Journal 7-Shapiro

Writing is a compilation of words, utterances, phrases, and sentences that compile into paragraphs and pages that ultimately elicit a reaction, whatever that reaction may be. The edits that coincide the writings are what makes writing into a composition. We write to communicate, but the composition is what gives something purpose.

For me, I think some of the most poignant key terms for defining writing, editing, and composing, are: rhetoric, exigence, and art. I had never learned about exigence before this semester and it makes a lot of the past rhetorical pieces I’ve read make more sense. It provides a key term for a strategy I’ve been seeing for so long.

After completing Project 2, which for me was an infographic on the directions of a very popular drinking game, I realized my definitions for writing, editing, and composing had altered a little, and my understanding of their relationship had changed significantly. The infographic I created was composed using an online forum called Canva which allows one to create digital media using free and purchasable editing software. My composition had very little writing with the intention of adhering to the inebriated minds of those playing the game. However, the editing process of Project 2 was just as intense, if not more so, of some of my longest papers. I had to make sure everything lined up, that the color theme all matched, that everything was readable and fit into the graphic properly, and edited for what seemed longer than it would take me to edit a paper. I wasn’t just editing the words, either; that was the least time-consuming part. It was all of the digital editing and composing that took the most time.

Up until this class, I didn’t think of writing and composing

outside of papers and responses, or maybe an artistic piece. However, now I find myself contemplating my compositions and expositions in every single thing I do. I’m not sure if my writing, editing, and composing outside of this course has reshaped my definitions, but it has definitely made me more aware of the artistic aspects of everything in my life.

One specific change I’ve made in my definitions is that composing can exist with or without writing. It can be in digital forms, artistic forms, physical forms, and written forms, but no matter the situation the compositions are pieces of rhetoric that could elicit a response.