Palaces Out Of Paragraphs

English 1102: Hamilton and Writing

We Get The Job Done, Americans and Hamilton

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By: Ahad Khatri

 

“Immigrants: We get the job done” is a lyric that resonates with generations of struggling and working Americans! 

 

The song “Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)” is an interesting adaptation of “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)”, incorporating some of the lyrics (“Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom”) as well as, notably, a recurring sample from the original song (“Immigrants: We get the job done”). The text is a unique take from the original song, which recounts the Siege of Yorktown, which was perhaps the last major battle in the American Revolutionary War.

To give some more context regarding the end of the Revolution, marked by the Battle of Yorktown, Alexander Hamilton and Marquis de Lafayette, who represented America and France, fought hard to force Lord Cornwallis, who was the British Army General during this battle, to surrender. The argument of the song “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” was the foundation and construction of America on immigration and culture, not on authority.

The song “Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)” keeps the theme of power and strength, derived from a mixture of different colors and creeds coexisting in America. It’s diverse style, stemming from a diverse range of artists, like K’Naan (Somali), Snow Tha Product (Mexican), Riz MC (British and Pakistani), and Residente (Puerto Rican), parallels the different voices on “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)”, such as Hamilton (Caribbean) and Lafayette (French), to give more credibility to the idea that immigration was and continues to be a movement in America. The adaptation was released in 2016, during the Trump campaign, and provided emotional and situational context for immigrants, as they are now being separated from their families near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Such feelings are conveyed by a cadre of outspoken artists, some of who are living in America, so the adaptation makes the original song more personal to the people who are struggling with today’s immigration policies. According to the Genius.com annotation of the original song, the lyrics “Immigrants: We get the job done” remind people that the values on which America was found were “intended to apply to men who look like the actual Hamilton and Lafayette and to modern men and women who look more like Miranda and Diggs”, which could refer to, song-wise, the different artists on the adaptation. For more information regarding both songs, follow the links below:

https://genius.com/Knaan-snow-tha-product-riz-mc-and-residente-immigrants-we-get-the-job-done-lyrics

https://genius.com/Lin-manuel-miranda-yorktown-the-world-turned-upside-down-lyrics

Finally, because I am also Pakistani and Canadian, both songs remind me of how I have changed in an environment like America, and how, by working hard, and reminding myself of where I came from, I can become a more open-minded and strong individual. This perspective might help me write my own thoughts and values into my remix of “Alexander Hamilton”, as I can potentially talk about my roots and my understanding of America, as Lin-Manuel Miranda did so with Hamilton.

Burning Hamilton

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By: Arfa Ul-Haque

Since its release in 2015, Hamilton has had many remixes and adaptations, especially through the Hamilton Mixtape and Hamildrops which present another side of the characters and transform iconic lines from the musical into their own songs. One of the biggest effects of these remixes is to make the messages of the songs more relatable and to generalize them to contexts outside of the musical. Another purpose of these adaptations is to offer a new perspective on a character and illustrate how replacing one song in the musical could have changed a character’s role in the story, as seen in “First Burn”.

“First Burn” is a song told from the point of view of Eliza Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton’s wife, as a reaction to the recount of his affair in the Reynolds Pamphlet, in lieu of “Burn” from the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hamilton.

The song begins with same lyrics and melody as “Burn” before transitioning to an aggressive tone once Eliza commands Hamilton not to “take a step in [her] direction”. Instead of removing herself from his narrative, she forces him out of hers. Just by this line, it’s clear that this version of Eliza is angrier than the version of Eliza in “Burn”, where she is heartbroken and uses that pain to destroy Hamilton’s legacy of writing.

One of the main differences between “Burn” and “First Burn” is Angelica’s role in the relationship between Eliza and Hamilton. Angelica’s characterization with the final version of “Burn”, as well as her role in Eliza meeting Hamilton and supporting her sister after the affair, builds the relationship between the sisters. If the original version had been placed in the musical instead, their relationship would be damaged as Eliza calls out Hamilton for shamelessly flirting with other women: “I see how you look at my sister”. Therefore, the final version maintained a consistent portrayal of Eliza.

