Journal 1 1. Throughout my high school and classes in university, I normally write essay about social phenomena. Take a specific example, what do you think about Artificial Intelligence? We are asked about to express our own ideas. This is a good thing – to get students writing down their thoughts and opinions about various topics…hopefully with less stress on the form (how it looks) and more stress on what’s written there (authentic content in your voice). In terms of such topics, I would discuss both merits and demerits (cons or opposing views…not demerits 😊). The aim of these writing is to show your critical thinking. 2. I really enjoy writing weekly journal in my ipad. It is called electronic diary, in which I would record what I have done, something interesting and so on in this week. Here is a picture of my electronic diary. This is super cool! How do you get it to have the lined paper effect? And the added effect that you’ve written it with pencils as well! I love the stickers and pictures together in collage format; this is a great writing habit you have! 图片包含 照片, 展示 描述已自动生成 3. Just like I have mentioned I would write my diary weekly. For me it is kind of way to remove my stress. 4. Generally speaking, I think some points in my essay were valuable, while others seemed like lack of persuasion. Especially argumentative writing, you need to think at least three strong points to stand your thesis. But a tough job for me is to come up with the last point. I always lack of a strong enough point. Sometimes this can be an exercise of coming up with more than 3 points…and then asking for some peer review before even narrowing the thesis statement (argument/claim). Also, I know some students struggle with creating thesis statements because they were not taught how to go through this process, i.e. first you come up with the topic idea (easiest); second, you come up with the research question(s), which look like this: 1. What is it about this topic that interests you? You must answer this before you move on to point 2. Number 2. What are some common themes, patterns, metaphors, tropes, characters, ideas, ideologies, key vocabulary terms that really strike you about this topic (sometimes to see this, you have to first do some research on your own (literature review), and then see what is already being said about the topic…based on this, you can answer question 2. Then, question 3. What hasn’t been said about this topic in connection with these patterns I’ve observed? And lastly, question 4. What do I want to prove - based on what’s already been said, and what has not already been said - about this topic; this need to prove something is what should lead to form your main argument, e.g. I want to prove that that in some selected novels where characters are presented as monsters, that the idea that they are monstrous is actually only constructed from the concept that they are deformed (and thus outsiders – they don’t look like others, so they’re not normal, they’re therefore monsters…); and therefore, that deformity should not be misunderstood or misinterpreted to mean monstrous… Then, finally, once you have “what you want to prove” or your final number 4. To your research question section, you then answer this idea…with a thesis statement; for example, building on the research question above, I might form the following thesis (with very specific ideas for my 3 main points…that I found by answering questions 2, 3, and 4 in the research question exercise above): “The idea that deformity creates depravity, and that people who suffer any physical deformities may be superficially labeled as monstrous outsiders in their own society – a common theme presented in the fictional tales of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’s Monster, or Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame – is detrimental for sociocultural progress amidst increasing globalization in the world today. These themes, found in 18^th Century Gothic fiction, don’t exist in literary isolation; rather, the expression through fiction has contributed towards the perpetuation of social exclusionary practices such as: the direct and indirect pressures forced physically deformed persons to seek private habitation in seclusion and secrecy, rather than amidst the residence communities of non-deformed members of a particular community; the persistent prejudice that physically disabled and/or deformed persons may reduce workplace morale among non-disabled persons, or worse, that they may not be capable of performing well in key positions that would require regular visual contact with other co-workers or clients - prejudices which can exacerbate unemployment obstacles for deformed and disabled persons; and finally, that physical deformities will inhibit the normal bonding processes required to form romantic relationships with non-deformed and/or disabled persons, and therein that any offspring would be placed at an unnecessary, undesired risk of inheriting and thus perpetuating a particular physical deformity and/or disability. In other words, eradicating perceived “monsters” has been the status-quo for establishing the sociocultural construct of normalcy before the 18^th Century, and little has changed since – it’s still commonplace prejudicial practice to seek to isolate any undesirable differences in physical appearance or mental capacity among the various members of any given community. 5. Writing process come easily for me. When I was given a topic, I could easily think about how to write it from which aspects, although most come from my life experience and the news I have heard. 6. Actually in my writing course in my own university, we would exchange our writing and make comments on other people’s writing. I think this is an effective way of learning. When you look through your writing, it is hard to find your own demerits because you are quite familiar with it. But other students have different opinions about your points, they would point out your problem even includes some grammar mistakes. So I am willing to share my writing with others and make progress. 7. In my opinion, creative writing is kind of academic writing. Indeed it is 😊 Everyone is unique in writing style. Sometimes, you need to recognize that creative writing do bring different effects. But maybe in formal academic writing like your graduate paper, it is not appropriate to write in a creative way. This is a common misconception; practicing creative writing techniques can actually lead to easier flow within your more scholarly works for university; it can reduce writers’ anxiety and writers’ block, and it can increase your diction (vocabulary) and ability to explain your scholarly ideas through metaphor or allusion. Perhaps, what you mean by this (correct me if I’m wrong), is that your scholarly works for university should not use more creative formats…and they should “look like” scholarly articles? 8. I normally read novels, especially detective novels. I am fond of reading works on crime. 