Overall, and in most cases, I'm impressed with how people are using their blogs. For some, it's a brand new thing, and one student commented that he was enjoying the process of writing "freely" without having to worry too much about style, technique, and mechanics. It appears to me that others are familiar with this kind of web-based, journalist writing, and these blogs are a continuation of other online writing activities, such as on MySpace or FaceBook. This works for me too -- since I'm eager in this class to make the point that we are continuing a "vision quest" that began before this class started and will continue long after it's over. Some are picking up on this -- and the blog seems to function like one piece of a larger puzzle of self-presentation.
Meanwhile, I also finished this first sweep with one simple thought: WE NEED TO WRITE MORE!! I know everyone's busy with other classes, work, etc., but I'll turn here and face the class as audience and say it plain: To do well in this class, you need to write a lot and write often, perhaps every day. That doesn't mean you have to come up with something brilliant every day, but I can pretty much guarantee that if you spend at least 30 minutes every day writing in your journal (this blog journal especially), then writing will start to come easier, or if it already comes easy, you may find yourself entering new creative zones with renewed energy and perhaps more skill. We "learn to write by writing," like it says in the front of the VQ Guidebook.
There may be some confusion about the difference between the "Journal" and the "Commonplace Book" as labels, as categories. If there is some confusion, I'm not surprised. It's a tricky concept in some ways and not necessarily something I can expect you (students) to be familiar or comfortable with right away. I proposed some "rules of thumb" for CBook and Journal entries in class. Here's a summary, with some stuff added in:
Journal =
"My own" thoughts, ideas, reflections -- what I can write, so to speak, "with my eyes closed," without the help of looking at other books, websites, etc., and without the help of other "voices" (including people I interview).
Commonplace Book =
"Other people's" thoughts, ideas, reflections, research, data -- what I find when I go in search of an answer in the library or on the Internet, the results of an informal survey, even the informal answers my mother might give if I ask her to tell me about my name.
Also, if you go to "copy" something (off a website, for example), think of the Commonplace Book entry as the first place you go to "paste" that material. In other words, if the Journal is "all me," then the CBook should be "all somebody else." You don't have to write, introduce, frame, or comment on the stuff you copy into your Commonplace Book. You'll have a chance to do this later if you decide to weave or incorporate some CBook material into a formal report/document.
This proposed difference between "my own" and "other people's" is debatable, and you'll see why down the road. For now, though, this rough distinction may help get you started.
In sum, I'm pretty psyched that everyone has a functioning blog and is using it. No small feat, actually, after about 3 weeks of class.
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22 comments:
Well, one thing that I do agree with that you said Bill Pro is that by writing more you learn to write. I do feel that when I do write more and read more also I pick up different techniques that help me as a writer and as a way to express myself. Expression through writing has always been something that I did before and I think that I did it a little too much one time that I feel that I am a little scared to actually do this Blog Thingy. But I guess I just give it another try and see what happens. I think that using the blog thingy is something that can help us to just be able to distinguish certain things, just as you said that we should be able to distinguish between someone else’s and our own. I was used as good example on how I would distinguish between different things where I posted a little passage bit on blood in my journal and then was warned to also place it in my commonplace. At first I thought that the commonplace book was just to be there for not any apparent reason and that it would just be useless. I have not as yet found anything else that would have been good for me to add in my commonplace but as time goes along and as I look around and see something interesting I will definitely decide to go ahead and post something interesting. I think that the commonplace would be more fun if we could get each other to go ahead and comment on what people have placed there and ask questions and inquire as to why someone would decide that they would need to put something for everyone to see. If something is important to you then you would definitely go and post something about it.
Along with myspace and facebook, this blog thingy we have going here is slowly opening up to me in a way that I can now understand what the reason is behind thie Blog Journal, and that is to write. And of course, if we are talking about work and being busy, that is definitely me, but I have been finding time to write about my day, my feelings, and so on. In general, with having to write pretty much everything online as well as view homework online, its easier in a sense that mostly all of us are already online doing something else, so what's wrong with having a nother TAB open? Lately, I have been confused on the "my own thing" and "someone else" but I am getting the hang of it, but in all this class is a challenge for me in the writing section part of it, but I am enjoying it.
