Hey everybody! Last class we mostly worked on peer editing each other’s papers, so I worry this blog post might not be very informative or interesting, but I figure an appropriate post could be about some motivation to peer edit as well as some suggestions (via my own personal experience) to make writing, and re-writing, more fun.

One of the main problems I sometimes I have with my writing is that I think it’s great when it’s not, or the whole process of writing an essay has been so arduous that the idea of going back and rereading it just seems like torture. I’m actually very appreciative that we’ve been able to see our writing through each other’s eyes. Plus, the benefits of being able to see other’s writing has been inspirational. I love the group collaboration that we’ve been able to do on this writing.

I think the key thing to worry about with writing that can sometimes be lost in a classroom setting is that it shouldn’t just be, like, a formulaic list of grammatically correct observations. The essays that I think are the best, that will have the most impact and can communicate ideas best (either to an audience or even a professor that’s had to grade dozens of the same essays) are the ones that communicate some sort of genuine human element. I think what’s important to craft good essays is to try and put as much of your own voice into it.

Good luck on your essays everyone!

What struck me when reading Frederick Douglass’ narrative were the differences that could be contrasted between his work and life and that as described in Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. In class, Avery commented on one of the most noticeable differences he saw between the two works lay in the authors purpose for writing them. Between both pieces, similarities in themes can be found, but the social classes of the two men largely influenced their lives and writings and purpose. Benjamin Franklin wrote to impart wisdom, to share what he deemed a humble upbringing as the new American way with prosperity being an achievable prospect for anyone who worked hard enough. Franklin’s writing is filled with what he fancies as worthwhile tidbits of advice to the common man, much in style to his writing of Poor Richard’s Almanac. Franklin is accustomed by the time his autobiography is published to being generally well known and revered, so he has lost much of his humility, even in his writing. In contrast, Douglass is not so famous when he publishes his narrative, and even though he is known among the abolitionist community, he is trying to prove himself. The whole reason for his writing is the prove his experience, versus the purpose of boasting his experience as Franklin did. Douglass’ advice comes not as add-ons or proverbs, but are embedded directly in his descriptions of his life, not with the ulterior motive of influence. Lily suggested in class, that some of Douglass’ narrative, in particular descriptions of his wife and marriage are passages that could potentially be taken out of context today and quoted without reference to slavery. She wondered if this is something that Douglass would approve of, parts of his work not being used for their intended overall purpose. Franklin’s work begs to be dissected and uses in pieces of information, but Douglass’ is a work in it’s entirety, written to demonstrate experience, legitimacy, and atrocity.