Although the Eliza we see in “First Burn” is more reactionary than the one in “Burn”, Eliza’s response in the final version of the song is more powerful. In destroying Hamilton’s letters, Eliza takes power over Hamilton and controls his legacy rather than admonishing him for his infidelity. In attacking Hamilton for his “senseless” and “paranoid” writing rather than for his impulsiveness and selfishness, she makes him feel the same amount of pain she felt due to his unfaithfulness.

For my Remix and Adaptation Project, I will try to make sure that I portray the characters in a consistent characterization. I will also work on making the purpose of my adaptation understandable to a general audience, even those unfamiliar with Hamilton.

The Voices of Women, Remixed

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By: Adair Garrett

Remixes and adaptations can transform a work from being entertaining to feeling personal, emotional, or political.  The musical Hamilton already works to leave lasting impressions on its audience, and the remixes allow these impressions to develop and last as the musical ages and fans search for new meaning in the same story.  I believe that a few of the remixes shared with us were really powerful and effective in adding dimensions to female characters in the show, especially the adaptations of “Say Yes To This” and “Congratulations”.

Because of its surprising ability to perfectly complement its counterpart from the musical, I really enjoyed the animatic “Say Yes To This”.  I appreciated that this remix, although roughly drawn, gave Maria Reynolds more of a voice than Hamilton did.  I liked that the song pulls from the musical themes in “Say No To This” and adds dimensions and passions to a character we know so little about, both in historical records and in the musical.  It stills presents Alexander Hamilton as almost blameless, which I believe is probably very incorrect, but this remains consistent with how the original material presented the affair. The video made it even more powerful for me because it gives so much more of a personality to the character of Maria Reynolds, who was so quickly painted as an evil temptress in the show.

For similar reasons, I enjoyed the adaptation “Congratulations” in the Ham4Ham performance.  The fact that this performance was the final Ham4Ham was very powerful for me because it allowed Angelica to voice a witty and savage opinion about what Hamilton did to her sister and her family’s image.  The live performance is impressive and extremely catchy (it is playing over and over in my head even now, the day after listening to the performance). Performing to the audience outside did probably encourage Renée Elise Goldsberry to sing louder and more powerfully, but I also believe that she sang with so much emotion to state a point as the character Angelica.  The shift in the vocal performance in the cover by Dessa made it less powerful for me, and the production that the mixtape allowed to be added to the performance made it feel less emotional for me. Since Angelica and Alexander have such a strong relationship and correspondence throughout the show leading up to this point, this performance made her retort seem like part of their normal banter.  The difference between these two remixes showed me how different inflictions and small variations can completely change what a remix does for its audience.

For your reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grgwUiToyHs

These remixes allowed me to understand how much power is implicit when drawing from Hamilton to make an argument.  I appreciated how the songs built on the musical and did not contradict it in any way.  The way that these songs and adaptations added more to the story and gave voice to other underlying issues will continue to inspire me as I begin to work on my Remix and Adaptation Project.

Historical Annotation Project

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Title: Hamilton–Burr Duel Correspondences

Author: Alexander Hamilton

Date of Origin:
 (Hamilton To Burr) : June 20, 1804

By: Rahmel Bailey

N York 20 June 1804

Sir:

I have maturely reflected on the subject of your letter of the 18th Instant, and the more I have reflected, [1] the more I have become convinced that I could not without manifest impropriety make the avowal or disavowal which you seem to think necessary.[2]

The clause pointed out by Mr. Van Ness is in these terms: “I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.” [3] To endeavor to discover the meaning of this declaration, I was obliged to seek in the antecedent part of the letter for the opinion to which it referred, [4]as having been already disclosed. [5]I found it in these words: “Genl. Hamilton and Judge Kent have declared in substance that they looked upon Mr. Burr to be a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of Government.”[6] The language of Dr. Cooper plainly implies that he considered this opinion of you, which he attributes to me, as a despicable one; but he affirms that I have expressed some other still more despicable; without, however, mentioning to whom, when or where. ‘Tis evident that the phrase “still more despicable”[6] admits of infinite shades from very light to very dark. How am I to judge of the degree intended. Or how should I annex any precise idea to language so vague?[7]

Between Gentlemen despicable and still more despicable are not worth the pains of a distinction.[8] When, therefore, you do not interrogate me as to the opinion which is specifically ascribed to me, I must conclude that you view it as within the limits to which the animadversions of political opponents, upon each other, may justifiably extend[9]; and consequently as not warranting the idea of it which Dr. Cooper appears to entertain.[10] If so, what precise inference could you draw as a guide for your future conduct, [11] were I to acknowledge that I had expressed an opinion of you, [12]still more despicable than the one which is particularized? [13]How could you be sure that even this opinion had exceeded the bounds [14]which you would yourself deem admissible between political opponents?[14]

But I forbear further comment on the embarrassment to which the requisition you have made naturally leads. [15]The occasion forbids a more ample illustration, though nothing would be more easy than to pursue it.

