Writing Samples

This is my first long writing sample, it's not complete, but I still want your feedback on it. I was thinking the audience should be directed towards a "Nursing Journal" subscriber, but most of the information is for the oblivious, so the targeted audience is for your average newspaper "Health" section reader.

Amidst an economic whirlwind, even with the newly instated healthcare plan, the cost to visit your doctor or physician isn’t decreasing. As budgets are being cut across the board, hospitals, especially, are looking for cheaper ways to maintain outstanding patient care while still being able to diagnose and treat. Being so, staff in hospitals is minimized to those who can handle both needs, resulting in not only in a decrease in nurses, but a substantial rise in nurse practitioners.

The job of a nurse practitioner is relatively new and quite underestimated. Most people ignore their work, tossing them aside as an under-qualified doctor, or an overrated nurse, but their job goes beyond that. Nurse practitioners not only undergo patient-care training as well as a registered nurse, but they also have similar privileges, although slightly limited, as doctors and physicians. A certified nurse practitioner is able to perform complete examinations, run routine (and not so routine) tests on patients, diagnose acute illnesses, treat, and even prescribe (varying your state license) prescriptions with a write-off from a licensed doctor. With the ability to act as a primary-care provider and as a patient-care provider, the job of a nurse practitioner is truly versatile. In a sense, a nurse practitioner lies as the midpoint between your everyday physician and your doctor, with a much cheaper bill. Given today’s job market, nurse practitioners are in high demand in hospitals, offices, and clinics.

With an ongoing declination of doctors in America, nurse practitioners are becoming one of the primary-care providers in hospital units. “It is my responsibility to take the role of a resident when the doctors are busy. The nurses come to me when they need follow-ups to be done and tests to be given on the babies,” Julie Long, a neonatal nurse practitioner who works at Newark Beth Israel. Long, who has worked as a nurse practitioner at Newark Beth Israel for numerous years feels like her job is secure, even amidst the economic downturn. … Being able to provide patient care while being a primary provider, nurse practitioners save hospitals thousands. Working with numbers, the average nurse practitioner makes around 25% less than your average doctor and roughly 10% more than your typical registered nurse. Knowing their job description, having at least one more nurse practitioner on staff, as opposed to an additional doctor, hospitals can save 15%, not a great amount, but definitely enough to impact a budget over time.

Given their mastery, nurse practitioners are a “steal” to the medical industry.

The next long writing sample is the persuasive essay about abortion I wrote in your English Comp class. I don't have the copy where you sent feedback on me about it, I think it may be on blackboard, but I can't log onto it.

Since the controversial court case of Roe v. Wade, the topic of abortion has increased in sensitivity. Both radical sides of the topic think there belief is correct and a compromise regarding abortion has yet to be made. Pro-life Christians argue abortion should be illegal because it is against God’s will and have a shared belief that it is murder. However, while their beliefs are respected, abortion should be kept legal since it dismisses the right of freewill, blurs the line between separation of church and state, and violates a woman’s right to privacy.

So, while you argue it is against God’s will, what about the free will God granted to everyone? Abortion, regardless how evil people consider it, should be a choice. In the Bible, the theory of how evil came into the world is seen through the story of Adam and Eve. Just as Eve chose to eat the apple from the forbidden tree, women have the right to choose to have an abortion. The simple, unappreciated concept of choice is one that is granted through the Bible, through the words of God. Bishop Melvin Talbert of the United Methodist Church, said it best in his sermon, “In reality, there are many of us who believe that choice is the most logical and the most responsible position any religious institution can take on this issue (Singer).” Ultimately, it is not up to the religion, or any beliefs. It is the concept of freewill - that we choose our destiny and how we decide to ultimately determine our lives, that is granted in the Bible. This basic, fundamental belief is not only recognized in the Bible, but in the U.S. Constitution.

As an American, there is no greater feat than exercising our voices, carrying out a message, and acting out our choices. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson defined three natural rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The idea of liberty, to be given options, to choose what you want for yourself, is a right that wasn’t granted to early American civilians. They fought for that right and their fighting deemed successful. Indirectly, outlawing abortion is like a slap in the face for those American settlers who fought for religious freedom and sought shelter from religious persecution. It is the exact opposite of why they first decided to settle in America. It is inflicting your beliefs on others. It is forcing your Jewish neighbor to carry that child although it means killing the mother. It blurs the line between separation of church and state.

