Journal #1

The concept of writing is difficult to define in a simple sentence or two. Writing is a complex idea with an infinite number of purposes and functions, and can take a number of different forms. Its most basic, dictionary definition is “the activity or skill of making coherent words on paper and composing text.” A more thorough definition of writing would include this idea, but would only be a start.

In order to grasp the concept of writing, it is important to address some of the different functions it may serve. Writing can act as an outlet for expressing a person’s thoughts, ideas, opinions, emotions, etc. in a physical and coherent form. It can be used to entertain, to move emotionally, to educate, to criticize, to persuade, or a seemingly endless amount of other purposes. It can be as long as a 10,000 page story to a simple 140 character tweet. Writing isn’t just the action of putting words on a paper, it is a unique form of communication that is only found within the human race. It is a way to communicate different ideas and thoughts, and has the ability to be read by a wide audience. Writing can be interpreted in ways the spoken word cannot, and often times people plan out what they will say in a speech, or say in an interview through writing. There are many other different aspects of writing that need to be considered when trying to understand the term.

Key Terms:

·       Purpose

·       Audience

·       Communication

·       Medium

·       Creativity

Purpose: The author’s purpose for writing a specific text is important to consider because it is the reason the text exists. Writing starts with an idea or an urge to express a person’s thoughts, feelings, etc. and identifying this is important to writing.

Audience: Every text has an audience, whether it be the author himself/herself, or a wider audience. The audience a specific text is trying to reach is important to consider because it can affect how a person writes.

Communication: At its core, writing is a form of communication. It is a way to share and express different ideas with others.

Medium: In the context of this class, medium is a very important aspect of writing. There are a number of different mediums an author can choose to share a text (whether it be physical or digital) and the method of delivery can affect how an audience receives a text.

Creativity: Writing is the process of creating something out of nothing. The ability to create is fundamental to writing.