I love that when you focus on teaching your own level of understanding has to increase. Because I have a procrastinating nature from birth (I blame it on my mother who is the biggest procrastinator I know) a majority of the time I'm writing for a class I don't think a heap about decorum. On page 228 the author disucsses grand, middle, and plain styles of writing. When writing for academic purposes I follow all the common professional rules but I probably always use a more "plain" style of writing which is described as direct, clear, and accessible. When I feel pressure to use a "grand" approach" my writing seemed to be too fluffy and lacks clear voice.
1. How do you successfully use "complex academic terms and a sophisticated vocabulary." How is your writing changed when you are aware that you need to sound "sophisiticated." How do you think students are intimidated to write in grand style?
2. As secondary teachers one part of our job is to prepare students for college. Do you feel like there is a gap between what we've been discussing as far as teaching in the high school classroom and what students will face at a large university. How will a Freshman who has been use to using images and multimedia in their presentations, papers, small groups survive with 200 other students while the professor lectures for 50 minutes and then their expected to turn in a five page paper double spaced with no other additives?
3. I would love to use a visual argument as a cover to an essay. Do you think a majority of the professors in your literature/writing classes would appreciate a visual image or discourage them?
4. I changed some of the font and sizing in my first paragraph, do you feel that this focused your attention more?
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1. To be honest Camille, my most sophisticated writing seemed to fall under the "plain style" category...a little discouraging. I know that for me as a student, attempting to write with sophistication makes my work sound dishonest. My sentences get confused and I try to use the thesaurus way too much. I can only imagine that I am not alone in these feelings.
ReplyDelete1. Although I don't like that I can do this, I often find that I amp a paper's formality by adding length to my sentences, making them more complex. For me, being more formal also means being less concise. I'm sure that isn't the best way to present formality, but it is one way I show the difference.
ReplyDelete3. I have asked many of my professors if I could include images in essays and I have been met with No's every time. I think it depends of the professor and the type of writing. I was able to include images in many of my biology reports and theatre history essays.
ReplyDelete4. It did catch my attention bukt mostly because the text became smaller and I had to squint.