...Rhetorical Précis In Anne Lamott’s selection from “Bird by Bird” (1994), she claims that it is necessary to write “Shitty First Drafts” (1994) in order to complete “good second drafts and terrific third drafts”. Lamott uses examples of her own strategy, as well as the methods of other writers, to convince the reader that a good piece of work doesn’t usually come easily on the first attempt. In order to achieve the finely checked “dental draft”, writers should get ideas out on paper that can be checked a few times to eliminate the unnecessary elements they randomly started with. This article applies to just about anyone attempting to produce a good piece of written work. I find this article very persuasive because I can relate to the examples...
Words: 306 - 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
...Anne Lamott's op-ed inspires introspection and deep reflection on the brevity of life and the significance of interpersonal relationships. Through her skillful use of descriptive language, she paints a picture of tall and straight, exquisitely spaced eucalyptuses, effectively drawing the reader into a contemplative state. Furthermore, her exploration of acknowledging the lack of control we have over our paths and interactions with others demonstrates her profound understanding of the human experience and the complexity of relationships (Gions, Mar. 2024). The. The central emphasis of the op-ed on the undervalued importance of non-romantic intimate connections corresponds with Gions suggestion for broader recognition and legal validation of...
Words: 783 - Pages: 4
...English 1101 9 October 2013 Midterm Reflection I have done a variety of different assignments throughout my English 1101 class this semester. The assignments that have had the most influence on me include select chapters from J.M. Bohannon’s I Hate Writing, Anne 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...
Words: 1386 - Pages: 6
...It has been over a decade since I have completed high school, I have noticed the delay in my education throughout this class. When I began school in January I was apprehensive with the course material, as well as the work that was required. The fact that I had to get my point across in writing seemed inconceivable, how could I “show rather than tell”? Be that as it may, I began my writing journey. There were times I would just sit and cry because I had no clue what I was doing, however, I still put one word in front of the other. In module two I found my saving grace, it was a handout by Anne Lamott called “Shitty First Drafts”. I would continually go back to Mrs. Lamott’s essay for inspiration, especially during the times I was procrastinating....
Words: 1127 - Pages: 5
...Resources for Teaching Prepared by Lynette Ledoux Copyright © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin’s All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. 2 1 f e 0 9 d c 8 7 b a For information, write: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116 (617-399-4000) ISBN-10: 0–312–44705–1 ISBN-13: 978–0–312–44705–2 Instructors who have adopted Rereading America, Seventh Edition, as a textbook for a course are authorized to duplicate portions of this manual for their students. Preface This isn’t really a teacher’s manual, not, at least, in the sense of a catechism of questions and correct answers and interpretations. Because the questions provided after each selection in Rereading America are meant to stimulate dialogue and debate — to generate rather than terminate discourse — they rarely lend themselves to a single appropriate response. So, while we’ll try to clarify what we had in mind when framing a few of the knottier questions, we won’t be offering you a list of “right” answers. Instead, regard this manual as your personal support group. Since the publication of the first edition, we’ve had the chance to learn from the experiences of hundreds of instructors nationwide, and we’d like to use this manual as a forum where we can share some of their concerns, suggestions, experiments, and hints. We’ll begin with a roundtable on issues you’ll probably want to address before you meet your class. In the first section of this manual, we’ll discuss approaches to...
Words: 57178 - Pages: 229
