Writing Selections
I am a writer.
Prior to the Red Cedar Writing Project Summer Institute, I never considered myself a writer. I looked up to writers, read what writers wrote, and aspired to be one, but never identified as one. I felt that you had to have a plan, know what you wanted to say, and be eloquent with words. I did a lot of writing during my undergraduate years. I did so much writing that I earned three degrees. There was also a lot of reading involved in earning those degrees. I enjoyed reading the required texts and was satisfied with just being a reader. Due to the fact that I have a growth mindset (Dweck), my writer-less identity would change through my participation in the Summer Institute.
I am a writer.
The Summer Institute gave me opportunities to write, work through multiple drafts, read aloud to my peers, receive feedback, and continue writing. The writing process can be extremely frustrating and rewarding. It is an odd dynamic, but I like it. I cannot wait to share this newfound passion with my students and allow them the same feelings as they work through their writing both handwritten and electronic.
I am a writer.
The Summer Institute has allowed me to write about a wide variety of topics, such as powerful experiences I have gone through, humorous rants, and prompts with goofy takes on different words and phrases. For me to actually work through drafts to the point of "completion" was difficult for me to do. I selected two pieces to showcase in this portfolio. A synopsis of each piece is below and you can view the entire piece and writing process drafts by clicking on the title.
I am a writer.
Prior to the Red Cedar Writing Project Summer Institute, I never considered myself a writer. I looked up to writers, read what writers wrote, and aspired to be one, but never identified as one. I felt that you had to have a plan, know what you wanted to say, and be eloquent with words. I did a lot of writing during my undergraduate years. I did so much writing that I earned three degrees. There was also a lot of reading involved in earning those degrees. I enjoyed reading the required texts and was satisfied with just being a reader. Due to the fact that I have a growth mindset (Dweck), my writer-less identity would change through my participation in the Summer Institute.
I am a writer.
The Summer Institute gave me opportunities to write, work through multiple drafts, read aloud to my peers, receive feedback, and continue writing. The writing process can be extremely frustrating and rewarding. It is an odd dynamic, but I like it. I cannot wait to share this newfound passion with my students and allow them the same feelings as they work through their writing both handwritten and electronic.
I am a writer.
The Summer Institute has allowed me to write about a wide variety of topics, such as powerful experiences I have gone through, humorous rants, and prompts with goofy takes on different words and phrases. For me to actually work through drafts to the point of "completion" was difficult for me to do. I selected two pieces to showcase in this portfolio. A synopsis of each piece is below and you can view the entire piece and writing process drafts by clicking on the title.
I am a writer.
"C. D. Lose Park Sucks" - This piece of writing originated from M.T. Anderson's opening line of Feed, "We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck." This opening line caught my eye. How often do we read the word "suck" in a book, especially the opening line?! I really wanted to modify this line and write about it, so I changed the setting and dove in. Originally, the title of the piece was "Suck Park," but I was struggling with how I wanted to wrap it up. I was inspired by a character of John Green's to finish and rename the piece.
"The RCWPSI2015 Intro" - At the beginning of the Summer Institute, it was pointed out that seven teachers were selected to participate this summer. Usually, only six teachers participate. When I heard this fact, MTV's The Real World's introduction voiceover kept playing in my head, "This is the true story ... of seven strangers ..." I had to modify and make it unique with the cohort's shared experiences. Through the drafting process, I was able to create this piece and place it in the Table of Contents of the RCWPSI2015 Anthology.
"The RCWPSI2015 Intro" - At the beginning of the Summer Institute, it was pointed out that seven teachers were selected to participate this summer. Usually, only six teachers participate. When I heard this fact, MTV's The Real World's introduction voiceover kept playing in my head, "This is the true story ... of seven strangers ..." I had to modify and make it unique with the cohort's shared experiences. Through the drafting process, I was able to create this piece and place it in the Table of Contents of the RCWPSI2015 Anthology.