Journal 7 - Louisa Hallett

My definition for “writing” would be the process of expressing thoughts and ideas through written text. My definition for “editing” would be to revisit the written thoughts and ideas expressed at an earlier date and changing the text whether it’s through grammar or the text in its minimum or its entirety. My definition of “composing” would be compiling thoughts and ideas and processing them onto one form of ultimate text. I believe a few key terms that are necessary when defining writing would be genre and audience. A key term that are necessary when defining editing would be remediation. A few key terms that are necessary when defining composing would be design, audience, exigence, circulation, and material. I believe this key terms are general terms that are thought of while writing, editing, and composing. My experience with project two allowed me to pinpoint my audience, my genre, and my means of material. The more detailed instructions pushed me into a composing process where I believe I asked myself all those key terms while writing, editing, and composing my project. Asking myself these questions, allowed me to accurately and creatively create my mosaic piece for project two and to help redefine my previous definitions of writing, editing, and composing. Pertaining to my experiences of writing, editing, and composing outside of this course – my greatest experience was probably my internship with the Department of Environmental Protection’s Press Office. During that time I had to compose, write, and edit press releases and continuously come up with effective and efficient means of communication for a department that does not have the greatest reputation. My theory of composing, before this course, was the creation of a text, which I still believe that that is an accurate general definition. However, I believe this course provided me with a more in depth definition of what is needed to successfully compose a written work and/or a project (which would be the key terms explained above). This change was brought through the various projects and assignments assigned to me during this course.

journal 7

Journal 7

Word count- 405

I would currently define writing as the process of recording ones thoughts, ideas or stories whether it be digitally or in print. I personally define composing as the overall creation or process of a constructing a text or product of some sort (whatever that may be). Editing involves the conscious effort of reviewing ones work and correcting mistakes to better their final product. On my next map, I will include the words audience, environment, purpose, design and content, and possibly add the word circulation. That being said, I think most or all of these terms apply and are vital to editing, writing, and composing. I believe this about audience because that is overall who you want the message conveyed or distributed to, or received by. Environment because that heavily affects the outcome of your work final work or even during the editing or construction process, either negatively or positively depending on what’s comfortable to you. Purpose because what is the overall reason for you work? Why are you even creating or editing it…what is your end goal? Design because how are you going to showcase your work? If it isn’t pleasing to the eye is it automatically not desirable? If it is hard to read or disorganized is the overall message going to be lost in translation? Content because that is the center or core of your work. What are you trying to show your audience? If there are mistakes (during your editing process) are you going to lose your credibility? And lastly, (possibly) circulation instead because that heavily affects WHO sees your work depending on the method in which it was distributed. Project 2 completely shaped the way I looked at these terms because it required so much creativity. I struggled with creatively and effectively composing this project (the design aspect) while addressing a specific audience and honestly, the overall purpose. This course has helped me develop a firm understanding of the term composing, my previous classes, mostly English, acknowledged the terms writing and editing but never really expanded on the term composing to the degree that this course has. Since week two of this course, my idea of how broad composing is has adjusted. I initially had a limited view of this term but since then I have recognized that this term can be applied to mostly all work or texts that we create, in some way.

Journal 7 - Desiree DeMarco

Over the course of this semester, my views on “writing,” “editing,” and “composing” have altered. I used to think “writing” just meant when you sit down and hand-write or type words that form coherent sentences and form an overall bigger meaning. Now, I would say while writing does consist of that, it also can be defined as doodling, jotting down notes, making charts, lists, and maps. “Editing,” to me now consists of drafting, proofreading, sharing with others, giving and receiving feedback, and re-writing or starting over entirely. “Composing,” on the other hand deals with the process of creating a work of art. It’s outlining, environment selecting and structuring practices such as going on a run or listening to music, tossing ideas around with peers, and more.

Necessary key terms to use when defining these are audience, purpose, multimodal, inspired, remix, and creativity. Audience and purpose are directly related because, for many, the purpose is to make the audience feel a certain way or perform a specific action.

My experience with project two helped me realize that everything really is a remix. We all build off of other things- whether or not it is intentional. Other artist’s work influences our own in ways that can bring about something totally original and inspired, so although you should be careful about how you base your own projects off other’s, it is sometimes a necessary step when composing.

Outside of this course, I have had three internships related to “writing.” In high school, I wrote for a local newspaper, last summer, I was an editorial intern for an event company, and currently, I contribute articles to a satirical online news source for FSU. The first position I had (in high school) was definitely more traditional. I wrote columns about events at my school monthly and sent them to the editor for review. That taught me to write professionally. Working for the event company last summer taught me how to incorporate digital media with my writing since all my work was online on their blog. I became familiar with SEO and WordPress. My work with The Black Sheep has taught me how to relate with a specific but broad audience and get my work shared through social media. All three of these jobs helped shaped the definition I have now regarding the writing, editing, and composing processes.

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.