Metacognition: Web of History.

For the most recent writing project “Web of History” I was originally going to write about my experience in freshman year english. i had a few rough ideas about how I was going to write the thing but I couldn't get past a problem that doomed the piece before it was even started. There was no way I could write the essay without it turning into a three page bash of the teacher. The teacher was in no way goo, as a matter of fact she was probably the worst teacher I have ever had and would very much enjoy writing three pages of complaints but  if i did it would be a sullen and rotten piece of writing that would accomplish nothing. So I threw those ideas away and thought of the only other class that could qualify for the essay, US history. While this wasn't nearly as bad (all be it not good) a class but I knew that I could make it flow much better in an essay.

               After I had my topic class chosen I simply started writing it in my own voice. The key to this was that it was me talking and that it wasn't restricted to a format deemed mandatory by old men who call themselves MLA. After I had my voice I put in some humor making it easier for the reader to read and relate. I feel as if this made the essay better as a whole and made it more fun to write. It also allowed a smoother transition into the meat or content of the essay. In past MLA essays they transition would always be clunky; with the free writing essays they have more of a flow. The content was my mind on a soap box telling others how it should be done. This was particularly enjoyable as it satisfied my narcissistic tendencies.

               If I could rewrite this essay I would start sooner and give up on flawed ideas sooner allowing more time to spend on the actual essay. The end product was a little bit rushed and suffered in quality from it. The other major improvement would be more work on conciseness, taking out the unnecessary bits and improving the good parts. 

Blogging around

Eva Tumanova's connection post

she connected Fernando Botero and Richard Feynman describing their divergent monds and misunderstood work. 

I thought that your connection between the artist and the physicist was a very unique one required several different angles of view and complex thought in order to find good connections between the two men. Despite the challenge your connection does not seem forced but rather very natural and true. It shows your passion for the work not only for the artist but presumably found passion for Feynman's life and work. I thought the part in the middle paragraph where you mentioned some shortcomings or negatives in Fernando Botero's such as copying other artist styles made the blog much more interesting to read because it makes it seem much more real. Instead of just shoving happy fun facts down the readers throat you make it real and say this guy wasn't perfect then you take his imperfection and connect it to Feynman which make the writing truly special.



nigel howards captured thought blog. 

he described how academia block out creativity and how creativity is not recognized in school

i really enjoyed reading this. it got to the heart of problems i have seen in school since early middle school. i don't fully agree with your statement that the talented in the fine arts don't stand out but i do see where you are coming from in saying it. however i feel as if school stresses academia over art and flaunts the good student over the creative ones so i definitely see validity in your point. i also really like the part where you mention the amazing student misses out on school. i could not agree more, i see students bury their nose in a book that block their view of the outside world. all in all i thought it was very well written and a good read.