...Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” is an excerpt from her book, Bird by Bird (1994), where she argues to let go of the anxieties and fears of creating a masterpiece paper right away by simply writing without question in order to get all of your thoughts out first. She refers to this style of writing to one of a child’s while also reminding the reader to just freely write knowing that no one else will be seeing this initial draft. It’s clear Lamott wants to connect with her readers and help ease any worries when it comes to writing because even the most popular and well known journalists or authors all go through the same thoughts and process as well. Her style of writing shows she is intending this piece for students or anyone involved in writing, whether for school, career, or a hobby. I find Lamott’s argument very persuasive and was moved by her style and dictation. It is comforting to know that...
Words: 450 - Pages: 2
...Writing can be difficult, very difficult. But something great to remember is that writing is difficult for everybody at some point or another. Almost nobody sits down and writes a perfect first draft. Writing is a process and it takes time. In the article "Shitty First Drafts", Lamott writes about how you should have three drafts. The first draft is about getting your thoughts down. The second about fixing it up and work on editing. And the third draft is to perfect it and fix all the little mistakes and for critiquing. I've never really wrote papers this way but after reading this article I agree with Lamott that it is the most efficient way to write a paper. In the first draft, you just want to get stuff down. A problem I tend to have...
Words: 271 - Pages: 2
...In the article “Shitty First Drafts” the author Anne Lamott’s’ main argument is that first drafts are not meant to be perfect but a representation of random exquisite ideas that you will like to incorporate on your final draft. Lamott provides a strategy that can help writers begin their ideas in a faster and easier way than trying to produce a perfect first draft that can be sensed as stressful. First drafts become essential to create a good piece of writing she argues that every good writer no matter how talented he or she is, is subjected to write first drafts that will shape the course of their writing. As stated in the article, “All good writers write them, this is how they end up with good drafts and terrific third drafts.” It is important to take into consideration her...
Words: 498 - Pages: 2
...Jennifer Machuca Mrs.Cunningham AP Language and Composition 01 October 2015 Rhetorical Precis Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” selection (1994) argues that writing takes a process and the first step is to write a shitty first draft. Lamott accomplishes this by labeling “the fantasy of the uninitiated”is the thought people have when they read a great essay or book.Lamott uses this label in order to acknowledge that writing a great article or piece of literature is part of a process.Lamott is writing to those people who think authors are made to write a masterpiece in 3 hours or less. Summary Great final drafts are not easy, it takes a process. The main step to this is to create what...
Words: 266 - Pages: 2
...In Ann Lamott’s essay “Shitty First Drafts,” Lamott writes about the ins and outs of being a writer. Lamott is a distinguished author, and the essay “Shitty First Drafts,” is an excerpt from one of her novels “Bird by Bird.” Ann Lamott’s main point in her essay is that all writers have to begin somewhere and somewhere is with a “shitty first draft.” Lamott claims that people have an unrealistic expectation about successful writers. That writing a perfect first draft would be an exception, not a rule. As a rule, almost all writers start with some form of a “shitty first draft.” Writing takes work. Writing is a process, and one cannot expect to write a masterpiece in one sitting. This process begins with the “shitty first draft.” The point...
Words: 345 - Pages: 2
...Anne Lamott is a successful writer, having authored six books and countless reviews in the magazine California. This means Lamott is very qualified to write about first drafts, shitty ones in particular, in her essay titled “Shitty First Drafts”. Lamott begins by debunking the common belief among non-writers that writers instinctively and effortlessly “[write] fully formed passages as fast as a court reporter” or even know what they are going to write about before they begin. In fact, Lamott claims the opposite, that most, if not all, writers “[rarely] know what they are going to do until they've done it”. Lamott likens the writing process to “pulling teeth”. Lamott even admits she often has to “write really, really shitty first drafts” in...
Words: 300 - Pages: 2
...Module 24: Long reports are not used often. When organizing these reports you should think about what you’re going to write. The bibliography can form the first draft of your Work Cited. Save the interview questions for your appendix. Make sure you save all documents and write down all necessary information down. As soon as you know what you’re writing, start the title page and transmittal. Prepare your conclusion, than edit your first draft. The title page contains four things: 1. The title of the report 2. Whom the report is prepared for 3. Whom it is presented by 4. The release date The letter of transmittal tells whom the report was authorized by and its purpose. It gives a basic summary, it helps explain how problems were solved, thanks the readers, and opens the floor for questions. Executive summaries briefly describe methods. The conclusion summarizes the body of the report. Recommendations tell us the actions that were taken and give rationale. The format we should use is PAIBOC. 24.2- In order to decide whether to write a memo or letter of transmittal you should use a memo if you’re a regular employee preparing the report and a letter if you are not. 24.4- The executive summary is the summary that tells the reader what the document is about. 24.5- To decide what heading to use in the body of a report is to mark those that are most important. The heading grabs attention and starts the topic. Make it strong and...
