Author: Odeica (Page 12 of 13)

An education narrative is an important way to teach others through your story and experiences. This narrative helps improve cognitive functions and it is also a good way to communicate. Other than the standard proper grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation. Some conventions of the education narrative genre are the ability to connect with one’s intended audience, correct word choices that are appropriate for the audience the author is trying to relative to. Also one’s personal experiences and struggles and how they overcame those hardships and an inviting and comforting tone. However, a good place to start my education narrative would be in high school. I went to a high school in my birth country for a year and a half.  When I first started high school I was very opinionated but I soon learned in the classroom only the teacher’s opinion mattered. This made me feel like I didn’t belong there because of my differing world views caused by my upbringing. This made the classroom very one-sided and hard to be in since I had to suppress my views in order to basically keep the peace. I was taught to take as much information as I can and never question whether it was right or wrong or even express how it made me feel. While in high school in the U.S I found myself shying off whenever a teacher asked my opinion because I was never accustomed to being asked “what do you think” or “how does this make you feel”. I had to relearn how to use my voice and stand up for what I think is right and just. Although I have a good idea of where to start my education narrative, I still have my concerns. I have a hard time writing about my personal experiences and struggles which I fear would hinder my ability to connect with my audience on a personal level. I also tend to over-explain things when I feel like I have not made my point clear and under-explain when I can not find the right words to put on paper. Lastly I often myself drifting between ideas when my train of thought is interrupted and I do not want my writing to be mixed up or confusing.  

How to Read Like a Writer a prominent essay by Mike Bunn, educates his readers on the proper way to analyze a text. He recommends that one must read an article so keenly that they start to notice how the writer put his/her writing together stemming from the word choice and techniques he/she used. Bunn uses the phrase “You are already a writer” as a method of persuasion to directly appeal to his audience which as an anticipated result makes the reader inclined to immediately connect the reading to themselves. For instance, When I read the phrase “You are already a writer”, my initial reaction was to think about the thing I have written in my life. This was followed by the thought that I have never written anything since I was only thinking about published work. However, according to Bunn being an author is not defined by published or professional work. True authorship is in every piece of writing whether it is in or out of the classroom, professional or not. Some of my everyday writing ranges from journaling and occasional poetry in my free time to writing for school whether it is an essay or a personal narrative etc. The fact that all piece of writing count as authorship is very reassuring. Knowing that I have been writing for most of my life makes future writing that I have to do seem very achievable. Since it has been something I continuously participated in without knowing that I was actually doing it. 

Even though, I found Bunn’s entire article extremely informative. Some of the things that piqued my interest was his word choice, use of credible sources, and the overall tone of the poem. Moreover, Bunn’s essay was very easy to read, he used words that were appropriate for the audience he was trying to reach. It seems like his most important task while writing his essay was to make sure his audience can fully grasp what he is trying to say so they can relate and then in return incorporate it into their life. Another thing that I liked about the essay was his use of credible sources. He proved to his audience that RLW was would be very beneficial to them by citing the experiences that other professionals had when they started to read like a writer and how it change the way they read and write. Something else, I found interesting was the tone of the essay, Bunn spoke in a friendly manner that made his audience feel like he wanted what’s best for them as he and his reader have been friends forever. However, as it relates to me, some things that I would like to do in my writing as Bunn did in his essay is to relate to my audience on a personal level where they could connect to what I am saying to their personal life. Also, use differing perspectives in writing to relate to others that do not share the same opinions as me.