certain way and helps us maintain focus and purpose in our writing and in
ourselves. Reflecting on each individual’s view of writing, similarly, each person’s theory
of writing is bound to be indistinguishable from the next. For example, although one
person believes that their writing may stem from, or be benefited by emotions, another
person’s writing may be influenced by visuals or even music styles.
Personally, I find that my work is a product of myself and is authentic this way, even if I
am forced to write because I find enjoyment in writing. In addition to this, I find that my
work is also a representation of my progress as a writer and composer and I realize that
what I create is derived from my past experiences. [My work is a product of myself and is
authentic this way, even if I am forced to write I enjoy it because it is a representation of
my progress and past experiences.] To some, this may be a complex or unusual concept,
but to me it makes all the difference. My theory is valid because it showcases the way I
conceptualize my strategies and feelings towards my creation in writing. In addition to
this, quickly showcases my intentions towards writing and embodies purpose for my
perseverance in the literary realm. It’s equitably valuable to me to sustain my
personality within my style of writing because I prefer to write with all of my being, my
writing must be authentic in a way that tells the story of my experiences and showcases
essential parts of knowledge I’ve acquired along the way in my writing journey.
Along the duration of time, I have personally come to terms with the concept of my
theory of writing but to accomplish this, it was essential for me to realize that as time
goes on my writing changes. It has evolved in the sense of quality, maturity, length or
extensiveness, vocabulary, and level of difficulty. We all are supposed to grow in our own
ways at our own pace when it comes to academic or creative success, so for me it took a
long time to really understand what my writing was all about. I started off at an average
writing level as everyone else in grade school, but as the years passed on, I often times
felt left behind. I attempted to express myself through my words but I always felt as if I
had this block. But as soon as I realized what it was that helped me reach my potential, I
excelled to newer levels that I never thought were possible before. I found myself in a
college level english class a year in advance from many of my classmates and satisfied
with my growth and change as a writer.[ -How our minds develop and styles change
through experience, Survey monkey, annotation 8th grade example ( how i learned
annotation early on in school and now im really good at it/how it helps me understand as
a reader and prosper as a writer), college essay HSW vs essay 1 vs essay 2 / how my
writing styles change and improve]Rhetorical terms are a vital part of my writing theory
simply because they’ve helped me with everything along the way. A few of the most
beneficial terms that I’ve used to develop my theory of writing would include authentic
writing and constrained writing. Authentic Writing is a particular skill that by definition
“goes beyond the student and the teacher. It asks students to apply their reasoning,
reading, and writing skills to a task that transcends the classroom and reaches a real-
world audience”(dictionary). But I have a slightly different viewpoint and
use/manipulation of the term itself. Although the term tends to be used towards an
audience, I use it towards the audience in my mind, or my conscience. I have utilized the
term over time to draw attention and focus on the ‘authentic’ part. [You see] I tend to
focus on how my writing connects with myself and how I, as a writer, can connect it to
my audience while being truthful. For example….
In addition to authentic writing, we then have Constrained Writing is a literary technique
in which the writer is bound by some condition that forbids certain things or imposes a
pattern. Constraints are very common in poetry, which often requires the writer to use a
particular verse form (dictionary). Yet I only see this asa type or style of writing that is
derived from structure, patterns, or specific form.
My Favorite Book
( personal blog post #1) – Sophia DiStefano – Professor Epelbaum – Writ 101 fall 2019
Everyone has their own unique daily routine that keeps them pushing and surviving the
day. For some it may help to start their mornings with a big cup of coffee and to sit down
to watch the news, for others it may consist of going on a jog or walking their dog. For
me, I start my morning off by reading a page of G’morning G’night written by Lin-Manuel
Miranda and illustrated by Jonny Sun. The main reason I picked up this book to begin
with was because it was written by one of my favorite Broadway actor /producer /writer
/ director of all time, Lin-Manuel Miranda. I never liked to read, it made me fall asleep
quite literally and didn’t interest me, but I wanted that to change and this was a perfect
start. Each page of the book contains a positive and motivational affirmation that you
can read each morning and each night, hence the title “G’morning, G’night”. Along with
these messages you are given a picture story that goes a long with each day.
