Ezra Mwesiga
ENG 100
Final Reflective Dialogue Q&A
Due: 5.09.14
Please copy and paste this Q&A format into a Word document. Once you have typed in your thoughtful and detailed answers, please transfer this dialogue onto your website under your Reflective Dialogue page. At any point during this dialogue, feel free to ask me questions as well. The Q&A is divided into nine sections:
Let the dialogue begin: This I Believe: Writing Process
Sabatino: Can you describe the scene(s) where you wrote the This I Believe (TIB) essay. Be descriptive. Is this sustainable?
Writer: When I was writing my This I believe essay I was in the library some of the time and another place I could focus was my basement, These places were quiet and I could concentrate on my work. I usually like listening to music it makes me thinks and gives me some inspiration. I thrive better when when I am writing if its comfortable therefore I can put my thoughts together in a more wholestic manner. These were great sustainable environments for me to focus and complete my work
Sabatino: You wrote a blog post about six strategies to become a better writer. Have you used those strategies when blogging and writing the TIB essay? Please discuss which of these strategies helped you the most when you wrote your TIB essay?
Writer: Out of the six strategies, I used free write. In free write I wrote down whatever came to my mind and at the end of all that mess I came up with a story that I felt I knew. Another strategy I used was revision of my work. When I was writing my TIB essay I made 3 drafts before getting to my good draft and even after last draft I am still working on a better way to revise it. I look forward on improving my TIB essay.
Sabatino: Describe your process for writing and revising the TIB essay (freewrite, list, found poem, etc.). What helped you the most?
Writer:The process for writing that helped the most was free write and making the list helped the most because they gave an introduction to write about something that I knew. They helped make a vision and focus on that one scene that I wrote about. The found poem helped realize that I needed more details in my story. I am still looking for more ways to improve my essay.
Sabatino: How has the blog impacted your writing process?
Writer: In my situation blogging has actually helped me write for myself and write about personal experiences. It has helped me express my feelings through writing. It made me become more thoughtful and put effort into my writing. Overall blogging has helped write for myself.
Sabatino: Please share your thoughts about the revision techniques we've used in this course (peer review, show and tell, five senses, found poem, etc.)
Writer: For me showing and telling did it for me. I was able to go back in my essay and I realized that I had more telling than showing. I changed it by having more description words and little bit of dialogue between the characters. The comments that were given about my work also helped improve my writing. I would like to improve on the whole content of the essay and we will see it the future.
Sabatino: What specific revisions have you made to your TIB essay?
Writer: At first my belief didn't match the story that I had then I changed it. I added more showing than telling and tried to use the 5 senses to get a better description for my scene. My first draft I wasn't focusing on one scene but made some revisions focusing on one scene. I tried adding more details to the story to try to engage the reader. Part of me still feels like it needs more details and for future revision i do just that.
Sabatino: What is your plan for future revisions to your TIB essay?
Writer: I would like to add more details to the story and dialogue to give life to the characters. I will add more description of the scene. I will try to implement the advice that said through the comment from the blog. I will go to the writing center to have it revised and edited.
Sabatino: We have used a farming metaphor to conceptualize a sustainable writing process. What metaphor would you use to illustrate your writing process thus far?
Writer:
This I Believe: Writing Product
Sabatino: What is your belief statement (word-for-word)?
Writer: My belief statement is Footsteps
Sabatino: Do you think your belief statement grabs the audience’s attention? Why?
Writer: Yes I think my belief statement grabs the audience's attention because if someone reads my belief they might think I am writing about following footsteps but realize its hearing footsteps. They might be curious and read more to see whose footsteps I was hearing and why. This might end up indentifying themselves with it and can relate.
Sabatino: What is your scene?
Writer: My scene is at the track meet where I had to run my first ever 400 meter dash. I chose this scene because I thought it really spoke to me on how I really felt that day at that event and all the emotional thoughts that were going on
Sabatino: How does your scene illustrate your belief?
Writer: My scene was at track so by having footsteps as my belief it tells you more about my belief. I believe in footsteps because when I heard those footsteps it made me push more. It made me work harder even if I came in second. I felt like I gave it everything I had left. Someone can who had this experience can easily relate to it.
Sabatino: What questions do you have for me about your TIB essay?
Writer:Should I add more details? Do I need more dialogue for my characters? Did I have enough description for the reader to picture the scene? When you read my essay do you feel like you are there in the scene? What tips do you have for me to improve my writing skills for the next writing assignment?
