Dillard Questions

Rachel Roller
Dillard Questions

1) I definitely have some physical rituals as I begin to write. First, I sit down crank out as much of the paper as I possibly can without any interruption. Next, I take a break, go eat something, go on a walk, and/or have a glass of wine, and then approach my paper again. If I were to eat, walk, drink before writing my paper I would just get distracted and it would take me much longer in order to get a draft done.

2) I knock down those bearing walls frequently. How many depends on the type of writing I am doing. Sometimes I will just start over completely and then return to the original draft and combine ideas. I have found that is one of the best ways for me to write a lengthier paper. I find that the limitations are created by a sort of writers block. If I step back and return to the paper later, I usually can work through the issue. However, if I try to hammer it out without pausing I end up erasing and rewriting. I think the bearing walls are mostly created by the writer but social constructions can have an affect on the writer prior.

3) I mainly think my writing is like a ticking bomb. I go and go and go as fast as I can until time runs up and I am forced to make certain grammatical and stylistic choices. The inchworm metaphor also makes a lot of sense because it takes so much time in order to turn a blank canvas into a piece of work. Metaphors are useful when describing my writing process because it gives me an outside similar perspective on how I am looking at my work.

4) I think metaphors do cause a sort of mysticism to writing however I think they also can distract the reader. It definitely depends on the type of writing. Writing is a very eye opening thing. A simple sentence could change someone’s life. It takes a great amount of skill to be an accomplished writer and I don’t think metaphors are necessary in order to achieve that.

5) Because Dillard remains so vague, she appeals to many people. It doesn’t take an exceptionally smart person to understand or become involved in her writing. I definitely think the metaphors are there to entertain people while she maintains a basic approach to writing about writing. If Dillard were to be concrete and give great detail in her writing then she may lose some readers who may need to most help when it comes to writing.

Week Four

I think the main reason the sentences were written incorrectly was for marketing purposes. Most of them are short and to the point. They don't even need to be complete sentences in order to get the advertisement across. I have noticed in a lot of advertisements and marketing schemes that they are very short and to the point and rarely spend the time to use a full sentence. Sometimes adding extra commas or punctuation marks causes the viewer to pay more attention to the add as well.

1. The flooding was worst at the point where New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania meet.
2. Because he loved to read, to write, to edit, Mr. Diamond was considering a career in library work, marketing, or publishing.
3. Salingers first novel, The Catcher in the Rye, captures the language and thoughts of teenagers.
4. He has only one ambition: to produce a Broadway musical.
5. If you blow out all your candles, your wish will come true.
6. The district managers represents four regions: Terry Smith, Rochester, NY, Chris Adler, Superior, WI, Kim Young, Chimayo, NM, and Pat Golden, Tallahassee, FL.
7. The weather report predicted high winds, freezing rain, and snow; the highway patrol advised caution when driving yet the storm blew out to sea.
8. My boss, who wears bright colors, is a cheerful person.
9. He hires people who are energetic, efficient, and polite.
10. When asked what she wanted to be later in life she replied, "An Olympic swimmer."
11. The governor issued this statement, "I have done nothing wrong; the IRS will find that my tax returns are all in order."
12. Sientists spotted large numbers of dolphins nurse, and great white sharks, and blue, gray, and humpback whales near the offshore station.
13. She loves her car, a red Toyota.
14. If you drop by the doctor's office without an appointment you can be sure of one thing: an icy reception.
15. His dog, a big Labrador retriever, is afraid of mice.
16. His recent painting, which is hanging in our local restaurant, shows dogs in various disguises.
17. His recent painting that is hanging in our local restaurant, shows dogs in various disguises.

Inventing the University

For the first three semesters of my college career I was a biology major, when I transferred to the U I declared my major as art history. The difference in the discourse communities is pretty large. Biology requires a completely different use of vocabulary and thinking compared to the Art History work I have been exposed to. The thing I found most interesting in "Inventing the University" was how Bartholomae discussed how teachers need to be more "precise and helpful when they ask students to "think," "argue," "describe," or "define." I definitely have run into certain situations within both discourse communities where the teacher has not been specific enough on exactly what they require and what guidelines must be followed. Each discourse community requires a different style of writing so how each piece is written also depends on the audience within the discourse community.