Although the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly state the words “separation of church and state,” it is implied. The interpretation of the Supreme Court resulted that there cannot be an established religion and no one religion comes before another. So, if abortion were to be criminalized, how does one justify this to the Supreme Court? How is the basis of your beliefs not religious? Doesn’t this idea of an abortion-less America intertwine Church and State? So, why should this be an exception? You state it’s because abortion is murder. Then comes the question, who or what gets to decide if abortion is murder: the person, the beliefs, or the law? Only the Catholic Church has a fundamental belief that abortion is murder. By illegalizing abortion, you are forcing every woman, regardless if they believe in God or not to carry an unwanted child. Yes, adoption is an option, but how many kids are out there that are still waiting to be adopted? There are more than enough kids out there who are unloved, who are born because their mom decided they no longer want the baby. It is unfair to have a kid who will never be loved, who will never get to experience a meaningful life, than to have a kid who will live life in spite. So, before you really advocate the pro-life position on the basis of murder, think of the children who are already alive. Think of the countless amount of kids who don’t have parents, who are suffering through their childhood without the Christmases filled with presents, the Easters going to Church, and the birthdays without a cake. So, is illegalizing abortion really the right choice?

Again, I quote Bishop Melvin Talbert, when he says, “[…] we are dealing with something that is deeply spiritual and cannot be left to those who would choose to politicize this issue and further victimize those who must ultimately decide for themselves." A man with a high position in the Christian Church has a fundamental belief that abortion is wrong. He advocates abortion should be up to the individual. Abortion should be kept the way it was ruled in the Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade. It should be an individual decision, left up to the woman. Last election, there was a hysteria over the revelation of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy. Her mom, obviously, the Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, is a strong advocate for the pro-life movement. I remember watching on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart when he interviewed Newt Gingrich. Throughout the interview, Palin’s stance on abortion was brought up and Stewart made a very valid point: Palin wants to veto abortions for women, but gave her the daughter the choice if she wanted to keep the baby or not (Stewart). How do you advocate “pro-life” but entitle your daughter to make a choice? Now, if abortion were to be banned in America, how many daughters are given that right to make that choice to have a baby or not? How many women are going to be taken away that entitlement to make such a huge decision? Again, how can you force such a huge responsibility on someone? Ultimately, this is a huge reason why abortion should be permitted. A woman’s right to privacy, a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body should be left up to a woman. Laws or ethics or beliefs should not come in the way between a woman and her choice. Taken from the New York Times, a woman named Jessica Sporn wrote to the editor how she had an abortion at a young age, the prime of her life, and did not regret it. She states, “I cannot imagine what path my life would have taken had I carried my first pregnancy to term. I do know that it would have led to somewhere very different.” It was Jessica Sporn’s choice how to lead her life and it should be a woman’s choice, not her faith and definitely not the law’s.

So, throw all religious differences aside and think: is banning abortion the smartest idea? Will banning abortion really make a difference? Remember, no one advocates abortion, but people advocate the right to have an abortion. The two are not the same, and as a Christian group, you should understand the validity of certain rights. The rulings decided in Roe v. Wade should not be overruled. Abortion is a right granted by God, granted by the Constitution and should be kept legal. Regardless of religion, the topic of abortion is not controversial at all, but rather very sensible. It is a choice, made my women, not by the law and not by faith, that should not be taken away and should be preserved.

The two short writing samples are still works in progress and I'll definitely revise my personal statement this weekend. Thanks!

Blog Twenty

Personal Statement

It definitely still needs work, especially the ending and summing everything up. I kept reading a bunch of sample nursing personal statements and all of them have to do with their experience, and since I'm deeply lacking in that criteria, I did the best with what I had.

Growing up, my mom spent majority of her time at the hospital taking care of kids other than her own. As a kid, I resented her job as a nurse and the cruel, long hours she worked. It probably wasn’t until my senior year in high school did I realize that the extensive hours were just a sign of her dedication and the “graveyard” shift was an indication of her diligence. Sadly, only a year ago I really appreciated these qualities my mom possess and my interest in nursing arose. After spending countless hours researching career paths in this field, my heart set on the job of a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

The credentials to become a Nurse Practitioner seem almost as excruciating as it is to be a doctor. One needs to not only have the discipline to excel at school, but needs to possess the same qualities my mother holds, dedication and drive, to outweigh the job’s pressures. All three characteristics, I bear. Looking over my transcript, I’ve never shied away from taking challenging classes, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry (I and II), Calculus, and Cell Biology, and overcoming them. I have a relatively high GPA for a student in my major and this can only come through sheer hard work, determination, and self-control. I know what it takes to get done to succeed, so I do everything in my power to make sure the outcome is favorable. I also take part in a national community outreach program, Big Brother Big Sister, and once a week, I dedicate my time to improve the life of a young girl. I sit down with my “little” every Friday afternoon and either play games, help her out with her homework, or just spend the afternoon talking. The difference I can make in one life just as mentor can multiply as a Nurse Practitioner.

