The Revision Process and Writing Reflectively “Throws Like the Girl She Is” and “Punk’s Not Dead”

Reading Like a Writer: “Throws Like the Girl She Is” p. 264 How has the particular subculture (in this case, a softball league) had an influence on this author’s identity? – Be as specific as possible. – Are you as specific as this author is in your essay? Which examples and stories that the author tells are particularly effective? – Have you picked the most relevant, effective stories and examples to support your thesis in your essay?

“Throws Like the Girl She Is” p. 264 “Like a Girl” Ad Mythbusters: Mythbusters: In addition to the idea of “throws like a girl” being an insult or not, what other important ideas does this essay discuss? Do you think that sports can represent more than just an activity for some people, but can also represent a culture, a family, a place to belong? Examples?

Thinking Like a Writer: “Punk’s Not Dead” p. 554 What are some of stereotypes the author and his friends faced because they were part of the punk subculture? You might find it useful to compare the way this author writes about his experience with other authors we have read. What do you think of how the author depicts the punk subculture as a place for community? Notice the level of specificity the author uses. He quotes specific lyrics from songs, tells several stories about specific defining moments in his involvement in the punk subculture, etc. Choose one of these specific passages and discuss how it contributes to the essay as a whole.

The Revision Process “Revision” means “to see again,” hopefully with a new perspective provided by your peers. Don’t be afraid to make major changes. Think of the pieces of your essay as building blocks. You can move them around, try them in different orders until you find the one that works. Don’t be afraid to cut. Sometimes, we have to write for a while to find the good stuff, but that means that we need to get rid of the not-so-good stuff that came first. Don’t be afraid to add new material to your essay. If your group pointed out an area that lacked detail, you might find yourself writing new sentences, and perhaps even new paragraphs.

Revision Time There is no one-size-fits-all advice about your papers, but here are some suggestions: Work on the issues identified by your peers. Incorporate new ideas that came up during peer review. Many drafts I looked at had uncited sources or overuse of cited sources. Work on the balance of your own words and your sources. Other drafts I saw did not have enough sources. Remember, you must have THREE sources in the body of your paper, either direct quotes or paraphrases. Do more research. Work on deepening your understanding of your topic. Do more reflection. How is your experience as a member of your culture or subculture unique to you?

Writing Reflectively When we reflect, we don't simply tell what happened. We also think about… – Why it happened – What patterns/attitudes influenced events – How we felt about what happened – How what happened continued to affect us – How what happened fits into the "big picture" of human experience – And, of course, what we learned/realized

Tips for writing reflectively: Be honest. Don't worry about "revealing too much." This class is a safe place to reflect and express yourself. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Good writing tends to make lots of people (including the author) uncomfortable. Work through your discomfort and see what you end up with.

Writing Reflectively in Essay 1 Choose one or two of the personal events, examples, or circumstances you're going to talk about in your essay.

Writing Reflectively in Your Culture and Identity Essay Write for the time I give you about how you feel about these events, examples, or circumstances. Has your attitude changed over time? I'm not going to collect these, so don't censor yourself. Please take this seriously, though. You may find out that you have something you can go through and edit later. Write through your discomfort.