I agree with Mariely about how we are all progressing with this Blog thing. I also think that we are all busy with different things; after all, we live in NY, the city that never sleeps. I think Prof Marsh did a great job describing exactly what we should post in the Journal and what we should post in Commonplace Book. I also agree that we all need to write more, which may seem difficult at times, but we can do it if we really put our minds to it!
This journal entry was very helpful to me. It really clarified some things. Writing in the blog everyday actaul doe not seem to be a task that is too monumental, but it can be difficult on somedays. Your overview of the different between the journal and the common place book happened to be very helpful. Now that I am clarified on that I am hoping to add some pieces of writing to my common place book.
I must say that you have a good point Professor Marsh. This Blogging experience is really an extension of myspace and facebook. However, it is not that easy for some people to write everyday with our busy schedule nowadays (ex. work, tests, homework, etc.)and it also might take a long time to think about what they are going to write about. Some people might think for an hour and still not be able to decide what to write about. However, I do agree with when you say that "we learn to write by writing". My writing skills have improved tremendously over the past 2 years because of all the writing I did.
My response to this journal is a little different from everyone else’s. Although I was originally excited to write in the blog, and I still love the idea I'm just having a hard time actually writing in it. Unfortunately I have fallen into a horrible habit of doing my homework the night before it is due. Obviously, it’s Monday night and I am responding to this blog just now and after I plan to do the reading and respond to that. Personally, I really don’t enjoy writing at all but I was so excited in the beginning of the semester that we were doing this because I thought I would actually do the task religiously, and I haven’t. I completely understand the difference between the commonplace book and the journal and I think about what to put in my commonplace book all the time. Unfortunately, I never take the time to actually go on to my blog account and actually do it. So my response to this entry is basically a resolution for myself to write in my journal as much as possible, and hopefully even every day.
I'm glad that you summed up the whole Commonplace Book deal. I was having a little trouble before because I wasn't sure of what to put in there. But as you mentioned, you said that you will like us to write more. I try to write as much as I can, but I don't write everyday. Or at least yet. But right now I find myself writing a lot more than before. So I guess you are right. The more we write, the more we're going to write in the long run.
I also have the problem with not writing as much. I try but sometimes I feel like the topics I choose are hard to expand on.I am not used to writing all time, unless it is in emails or intstant messaging.I hope that the blogs will help me write more, and so far they have!
i personally like the blog idea. i never had a class where i can actually write about what i want and how i want to write about it. i have gotten so used to writing in these blogs that any little idea i get i want to write a blog about it. any picture i see whether it be an add or a online pic, i want to write about it. and although ive always loved writing, im starting to like it anymore. especially since i can write about pretty much whatever i want.
I find it easier to find things to put in my commonbook and then reflecting on it in my journal.
Honestly, I'm getting tired of going online. Our life revolves so much around the internet. What if it crashed! The brightly lighted screen still reminices in my head when i go to sleep.
Writing "assignments" has always been like a cage with the bars spread just a little bit further apart tahn normal one question / one answer. In one hand you have the slight ability to reach out ( with your thoughts and ideas) but on the other hand you're still trapped. These blogs have been a wonderful escape from the typical English penetentiary we call writing assignments. Sometimes it helps to throw a general direction in and let us go exploring but I'm enjoying my freedom like no other.
Actually I was thinking about making a blog prior to even attending this class but never got around to it ... now I have the incentive.
I really enjoy the concept of the blog, even though I am not in full swing as of yet, but that will change soon. At first I was thinking about some topics to write about but I felt like I was forcing them, but now I see what I need to do is write from my mind and make it natural rather than something that would bore me or the reader to death just so I can get it done.
Like the Journal, the Common Place book is another outlet to express ourselves and often times easier, because we can "steal" info from others and place it in the CP and reflect on it in our Journals. The way I think of it is the CP is like a research page while the Journal is a place where I out it in my own words, and would be more like how I would write for a essay.