In this field, I am able to utilize and expand most of the qualities I already own. My dedication and determination can enrich and my sufficient volunteer experience makes me a great candidate for my future profession.

Presentation

Job Title: Nurse Practitioner

Describe the range of job descriptions your profession has: You can be a NP for any type of specialty. There’s Oncology NP, Adult NP, Neonatal NP, Holistic NP, Psychiatric NP, Emergency NP, etc.
Job Description: A simple way to describe the duties of a nurse practitioner is that they are the midpoint between a doctor and your physician. They perform routine check-ups to patients, are able to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, but are unable to prescribe medication on their own (they need a licensed doctor to sign off).

Credentials: To become a Nurse Practitioner, you need to first obtain your bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university and then pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to obtain your RN license. Most graduate schools won’t accept you unless you have experience under your belt, so your best bet is either to work a couple years at a hospital or a clinic.

Graduate school is absolutely necessary to become a NP and the better the school you go to, the better your chance is of getting a job. Great graduate schools require at least one year of experience, a high score on your GRE, and a personal statement. After receiving your MSN, you need to get certified in the state you want to practice in. To obtain your NP license, you need to pass the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification examination.

What kinds of writing do individuals in this profession do?
Writing isn’t one of the top credentials needed in order to enter the field, but regardless one does need know how to write. Nurse Practitioners use writing for documentation purposes and developing patient care plans routinely.

How can you prepare yourself for this kind of writing?

The daily writing isn’t tedious, but everything has to be documented. A good idea is to keep a diary or journal.

What are some of the obstacles?

• · It’s competitive – especially getting into a great grad school.
• · The amount of certifications and exams you need to pass.

What are some creative ways to give yourself an “edge” for entering your profession?

• · Having a great personal statement for graduate school.
• · Getting experience by working for a non-profit organization. Showing you’ll do the job regardless of the paycheck shows passion and dedication – a quality needed in this field.

Cover Letter

Overlook Hospital

Summit, NJ 07091

(908) 522-2099

To Whom It May Concern:

I am interested in becoming a volunteer in your Pediatrics department over the summer. I intend on becoming a nurse in my future profession and believe this is a perfect opportunity to witness and gain experience in this particular field.

I am currently a student, undergoing a vigorous degree in Biology at Kean University and receiving my BSN at Seton Hall University by 2012. I have done plenty of volunteer work, especially working with children, in my past and this is a great opportunity to utilize and further-develop my caring, organizational, and social skills in a practical environment.

Attached is a copy of my resume, which I hope you do not hesitate to review further. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Regards,

Andrea Neeranjan

Andrea Neeranjan

Possible writing samples:

- Nursing School (Masters) entry essay (long)

- Developing Patient Care Plan (short)

- Memos to Health Care Providers (short)

- Proposals for funding (long)

Blog Nineteen

ANDREA NEERANJAN

OBJECTIVE
Hard-working, determined student who wishes to utilize her reasoning, social and nurturing skills in a registered nurse position primarily working in the neonatal unit.

LICENSES

Licensed RN by the state of NJ, 2012-Present

Licensed NP by the state of NY, 2015-Present

Licensed NP by the state of NJ, 2015-Present

WORK EXPERIENCE

Overlook Hospital, Somerset, NJ
Registered Nurse, 2012-2013

Clinical Experience, Seton Hall University
Nursing Student, 2010-2012

Newark Beth Israel Medical Hospital
Volunteer, 2010-2012

Red Lobster, Union NJ
Hostess/Certified Trainer, 2007-Present
Responsibilities Include:

· Supervising and coordinating activities to provide fast and courteous service.

· Assuage any complication that occurs in the front-of-house when a manager isn’t present.

· Assign work tasks to co-workers to ensure smooth service.

· Train hired employees to company standards.

Schedule work hours for co-workers in the front of house.

Big Brother/Big Sister, Newark, NJ
Big Sister Volunteer, 2010-Present
Responsibilities Include:

· Mentoring and guiding my “little” throughout her childhood.

· Spending time with my “little” on a weekly basis, assisting her with her homework, playing games, or just hanging out.

Tutoring, Union, NJ
High School Algebra Tutor, 2009-Present
Responsibilities Include:

· Assisting my student in her high school Algebra homework and helping her study for tests on a weekly basis.

