So one of the English classes I'm taking is encouraging me to write as much as I can, about whatever I want, informally. Today, for instance, I have to turn in a one page, double-spaced page on what worried me on Wednesday. My prof has gotten us to write little blurbs on people on cellphones, our most recent stupid purchase, along with others. So far this class is fantastic. Finally outside of the boarders of formalism, I can use the forbidden "I". In fact, we're encouraged not to use the words "they", "one", "you", or anyone else, because an essay is supposed to reflect your own thoughts. One of the quotes that I read recently about the essay was something like: If the words of an essayist are foolish, everyone knows where to point the finger. So if you write stupid, you are stupid, and everyone knows it. It's risky business, this essay-writing. Not only are we supposed to write, but we're supposed to write well. Instead of writing two separate sentences side by side, give them more flare. Use a semi-colon, a few dozen commas with a couple dashes. An essay can be about anything, and is simply the flitting of the mind. In fact the natural jumping and trotting of the mind is what makes an essay truly interesting.
I'm enjoying this class. It has definitely surprised me. I didn't know informal writing existed in University.
Sounds alright.
ReplyDeleteIf I weren't allowed to use the word 'I' in my essays, my book would be completely empty.
It is a bummer when English teachers that enforced every old rule about writing, like:
1. Don't start a sentence with Because, or And
2. Don't use the word 'said' or beautiful.
3. Don't use 'I' in an essay.
etc, etc,
All these teachers are morons and encourage a limited kind of writing. The reason language and writing is so appealing is because there are not any rules, or shouldn't be.