It feels as if Miranda was talking to you when you read this book, which makes you want
to listen. His words not only motivate you to get up out of bed every morning, but it helps
you to forgive and watch yourself grow. Although these words are short and sweet, they
hold power. The book itself makes you feel listened to. I’ve tried so many other little
affirmation and poetry books to lift my spirits but no book can even come close to this
one.
Theory of writing draft #1
Sophia DiStefano
Prof. Epelbaum
Writ 101
29 November 2019
Theory of Writing Final Essay Draft #1
What is writing theory?
-What is writing theory
-Why we struggle with it /how do we interpret it
-How mine may differ from another classmates
-My claim/What is my theory of writing
-Why this is important to my writing and creation
-Transition
The idea of a Theory of Writing is not one that can be simply stated, it’s a complex concept that does not have the same exact definition to each individual. It is rather a question that many of us struggle with when it comes to realizing what a Theory of Writing is and what it means to each of us. We could even consider it to be a proposal or notion that we must dissect into ourselves to push us further as writers and creators. A theory such as this can vary in definition, view point, structure and explanation. This is mainly because it is yours, no one may have the same theory simply because we are all our own selves. Developing this theory not only helps solidify our ideas and opinions as writers, but helps us mature us as creators.
OR What is writing?
Writing is a complex topic that many of us seem to have a good understanding of, others not as much but that’s alright. Its a topic that we’ve been studying since kindergarten or even at earlier levels, but it is really only something that we just do. It’s an action that we are forced to perform in school settings for a grade, or a task we contribute to at home for pleasure and de-stressing, it can even be used to create or reflect…………..
Statement of intent ? (would be included within first paragraph)
–My intent here is to thoroughly explain what my theory means to me and how it helps me in my daily life as a writer and a person. The idea that my writing is a part of me and a representation of my experiences are valid and can be expressed by the points that I present in the future of this piece.
What is MY theory of writing/explained + artifacts
-claim: My work is a product of myself and is authentic this way, even if I am forced to write because I find enjoyment in writing. In addition to this, I find that my work is also a representation of my progress as a writer and composer and I realize that what I create is derived from my past experiences.
-revised/condensed: My work is a product of myself and is authentic this way, even if I am forced to write I enjoy it because it is a representation of my progress and past experiences.
-BB posts:
-Throughout my lifetime I have created an abundance of extensive papers, essays, homework assignments, and speeches that I am proud of, simply because they belong to me. Building upon this, my work is a product of myself and is authentic this way, even if I am forced to write I enjoy it because it is a representation of my progress and past experiences. I often times find it important to think back to the idea of my work being a product of myself because it helps me create a more authentic piece.
Writing changes over time with experience-relate back to claim, how has it changed, why does it change
-Why does our writing change
-How do we grow/what causes us to grow as creators and individuals
-How our minds develop and styles change through experience
-Survey monkey
-annotation 8th grade example ( how i learned annotation early on in school and now im really good at it/how it helps me understand as a reader and prosper as a writer)
-college essay HSW vs essay 1 vs essay 2 / how my writing styles change and improve
How rhetorical terms help develop theory of writing
-Authentic writing definition:goes beyond the student and the teacher. It asks students to apply their reasoning, reading, and writing skills to a task that transcends the classroom and reaches a real-world audience
-MY definition- How my writing connects with myself and how I, as a writer, can connect it to my audience while being truthful.
-Authentic writing example-…….
-constrained writing: Constrained writing is a literary technique in which the writer is bound by some condition that forbids certain things or imposes a pattern. Constraints are very common in poetry, which often requires the writer to use a particular verse form
-constrained writing example- How in grade school we were taught to view writing as structured and have an intro, body paragraphs, thesis, and conclusion- vs now we have the freedom to write. My personality has created conflict with the idea of authentic writing because i like rules. I was not able to do this at first due to my prior experience in grade school but now I can. An additional example of how my writing is a product of myself and my experiences.
-MY definition- a type of writing that is derived from structure, patterns, or specific form.
-annotation: The process of taking notes directly onto the literary text you are reading
-annotation 8th grade example ( how I learned annotation early on in school and now im really good at it/how it helps me understand as a reader and prosper as a writer)
-MY definition- Taking notes to better your understanding of a composition, usually literary texts.