Repeating that I can not reconcile it with propriety to make the acknowledgment or denial you desire, [16]I will add that I deem it inadmissible on principle, to consent to be interrogated as to the justness of the inferences which may be drawn by others,[17] from whatever I may have said of a political opponent in the course of a fifteen years competition.[18] If there were no other objection to it, this is sufficient, that it would tend to expose my sincerity and delicacy to injurious imputations from every person who may [19]at any time have conceived that import of my expressions differently from what I may then have intended, or may afterwards recollect.[20]

[20]I stand ready to avow or disavow promptly and explicitly any precise or definite opinion which I may be charged with having declared to any gentleman.[21] More than this can not fitly be expected from me; [22] and especially it can not reasonably be expected that I shall enter into an explanation upon a basis so vague as that which you have adopted.[23] I trust upon more reflection you will see the matter in the same light with me. If not, I can only regret the circumstances and must abide the consequences.[24]

The publication of Dr. Cooper was never seen by me ‘till after the receipt of your letter.

Sir, I have the honor to be
Your Obdt. St

A. Hamilton

 

1.

Hamilton in this line is referring to a letter that Aaron Burr, his longtime rival, had written on June 18th, 1804 that he had recently received. In the letter (Burr’s letter) Burr states that he heard that Hamilton was speaking badly about him and that he had undeniable evidence on it. That a letter written by Charles D. Cooper stated “could detail . . . a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.” He demands a response from Hamilton and wanted to know what he said. (Rorabaugh, W. J)

2.Hamilton’s first statement in response to the very heated Burr is unlike the sure Hamilton we usually hear of. When he received the letter from Burr he knew he was going to be asked to give an embarrassing apology or be challenged to duel. Burr came from a high-status family where a man’s honor is believed to be the most important thing (Chris) Burr had just lost the election and because Hamilton was caught mud flinging he is now seen as the reason for the loss. Hamilton is hesitant when first responding because he did not want to duel. It simply went against his moral and religious belief. (Richard) Hamilton says he can’t avow or disavow shows the same torn feeling from when he had to decide to duel with Burr or not, he had to choose between morals and honor. (Freeman)

3. Hamilton was also torn because he knew that he did speak horribly on Burr, not that he was ashamed of it. But he felt that as a man because he spoke against Burr that he must stand behind his words to remain honorable. Honor for politicians at the time was the most important thing. Hamilton did not think he could defy Burr challenging him to a duel and remain a public figure.

4. Van Ness was Burr’s second, meaning that he was responsible for sending the letters to Hamilton from Burr during the affair of honor, a name for the duels. The letter from Dr. Cooper is pointed out to Hamilton. The letter was retrieved by Albany register and was sent by Cooper to Hamilton’s father in law. Cooper aimed to point out that Hamilton was saying some intense, mudslinging views on Burr. It is still not completely known exactly what Hamilton said. (Freeman)

5. Hamilton is explaining that because it was his first time hearing of the news from Mr. Van Nass about the quote “detail still more despicable opinion” Hamilton had to go back and read the entire letter of Cooper to get some context so that he could address it. Hamilton clearly doesn’t want to duel because he is explaining his entire thought process to Burr, which really isn’t something we know him to do. (Rorabaugh)

 

6.Hamilton is explaining that he went back in the text and this is the context eh found to the despicable quote. The displaceable statements made about Burr did not only come from Hamilton but also from Judge Kent, who is also mentioned in the Cooper letter. However, many other Federalists probably spoke badly of Burr, (Baker) Burr’s reputation at that point wasn’t the best and many politicians did not trust Burr. He was Vice President at the time and the President did not trust him and gave him almost no political input as a result. (Rorabaugh)

7. Hamilton begins to get very tricky at this instant in the letter. It continues to reveal his deep uneasy feeling towards having a duel. Hamilton was not necessarily afraid to die that didn’t want to go against his principle and didn’t want to kill Burr, even if that was his enemy. From before the duel up until his last words he continually stated that he wouldn’t fire at Burr.

