Allen, Berkenkotter, and Murray Responses

Allen:
 Before you Read:
I think that students normally tend to just aim for the least amount of drafts possible. They try to combine pre writing with the rough draft and turn that into a first and final draft. Most students don't think to ask for someone to edit or read over their works and therefore they get no insight on things that could be fixed. Instead of working smarter, students end up working harder for a grade they feel they do not deserve. If students accepted the fact that "A" papers didn't just happen with one draft, they would work smarter, and use the trial and error tools that will help them become better writers.

Questions for Discussion:
2.) Allen claims to tell the "Inspired Writer" to "shut up and let you write" (pg 33). In writing, the writer is their own worst enemy and critic. If we stop imaging the perfect piece of writing by this mystical great writer and focus on what we are trying to get across as our point of view and our piece of the argument, we can proceed as great writers also. By giving into the writing process we can also blossom and tweak our styles to better suit how we want our writing to turn out. Rather than constantly tear our works apart looking for the flaws, have a role model in the writing world, proof read and not necessarily grade, rather make sure that it flows and makes sense to not only someone who knows the topic as well as the writer, but also as an outsider.
3.) Allen calls "conclusion" plagerism because if you have tons of grammatical errors in your first paper, then turn it in with no errors, clearly something is up. I personally do not think I have had anyone edit my papers in such a way, but I remember in fourth grade when we first learned to type and we would have to type all of our papers for the final drafts. And some kid's papers would be flawlessly typed, every thing in perfect order, later I realized that their parents were incredible writers at the fourth grade level. I was shocked when I heard that these kids got their parents to do their work, what were they learning this way? My parents instilled academic integrity into me at a young age, also I knew the answer to the "Mommy will you type this for me?"

Applying and Exploring Ideas:
2.) Allen states at the end of her article that "connection" is a main source for writing, which I somewhat support. She states that connection is a way to think and share thoughts with the reader. I think that she should also have included that "argument" is a main source. Without either key you can not unlock the knowledge of how and also why to write.

Summary:
Sarah Allen's article "The Inspired Writer Vs. The Real Writer" starts with her and a student's dialogue about how "professional writers" merely skip over to their computers, sit down, and write great master pieces without breaking a sweat. Allen laughs at this accusation, and explains that there are very many bumps in the writing road; writers block, frustration, fear, and other terrifying things. She states that the Inspired Writer is a warped figment of any normal writer's imagination. She explains that to get over this imaginary style the Real Writer, must talk about their fears and get the negative thoughts about their writing out of their heads before writing.

Synthesis:
Allen states that students can not write because they have the Inspired Writer phobia. They are worried that they will fail, therefore the do not try. That they also do not know how write with out more than one draft. They aim to do it all in one shot, which is impossible for even professional writers. Kantz also notes on the "one draft plague". She mentions that students are in a rush to get finished with their projects that they think that good writing just happens, and that you do not have to work for it through several drafts and mistakes being corrected.

Conclusions:
I liked this piece by Sarah Allen, it made me realize that sometimes my writers block is not because I don't know WHAT to write, but rather I'm afraid that I will write something and be told it is WRONG. Students also should listen to Allen's advice about having actual college level writers and readers proof their papers and not their parents, coaches, and boyfriends. Not that we shouldn't trust them as "outsiders" to the class, but they do not know the technicalities for the expectations of the assignment.

Berkenkotter and Murray:

Before you Read:
Death isn't a bad thing. It means that a person or animal, in fact any living thing, has fulfilled its life on earth and needs to continue on elsewhere. The way death is viewed is as a sad, mournful, finale to life. But it is actually more than that. Death is a continuance. Death is eternal life and happiness. When people and animals  die, it is of course sad because we can no longer spend time with them, see them, share experiences, but they never leave our memories or hearts. Even if there is no Heaven or Hell for a soul to end up, they live on in our hearts by memories and shared times. Death is hard to accept, yes, we tend to never think that when it happens is the right time, and we always wish for one more day. But when people reach the point in their lives where they have completed their mission they are taken back to where they can continue their existence in another way. Its okay to cry because of Death, but sometimes Death is a blessing, if the person or animal was suffering. They are now at peace. But some times Death is sudden and not expected, just remember that everyone has a purpose in life and once that purpose is filled we no longer have need, and therefore are taken for another place and purpose.

Summary:
In Berkenkotter's article "Decisions and Revisions: The Planning Strategies of a Publishing Writer", she tells about the time she spent analyzing Mr. Murray's writing process and writing styles. She states that he would record himself talking about his thoughts for many hours, then he would dictate to his wife, edit, dictate, edit, and continue this cycle until he felt that his thoughts were in order and the writing was the way that he wanted it. And only then would he send it off to whom ever was the receiver.
In Murray's response, he jokingly calls himself the rat, of the experiement. He seems intregged with not only how Ms. Berkenkotter applied her research, but also in the manner than she conducted it. He claims that it was very humane, and that he "started this process with a researcher and have ended it with a colleague". I find that Mr. Murray was impressed with how his writing style was explained, but he fears that he is now the idealistic writer and he hopes that other writers "far better writers than I" also allow for such research so that there is a comparison of styles and writers.

Synthesis:
Berkenkotter states that writers have "procedures and rituals" to help them write. She shows how each time the writer begins, they use the same set up for their piece so that they deliver the same style of argument each time they put their two cents in. Allen agrees this also. She even admits to borrowing a fellow writers style for her own. Allen claims that some times the layout does not work with what she is writing so she revises it.

Questions for Discussion:
1.)Murray puts a lot of thought into his writing process. I prefer to pre write, jot down ideas and branch off of them, then start vague rough paragraphs and sentences, then eventually throw them together and revise and edit. Murray records his thoughts that he speaks aloud, thinks constantly, dictates to his wife, revises, edits, dictates, revises, edits, and continuous cycle until he is satisfied.
3.) She had no idea how such talented writers could jump all over in the "writing process" and make their own paths and pave their own ways in the writing ways. She later learns that even if the steps are not followd one to the end, they are still all checked and crossed off the list eventually.

Applying and Exploring Ideas:
1.) I spend most of my writing time, actually writing. I research and revise while writing. I do this because I can pause mid thought and pick how I want to expand on what I just said. I like to write this way rather than have all the information in front of me, because then I feel that the writing is very cut and dry and has no depth. I'm sure that this style is a big no no in the writing world, but to each his own, in my opinion.

Meta Movement:
I learned to take more time with my thoughts BEFORE writing. Writing sometimes is not something you can sit down, look at your computer screen, touch the keys, and in fifteen minutes have a masterpiece that would make Hemingway jealous. You have to take the time to sit, organize, construct, record, branch off of ideas that pop into your head yet tie into the writing one way or another. The best writers must be the best thinkers.

Thoughts:
The before you read part of this assignment was rather hard for me to write but I wanted to take a stab at it. My senior year of high school I lost three very dear people in my family. I liked these articles. I liked the opening with Berkenkotter's research of Mr. Murray, and then his response to the same research. I loved how he called himself a lab rat, when in fact he is much more than that. He is an educational instrument that students should aim to emulate their writing styles after.