Constructive criticism!
-How its helped me grow and change
-How i shouldnt take feedback as an insult but take it and use it to benefit me
-Nyc sem: seneca village, all hws, essays
-Storytelling:project 1&2 feedback
-Art: midterm feedback
-Writ 101- essay 1&2 feedback/ oral presentation feedback
How my experiences in school have created the person and student I am today (extra)
proposal
THEORY OF WRITING PROPOSAL
1-Beginning Claim/Theory of Writing: My work is a product of myself and is authentic this way, even if I am forced to write because I find enjoyment in writing. In addition to this, I find that my work is also a representation of my progress as a writer and composer and I realize that what I create is derived from my past experiences.
2-Evidence/Artifacts: (my writing) BB posts, survey posts, annotations, essays 1+2, wild man reflection, seneca village reflection, when they see us reflection, park and the people reflection, central park 5 walking tour reflection, journalism/storytelling reflections (all on wordpress) , college essay from highschool.
(not mine/teacher feedback) nyc seminar hw suggestions/teacher notes, art midterm teacher notes, essay 1+2 teacher notes, journalism projects 1 and 2 feedback.
3-Key Rhetorical Terms: Annotation(as the process of taking notes directly on the literary text that you are reading.), Authentic Writing (goes beyond the student and the teacher. It asks students to apply their reasoning, reading, and writing skills to a task that transcends the classroom and reaches a real-world audience) , Constrained writing ( Constrained writing is a literary technique in which the writer is bound by some condition that forbids certain things or imposes a pattern. Constraints are very common in poetry, which often requires the writer to use a particular verse form.)
4-The Conversation: Throughout my final Theory of Writing essay, I recognize that it is important to have my text and my artifacts communicating with each other. This style opposes our familiar, juvenile, low skill level strategies that force us to write facts and ideas out like a shopping list in efforts to get a point across. My work will contain artifacts that efficiently relate back to my claim or thesis. For example, I may be able to use my Black Board marathon reflection posts against each other to prove my writing style and how it pertains to my experience as a writer. Or I may use my high school college essay and my essays in the present to prove my point of gaining experience and using it to my advantage.
5-Key analysis: My work will contain some points that will prove importance to my central claim. For example, how my experiences influence my writing, how my teachers feedback helps me grow, my composition then vs now, authentic writing, and more. I also feel that if I use a good amount of artifacts in the correct way it can help push my story and thoughts forward in a mature and evolved way.
6-Statement of Intent: For my essay I am going to stick with the claim to the best of my ability and will use the artifacts stated in efforts to have a meaningful conversation.
7-Organization: For my Theory of Writing essay, I propose to stick with an outline of my choosing, after all this is my product and my theory. I plan to have it laid out across several pages and to use several of my artifacts. Starting off, I’d like to restate my claim, then I’d like to go into detail of my previous writing experiences in grade school. Here I will use my college essay that I wrote in 11th grade to contrast my writing styles against the style I have now. I also may compare and contrast my survey questions that we answered at the beginning of the semester in Writ 101. I may also introduce the idea of Constrained writing and the idea that we had boundaries and structure to our writing that we don’t have anymore. Next, I will move on to how my writing now is more of a representation of me because it is also a representation of my growth as a creator. I plan on using my essays 1 and 2 from Writ 101 to prove my point of my choices in authentic writing style. After this I may attempt to use my feedback from my teachers in my Art, Storytelling across media, and NYC Seminar classes. I may be able to incorporate the idea of their feedback helping me grow as a writer and to write more through experience and constructive criticism- in which I will also use my Black board posts to justify.
8-Works Cited:- Gwen Hyman and Martha Schulman, “Introduction: Anyone can learn to Write” from Thinking on the Page: A College Student’s Guide to Effective Writing
-Vershawn Ashanti Young, ‘Nah, We Straight’: an argument against code switching
-Barbra Mellix, “From Outside, in”
Essay #2
Sophia DiStefano
Professor Epelbaum
Writ 101
04 November 2019
Nah, We From The Outside, In
What is it that makes language so powerful? This is an idea that many of us overlook or don’t think too deeply about. Language is a way of communication and connection but has some serious impact on people of different races. It is an action that helps us assimilate and connect with one another, but also in a way segregates or discriminates. The act of speaking may provoke togetherness and prosperity or hold behind people of color in a world where communication is the key to society. This concept is illustrated within the sections “Nah, We Straight” by Vershawn Ashanti Young and “From Outside, In” by Barbra Mellix from the piece “Writing About Writing”. The essays display further information of how language is power by narrating the notion of the complex terms Code Switching and Code Meshing.
