Writing Process Essay Assignment
Subject
An essay
about your writing.
Occasion
An assigned essay and an
opportunity for self-analysis regarding writing.
Task
Write an essay that analyzes
your writing process and related writing practices to
discover what confounds or contributes to being a skilled
writer. Support your thesis with an analysis of your own writing process and
practice.
Purpose
• to
understand writing processes and practices
• to
actively think about and reflect on your own writing process and practice
• to
practice analysis and synthesis of primary and secondary sources
Format
MLA 3-5 pages
Process:
There are two suggested ways to gather data for this project, but if you are inclined to gather data using a different method, you are welcome to do so, but you should come to me and explain your methods before the first draft of the assignment is due. The first method of data collection is a termed as a think-aloud protocol. While drafting a paper for this class or another class, you should vocalize your thoughts during the drafting process and record yourself. Obviously, it isn't common to speak aloud about what you are thinking, but it is important that you record at least twenty minutes of your drafting session. After you complete the recording, you should transcribe it (type out every word you said including mistakes of gaffs). For more details on how to conduct a think-aloud protocol, please see Perl on page 191 of your text.
The other method of data collection involves completing a writing log for a period of one week. For an entire week, you must log everything you write. Copy all of the writing you do into one word document and organize it according to rhetorical purpose, your sense of exigence, and the time and place where the writing occurred. Remember- this log should encompass all of the writing you do, from taking notes in other classes, to writing text messages, to making a to-do list.
The think-aloud protocol or writing log will serve as the primary evidence for your process essay, but you must also analyze and make assessments about your writing process and practice based on what we have looked at so far: pitfalls of unskilled writers, rules and practices, awareness of the rhetorical situation, and drafting and revision practices. How familiar are you with writing into different rhetorical situations? Do you notice patterns in your writing log that show an affirmation or confidence in writing for certain rhetorical situations? Consider and describe your writing behaviors in the order they occur. Look for patterns in your think aloud protocal, useful strategies, “blockers,” and inconsistencies in your own process and practice. Are there differences in how you approach self-sponsored and assigned writing tasks? What rules or practices do you seem to take for granted? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your writing practice? Why do you enjoy, despise, or tolerate writing based on any of the above? Write an essay that takes into account these questions regarding your writing, quoting from at least two of the sources we’ve looked at thus far. Include a Works Cited page formatted according to MLA style
The think-aloud protocol or writing log will serve as the primary evidence for your process essay, but you must also analyze and make assessments about your writing process and practice based on what we have looked at so far: pitfalls of unskilled writers, rules and practices, awareness of the rhetorical situation, and drafting and revision practices. How familiar are you with writing into different rhetorical situations? Do you notice patterns in your writing log that show an affirmation or confidence in writing for certain rhetorical situations? Consider and describe your writing behaviors in the order they occur. Look for patterns in your think aloud protocal, useful strategies, “blockers,” and inconsistencies in your own process and practice. Are there differences in how you approach self-sponsored and assigned writing tasks? What rules or practices do you seem to take for granted? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your writing practice? Why do you enjoy, despise, or tolerate writing based on any of the above? Write an essay that takes into account these questions regarding your writing, quoting from at least two of the sources we’ve looked at thus far. Include a Works Cited page formatted according to MLA style
Evaluation Criteria: How well does your essay demonstrate the following?
- consistent focus on analysis and synthesis of writing process and practice
- accurate, sufficient analysis of your own writing process and practice
- appropriate, sufficient support for your thesis (integration, citation, documentation)
- comprehensive analysis of the think-aloud protocol
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