· Since tutoring started, a dramatic increase in test scores occurred, sending student to Honors Algebra.

EDUCATION
Columbia University, 2013-2015
Masters in Nurse Practitioner

Seton Hall University, 2010-2012
Bachelors of Science in Nursing
Graduate Magna Cum Laude

Kean University, 2008-2010
Biology, GPA: 3.8
Major Courses include: Biology, Chemistry, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Cell Biology, General Physics, Chemistry II

Union County Academy for Information Technology, 2004-2008
High School Diploma
Information Technology

RESEARCH
Conduct/Assist in research in desired field, primarily in the Neonatal ICU

SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS

· Microsoft Office Specialist

· Java Certified

· A+ Certified

· Oracle Certified

· Certified CPR by the American Red Cross

·Dean’s List for all semesters present

· Merit Scholarship

Blog Eighteen

My resume is for becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

Objective

To utilize my skills in reasoning and social skills in patient care at a professional health care environment.

Experience

Red Lobster Hostess/Certified Trainer 07/2007 – Current

Big Brother, Big Sister Volunteer Big Sister 01/2010 – Current

Education

Kean University 09/2008 – Current

Union, NJ

B.A Nursing, Expecting degree in May 2012.

Union County Academy for Information Technology 09/2004 – 06/2008

Scotch Plains, NJ
High School Diploma

Certifications/Awards

A+ Certified

Oracle Certified

Microsoft Office Specialist

CPR Certified by the American Red Cross

Dean’s List

Merit Scholarship for Kean University

Blog Seventeen (and Sixteen)

Nurse Practitioner and Writing:

Application for Masters Program - Personal Statement

Develops Patient Care Plans

Documentation

Memos to health care providers

Reports on services provided

Proposals for funding

last three were found on: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4839/is_10_9/ai_n29060558/

Process Narrative

When I think about my writing process, I think of a balloon full of helium, expanding and expanding, just waiting to explode. I fill my head with thoughts and ideas about what I want to write, but I never actually seem to “let it out” until I am near my own bursting point. As far as I can remember, writing academic papers – or writing anything, in general – first develops in my mind and continues to develop fully until I have the opportunity to write it all own. After all the words are typed and the first draft is virtually completed, I can’t move on to the editing and revising stage unless there is a hard copy in my hand. My writing process begins at a mental stage and overtime, transitions into a physical one.

When I first began to write primarily for school, I carried the same writing process I was taught during middle school: brainstorm and write. I don’t even think editing was in my teachers’ curriculum at all during this time. There was just a ridiculous, cruel emphasis of thinking about and organizing what you want to say and putting those ideas in the best words possible (without having to go through the messy task of fixing the work you spent so much time planning out). However, these same rules didn’t apply in high school and college. Editing was mandatory and I learned it on my first major high school paper. At first, I did my whole unconventional writing method: I just kept thinking about what I wanted to say on this paper and how can I support what I want to say in a coherent way. Well, I was able to write the paper, although I did have to incorporate a few pre-writing tactics into my writing process, but my teacher informed me there was much editing needed to be done. I realized quickly, I couldn’t edit the same way I began to write. I needed to see my mistakes, to see the irrelevant data in front of me in order to make any changes. At this point, I didn’t have a firm grasp on editing, so I changed a few grammar mistakes, used a thesaurus to replace a couple words, but basically handed in the same paper. My grade reflected the lack of knowledge I had on the editing stage and I was determined to do better next time.

At this point, I was forced to start editing. Fortunately, for me, I loved it. I got a rush out of filling up a paper with red marks (even if it was my own). I started to get “edit-happy” and soon enough, my writing process began to develop. The minute I received a writing assignment, my brain would shoot, like a mechanism, ideas pertaining to the assignment and from there, support to these ideas. The ideas transitioned into words, which turned phrases, then sentences and paragraphs. By the time I finished thinking about the paper, the majority of the paper was done all in my head. This probably had much to do with the prominence my middle school teachers put on clarifying my thoughts before even organizing them on paper, but it worked. However, I became a lazy writer. The more I realized I can come up with a paper mentally, the longer I delayed the writing.

My favorite use of my new writing process came during last semester in my World Literature class. I had to write compare and contrast essay on Homer’s Odysseus moral character with that of Shakespeare’s Iago from Othello. The minute my professor handed out the assignment sheet, I automatically thought how Odysseus had a greater sense of moral because his actions of deceit were carried out for reasons of valor, love, and loyalty as compared to Iago, who’s actions were carried out just out of spite. By the end of that class period, my thesis and supporting paragraphs were set and all I had to do was get the words out of my and onto a sheet of paper. However, being such a lazy student, I waited until the night before to write the paper. I started to doubt what I originally thought and it took me a while to hit my stride when I wrote the paper. I proceeded to print out my paper and again, go crazy with a red pen. I saw mistake after mistake and I realized I couldn’t keep developing all of my ideas in my head. I needed to not only have the physical properties of my paper in the end of the process, but also in the beginning.

