Entry 2: Strong 'START' win the race

 

    The start of a running race is among the most important moments for runners. Runners consider how to take off and begin their initial step as quickly as possible; with this in mind, runners will have a better chance of defeating their opponents if they start sprinting ahead of the others. I would compare writing in college, particularly at DePauw, to running. In comparison to high school, professors will demand greater professionalism in each work from students in a shorter amount of time, which is why the beginning is one of the most challenging parts, similar to running. Unfortunately, starting point can be hard since if it is too weak, it can affect the entire process. As a college student writer, I need to discover a technique to efficiently have my starting point and ideas in as little time as possible. This is part of what I am trying to accomplish in improving my writing skills.

    I was introduced to a very insightful article during my English Academic Seminar class. In a reading “So You’re Got a Writing Assignment. Now What?” by Corrine E. Hinton, the title perfectly sums up my feelings each time I receive a writing assignment. Throughout the reading, they provided 10 strategies for approaching the writing assignment; nevertheless, I have concluded that three of the tips mentioned will be helpful and insightful in boosting my writing, particularly my starting point.

1. “Don’t panic and Don’t procrastinate.” : I would advise to keep calm and don’t panic. Panicking about your assignment will not help you progress in your writing. Procrastination will also hinder your progress on your assignment. Making a plan in advance and working toward your objectives can aid in your writing progress and unquestionably enhance its quality.

2. “Read the Assignment. Read It Again. Refer to It Often.” : I believe that reading the assignment several times can help you comprehend the subject and serve as a reminder that you are on the right track. Doing this will actually help you stay on your lane as much as possible because many people's writing problems, including me, often related to their tendency to go off topic.

3. “Know Your Purpose and Your Audience.” : Knowing your essay's aim is critical and crucial since without it, it would be impossible to compose an effective paper. This calls for a thesis statement that expresses your essay's objective clearly. Knowing your audience can also enable you to better structure your essay by establishing a tone or a theme and, possibly, by omitting superfluous information.

These are only some of the few pieces of advice I genuinely like from the reading. I already use some of the advice in my writing, but I'm also planning to adapt it for future tasks. I firmly believe that if I could fully master these skills, it would be extremely beneficial for me in all future writing assignments. Because I keep freaking out as I write my topic, I am aware that I occasionally run out of time to write. The best advice I could give myself is to not freak out when I get a writing assignment.

Slowly but surely win the race!!!

Link to the article “So You’re Got a Writing Assignment. Now What?” by Corrine E. Hinton