What It Is

If I tell you that I think the sky is blue today, my statement leaves room for you to wonder if the sky is actually blue instead of grey or some other weird and unnatural color simply because I have used the words “I think.” Using other language, such as “I believe” or “It seems to me” or “I feel,” also gives the reader ample reason to question what you’ve said.

The sky is blue today. There is no doubt in that statement. I have stated it as a fact, not something that might just be all in my mind, merely a thought, and possibly not even true.

The writer of an essay is expressing his ideas on a given subject. There is no reason to cause readers to question what is said. Consider the following two directives:

1.      James, I think maybe you should feed the seagulls.

2.      James, you must feed the seagulls.

Which one is more likely to convince James to feed the seagulls?  The first sentence might well leave the birds hungry and squawking for free corn chips and pieces of bread since it is just a thought, not a clear statement of what James must do.

“That’s what you think,” James might respond.

Other lines that weaken essays are those that tell the reader that the writer is going to say something. “I will tell you” or “I am going to write” or “I will describe” -  all of these announcements of intention are unnecessary fillers. Just tell the reader, without first telling him that you are going to tell him.

Straightforward statements convince the reader that what you have written is backed by your authority and knowledge. I believe I feel that’s maybe what I think anyway.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

 

Believing in Yourself

Self-esteem is an idea whose time seems to have come; but according to my old Aunt Christie, it wasn’t always expected that people would admire themselves much at all. The difference, according to Aunt Christie, has to do with accomplishments that lead to feeling good. She said, “It’s like ‘counting your chickens before they’re hatched’ when you feel great about yourself without having done anything to prove yourself worthy of esteem, your own or any other’s.” In fact, Aunt Christie appears to think that feeling a bit unworthy acts as an impetus to force a person to strive to achieve a goal (maybe just to avoid feeling unworthy).

I can see the points she makes; but there are other factors to consider, such as believing that you can reach a goal and trusting that you are capable of attaining success in the field you choose. You don’t have to be a braggart or be ostentatiously vain, but it is an excellent idea to give yourself credit for the ability to determine a course and stick to it, gaining the skills you need as you continue. A middle ground, a compromise might be to first tell yourself that, yes, you are worthy of esteem and are able to do what you decide to do to prove that worth.

Before I ever got near the beach with a surfboard, I couldn’t say that I was a surfer. Once I learned, however, I could say, and feel right about saying, “I am a surfer.” What I did tell myself before I began was that I could learn. I had enough self-esteem to try.

Pride in something actually accomplished is ever so much better than words without deeds to back them up. Whatever it is that you seek to do in your life, giving yourself a boost by telling yourself that you do have the ability to try is just the kind of beginning point that leads to actually doing the work it takes to succeed.

Having self-esteem is a starting place, an attitude that can give you the confidence you need to begin to work and plan a path to reach your goals.        

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

The Literacy Narrative

A narrative is a story, and literacy has to do with reading and writing. When students are assigned to write a literacy narrative, they are expected to write a personal story connected to their experiences with reading and/or writing. What, you may now be asking, is the difficulty with that? You remember learning to read and write and know your own life’s story, right?

To begin, determining who the reader will be is crucial because the story you are telling needs to connect with your audience. Tales of your life and times that you share with your friends at a party differ from those you choose to tell your grandmother at dinner or your boss at work. Keep in mind that your instructor hopes to read an essay about your learning experiences, your path to literacy.

Another consideration is to decide what event (or events) along the path of your literacy journey has significance. Did a given moment change you? Do you remember a turning point connected to reading or writing?  Did you realize something important or find a new way to regard learning at a certain time and place?

Your purpose for writing and your attitude, both revealed in your story, are also important. Once you decide what you hope the reader will discover in your story (the purpose), you then need to decide whether to get your message across by being serious, funny, wry, or any number of other attitudes you might choose.  Choosing an attitude adds a level of interest to your story and lets the reader perceive how you feel about the event(s).

Details and examples should be included, as is usual for essays. I could mention that a book I read had an impact on me; but, if I say that I read Moby Dick while sitting near the ocean with the sound of the waves coming to shore in my ears and visions of white whales in my mind, the details help my reader picture the moment.

Once you’ve made your point, given your literacy narrative life and color through descriptions and details, and expressed your personality through attitude, then you’ll be close to completing your assignment.  Be careful near the end not to tack on “The moral of the story is….” Instead, throughout your essay, give the reader a chance to find meaning in each paragraph, the true significance of your experiences unfolding all along the way.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!