So, when I received my next paper in the same World Literature class, I pre-wrote like I’ve literally never done it before. In order to compare and contrast the theme of the individual versus society in the novels The Stranger and The Death of Ivan Ilych, I wrote down all my thoughts and made an outline based on those same concepts. I wrote the quotes I needed on index cards along with an explanation of these quotes. I did whatever I could to get organized and make it easier on myself. Whenever I went back and forth on my thesis, I always had a reference to look back on - what I needed was already there in concrete form. Being able to have a physical form stops me from editing during writing and allows my writing to flow more naturally.

I’d be a liar if I were to say my writing process is the same regardless of who my audience is. I don’t write for myself now, so my audience is primarily my educators. However, I use this specific writing process mostly with English teachers and teachers who I know I won’t be able to bullshit. More or less for my other assignments granted by any other professor, I stick to the basis of my writing process: brainstorm and write. I know editing is necessary, but I feel like I’m a good enough writer where I don’t have to go through the extraneous task of editing a paper the professor will probably just look over to make sure that it’s done. It’s a little lazy, but it hasn’t came back to bite me just yet. I try to be strict and disciplined with my process, but that can’t always be the case. I am a college student (and a sort of lazy one at that), so every now and then I tend to digress from my routine.

I realize there are flaws in my particular process, but as for now, it’s working. Fortunately for me, I’m able to see my mistakes during my process that can help adjust it for the next writing assignment. So, I’m constantly trying to change my process into one that is more dependable, efficient, and especially, one that works every time. One of the main reasons my whole writing process is so effective is because it’s turned into an innate characteristic. When I receive an assignment, my mind immediately starts racing, initiating the mental stage of my writing process. However, over time, I’ve realized I can’t develop a whole paper in my head and expect to remember it by the time I go to write a paper. It’s ludicrous and insensible. Organization is key to becoming a better writer and the more I work on my pre-writing stage and the more I write my thoughts and ideas down, the more developed my writing will become. Like everything else, my writing process is a work in progress.

Blog Thirteen: Process Narrative

When I think about my writing process, I think of a balloon full of hydrogen, just waiting to be popped. I fill my head with thoughts and ideas about what I want to write, but I never actually seem to “let it out” until I am near-explosion. As far as I can remember, writing academic papers – or writing anything, in general – first develops in my mind and continues until I have the opportunity to write it down. After all the words are typed and the first draft is virtually completed, I can’t move on to the editing and revising stage unless there is a hard copy in my hand. My writing process begins at a mental stage and overtime, transitions into a physical one.

A variation of this writing process was actually instilled in me throughout my youth. In elementary and middle school, I was taught the same method: pre-write and write. I don’t even think editing was in my teachers’ curriculum at all during this time. There was just a ridiculous, cruel emphasis of thinking about and organizing what you want to say and putting those ideas in the best words possible (without having to go through the messy task of fixing the work you spent so much time planning out). Unknowingly, my teachers set me up for failure. When I had to write my first research paper, in my freshman year of high school, it was a disaster. I followed the process I was taught the majority of my education and it failed me terribly. My teacher informed me I needed to “edit” it, but as far as I was concerned, it didn’t need to be edited. To satisfy her, I changed a few words and replaced a couple of sentences, but handed in, basically, the same paper. My grade reflected my lack of editing and I started to understand the importance of the final stage in the writing process.

At this point, I was forced to start editing. Fortunately, for me, I loved it. I realized thought, I couldn’t edit my writing the same way I began to write. In order for me to fix it, I needed a physical copy where I can see what was awkward and irrelevant. Additionally, my writing process began to develop. The minute I received a writing assignment, my brain would shoot, like a mechanism, ideas pertaining to the assignment and from there, support to these ideas. Soon enough the ideas transitioned into words, which turned phrases, then sentences and paragraphs. By the time I finished thinking about the paper, the majority of the paper was done all in my head. This probably had much to do with the prominence my middle school teachers put on clarifying my thoughts before even organizing them on paper, but it worked. However, I became a lazy writer. The more I realized I can come up with a paper mentally, the longer I delayed the writing.

