Reflection of Writing

We haven't done a lot of writing in this class so I cannot really say if my writing has changed a lot. What has changed a lot is how much effort I put into reading my sources for my research paper as well as analyzing many different types of texts. I have learned how to give more credit to my authors in my summaries. I have also learned how to use better verbs such as states, confirms, and believes. Throughout all of my summaries of my sources I have learned how to better give summaries not just restating the same thing the article says. I feel like my smaller writing has changed so far this semester.

After reading Murray's How to Get the Writing Done I have learned many valuable lessons that I will use later in my writings. He gave us 19 different techniques to get the writing done. I will use many of his techniques that I do not already use. I already use the one where he says to write in chunks. I cannot just sit down and write all of my paper in one sitting I have to write it in chunks. I will change some of the ways I write to such as my attitude because when I know I have to write a paper I just do not want to sit down and write so I need to change my attitude about writing. Another thing Murray said to do was to delay the paper. I already delay my paper enough as possible. This helps me sit down and actually write my paper instead of procrastinating. Murray also said to just write whenever. I do not like to write, but if it will help me to write a better paper and learn to like to write then I will write whenever I have nothing to do.

Another technique he wrote about was about writing over your draft. I will probably try and use this because when I write my draft I usually just write and I never write over my paper. Rewriting all the time will help me be able to see what I have said already. Some of the stuff I write and erase could have turned into something really good, but I erased them so I will never know. Another useful technique Murray discussed was when you get interrupted and you are writing just stop halfway through a sentence or even a word because when you come back to write you can start write back where you stopped. It will be easier to continue writing than if you stop at the end of a paragraph because then you can just add more information that you already had in the back of your mind.

Murray also discussed a technique about deadlines, not just when the paper is due, but making your own deadlines. Murray said to make deadlines for little parts of your paper. I think this technique will help me work more on my paper because I will know I have to keep my deadlines. Making deadlines for myself will help me stay focused on when my paper is due as well as not being so stressed right before the paper is due.

I feel after reading Murray’s article How to Get the Writing Done I am better prepared to write papers. I also feel like I have learned new techniques that will help write my papers in any of my classes. I have learned some new techniques as well as how to help make the techniques I already know better.