Week 1

1. In your experience, why do some people appear to be good at writing while others struggle?

In my opinion, every person is unique and retains and uses information differently. Some people are more inclined to be good at writing under certain contexts. Assuming they have been educated and taught to write, some people are more inclined to write well. I also think that people who take a greater interest in writing are more inclined to be good at it and put more effort into developing those skills.

2. Is writing a talent, or is it a skill? Is it both? If so, how? What does it mean to say that something is a "talent"? What does it mean to call something a skill?

I think it is both. If you use writing for artistic reasons and to create art, then writing is a talent. But if you use writing as part of a job or for social reasons, it is a skill. I guess the two things depend on the intention and purpose behind the writing.

3. How is writing best learned? Why? What do you think are some of the biggest impediments or difficulties people face when trying to learn to write better?

In my experience, I learned to write college papers in an introduction course. The professor allowed students to pick their topic. It was not limited to being about a book or historical figure. I could tell students were more excited about writing their papers since they picked something they cared about. Learning to write better is made more difficult when students cannot be excited about what they're writing.

4. Close your eyes and take a few minutes to picture someone in the act of writing. Who are they? What do they look like? Where are they? What exactly are they doing? Describe the scene in as much detail as possible.

I have multiple pictures when I think about someone in the act of writing. I see an older white male using a typewriter and with a pile of crumbled pieces of paper on the floor. I also see a young adult male or female typing on a laptop and listening to music on headphones.

5. Where do you think this image of "writing" comes from? In what ways do you think this image actually represents what most people do when they write? Stepping back for a moment, are there writers or types of writing that probably aren't well reflected by this image you just described?

Both of these images represent two different era's of writing. The first one is the older more traditional image of writing. In the past, it was more typical for an author to be older, white, and male since they were more likely to be educated to read and write. While this is a very stereotypical image, it is the most representational image of the 'writer' in the past. The second image I described is the more recent or contemporary image of the 'writer' which includes newer technology like a computer or headphones. Also, the person writing can be male or female and is younger.

6. What is a "technology"? How do you define the term? When you think of technologies, what kinds of things do you think about? Is writing itself a technology? How? Or why not?

Wikipedia defines: "Technology is the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, and crafts, or is systems or methods of organization, or is a material product (such as clothing) of these things" I would add the technology is new and always changing to improve institutions and society. When thinking about technologies, I think of computers, televisions, cellphone, and other electronic gadgets. I think writing is a technology since a book can introduce new ideas and crafts to society and groups of people.

7. Have you heard the term "writing process" before? What does this phrase mean to you? What is the "writing process" and how does it work?

I have heard the term "writing process" especially in the context of academic writing. When learning to write academic papers, lots of professors recommend following a process in which you brainstorm, research, organize and outline, write, and revise. It's meant to guide a student and help make the writing process more effective and easier.

8. Is writing a private thing, a social thing, or both? In what ways?

Writing is both a private and public thing. Some people choose to use writing in a diary without the intention of others reading it, and sometimes writing is used for mass reproduction or posting on the internet. Writing is also used to socialize. Blogs have become increasingly popular and have changed the way people interact with one another.

9. When people talk about "illiteracy,' what do you think they are talking about? Who is illiterate in this country? What are some of the primary causes of illiteracy? Is illiteracy a problem?

They are referring to people who cannot read and write. I imagine that groups of illiterate people in the United States would include newly immigrated families who did not have education opportunities in their home country and maybe some lower class families. Illiteracy prohibits people from functioning within society and advancing and obtaining good jobs.

10. How have writing and rhetoric changed in the digital age? That is, how has technology affected the way people communicate? Is this a good or a bad thing? Why?

Writing has changed as the language has changed. Any active spoken language is always evolving and changing the writing. With new technology, people are able to speak more directly to one another using the internet. Because of video cameras, people can communicate on the internet with speech instead of writing. It is a good thing because people are able to communicate better and faster. While it changes the way we write and use language, it is inevitable that language will change as long as it is being spoken.