Exercise 1

My Five Statements:

• You need to follow a formal structure
• You cannot use the pronoun I
• You have to say something original
• You're writing mostly for the instructor
• You're supposed to use your own opinions

The reason that I chose these as my top 5 is because they are the top 5 things that I used to find difficult to be true or false.  I also think that other people struggle in these situations as well.

1) Although it is important in many situations to write in a formal structure, it doesn't always matter.  It is more important to have good content, information, or opinions rather than having bad information but in a structured way.  I think that many times I am more intrigued by something that isn't written as a five paragraph essay.  Content is much more important than structure.

2) It is okay to use the pronoun I.  Many times, especially when writing a persuasive essay, I can make a statement stronger rather than writing passively.  When a person over uses the pronoun I then it can get too repetitive, however, if used correctly, it can be very effective.

3) You do not always have to say something original.  You can simply just further a preexisting statement or research.  Many times  you use other peoples research to prove or persuade an idea, but that doesn't mean that it has to be an original thought.

4) You are writing mostly for the instructor.  This statement is completely false and it may sabotage your writing.  You need to write for yourself because if you don't, then what you are writing is not meaningful.  Also, you cannot be afraid to voice your opinion because your writing for your instructor.  When writing, you should feel confident about what you are writing, and that confidence will diminish if you are not writing for yourself.

5) You don't always have to use your opinion, you may use the opinion of somebody else as long as you site it correctly and give credit where credit is due. However, it is good to incorporate your own opinions as well.