This I Wonder: Writing Process
Sabatino: Describe your process for writing and revising the This I Wonder (TIW) essay (freewrite, list, presentation, etc.). What helped you the most? What did you struggle with the most? What specific revisions have you made? Please include a discussion about assignment-related blog posts.
Writer: The process of show and tell helped the most because I could see that I needed more showing than telling. It gave me an insight on how the essay should be structured. When doing show and tell I could see I had wasn't staying with one scene. They helped make a vision and focus on that one scene that I wrote about. The blog Reflection on Presentation helped to see that when I read my essay out loud found a lot of mistakes. For the most part I had a general idea on what to write about but I didn't know how to express it. It was difficult for me to put my thoughts down on paper.
Sabatino: How has your process been similar to your This I Believe process? How has the process been different?
Writer: My writting process for my This I Wonder has been very simiiar to My this I believe like I still use free writes when I first began. It gave me a chance to test my writing before I started my essay. When using this type of writing I can generate ideas.
Sabatino: In what ways have our course readings impacted the way have written your TIW essay?
Writer: The course readings and the presentation reading helped realize how the structure of my work should be. Before I presented my this I wonder essay, I thought I had everything I needed but when I started reading it out loud I found a lot of mistakes. I was glad to hear the audience feed back on my work. I found that reading it out loud helps point out the mistake that I made. As I was reading it I saw that I had some punctuation errors that had to be corrected and many points were made on how I should revise it in the future.
Sabatino: What is your plan for future revisions to your TIW essay?
Writer:II really would want to focus on my I wonder moment and strengthen it. I would like to add more details to the story and dialogue to give life to the characters. I will add more description of the scene. I will go to the writing center to have it revised and edited. Doing this will help me create more of sustainable and clear essay.
This I Wonder: Writing Product
Sabatino: What is your understanding of showing and telling writing? How does your essay incorporate both?
Writer: Showing and telling helped with the structure of the essay. After doing the this blog It filled the gaps on how my essay should be structured. A good essay or story should inspire and engage the audience and that's exactly what showing should convey. When I was revising I found that I had more telling than showing. I changed it by adding more dialogue. Showing makes the story come to life.
Sabatino: Can you describe (or copy and paste) your TIW opening scene? Why did you choose to open your essay with this scene?
Writer: It was a Friday afternoon and I had just came from soccer practice. I went to the kitchen to get something to eat and my mom had just came from the local supermarket to get groceries. I went to my room to rest as I lay their trying to sleep, I heard in distance my mother call my name to help her with unpack groceries. I came running as I got close I saw this glow in her face it was surprising because my mother isn't usually this happy. I hadn't seen my mother this happy since her brother's graduation. I chose to open with this scene because it gave the reader on what kind of a day it was and the environment was when this story was taking place.
Sabatino: What is the major decision you had to make in your TIW essay?
Writer: The major decision I had to make was to move to America. This decision
Sabatino: Can you describe (or copy and paste) the scene where you put your decision into action?
Writer: After we talked about it I had made my choice that we should move to America and my mother was very happy she walked over to me hugged me.
Sabatino: Can you describe (or copy and paste) your "I wonder" moments in the essay? Which social systems influenced your decision?
Writer: I wonder if I hadn't listened to my mother about making the decision to move and what my life would be like back home. People around my age usually would have a wives and some of them have kids of their own. Most likely I would have ended up joining the military just like many of males in my family or have a small family business. Would I be alive now. I would probably be a farmer. I wouldn't had the same opportunities like the ones I have now. I thank my mother for convincing me that moving to America would be great.I am just glad that I had the opportunity to come to the United states and make something of myself. The main social system that influenced the decision was family. I didn't want to see my mother unhappy and so for the sake of the family I decided it was in our best interest to move to America.
This I Argue: Writing Process
Sabatino: Please discuss your writing process, including generative techniques, research, and revision.
Writer: For my writing process of this I argue essay what helped the most was the generative question. This blog gave me a topic on what my essay should be about. it molded my argument and my stand on the increase funding for the SNAP program. The research that I found helped to support my argument. the quotes from websites and the movie we watched A Place a the Table really helped drive my argument forward. This really strengthen the overall content of the essay.
This I Argue: Writing Product
Sabatino: Please discuss your writing product, including purpose, genre, and areas that need revision.
