Filler & Fluff

Prompt 1: Discuss changing a bad writing habit. What is a bad writing habit you have? Should you change it? Why/Why Not? How do you change it?

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What is a bad writing habit I have?  I don’t think I have a bad writing habit.  I probably do, but I don’t remember it because I’ve learned to focus on writing versus focusing on the negative aspects of things.

Here’s one thing I could improve on…

Looking at the word counter in Word.  I need to turn that thing off, but I never do.  It’s both exhilarating and heartbreaking to look at the word count as I write.  it reminds me that I have a goal to meet, but it also nags me when I can’t reach the number count as I type.  Sometimes, the words in my head don’t add up to the number I need, so that number in the lower left-hand corner harasses me until I write more words, meeting the word count, often to the injury of my flow.  I add words that aren’t necessary and don’t add much to the writing.  They’re just filler and fluff.  Filler and fluff can ruin quality writing.

Now mind you, I give my students word count limits for a number of assignments, but I think having a word count limit causes writers to be creative with their word choice, causing them to think about the words they chose.  But, I do allow my students to go over the word count.  My general rule is… Don’t go over double the word or page count limit.  I understand that as you write, inspiration hits and the words flow.

I try to focus on the quality of writing while reaching the word count, I just hate it when the word counter bullies me into having filler & fluff.

Practice What You Teach (Lesson Learned)

Prompt 2: Post your thoughts over what you learned last week in this class and how you can use it in your college or professional career.

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What did I learn last week?  I learned that even when I’m sure I’ve edited something thoroughly, I need to go ack and review it one last time.  As a writer, I should know this by hard, but it seems that I didn’t fully keep this in mind.  I had to go back and look at some of my published writings.  I had to edit them again because as I was reading it, I found some errors.  I was upset because I pride myself on being a thorough editor.  Oh well… Lesson learned.

Funny how this happened when we’re discussing the Writing Process in Technical Writing.

To Have, To Know, And To Use: The Writing Process

Prompt 1: Discuss how the writing process can be helpful to writers. How can it help a writer not be overwhelmed with a writing task? How can it help a writer become more confident? Could the writing process help prevent plagiarism? Why/Why not?

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I’m a big believer in the Writing Process.  I teach it to all my English courses.  There’s one day/lesson focused on the Writing Process.

Here are the steps:

1. Prewriting – planning, outlining, and researching

2. Drafting - writing

3. Editing - looking for errors in capitalization, grammar, and spelling

4. Revising - listening for how your words, sentences, and paragraphs flow

5. Publishing - letting someone read your work

These steps are vital because they break the writing up into smaller parts, helping the writer see the project in sections instead of as a massive project.  Writing a 25-page paper can be overwhelming, but when you break it down into chunks, it’s not as scary.

As a writer goes through the steps, they will see their work develop and grow, therefore gaining confidence.  With each project, the steps will become second nature, and writing projects will get easier because a routine is established.  Whether we want to admit it or not, routines help life flow easier.  Seeing growth is the best motivation for a writer.

The writing process can help with plagiarism because the first step, prewriting, sets up the writer to know their source material from their material.  It’s to keep track of your research, so by getting things set up in the beginning stages of a writing project, there’s less likelihood that plagiarism can occur.

All writers must remember that the Writing Process is recursive.  That means you can go through the first four steps multiple times before publishing.  You could even go back to a previous step after publishing.  (I had to do this recently.  It was aggravating, but necessary.)

The Writing Process is a valuable tool for a writer to have, to know, and to use.

Add It To Your Resume

Prompt 2: Thinking about a new skill that you’ve learned in the class; will you add it to your resume? Why/Why not?

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I often encourage my students to include work they’ve done from the class in their e-portfolio because it highlights their skills.

Shameless plug… my e-portfolio… https://profddboone.wixsite.com/profddbooneeport .

I’ve encouraged some students, who show great ability in designing documents to add the skills they’ve learned in the class to their resume.  I think it will help them stand out as a perspective employee.

FYI… I’m teaching Technical Writing now because I had Technical Writing listed as my minor on my resume.  Every little bit helps.

I Write... Therefor I Am A Writer...

