“Why Writing” analyzes the work of two authors that focus on writing styles and the self journey of unexpected challenges in writing. These articles points out different styles and contexts within writing. Elizabeth Wardle’s “You Can Learn to Write in General” discusses writing as a learnable skill and highlights the importance of practice, genre awareness, and contextual learning in effective writing. Contextual learning, as Wardle explains, is the process of understanding and adapting to the specific context in which the writing is being done. This could be the audience, the purpose of the writing, or the cultural and social norms that influence the writing. Wardle explains that it is a myth and a dangerous idea that needs to be taken away because it hurts and frustrates students, teachers, and employees. Wardle has been influential in viewing how social contexts shape writing practices. Wardle mentioned, “Different teachers already expect different types of forms when it comes to writing from students.” I love to write but always had trouble writing in the ways they wanted or expected me to.
In high school, it took much work for me to keep up with the different writing prompts. One thing Wardle spoke about that stood out to me is when she mentioned, “They don’t have to help students to learn to write in their classrooms or workplaces; they can just criticize English teachers for students not meeting their expectations.” That stood out because when I entered high school, I was told I should know how to write how they wanted me to. Also, I wasn’t trained in writing reports when I received my current job. It was expected of me to know already how. There is always more than a writer can speak on or different things a writer can have more to learn.
Catherine Savini’s “Looking for Trouble” touches on identity and resilience through a journey of self-discovery and unexpected challenges. This is an excellent reading because, as a returning college student currently learning how to perfect her writing skills, this teaches me to identify my problems within my writing prompt. Savini says, “informing students with common problems learning while beginning to write.” I feel she successfully achieved her main points because, as a learner, her article has helped me realize multiple aspects that have challenged my writing. I believe I can become a more coherent writer by practicing and providing these four-step processes in my writing.
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