Blog 3

 Hi Everyone,   


    Taking it back a week to Hodges’ essay about Invention within the entire writing process. I had no idea there was so much invention involved past the beginning invention. I wonder if this is because I did not notice that I always use invention the entire time, or I really did not use invention the entire time. I will pay more attention this week, while I kill myself writing 4 papers. I will definitely intentionally use invention ideas to “Discover my tactic,” but I will challenge myself to actively use invention tactics during the revision as well; revision I thought was synonymous with proofread, but now see that it’s not. (Hodges 64) I also wanted to try the tactic of talking it out, but I find it difficult as I am not really surrounded by people I can talk it out with. I had already wanted to try it because in one of the breakout groups in class, Hannah said that she does this before writing a paper and I thought it a good idea but seeing it in this essay solidified the desire. The problem is my friends would probably stare at me blankly, my mom would always tell me it’s good because she is just proud of everything I do, and my boyfriend is quite the opposite, as he always finds something wrong with every single idea I propose to him for any assignment I have for school (its either too controversial or too boring). Needless to say, I don’t go to those sources for help developing an idea anymore. The “Just Write” idea also seems new to me because I have never just written anything if it’s not going to be in my paper. I have never been a journal/diary person, so its new to me. I usually write my outline and collect the quotes I will use and the reasons why and then write. A lot of these invention tactics, such as the web, were just things we do in full class brainstorms, not individual. This is honestly all pretty new to me as I took that mechanical approach Hodges says makes us lose interest in writing.

            “Invention Never Stops,” is the first quote that opens up the essay and is mentioned again on page; I did not realize that in writing, invention literally never stops. (Brown 63) I have erased and started whole new papers, but never thought of it as invention, but rather frustration at not getting it right the first time. I guess that was me unconsciously inventing! This made me feel less bad and will help me help my future students feel less bad. There’s so much you can do by adding background information, asking questions, solving problems. This detail can help me with the body of my essay. I was also confused at the quote “the body of your essay will develop your writing plan,” because I thought it was the other way around. (Hodges 68) But I digress.

Finally, inventing a conclusion. I loved this section because I hate conclusions. I was always told to restate my introduction, but that gets annoying after a while. Then in college, I was told to use my conclusion for a call for action, but I feel like some things don’t require call for actions, so that grew a little tiresome too. I was glad to hear the options of instigating further involvement/thinking from the reader, predictions and questions, as those ideas are pretty cool! Anyway, I ramble to say I did not know invention tactics took place during the entire process rather than the beginning.

  





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