First Week of Class--Writing as a Discipline

The first few days of class I always take the time to introduce writing as a discipline. We talk about the various methods we write and read, gaining students' awareness of their literacy.

Today, for the first quiz on Chapters 1, 11, and 12 of the St. Martin's text, I had the students list a question about writing that they would like to explore throughout the semester. Here is a handful of those responses:

How do I ask better questions?
How can I become better at creating the right type of outline for whatever I am writing and then use that outline for my paper or what I am writing?
What is the reason we write or what forms of writing do we use in our every day life?
How can I develop my vocab and language so that I am more efficient in my writing?
Where do I turn to begin the inspiration; to help myself get ready and excited to write? How can I do this more often to find myself not not dreading the idea of a writing assignment?

Then, for the next question I took a question from the chapter that asks students to use a simile or metaphor. Write a metaphor or simile that expresses some aspect of your literacy experience. Here is a handful of responses to that question:

Writing to me is like trying to doggy paddle through a pool. Others who can swim can make it look so elegant, graceful and easy, but somehow I find myself expending an immense amount of energy and time to get the same point across.

Writing is an adolescent child, awkward and rich with possibilities, whose inner workings are foreign even to themselves.

Writing is an act like that of a telescope or magnifying glass. Writing magnifies, zooms in, clarifies the abstract item or thought configured in one's mind to share with the universe.

Writing is like lifting a 1000 pound boulder.

Writing is like a conversation with myself that everyone else can listen in on.

Writing is like climbing a seemingly never ending rock face. At the beginning it seems impossible, but once you start and get into a groove, it becomes easier and seems possible.

Writing is like trying to understand biology. ( I am not good at biology.)

Writing is like running a race. It's a challenge but the sense of accomplishment when it is complete is well worth the challenge.

Writing is like psychology. You do research for understanding of the subject and look to see how the reader will feel or react to the writing. Also, research to how you as the writer feel or react to the subject.

Writing to me is like looking at my entire life in the mirror and learning something new about myself as each day passes. When I write, I am able to see the person I become each day compared to the person I was yesterday and I realize who I am more and more with each word I write.

Writing to me is like moving through a blank place with no directions. You write the directions.

Writing is like finding the voice that is too timid to speak, and putting it into action.

Writing is like a chicken flying south for the winter to me.

Writing is like a task that must be completed, a injury that must be fixed a skill that must be learned.


Some really nice thoughts and ways to creating a classroom community. Putting the students on equal playing field works well, at least for the few hours we had today.