Writer:
Personal Website
Sabatino: Please discuss your experiences with creating and maintaining a website for this course?
Writer: I found it difficult in maintaining the website mainly trying to keep it up-to-date with everything going on in my life. I found it hard maintaining my website because I didn't know how to navigate the weebly itself. My color scheme is no that appealing to readers. The other half of the time I really enjoyed writing about my experiences and beliefs. I'd say the overall experience
Sabatino: Do you think your site is organized and easy to navigate?
Writer: Yes I do. I have all the titles of the blogs I need and they all link to the right pages. my blog's tags all bring you to the things on that topic. My website is organized and easy to navigate.
Sabatino: What type of identity have you constructed through your site? How have you revised your identity?
Writer: The blogs that I have done so far show that I enjoy working out, running track and spending time with family and friends. They show that I am not the most creative person because I don't have that many pictures up yet but I am planing on putting them up. I also plan on improving the quality of material I put on my website. I would like to make my website more friendly and people can relate to it on a more personal level.
Personal Blog
Sabatino: What are your thoughts about creating and maintaining a blog? Is your blog organized and easy to navigate?
Writer:I found it hard to keep my website up-to-date with everything going on in my life. I especially found it difficult maintaining my website because I didn't know how to navigate the weebly itself mainly on uploading pictures. The other half of the time I really enjoyed writing about my personal experiences and beliefs. In my opinion my website is easy to navigate but some of my blogs may not be updated as it should been. Its kind of difficult and fun at the same maintaining this website. Someone told me that my website is empty and that's because I don't have any good pictures up yet. I would like to improve on how it looks in the future.
Sabatino: What are your thoughts about blogging? Please consider the public, social network nature of a blog as well as your initial thoughts in the beginning of the semester as compared to now.
Writer: I really can't say I liked blogging. It's just not some thing I would do, I am a very introvert person. I like to keep to myself.n If was to choose blogging isn't i would do but since the second half of the semester i have come to like blogging. I like how all the comments on my blog are some ideas on how to improve my writing technique.
ENG 100
Final Reflective Dialogue Q&A
Due: 5.09.14
Please copy and paste this Q&A format into a Word document. Once you have typed in your thoughtful and detailed answers, please transfer this dialogue onto your website under your Reflective Dialogue page. At any point during this dialogue, feel free to ask me questions as well. The Q&A is divided into nine sections:
- This I Believe: Writing Process
- This I Believe: Writing Product
- This I Wonder: Writing Process
- This I Wonder: Writing Product
- This I Argue: Writing Process
- This I Argue: Writing Product
- Website
- Blog
- Questions for Final Conference
Let the dialogue begin: This I Believe: Writing Process
Sabatino: Can you describe the scene(s) where you wrote the This I Believe (TIB) essay. Be descriptive. Is this sustainable?
Writer: When I was writing my This I believe essay I was in the library some of the time and another place I could focus was my basement, These places were quiet and I could concentrate on my work. I usually like listening to music it makes me thinks and gives me some inspiration. I thrive better when when I am writing if its comfortable therefore I can put my thoughts together in a more wholestic manner. These were great sustainable environments for me to focus and complete my work
Sabatino: You wrote a blog post about six strategies to become a better writer. Have you used those strategies when blogging and writing the TIB essay? Please discuss which of these strategies helped you the most when you wrote your TIB essay?
Writer: Out of the six strategies, I used free write. In free write I wrote down whatever came to my mind and at the end of all that mess I came up with a story that I felt I knew. Another strategy I used was revision of my work. When I was writing my TIB essay I made 3 drafts before getting to my good draft and even after last draft I am still working on a better way to revise it. I look forward on improving my TIB essay.
Sabatino: Describe your process for writing and revising the TIB essay (freewrite, list, found poem, etc.). What helped you the most?
Writer:The process for writing that helped the most was free write and making the list helped the most because they gave an introduction to write about something that I knew. They helped make a vision and focus on that one scene that I wrote about. The found poem helped realize that I needed more details in my story. I am still looking for more ways to improve my essay.
Sabatino: How has the blog impacted your writing process?
Writer: In my situation blogging has actually helped me write for myself and write about personal experiences. It has helped me express my feelings through writing. It made me become more thoughtful and put effort into my writing. Overall blogging has helped write for myself.