9. To be honest, when I entered the second year of college, I had less and less time to read books that I like. That’s unfortunate. When we stop reading for ourselves, we often stop writing for ourselves; and when we stop writing for ourselves, our (element 1) purpose for each text we produce can become muddled, or even mixed in with (element 2) our intended audience. This can lead to an increase in writers’ anxiety, because we then imagine that we need to write for a particular professor – their desired content and form – which is a task almost impossible for anyone who doesn’t have direct access to that professors’ precise thoughts on what the purpose should be. In other words, we can’t read people’s thoughts, so when we try to (by interpreting what we believe they (professors) think the purpose should be, we can lose ourselves in this attempt to deliver something “great” in their opinion. Every semester we would have reading jobs and we are asked to write review of what we had read. But aside from school assignments, I think for me to read books is twice a week. Each time last for about twenty minutes. 10. I think is my concise and clear expression. When I am confused about the usage of two similar words, I would search in the dictionary and find the differences and then decide which word to use. I want to avoid my audience understand my essay in a wrong way because of my wrong words. 11. For me, an essay is your self-perception of a thing or a phenomenon by using formal language. Journal 2 1. Fiction For reading, it is easy to understand the plot and catch the theme. For writing, you may need use vivid language, which is a challenge but I am willing to try. There are a lot of rhetoric needed. As far as I am concerned, reading rhetoric in fiction and practicing writing them would be beneficial. 2. Letter Different types of letters require different language styles. For example, when write recommendation and business letters, you are asked to write in formal language. However, in a letter to a friend, you may use informal even oral language. There is also a big difference in tone. When writing a letter of complaint, you can express your dissatisfaction. When writing a letter of praise, you need to be friendly. 3. Love letter I am really interested to learn how to write love letter, which I have never done before. Actually in China, even though we write a letter to express our affection, we do it in an euphemistic way. Take an example, how to express I love you in China? We would often say “what a beautiful moon tonight!” This is so interesting to me! I hope you consider pursuing this for your writing project. Or even an essay on the linguistic-cultural differences between peoples and languages; or the thought that meaning in subject to an added layer of cultural interpretation, in that, a Chinese person may have difficulty expressing emotions in the love letter format for, let’s say, an American person…and vice versa. 4. Instruction Instruction is seen by anywhere in our life. I often read instruction when I buy some items hard to deal with. But some instructions are not fully understood by many people, so I want to write instruction in my way. What do you think about pictographic instructions, like how IKEA tries to teach its customers? 5. Job application As a graduating student, job application become crucial for us. Reading excellent job application could help me to perfect my own application. Authenticity is often just as key in Western environments as accomplishments and degrees are. In other words – that ability to find and maintain your own voice in spoken and written form in your every day interactions with co-workers as well as your assignments/productions as a result of being employed (a memo you may write, for example). Journal 3 1. Persuasive Essay l Full of convincing techniques l Aim to persuade somebody l Explain a situation about whether it is beneficial or harmful for people l The register of these essay would be neutral Why I chose persuasive essay is because I am someone who are not easily being convinced. I’ d like to see how an essay persuade me to change my original opinions on something. 2. Argumentative Essay l Present arguments about both sides of an issue l Author can decide which side more forceful or balance the two sides l General structure of argumentative essay is Introduction, Body, Counterargument, Conclusion l Two models of argumentative essays: Toulmin and Rogerian. Main difference: Rogerian model require author to give a recommendation. Argumentative Essay requires critical thinking on an issue. That’s to say, you need to figure out the merits and demerits in this issue. As for me, our teacher required a lot of argumentative writings, but I could not find strong enough evidence to support my opinions. Yes, it can be hard, because writing a claim often means putting yourself in the minds of others…how could they potentially say you’re wrong…and then addressing these “wrongs” directly by rebuking them in your own essay. Think of it like a celebrity who’s made a bad mistake and it’s about to be published in the international media…they may try to “get ahead of it”/predict counterarguments about them by going directly to social media and posting some message explaining their point of view. 3. Process Essay l Aim to explain a process of making something l Written in chronological order or in numerical order l Needs of transition words When I was practicing ILETS writing, process writing was my big obstacle. Confronting how to make breads, I was at a loss. Meanwhile, in process writing, the need of professional terms also disturbs me a lot. So, I have a great interest in reading how others write a process essay. Comparisons: Persuasive essay intends to persuade readers to do something or not to do something. It has strong tendency to lead reader a road that author has chosen. While argumentative essay is more objective. The essay shows reader the both sides of an issue and leave the readers to make their own choices. Compared with argumentative essay and persuasive essay, process essay is the most objective one. Of these 3, yes it could be the most objective…but many people have different ways of doing things (i.e. different processes); the most objective essays are typically expository essays. Process essay is showing the process of doing something. The aim of the essay is to teach readers how to make something by themselves. Last week I picked fiction, letter, love letter, instruction and job application. I think persuasive essay and argumentative essay could match letter. Process essay could match instruction. I think all of them match my writing interests. For letter, sometimes you need to persuade others in different situations. In many people’s opinions, letter should be formal and polite, but I think maybe this could be a new format to write a letter. I am willing to write something innovative and creative. It is also a method to practice my writing skills.