My favorite use of this process came during last semester in my World Literature class. I had to write compare and contrast essay on Homer’s Odysseus moral character with that of Shakespeare’s Iago from Othello. The minute my professor handed out the assignment sheet, I automatically thought how Odysseus had a greater sense of moral because his actions of deceit were carried out for reasons of valor, love, and loyalty as compared to Iago, who’s actions were carried out just out of spite. By the end of that class period, my thesis and supporting paragraphs were set and all I had to do was get the words out of my and onto a sheet of paper. However, being such a lazy student, I waited until the night before to write the paper. I knew exactly what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t get past the first sentence. It took me probably two hours to write just my introduction, because I can never proceed to write a proper paper without a great introduction. I spent another hour doing the paper, a couple more hours editing, and managed to get an A+ on the assignment.

This assignment, like previous assignments, reminded me how much pressure I put on my introduction. I know there are sidesteps where I can easily write the rest of the paper or essay and do the introduction, but I refuse (partially out of arrogance) to take the “easy” way out. When I write, I build the momentum off my introduction. So, I work my hardest and try to put my best in my introduction, because after that – after I write my thesis on the last sentence of the introduction – the words after just fall in place. All the ideas and thoughts that were once formed mentally, just flow like an electric current from my brain, to my fingers, onto paper. Although, it’s a hassle, the extraneous amount of time I spend on my introduction pays off.

I realize there are multiple flaws in my particular process, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s worked for me every single time. It’s only when I digress from my process, my grade drops. In my junior year of high school, my teacher forced us to make an outline and write note cards and do a shitload of prewriting before beginning the writing stage of my research paper. It completely threw me off balance. Getting in the habit of writing down my thoughts when they came to me became irritating and I started to distance myself away from the paper. It seems like it’ll be easier, right? I won’t have to struggle to remember what I thought or sit in front of the computer for hours trying to come up with a decent introduction. Well it was easier, but I hated it. The struggle and the complications are part of the fun, half of the reason I get a good grade when I write. When it’s too easy, I don’t put any thought in it and my grade reflects it. All the planning actually resulted me getting the lowest grade I’ve gotten on a paper in the past five years. This experience altered the way I proceed to write, depending on my audience.

I don’t write for myself anymore, so my audience is basically whatever teacher or professor that assigns the paper. Interestingly enough, I have a tendency to organize my assignments and get edit-happy depending on its level of intensity (it’s probably due to the fear my high school junior English teacher instilled on me. In my head, I think important papers require plenty prewriting and editing). The last time I went through the whole pre-writing process, (you know, develop an outline, create a pro/con list, etc.) it partially worked out for me. I actually made it when I argued pro-choice in my English Composition persuasive essay. In this case, I had to not only know the arguments to my side, but the arguments to the opposing, pro-life side. So, when I created the pro/con list, it allowed me to think of rebuttals that can easily rebuke the opposing side’s argument. Although, the outline was completely useless (I don’t even think I followed it), I did realize how handy a pro/con list is, especially when writing a persuasive essay. I also only edit if it’s an assignment for an English class. Mainly, I know the professor is definitely smart enough where I can’t bullshit and slack on the development and organization of the assignment, so I’m forced to continually make sure the whole paper flows coherently, with each point building up to another. The pre-writing and editing stage, I know, are both vital in writing a remarkable paper, but since they’re the “behind the scene” processes, I usually don’t put much effort into it, unless absolutely necessary.

However, creating the pro-and-con list enabled me to see all the possible viewpoints. It is one tactic that I’ve actually integrated into my writing process. It didn’t take away my need to “challenge” myself when writing, but it simply just induced organization into the process. Instead of storing all my points in my head, I’m able to see it much more clearly on paper, before I even start writing. This small prewriting stage helps me write my paper a lot more effortlessly, which carries into a better grade. The same goes for editing. I know I only edit when I think I have to, but I completely see the difference between a paper that has been revised and improved on, than one that hasn’t.

One of the main reasons my whole writing process is so effective is because it’s turned into an innate characteristic. When I receive an assignment, my mind immediately starts racing, starting the whole mental stage of my writing process. It’s engraved in my system since middle school and (although this paper doesn’t reflect it), I’ve pretty much perfected it.

Throughout the years, small tweaks have been incorporated into my writing process, changing it for the better, while old habits remain. Occasionally, additional methods are thrown into my writing process, varying on my audience. However, the general idea of my process remains the same: it begins mentally and shifts, over time, into a physical process.

