Murray and Strasser

Murray

2. According to Murray, writing is autobiography. Poems, fiction, essay, newspaper column, and others are all considered autobiographies because everything somebody writes about comes from a personal experience and memories. Murray writes about his childhood or past but sometimes it did not happen until he wrote it down. For example with the pond and the fish, he skated on a pond, but not necessarily on that exact pond and the fish were there but not noticed until he wrote it. It is what he writes that is considered autobiographical.

5. I would have to agree with Murray because if you write like someone has told you and the way you are taught, it isn’t really your own writing.  The way I see it is writing is something that defines who you are and if you write how a teacher tells you to write, you are not able to express yourself. This makes me think about writing in a whole new perspective where I do not have to write every essay the exact same; each one can have their own little splash of being unique.

6. The last texts I have written were from high school where the teacher wanted it a specific way and that way only. I didn’t understand her way of writing and I think if I can have a thesis and make point in my own way, then that should be allowed. But in our world today it is much more difficult to be the non conformist.

Strasser

1. I agree with Strasser that, “The devices of grammar and rhetoric remain superficial skills until a writer employs them to express important and powerful feelings, thoughts and ideas,” because none of it matters until you trying to make a point. I feel as if writing skills are only needed for those who want to express their feelings and ideas to others. Otherwise the knowledge someone has does nothing if they don’t care to express themselves.

2. I believe a lot of students do not really care about what they are writing about and for. They do it just so that they can pass the class. The only ones that care are those who want to become an English major. That isn’t a bad thing, but it is obvious how many people do not enjoy reading or writing in school; and part of that could be because nobody has any interest in what is being taught. I do agree that grammar is an important thing to learn because I feel as if I have not learned anything about grammar after the sixth grade. I don’t know if it just me but we become smarter after sixth grade so why not go over some grammar and different ways to write a sentence without any grammatical errors.

3. I agree with Bell in some parts even though I have been in college for no more than a month. What I have noticed so far is that people stay up late finishing homework and studying because they procrastinate in the earlier part of the day and not getting much sleep at night. I always made sure I slept at least 8 hours during high school, not is just 7. I am extremely tired when I wake up and by the time I have practice I am exhausted. All I want to do is nap instead of studying again until late hours. But I don’t think professors have to act like we are their children, we are all now grown-ups. We are old enough to make our own decisions. If one wants to party let them, it is their choice; education and a future or temporary fun.