Words: 257 - Pages: 2
...Customer satisfaction and identify the key factors determined sales of Skoda A Proposal Prepared for Kelly Services By Nabina Shrestha Kathmandu, Nepal 1. BACKGROUND Skoda European premium and luxurious car is one of the largest car manufactures in Europe and also famous automobile manufactures in Europe. 2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Conduct Quantitative interviews among existing consumer groups to evaluate/ assess the satisfaction level of customer and identify the most determined factors made sales of car. ← Identify the most determined factors made sales ← Consumer satisfaction (quality and convenience) ← Most effective Communication campaign ← Suggestion for further improvement etc.. RESEARCH DESIGN 1 Target Segment Respondent details Will be provided by Skoda ... 2 Sample Size : 48 |Age Group |Sample Size | | | | | | | | | | 3.3 Area Coverage Kathmandu Valley 5 Overall Survey Methodology The study will be quantitative in nature. The structured questionnaire will be canvassed to respondents selected. The investigator will be trained to be able to administer the set questionnaire. INFORMATION AREAS To avail...
Words: 397 - Pages: 2
...Instructions: Complete the following worksheet by providing as much information as possible for the each section included. Be as specific as this is a prewriting tool for the first draft of your resumé. While you might have a resumé, this worksheet will assist you with brainstorming new information and sections to include. Contact Information | | Name | | Address | | Home Phone Number | | Cell Number | | Email Address | | Other relevant contact information. | | | | Education (Start with your most recent first. In general you will want to exclude High School.) | | School Name | | School Location (city and state) | | Degree Type (example: Bachelor of Science) | | Major (What is/was your area of study?) | | Graduation (Month and Year) | | GPA (Include if it is over a 3.0) | | Relevant Courses (Include courses which you believe are relevant to your degree area. For example, courses in your major.) | | Other information | | | | | | School Name | | School Location (city and state) | | Degree Type (example: Bachelor of Science) | | Major (What is/was your area of study?) | | Graduation (Month and Year) | | GPA (Include if it is over a 3.0) | | Relevant Courses (Include courses which you believe are relevant to your degree area. For example, courses in your major.) | | Other information | | | | Please be sure to include any additional information, for example projects related to your...
Words: 496 - Pages: 2
...use at least four sources. * The academic credibility of a source could be considered. * Make note of page numbers, URLs, and quotable passages for citation. 4. Read Your Sources and Take Notes * Use index cards to relate ideas from different sources. * Keep source information on the other side of the cards. * Use quotation marks for “copy/paste” to avoid PLAGIARISM. * Organize your note cards by subtopic to make an outline. 5. Write a First Draft * Table of contents. * Introduction (let the reader know what the topic is, inform the reader about your point of view, arouse the reader's curiosity to read more). * Body (Limit each paragraph to one main idea, prove your points continually by using specific examples and quotations, Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow of ideas from paragraph to the other). * Conclusion (Summarize your points, restate the main idea of the paper). * Bibliography (List of references used). 6. Revise the First Draft * View your work objectively and see any gaps or problems. * Read your paper out loud. * Proofread: Have somebody...
Words: 697 - Pages: 3
...Madison Blau Ms. Lim Writing 1 1/23/13 Reading Response 2: Writing Process 1. According to Woolf, free writing is good practice. She uses an athletic metaphor to explain how free writing acts as a sort of warm up. It prepares writers to execute their formal writings more easily. We are our own biggest critics, so by examining our own free writings, we can challenge and push ourselves to improve. Simply put, practice makes perfect. Also, free writing enables authors to express their feelings and thoughts in their purest forms. It does not have a structured organization, and it may not make much sense, but it is special because it is organic. Contemplating my own free writing practices, I picture an empty box waiting to be filled with all of my various, random, sometimes confusing ideas of anything that happens to cross through my mind at any given moment. Individually these ideas don’t have much meaning, but once they are all flowing freely, mixing together and my imaginary empty box, they define who I am. I would like my free writing practices to be like an ocean, vast and exciting, eliciting new ideas every time the waves crash against the shore and recede back again. 2. I chose Hall and Birkerts “Selecting Detail” method because I thought it would really help me get in touch with my emotions at the time of my literacy moment. Sometimes I’m so anxious to blurt out the story and its significance that I forget to dedicate the time to the smaller details that ultimately...