Blog Twelve (In-class Blog)

After receiving the feedback from Dr. Chandler I realized my focus was unclear and needed to be changed. Using her feedback, I gave it some thought and realized that writing was always a reflection of who I was but, it just changed as I changed. So, I made my focus convey that same message, which (hopefully) allowed my narrative to make a little bit more sense. Interestingly enough, most of my stories already conveyed this message, so I didn't really need to edit or add any clarifications to help them change my focus. Using the feedback given, I decided to add a story about how my dad turned me into a perfectionist and at first, I wasn't sure where to put it. At first, I just threw it in the beginning so it'll go along with my chronological theme. But, when I reread it, it just didn't flow and I realized it fit better later in my narrative when I first started talking about editing and my need for perfection. The last major editing I made was with my conclusion. I completely wiped out my whole conclusion, aside from the last sentence (because I did really like it). I changed it by shortening it and sweetening it up.

Blog Eleven

Writing the final draft of my literacy narrative was probably the most time I've ever spent editing anything - ever! I was smart enough to wait until the night/early morning before to start on it, but I worked out a system to help me utilize the maximum amount of editing potential within me. There were a little twerks to my editing process. One included completely editing it on a hard copy and then just copying it onto the document and the other was having a peer read it and give me feedback. After I read the hard copy over once and then on my re-read I really started on the editing stage. Using the feedback I got from my second draft, I cut parts out and added paragraphs to help restructure my paper. After filling up my paper with all the changes I needed to make, I turned on my computer and went from there. I hit plenty of speedbumps along the way - getting sidetracked for a couple of hours, but I was finally done a good three hours later. When I was finally done, I actually woke up a friend, who's an English major, to read my paper and let me know what needed to be fixed. He gave me adequate feedback and again, I spent another hour or so editing it. Eventually exhaustion caught up with me, but (thank God) I crossed the finish line already and I was done. Finito.

Final Literacy Narrative

Andrea Neeranjan

Feb 18, 2009

Literacy Narrative

Eng 2020

Growing up in a somewhat-traditional sort-of-Indian household, education has always been my priority. When I was first introduced to writing, it seemed like it was just another subject to excel at. It was like math, but with letters instead of numbers. But, it was basic - too simple to be interesting. However, I continued to follow my teachers’ lessons on writing and grammar, but didn’t care about the content of the writing. At the same time, I didn’t speak. Maybe because I was too focused trying to become the “perfect” student, I never even bothered to expand my oral communication skills. I’d talk normally to my close friends and direct family, but mumbled when asked a question to anyone else. So, when I was given my first creative writing assignment, it was astonishing how much I had to say. When I failed to communicate orally, writing helped me reveal my thoughts and dreams onto paper. Now that I’m a more comfortable speaker, writing helps my inner perfectionist shine. Writing, interestingly enough has always been a reflection of my character.

I was incredibly shy as a kid. I’d hide behind my mom or dad when being introduced to someone, or whisper in my mom’s ear to have her say the words I didn’t have the confidence to say myself. I was considered the “mute” in my family and my class. The game ‘telephone’ always comes to my mind when I had to communicate to someone outside my circle of friends. I’d say something to someone to tell to someone else, which, in turn, told the message to the destined recipient. Of course, if you’ve played this game, the original message always was misinterpreted, so my form of communication was limited. I chose not to speak and I wasn’t too fond of writing. Eventually, something had to give.

My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Gilbert, asked our class to write a short story on, of what I recall, a rock. I thought it was incredibly dumb at first. Who can come up with an amazing story about a rock? Well, turns out, I could. When my idea hit me, I wrote and filled up not a page, not even two or three pages, but seven full pages about a schoolgirl who discovers a magical rock that grants her three wishes her heart desires. Probably due to my obsession with Disney movies as a child, the story was similar to the plot from Aladdin. In a way, this first story was my opportunity to put myself in those shoes and be the girl with the fairy-tale adventure. Regardless, I was exceptionally proud of myself and amazed at what I was able to do with only a few pieces of paper, a pen, and my thoughts. Mrs. Gilbert continued to give us creative writing assignments and I continued to write my stories. The more I wrote, the more I “spoke.” I found a comfort in writing, and as time progressed, I found “myself” in writing.

Writing immediately became my “me” time. It was a comfort, a consistency - it never changed, and it was and still is, always there. I kept diaries and journals, I wrote countless numbers of stories on wide-ruled loose-leaf paper, all stored away now in a big red box in my room. These small, overlooked forms of writing allowed me to develop both as a writer and as a being. Truly, the more I wrote, the greater my “voice” was becoming. Eventually, I had no problem communicating my writing through my real voice.