Although they possess similar titles, code switching and code meshing have drastically different definitions. Code switching is a stylistic choice made while speaking or writing, that is often times forced instead of prefered based on situation or place. It is a practice commonly used by people of color (P.O.C), in this case specifically African American people. There are many opinions regarding the idea of code switching due to the fact that POC may not use their language or slang in every situation due to a fear of a lack of professionalism or societal rejection. Others may oppose and believe that it may benefit them by helping them relate to the average white person. “Code switching for them is acquiring the facility to transition from one language variety to a different one” (young 150). On the other hand, there is code meshing, often times confused with code switching. Code meshing is the act of taking cultural, spiritual, and colloquialism, and traditional elements to promote a formal yet inclusive way of speaking, writing, reading, and communicating. For example, code meshing helps African American people by incorporating their culture and tongue with standard english to create stories and new ways of speaking. To some people, code meshing is valuable because it creates a safe space for people of all races by allowing them to use the language they are comfortable with. Code meshing and code switching are both essential yet rejected in the African American community due to their power and controversy.
The article “Nah, We Straight” written by Young promotes the idea that code meshing is superior to the idea of code switching. In many ways his ideas support the fact that code switching in many ways promotes racism and discriminatory tendencies within society. The idea of code switching in a way is self incrimination against your own race in theory. To some, including young, Code switching can be seen as an attempt to hide your cultural identity and is used to force people of color to assimilate into white society as they are forced to speak in a more proper and accepted manner. The bare idea of it all strips your background and brings African American people back to times of restriction, a time without freedom of speech and segregates. “Yet in truth, to teach students that two language varieties cannot mix and must remain apart belies the claim of linguistic equality and replicates the same phony logic behind jim crow legislation–which held that the law recognized the equality of the races yet demanded their separation.” (young 152). The notion of code meshing surpasses code switching to some because code switching brings us back to times of oppression. It may be believed that the concepts of code meshing and code switching may not coexist due to their different natures and complex effects on race and social culture.
The piece “On Outside, In” written by Mellix, contained a different claim. The author strongly opposes Youngs argument and the idea that Code switching is inferior to code meshing. In fact, she even presumes that code switching is empowerment! Mellix walks the reader through her journey as a child,a student, a mother, writer, a reader, and more. Her perspective is welcoming rather than aggressive, inviting and informative, while youngs claims are aggressive and intolerant. In this section, we learn that code switching is an artform that is learned along with life and that should not be separated from code meshing. As you grow older and venture on with life you may learn to appreciate being able to use code meshing and code switching because it will teach you the impact and value of communication.It may also be realized in certain communities that code switching can help people of color relate to different groups and become accepted within society. Some may not even realize the capability to “-switch from black English to a mixture of the two, according to who they were with. At home and with certain relatives, friends, and neighbors, they spoke black english. With those less close, they spoke a mixture” (Mellix 176). As a young individual, Mellix often was instructed to speak standard, or proper, english compared to her usual at home slang. Like most individuals, it was challenging and perplexing to understand the language and why it must be used in certain situations. To most African American families that reside in higher social classes or who aim to climb the ladder of success, it is crucial to grasp the concept of being able to code switch. Mellix states “I did not realize then—nor, I think, did my father–that he was teaching us, among other things, standard English and the relationship between language and power” (Mellix 175).
Overall, despite the many opinions and affirmations claimed by Mellix and young, one thing holds true. The idea that there is power within words is a strong statement, one that not only promotes prosperity in living but also encourages racism and discriminatory action. African American authors Mellix and Young produced works published in “Writing About Writing” that introduce the ideas of code switching and code meshing to display ideas that pertain to their own central claims while also relating to a certain subject.
Sophia DiStefano Writ 101 YAY 