I have always heard of people using blogs to post journal entries about their lives, but I never expected to use one for my English class. I think they are a good way for us as students to express our feelings and opinions in a way in which we can relate to one another. Hopefully using this blog will help me enhance my writing skills and allow me to learn new ideas from other's blogs. The Commonplace Book will definately be helpful when doing a research paper. I like the Journal because it is my own personal space where I can write with no barriers. It's nice to be able to have this freedom while writing for a class and to be able to do it at anyplace, anytime.
I really like the idea of writing blogs and writing in the journal, but sometimes I have trouble coming up with topics to write about which is why I like that we can elaborate on simple questions in the "Vision Quest" book. For the most part I really think that blogs are a great idea. It gives everyone a chance to write what is on their mind without worrying about being formal.
I also think the idea of a commonplace book is also good. It is just a place that I can put different pieces of information that I find. The commonplace book is a thing that will help me stay organized with everything i find.
I am happy we had to make a blog for this class. It is a place where I can write just to explain my day, my thoughts, or my feelings without worrying about anything.
I have to admit this is definitely a new experience for me. At first I was so excited about our Blog accounts and writing "freely" as you say. But I have a problem and that is that I don't write in my Blog as much as I should. I agree with your quote, "We learn to write by writing" so I am going to start writing more in my blog so that I can become a better writer. This blog entry just gave me a boost of energy to start me off...
This whole blog thing is a new experience for me as well. I like to write and since there is no set topic for us to write our journals on I have no problems with the blog. And also I get the whole journal and commonplace difference...journal = mine...commonplace = someone else's.
In response to this entry i believe we do need to write more. By writing more we will become better. I also believe that your journal and commonplace labels are really good. That journal means ur own writing while commonplace is a section that anything can go into; your own work or someone elses.
This whole blog thing isn't that new to me, but I still need to get the hang of using it. I kind of like it because I use to have a xanga which is kind of the same thing. I agree with what you said about MySpace and Facebook in class the other day "MY FACE." This is more of writing your personal thoughts and things you find interesting.
I am really enjoying the blog thing...i think its a really good way to get students to start writing...I see it as a door opener to other more professional types of writing...Sometimes I want to write but haven't got anything to say, but when i do i really enjoy writing
Blogs are a whole new thing for me in this class. I have myspace and facebook but along with alot of other people in I'm progressing with it. At first I was a little hesitant to opening up and writing about personal things but as I have been writing more and more I find it easier to write about anything. I like the idea of the journal better than the common book because the commonbook has to do with research and I hate research.
I’m glad you clarified the difference between Journal and Commonplace Book; the distinction between the two makes much more sense to me now. However, I’m still a little bit confused on where, and for what purpose, will I be getting those “other people's thoughts/ideas” for my Commonplace Book. Will those resources be related to our class projects or do we have to go and “look” for those that in a way grab our attention and inspire us to write about something? Furthermore, I understand that to become a better writer one has to write more, for that it is true that “practice makes perfect”. But what if is someone has not a very creative mind and finds trouble to free-write on a regular basis, say for instance, on a blog? I personally am used to getting topics to write about assigned to me. Assignments don’t necessarily have to be very specific so to limit a student’s freedom to add one’s individuality. Like I think I understood from our book VQ, neither of us are great fans of the word “assignment”, because it acts indeed as a “stifling and restrictive” duty (26). However, I as a student, am a little bit more facilitated to write when I’m given some options, rather than finding myself thrown into an open field “free” to write about whatever I want. In that case, I’m in trouble. But I guess life’s made of challenges and this class is one of them, so I’ll try my best to keep up with the blog postings. For the sake of my own writing, after all. :) Cheers
Granted, more writing=better writing. However, it is quite diffcult for me because all during my high school career, because my teachers argued that quality>quantity.
Unless a comment or blog is controversial, it has something i don't agree with or it has something that relates to me, it's hard to elaborate more than "I agree." I hate forcing myself to think of what to write because then it will be obvious that I had to struggle to extend my paragraphs.
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