Sabatino: Please share your thoughts about the revision techniques we've used in this course (peer review, show and tell, five senses, found poem, etc.)
Writer: For me showing and telling did it for me. I was able to go back in my essay and I realized that I had more telling than showing. I changed it by having more description words and little bit of dialogue between the characters. The comments that were given about my work also helped improve my writing. I would like to improve on the whole content of the essay and we will see it the future.
Sabatino: What specific revisions have you made to your TIB essay?
Writer: At first my belief didn't match the story that I had then I changed it. I added more showing than telling and tried to use the 5 senses to get a better description for my scene. My first draft I wasn't focusing on one scene but made some revisions focusing on one scene. I tried adding more details to the story to try to engage the reader. Part of me still feels like it needs more details and for future revision i do just that.
Sabatino: What is your plan for future revisions to your TIB essay?
Writer: I would like to add more details to the story and dialogue to give life to the characters. I will add more description of the scene. I will try to implement the advice that said through the comment from the blog. I will go to the writing center to have it revised and edited.
Sabatino: We have used a farming metaphor to conceptualize a sustainable writing process. What metaphor would you use to illustrate your writing process thus far?
Writer:
This I Believe: Writing Product
Sabatino: What is your belief statement (word-for-word)?
Writer: My belief statement is Footsteps
Sabatino: Do you think your belief statement grabs the audience’s attention? Why?
Writer: Yes I think my belief statement grabs the audience's attention because if someone reads my belief they might think I am writing about following footsteps but realize its hearing footsteps. They might be curious and read more to see whose footsteps I was hearing and why. This might end up indentifying themselves with it and can relate.
Sabatino: What is your scene?
Writer: My scene is at the track meet where I had to run my first ever 400 meter dash. I chose this scene because I thought it really spoke to me on how I really felt that day at that event and all the emotional thoughts that were going on
Sabatino: How does your scene illustrate your belief?
Writer: My scene was at track so by having footsteps as my belief it tells you more about my belief. I believe in footsteps because when I heard those footsteps it made me push more. It made me work harder even if I came in second. I felt like I gave it everything I had left. Someone can who had this experience can easily relate to it.
Sabatino: What questions do you have for me about your TIB essay?
Writer:Should I add more details? Do I need more dialogue for my characters? Did I have enough description for the reader to picture the scene? When you read my essay do you feel like you are there in the scene? What tips do you have for me to improve my writing skills for the next writing assignment?
This I Wonder: Writing Process
Sabatino: Describe your process for writing and revising the This I Wonder (TIW) essay (freewrite, list, presentation, etc.). What helped you the most? What did you struggle with the most? What specific revisions have you made? Please include a discussion about assignment-related blog posts.
Writer: The process of show and tell helped the most because I could see that I needed more showing than telling. It gave me an insight on how the essay should be structured. When doing show and tell I could see I had wasn't staying with one scene. They helped make a vision and focus on that one scene that I wrote about. The blog Reflection on Presentation helped to see that when I read my essay out loud found a lot of mistakes. For the most part I had a general idea on what to write about but I didn't know how to express it. It was difficult for me to put my thoughts down on paper.
Sabatino: How has your process been similar to your This I Believe process? How has the process been different?
Writer: My writting process for my This I Wonder has been very simiiar to My this I believe like I still use free writes when I first began. It gave me a chance to test my writing before I started my essay. When using this type of writing I can generate ideas.
Sabatino: In what ways have our course readings impacted the way have written your TIW essay?
Writer: The course readings and the presentation reading helped realize how the structure of my work should be. Before I presented my this I wonder essay, I thought I had everything I needed but when I started reading it out loud I found a lot of mistakes. I was glad to hear the audience feed back on my work. I found that reading it out loud helps point out the mistake that I made. As I was reading it I saw that I had some punctuation errors that had to be corrected and many points were made on how I should revise it in the future.
Sabatino: What is your plan for future revisions to your TIW essay?
Writer:II really would want to focus on my I wonder moment and strengthen it. I would like to add more details to the story and dialogue to give life to the characters. I will add more description of the scene. I will go to the writing center to have it revised and edited. Doing this will help me create more of sustainable and clear essay.
This I Wonder: Writing Product
Sabatino: What is your understanding of showing and telling writing? How does your essay incorporate both?
