Jordan Goodspeed

Soon-to-be Dr. Workman

ENC1145
19 April 2015
Assignment #4: Theory of Writing Reflection
In the beginning of this class when asked about our theory of writing, I had no idea
what that even was let alone how to define it. Our first journal entry was to define the term
writing. I stated that Writing is such a broad term it is almost indescribable. Defining the term
writing is difficult to do. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of writing is the way
that you use written words to express your ideas or opinions. But what if you are writing a
factual essay with none of your ideas or opinions whatsoever. This means that definition is not
completely accurate. My definition of writing is putting words out in the world for some
purpose. This is still a part of my definition of writing but my definition has been heavily
influenced and expanded over the course of this class. In this same journal, we were also asked
to think of five words that define good writing. The five words I chose for good
writing was it had to be interpretive, confusing, clear, descriptive, and
revealing and I also used those words in my first key term
map (figure 1). Looking back now, my definition was a very

vanilla

and straight forward interpretation of my theory of writing now. I

complexities of the terms that we have discussed throughout
the class.

didnt understand the

Figure 1: First Key Term Map

As I was revising my theory of writing in the middle of the course, I came up with a lot more
descriptions including the texture of writing and how
powerful the writing is (figure 2). I still didnt fully
understand how the key terms we used in the class fit into
my theory of writing, but with my current theory, they
play a much bigger role.
The terms of writing in this class have

Figure 2: Second Key Term Map

tremendously helped in my understanding of writing. As I said, I had a very simple definition of

writing. I didnt even think about applying genre, audience, purpose, etc. to my definition
because I didnt think that had to do much with writing as a whole. I have studied genre,
audience, purpose, and reflection in the past so I thought I knew everything there was to know
about the terms but I was wrong.
Looking back, what helped me the most to understand more about writing were the
readings accompanied with our journals and class discussions. The readings by authors like
Yancy and Dirk taught me extensively about each term and helped me understand different
aspects of each term. Also, the class discussions helped me dissect the more difficult readings
that I didnt entirely understand. The Bitzer piece on rhetorical situation was the most confusing
thing I have ever read in my life, so the class discussions on this specific journal really helped
me understand what he had written. They also gave me the chance to hear other students takes
on the readings and a chance to discuss back and forth the terms meanings.
My theory of writing now incorporates the key terms we have discussed in this class.
Without genre, purpose, audience, rhetorical situation, and reflection, anything written would
literally be nothing because what is a piece of writing without a purpose or audience etc. You

need each of these components to have a successful piece of writing. You need a genre to convey
your writing, a purpose for writing what was written, and audience that reads your writing, a
rhetorical situation to bring up the writing, and reflection to look back and see if the purpose of
your writing was fulfilled.
In our second journal entry, we had to read both Dirks piece and Anzalduas piece on
genre and audience. In my journal, I wrote Dirk defines genre as an already established form
that is followed. Dirk says that you just have to fill in the blanks. My view on genre is that there
has already been an established form of every genre. A person just has to put their own little
twist on it to make it something new which is what Anzalduas view on genre is. She put together
different languages like Standard English and Standard Spanish and made her own unique
dialect. In my theory of writing, the genre of each piece is unique to each person. There might be
a template each person uses such as genres of horror or comedy, but every piece is inherently
different.
In the same journal, Dirk defines audience as the people who read what you have written.
This is the basic definition that I have grown up knowing. Anzaldua defines audience as the
people who speak different languages like English, Spanish, Chicano Texas Spanish, etc. In my
theory of writing, you have to take into account your audience just like Anzaldua does with the
different languages she speaks. She doesnt speak Spanish to English speaking people because
they wouldnt understand. It is the same with writing. You dont write about physics and give it
to psychology majors. They wouldnt understand the writing and therefore wouldnt get anything
out of it.
I never thought about how each term could be related and influenced by another term
until I read this these two writings. In this journal I wrote, Genre and audience are basically

dependent on each other. Without an audience to read authors writings, there would be no
purpose for writing certain pieces at all. The genre is dependent on the audience in that the
audience chooses what classifies each genre. What the audience reacts to sets the parameters for
genres. My theory of writing is based on relating all these terms to each other and ultimately to
writing as a whole.
Another term, rhetorical situation, was something I had never heard of before. And in our
third journal entry we had to read Blitzers piece on rhetorical situation which was about the
most confusing thing I have ever had to read in my life. But after reading it about three times, I
defined it as a piece of writing that comes out of a tragic or historical event that needs a specific
response in order to inform or change the response of the situation. Rhetorical situation is very
important and provides an appropriate context for the piece of writing. I then tied Anzalduas
piece with rhetorical situation and explained that the rhetorical situation in Anzalduas writing is
the way she appeals to people who also have the same struggle she does. She tries to illustrate
her struggle and empathize with other people who have similar struggles. My theory of writing
is that rhetorical situation is a necessary aspect. If there is no context and no importance to the
piece of writing, it is pointless.
Reflection is my favorite term to think about. Reflection is the ability to look back on
anything and process it with a different mind-set. You can see it essentially through different eyes
and improve it or elaborate. You can even disagree with what you have previously said. In my
journal #4, I said that Reflection helps us understand rhetorical situation by looking back on the
piece of pinpointing the reason the piece was written in response to the event. Reflection helps us
understand genre by going back and reflecting on what genre the piece would fall in. Reflection
also helps us understand audience because you can go back and reflect on who you wrote the

piece for. I didnt understand over the course why we had to write so much about different
aspects of writing but with this paper now I understand. Just going through my old journals,
reflecting on what I thought my theory of writing was to now, it is very exciting to see the ways
that I have grown. In my theory of writing, reflection is essential to see if the piece is still
relevant, accurate, emotional, etc. You need reflection in writing or else the writing would just
exist with no purpose.
My final key term map definitely reflects my theory of
writing a lot better than the first two mentioned previously. This
map now includes all the key terms I have discussed. It also
includes some regular words like passionate and powerful which
were words that I used in my first two maps to describe writing.
Passion and power is very important to me in writing. I do not

Figure 3: Final Key Term Map

want to read any piece that lacks passion or power because then it would bore me to death.
Nobody wants to read a boring piece of writing so for my theory of writing, the writer has to be
invested in what they are writing. If they are invested, it shows through and makes the reader
more inspired.
My theory of writing could be applied to any piece I write whether it be in a business
class or geography class. For example, when creating a PowerPoint for business, the genre I
chose to use is the screen. Also, the audience needs to be considered in order for the PowerPoint
to be successful. I cant write about business and then give my PowerPoint to oceanography
majors. Without the right audience there would be no purpose for creating the presentation.
Rhetorical situation also needs to be considered. Is the PowerPoint an appropriate response to
what my audience needs to learn about business? After finishing the PowerPoint, I need to go

back and reflect. Reflecting is important for revising and changing certain aspects that do not
make sense. With every piece of writing ever done, all these key terms have to be considered.
Using each key term is essential to ensure that whatever I am writing is appropriate for whatever
subject I am using.