During this time, writing helped me transition speech into my main form of communication within the next couple of years. It doesn’t count for much, but being unable to talk to my best friend during class, we wrote ridiculously long notes to one another. And since I wasn’t able to convey my personality through speech, it had to shine through my writing. In these notes, my sense of humor appeared quirkier and all my stories seemed more dramatic than they originally were (which explains why I’m such a drama queen today). I was no longer the shy, quiet girl in my writing, but rather an obnoxious, quite humorous teenager (or preteen at that time). Oddly enough, the personality in my writing was carried into reality. Writing helped me bring out the other side of my personality and in essence, induced another source of communication.

At this time, I had the opportunity to see the writer I was, meaning, I had a clearer perception to the person I wanted to be. Being able to distance myself from my writing and see not only the content, but also my style and tone, helped me transition that into my speech. My writing (at that time) had an obvious charisma and charm, which I strangely admired. I wanted to portray my same “self” in my writing to my “self” in reality. Soon enough, life imitated art and I took on the same personality my writing carried. Writing was no longer a source of communication for me, but rather, a reflection of myself.

Others began to notice this change in my character. Over time, people were able to visualize me when reading one of my texts, or even an essay for English class. I’ve heard it on more than a few occasions where peers and teachers would say, “I could definitely see you saying what you wrote.” In that sense, my transition from verbal communication to oral communication was ultimately successful. My personality was able to shine through two mediums, a feat that was nearly impossible for me a few years back. Now that I was a comfortable speaker, I didn’t need writing to help me state my thoughts and feelings, it now had another purpose: becoming perfect.

When I was younger (really young, like age five or six), my parents (mostly my dad) sat down with my brother, sister and I and informed us that without an education, our lives were virtually meaningless (who tortures five-year old kids with these things? My parents are sick, I know). I remember coming home with a 99 on a Social Studies test in the third grade, feeling ridiculously proud of myself (especially since I got the highest grade in the class) and my dad just looked at it and asked, “Why didn’t you get a 100?” That day, my dad turned me into a perfectionist. I checked and double-checked everything. There was absolutely no room for any margin and error. Years and years later, I realized it’s virtually impossible to be perfect. I saw I was able to be perfect in writing, through editing. In editing, I had the ability to go back over and over again, checking, fixing, deleting, adding – you name it, I was able to do it, without any repercussions. No one even had to know you made a mistake in the first place. Editing fascinated me in this way, because it was the only chance in life you had to erase your mistakes.

The major turning point in writing came to me my junior year of high school. I was taught by the most amazing English teacher, who’s every little writing peeve was embossed and engraved in my head and subconscious. Because of her, writing became an act of achieving perfection – both in the editing stage and writing stage. She taught me one lesson I will never ever forget: you can’t assume your reader knows what you’re trying to say. I made sure to be as simple and precise as possibly, without being redundant and babbly. This small advice made me start edit papers constantly and I loved it. I cut words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that weren’t necessary relative and replaced them with words that were sweet and clear. My writing was logical and short, while still maintaining its charisma and it helped develop my on-growing love for editing.

Being such a critical person (there’s no way you can be a perfectionist without being critical), it was an easy way of taking a negative aspect of my personality and bringing it to a positive light. Instead of hurting people by telling them their obvious flaws, I offended them in a less apparent and more effective way. It was my way of taking control of a situation. In a sense, editing was my form of rehearsing. I didn’t get to edit what comes out of my mouth (which has always been a problem for me), but I did get to decide what goes on a piece of paper. I had the ability to do it over and over again repeatedly until it’s right - until it’s finally perfect. The control in editing was more appealing than the editing itself. I was able to fix everything with a cross out and replace it with words a bit more powerful.

It was only a few days ago when I edited one of my friend’s papers. I was actually having a pretty terrible day and being able to make right of all these wrongs on a piece of paper made me overwhelmingly happy. The paper was appalling when I first read it. It had no focus, an extreme lack of organization, and it was filled with irrelevant evidence. After spending a good amount of hours fixing it up, I managed to get my friend an A-. He wasn’t entirely happy when he saw the amount of scratch-marks and red ink, but when he received his grade, he was more than pleased. Editing allowed me to take my negative energy and turn it into one that’s beneficial, for the writer and myself. It coincided and relaxed my need to criticize and perfect a universe full of chaos.

Seemingly, writing is just a take of my personality. It’s my words, my voice, and my personality. It’s my way of finding out my heart’s desires for a magical rock to grant or my way of appeasing my constant need for perfection. Whether it’s imitating childhood dreams or quirky personality traits, my writing is who I am. Writing, essentially, is part of who I am and who I aspire to be.