Writer: Showing and telling helped with the structure of the essay. After doing the this blog It filled the gaps on how my essay should be structured. A good essay or story should inspire and engage the audience and that's exactly what showing should convey. When I was revising I found that I had more telling than showing. I changed it by adding more dialogue. Showing makes the story come to life.
Sabatino: Can you describe (or copy and paste) your TIW opening scene? Why did you choose to open your essay with this scene?
Writer: It was a Friday afternoon and I had just came from soccer practice. I went to the kitchen to get something to eat and my mom had just came from the local supermarket to get groceries. I went to my room to rest as I lay their trying to sleep, I heard in distance my mother call my name to help her with unpack groceries. I came running as I got close I saw this glow in her face it was surprising because my mother isn't usually this happy. I hadn't seen my mother this happy since her brother's graduation. I chose to open with this scene because it gave the reader on what kind of a day it was and the environment was when this story was taking place.
Sabatino: What is the major decision you had to make in your TIW essay?
Writer: The major decision I had to make was to move to America. This decision
Sabatino: Can you describe (or copy and paste) the scene where you put your decision into action?
Writer: After we talked about it I had made my choice that we should move to America and my mother was very happy she walked over to me hugged me.
Sabatino: Can you describe (or copy and paste) your "I wonder" moments in the essay? Which social systems influenced your decision?
Writer: I wonder if I hadn't listened to my mother about making the decision to move and what my life would be like back home. People around my age usually would have a wives and some of them have kids of their own. Most likely I would have ended up joining the military just like many of males in my family or have a small family business. Would I be alive now. I would probably be a farmer. I wouldn't had the same opportunities like the ones I have now. I thank my mother for convincing me that moving to America would be great.I am just glad that I had the opportunity to come to the United states and make something of myself. The main social system that influenced the decision was family. I didn't want to see my mother unhappy and so for the sake of the family I decided it was in our best interest to move to America.
This I Argue: Writing Process
Sabatino: Please discuss your writing process, including generative techniques, research, and revision.
Writer: For my writing process of this I argue essay what helped the most was the generative question. This blog gave me a topic on what my essay should be about. it molded my argument and my stand on the increase funding for the SNAP program. The research that I found helped to support my argument. the quotes from websites and the movie we watched A Place a the Table really helped drive my argument forward. This really strengthen the overall content of the essay.
This I Argue: Writing Product
Sabatino: Please discuss your writing product, including purpose, genre, and areas that need revision.
Writer:
Personal Website
Sabatino: Please discuss your experiences with creating and maintaining a website for this course?
Writer: I found it difficult in maintaining the website mainly trying to keep it up-to-date with everything going on in my life. I found it hard maintaining my website because I didn't know how to navigate the weebly itself. My color scheme is no that appealing to readers. The other half of the time I really enjoyed writing about my experiences and beliefs. I'd say the overall experience
Sabatino: Do you think your site is organized and easy to navigate?
Writer: Yes I do. I have all the titles of the blogs I need and they all link to the right pages. my blog's tags all bring you to the things on that topic. My website is organized and easy to navigate.
Sabatino: What type of identity have you constructed through your site? How have you revised your identity?
Writer: The blogs that I have done so far show that I enjoy working out, running track and spending time with family and friends. They show that I am not the most creative person because I don't have that many pictures up yet but I am planing on putting them up. I also plan on improving the quality of material I put on my website. I would like to make my website more friendly and people can relate to it on a more personal level.
Personal Blog
Sabatino: What are your thoughts about creating and maintaining a blog? Is your blog organized and easy to navigate?
Writer:I found it hard to keep my website up-to-date with everything going on in my life. I especially found it difficult maintaining my website because I didn't know how to navigate the weebly itself mainly on uploading pictures. The other half of the time I really enjoyed writing about my personal experiences and beliefs. In my opinion my website is easy to navigate but some of my blogs may not be updated as it should been. Its kind of difficult and fun at the same maintaining this website. Someone told me that my website is empty and that's because I don't have any good pictures up yet. I would like to improve on how it looks in the future.
Sabatino: What are your thoughts about blogging? Please consider the public, social network nature of a blog as well as your initial thoughts in the beginning of the semester as compared to now.
Writer: I really can't say I liked blogging. It's just not some thing I would do, I am a very introvert person. I like to keep to myself.n If was to choose blogging isn't i would do but since the second half of the semester i have come to like blogging. I like how all the comments on my blog are some ideas on how to improve my writing technique.