Page 96 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Exercise 2-6 Outlining

Choose one of your practice prewritings and make an outline for a

paragraph or essay.

Journal Writing

The word “journal” comes from jour, the French word for “day.”

Journal writings, then, are “daily writings.” Journals are usually

composed of informal writings on a variety of subjects. A journal
allows you to experiment with the techniques you are learning in your

writing class. In a journal, the only form of writing you should avoid is

“diary mode.” An “I-got-up-I-fed-the-dog-I-went-to-school” format

makes for dull writing and even duller reading. Write about issues that

matter to you. Interpret your dreams. Describe your grandfather’s tool
shed. Work toward detailed writing that follows a logical pattern.

Whether you receive credit for it in class or not, make journal writing a

habit. Practice is the only thing that is guaranteed to make you a

better writer. Courses and texts are of limited value without time spent
alone with a computer or pen and paper. If you think, “It won’t matter

because I’ll never be a good writer,” ask yourself this: How good a

driver would you be if the only driving you had done was in a driver’s

education course? You can be a better writer. Daily writing in your

journal will start you on your way.