Writing skills and techniques for academic and professional communication

¶ … English Comp

The most beneficial aspect of English composition is what I am learning from Chapter 16. Brainstorming, free writing, mapping, and journaling have opened my eyes to just how interesting and fun can be. When I stopped worrying so much about the finished product and what it may or may not say, I started enjoying the writing process.

Brainstorming allows me to give myself the freedom to write without worrying about what I am saying. It is also helpful for me to write without worrying about punctuation or grammar. These things would trip me up when I wrote before because I would always feel compelled to stop and edit along the way. After reading the chapter, I understand the importance of getting the idea on paper before I forget what it is.

Free writing is also helpful to me when I feel stuck about a particular subject. I learned that procrastination is worse than the actual writing process and the best thing to do when facing a deadline is to simply write something. Free writing gives me the opportunity to write something that may be completely unusable but there is always the possibility of finding something usable, too. As long as I feel I have that freedom, things feel less stressful.

Mapping is also a technique that is new to me but it has been very helpful when I use it. When I map out ideas, I am able to think about the subject in different ways and sometimes come up with different material. Mapping also helps me consider all points-of-view when writing. When I decide to write about something, a map will help me slow down and think about all of the possibilities my writing can go. It helps me stay focused but at the same time, I can also generate different ideas.

After reading the chapter, I have come to understand the significance of journaling. With journaling, I feel free to say what I want and not feel guilty when what I write does not amount to much. Journaling helps me clear my mind and it helps me remember ideas. Reading over my journal entries helps me act on my ideas and keep track of them. I actually have two different journals -- one for ideas, which helps me stay focused and a personal journal that is more for reflecting. I love the journaling concept because an entry can be as short or as long as I want it to be. My personal journal allows me to express my feelings, which helps me feel as though my mind is clear. This is especially helpful at the end of a long, tired day.