Sample Student Entry

I have always considered writing as a sort of showcase. The goal has been to display an idea and to clearly show its efficacy. That’s all. When I sit down to write, the central question I have before me is “how can I make this look the best?” This idea isn’t my own It’s something I’ve learned over years of schooling which has asked me as writer to clarify my thoughts by ordering my words and considering my paragraph structure. I have written topic sentences and linked my paragraphs, but the focus has always been on creating an attractive package. I’ve never given much thought to the content in the package.

What I’d taken for granted was the idea that well-written topic sentences and a clear thesis was enough to impress a reader, maybe even to persuade them. After this week’s lesson, I realize while these things may be important for clarity, they carry no actual meaning. For a writer to be successful they must consider their audience and their purpose in writing to this audience.

Thinking of writing this way has shifted my perspective. I used to think of writing as something I had to create ideas for and struggle with. I sat down and battered at my keyboard shifting from idea to idea. Now I understand that successful writing involves the consideration of an actual reader. What might this reader think? What preconceived notions might they have? What ideas will they respond to? What appeals can I use? Simply put: writing is done the same way we would talk with a person, only in writing we anticipate what the person would say.

Wow. I just realized that.

This has been an incredible benefit to me in that I no longer have to struggle to ‘create’ paragraphs. There is now, constantly, a prompt, urging me on to write. It’s called doubt.