Words: 592 - Pages: 3
...Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts”, Stephen King’s On Writing, and my practice with rhetorical analysis. Each of these assignments have significantly impacted me and caused me to view my own writing differently. They have helped me grow as a writer as well as come closer to finding my own writer’s “voice”. I have really enjoyed and learned from the chapters that I have read so far in I Hate Writing. My favorite chapter is chapter seven because Bohannon discusses many different ways to introduce a paper. I found her methods very helpful because I have a tendency to struggle when writing my introductions; I simply have no idea where to begin. Bohannon suggestions in chapter seven include telling a story, using a quotation, defining an unfamiliar term, directly stating an argument, writing in the reader, and being creative. After trying each of the options presented by Bohannon in this particular chapter, I found that using a quotation is my favorite technique. I feel it is the easiest way to start a paper off since I have something to base my paper off of. I also feel it is a good way to draw the reader in since a quote is simple, yet sets the theme and mood of a paper. I also appreciated the advice Bohannon gave in chapter six. She talks about how to set up and organize a paper, as well as how to transition from different ideas. I particularly like one of her quotes in which she compares writing to dominoes. She states "If you line up a group of dominoes and tip over the first in line...
Words: 1386 - Pages: 6
...English class by far was my least liked class in all my middle school and high school education and never would I have thought that what I once disliked as a student would be of such importance to my future career. Being able to write, read, and understand, simply becomes the basics to learning and getting through college, and I, myself am still acquiring the necessary skills to become a better writer. In fact, one of the goals I plan to accomplish through my college education is to become a better writer. I can read and understand what I am reading pretty good but when it comes to writing I feel like I still lack some skills and expertise, and certainly being able to write will be of great value to my future career. Writing allows us to communicate our ideas, our beliefs, our understanding of a subject, and our dreams. Through this process one can inform, persuade, express, entertain, and explain, and this is why I believe writing is so important, especially when you have dedicated yourself to a life-long learning experience. School and from my experiences in writing I can say I’ve had but minimal training, just the basics. Never have I ever written something for fun or for my own good, every time I write it’s for a grade, not for my own pleasure nor for a greater purpose than just a grade, and surely this has to change. Ever sense I have become extremely interested in learning more about the world around me, understanding what is happening and why its happening, has made me...
Words: 1122 - Pages: 5
...Gosh This Essay Smells Bad In the article “Shitty First Drafts”, by Anne Lamott, she argues that writing is not such an easy task, especially for professional writers in the writing process. She claims that writing takes time and everyone must start from somewhere to become a better writer. Writing can be difficult for experienced and inexperienced writers. I agree with Lamot that writing in a process is not easy because writing can be frustrating, finding motivation to write and catching the reader's attention. Now don't get me wrong writing sounds easy but it's much more complicated than it sounds. Writing actually frustrates me. Writing a first draft or prewrite can lead to frustration just sitting there with a blank page in front of you. It takes me minutes or even hours just thinking about how to write a paper. This completely drive me nuts. Even Authors who first started writing novels struggled and got so frustrated at times to write the perfect book in there eyes. It made them want to give up at times. But I believe it's something a experienced or inexperienced writer could overcome and get through to write a good paper. One thing that certainly got professional writers to write great novels or papers was motivation. Motivation is a major key to writing a great paper. One of people's biggest mistakes when writing is assuming they will receive a bad grade or bad review for their work. When they assume this it usually causes them to stress out when writing...
Words: 599 - Pages: 3
...If I am writing a paper, work e-mail, or discussion post for an online course I tend to use the same writing process. I would say it is a mix of both Anne Lamott’s described process in “Shitty First Drafts” and the 3x3 writing process in Guffey. My writing is usually done in 3 stages but sometimes only 2, when the prewriting and drafting stage blend together or if I am preparing something like and e-mail that does not need as much prewriting as a paper or discussion post might need. The first thing I do when preparing to write it get out a piece of paper and take notes. I scribble down the questions that needed answered or my thoughts on the topic of the e-mail I am preparing. Once I have those thoughts on paper I try and began to organize...
Words: 460 - Pages: 2