Prompt 1: Discuss your thoughts on writing in general. How do you feel about writing? How does what you feel about writing compare to what you feel about Technical Writing? Has your view of writing changed as a result of the things you have learned in this class? Why? Why not?

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This is a loaded question to ask a writer.  I love writing.  It’s what gets me through a hard day.  It’s what helps me deal with tragedy.  It’s what helps me celebrate joys.  It’s what keeps me sane.  I need writing.

When comparing Creative Writing to Technical Writing, I feel there’s no comparison. Technical Writing doesn’t always allow for creativity with words.  If you must write what the client wants, then you can’t be creative with the words.  The content is usually left up to the client.  Even the artist aspect of Technical Writing is left up to the customer. Here’s a personal example.

Once, I created a brochure or something for my church.  (One of my first experiences with outside work.)  I went full on creative with the project.  When I took it to my pastor, he said, “It’s nice, but it’s not what I wanted.  What about what I want?”  I was hurt because I spent at least 3 hours working on the project.  But… I learned a valuable lesson.  Always seek the client’s input first.

Technical Writing can be limiting creatively.

When comparing Academic Writing to Technical Writing, there is some comparison.  Both require you to follow specific constraints based on the conventions assigned to that genre of writing.  Both require you to follow the instructions given regarding the assignment/project.  Both require you to use language appropriate to the conventions assigned to the genre of writing.  Technical Writing doesn’t limit you to academic language.

My view of writing hasn’t changed much over the years.  But, I have discovered some of my writing pet peeves.  My two biggest apply to classes I teach.

For 1301 & 1302… Using contractions in academic writing.  That irks my nerves.

For 2311… Having unused blank pages.  I can’t stand this.  I take off points for it.  (Now that I think about it.  This effects my 1301 and 1302 classes, too.)

Writing is key to my existence and livelihood, so I tend to take it personal when others don’t take it seriously.  That is hard when you’re an English professor, but I know my students see and understand my passion.

My purpose as an English professor is to create students who don’t hate writing as much when they leave my class as they did when they entered it.  I’ve done that in my short three year career.

Technical Writing... Yes, It's Important... Yes, to you!

Prompt 1: Discuss the importance of Technical Writing for professional careers. How can it help them in their career? What specific skills can be learned? Why is it worth the time and money? How can this class enhance a person’s resume?

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Technical Writing is an important skill professionals can have.  It helps them write in a way that keeps the reader in mind.  They learn how to make the page look appropriate for the consumer.  It is writing that is attentive to as many people as possible.  These people include the company, the public, and the customer.

Anyone taking Technical Writing has a leg up because they have learned to write in a way that lets potential employers know they have a skill set that most people do not have.  Also, modern day Technical Writing considers writing using technology.  Social media is big with companies now, and taking Technical Writing (my course in particular) teaches students how to write a blog, post on social media platforms, and develop a website.  The social media aspect by itself is a good reason to spend the money to take the course.

Taking Technical Writing...

Prompt 1: Discuss how you feel about being a college student taking a Technical Writing class. How do you feel? Why are you taking the course? What are your feelings after two days of class? Is the class what you thought it would be?

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I took Technical Writing in college at Tarleton State University.  That's where my love of technical writing began.  I never imagined I would teach Technical Writing, but here I am.

I think this is a class every college student should take because it teaches you how to communicate in a technical way.  When considering communicating in a technical way, here are some things that should be considered: page format, page length, the way the page looks, text formatting, grammar, and mechanics.  Technical Writing goes further than Composition English courses because it teaches students to look at how the document looks as well as how it sounds.  More people will use technical writing in their career than composition.  (Mind you, I teach Composition courses as well.)

I don’t think most students know what to expect when they take this class.  They learn more than they thought at first.  Most of the time, they can use what they learn in class immediately.  That’s what I like about my class.  I teach practical things that you can use instantly.  I think that gives me and the course credibility.

I’m enjoying teaching Technical Writing.

Maymester Blogging Has Begun

Cross post on Adventures of an English Professor (https://adventuresofprofboone.blogspot.com/)...

We have begun blogging in Maymester.  I'm blogging.  Hopefully, I can make all the posts. :)
Surely, I can make these few blog posts.

One of These Days...

I didn't make all the posts this semester.  One of these days, I will.