Rules for Writers: Chapter 46

The main ideas in chapter 46 in Rules for Writers is about Academic Writing. It explains reading actively (annotate the text), learn to sketch an outline of the text, summarize your understanding of the text, analyze your critical thinking, and knowing the different types of text.
In my writing, I plan on doing outlines and taking notes of what it is I am planning on writing about to help me get a better start on what it is I am writing.  Taking notes and making an outlines really does help with the understanding of what it is your trying to read and write about. I am usually really bad at understanding different texts I read and reading comprehension questions. Hopefully the outlines will help me better understand what I am reading so when it comes to writing about the topic, I'll know more of what it's about instead of making stuff up that has nothing to do with the actual topic (which I actually used to do when I was in middle school).  Analyzing the text is also helpful. Asking yourself questions or having someone else ask you questions about the text can really help you better understand the text and potentially write that paper.

"Freewriting Exercises" Dialogue

A freewrite is where you write for ten minutes without stopping. No stopping or or crossing out or even worry how to spell things correctly.  Your words and thoughts just need to come out even if your just repeating yourself over and over again or even just saying you don't know what to write over and over again. The only requirement of a freewrite is that you never stop writing until the ten minutes are up.
Freewrites help make your writing stronger within time. It helps make writing easier and it also makes it easier to get your thoughts out on paper after freewrites become something you do a few times.  Freewrites help you put more attention into what you're writing and to become more focused. 
I am usually really bad a freewrites and I NEVER know what to write. What I never really understood I guess is that you're allowed to make "mistakes", grammar and spelling doesn't need to be correct, and it doesn't have to make sense. You're allowed to say you don't know what you're writing about and you can't get the words out. Growing up in my English classes, I always hated doing freewrites because I always thought it was something I was being graded on by content..not by just doing the assignment.
 

Introduction Dialogue

Hi my name is Kelsey. I moved to Sebastopol when I was three and have lived in the same house ever since. This is my third semester as a JC student. I graduated from Analy High School in 2009. I am planning on majoring in Child Development and getting my teaching credentials and work with kindergarten or first graders. During the summer, I am a full time camp counselor at Apple Blossom Elementary School. In fall of 2009 I started being a nanny for two little boys, kindergarten and second grade. It was a lot of work because I was a full time student and didn't have much time to get my school work done. This year, I have decided to not be a nanny during the school week but to help out during weekends if I can.


I am hoping to learn better writing skills and that taking an online class will be easy for me. I tend to do homework last minute, but I try to get it done before the fact and pace myself. I still put all my effort into my work and do my best work.