Midterm Portfolio
Introduction: |
Blogs:
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Blog #1
"Mrs Kelley's Monster" |
So far this semester, the Journalistic Essay has taught me several things I had not considered about writing, how to analyze ideas and concepts in different ways and how to write non-fiction in a way that can be creative and enticing. It has taught me that interviews and background information is essential for a story to be both descriptive and correct. Following are a few questions about the work so far this semester and the ways I believe I have improved as a writer: Why did you choose the journal entries you included? I included the journal entries, or blog posts, for this assignment because I feel that they are the best written and best analyzed of the blog posts so far this semester. Not only do I believe that my work here seems to be written well, I think they both highlight the importance that I felt was placed on each of the pieces. Why did you choose the in-class writings you included? I chose to include the in-class writings included in this assignment because I feel as though they are points I felt I have used some elements that I have learned in class, such as the place/travel writing where I discuss the activities and scenery of York Beach, Maine. I also feel as though I can grow from these pieces. I acknowledge that these pieces have weakness, and often lack emotion and I feel that is something I realized my pieces were lacking. What revision did you do in your two papers? In the final drafts two papers below, I went through and submitted changes where I thought appropriate. In my Profiling Essay, "Stick Your Neck Out," I added some of Mel's words in order to establish her character and the way she really felt about the protests occurring. In my Talk of the Town piece, "Ghost Talk," I included more information about the residents of Haverhill, Ma and how they feel about the ghost tours happening in their city. Instead of just placing importance on the residents, I turned the focus to be towards the beneficial aspect of the tours and how it is a good thing for the city of Haverhill. How did those revisions improve or not improve these essays? The revisions make the essay stronger by allowing the reader to better understand what the objectives are in the pieces and to better understand the characters displayed. How has your writing improved or not improved so far this semester? My writing has improved this semester by me realizing that non-fiction does not have to be stale facts. And in fact, I can use emotion and creative ways in order to draw the reader in. Not only have I realized this, but I have also realized that I was struggling with the pieces because I didn't want to take too much creative liberty. However, taking risks is how anyone learns. Hopefully, I will be able to put this into action more throughout the rest of the semester. |
"Mrs Kelley's Monster" by John Franklin was an interesting read that surely helped me understand what a profiling essay is supposed to be about. Throughout this article, Franklin tells not one but two perspectives of the surgery. He tells about the patient's and the doctor's standpoints and how each of them prepared and dealt with the reality and severity of the surgery. For example he tells that Dr. Thomas Barbee Ducker eats "waffles but no coffee. Coffee makes his hands shake," as well as emphasizing that Ms. Kelly tells that she is "not afraid to die" (3). In both of these quotes, the reader sees the emotions that go into this surgery. Ms. Kelly kisses her husband goodbye knowing it may be the last time they see each other, and the doctor uses his normal preparation techniques because for him, even though this particular surgery is out of the ordinary, it is still in routine for him to need steady hands. |
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