  1. Hamilton tries to somewhat diffuse the letter written by Cooper, in part because the letter was a shock to him and he doesn’t fully know. And because he wants Burr to have solids grounds for wanting to duel if they do end up dueling. He tries to state that Cooper notes them both as being despicable and dirty people and that Hamilton has convinced that Burr is even more crooked than Hamilton. He uses his writing skills to logically makes sense of the letter.
  2. Hamilton explains that Coopers sees them both as evil and someone deserving hatred but Burr is of a higher degree of wrong. He goes on to use more wittiness to say that how can he judge wicked from wicked, they are both wrong things. He attempts to discredit Dr. Cooper’s letters as the only grounds for them to have a dispute. He wants to take the letter out the argument to get to the point and maybe lesson some tension. However, the tension can’t be lessened.
  3. After he has taken the Cooper letter out of the argument he says the Cooper has written very vaguely and that the letter that Burr wrote is also very vague. Burr doesn’t say very much for someone who wants to have a duel with another. At the time Burr’s mind has already been made up that the only way to gain his honor is through the duel, so he feels there isn’t much to say.(Freeman)
  4. Hamilton has said may cruel and wrong things about Burr his opponent and he recognizes it here. For years he talked about Burr and tried everything in his power to ensure that Burr does does not succeed politically and he understands that this is very wrong on his part. But he also recognizes that the evil acts that he spoke on of Burr are true and that Burr is wrong in many ways. Hamilton believed that Burr was willing to do anything for power but lacked moral, something he believed wasn’t good for the country.
  5. He goes on to state that Burr has no argument when asking about the mud flung sentiments that were stated because these the two have been rival and have been trying to bring down one another for over a decade of back and forth. When Washington became president Hamilton took the position as the Secretary of Treasury to the surprised of Burr which was the first of many battles that Burr and Hamilton went through over the years. Hamilton became promoted in the military by Washington in 1898 and Washington made sure that Burr wasn’t, another battle. For these reasons and their opposing political views, Burr hated Hamilton and vice versa.
  6. Hamilton argues with Burr that he needs to get to the point of his reason for sending the letter and that his reason as stated by Cooper does not count as the reason. Because of their lengthy political rivalry, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that words were said about Burr. Hamilton basically is angry at Burr and takes the stance that Burr is wasting his time.
  7. Cooper doesn’t know about the intense hatred that Burr and Hamilton have for each other, both they both do. Because of this Hamilton question’s Burr interest from a speculator. He begins to insult Burr by asking him what the purpose of his very broad letter was. He questions the response that Burr wanted him to give. We now see the Hamilton that we know who is certain in his words. He strongly believes every word he said of Burr even if they seem wrong and cruel.
  8. Another insult to Burr where he is basically repeating that they are political rivalries and questions if there even exists any bounds that the two can’t cross. He uses this argument to state why they shouldn’t have the duel, but it defeats its purpose because it is an insult. He basically calls Burr an idiot.
  9. He begins to insult Burr consistently and even calls Burr’s affair to action letter an embarrassment. He attempts to make the argument that it is so sorry of a letter that he can’t respond to answering what Burr asked. These insults have a reverse effect on attempting to not have a duel.
  10. Hamilton in no way wants to acknowledge the request that Burr has created which he finds a very embarrassing attempt to make the request. He won’t answer the question that Burr has asked of him and his argument for doing so is because sends a letter that is so vague and meaningless.
  11. He insults Burr again and backs up his point about Burr sending such a poor letter to ask the question. He states that Burr is trying to argue based on the words stated by someone else. This is a blow at the honor of Burr which we know was crucial to men of the era.
  12. He claims that he won’t respond to what Burr said because he has made statements of a lot of people and not every individual who Hamilton has made statements about and heard the news from an outside source have come to Hamilton with anger on the news. Burr deciding to take the news as a threat makes him seem less of a man than Hamilton. Hamilton basically calls Burr less than a man than him.
  13. The cycle of the insulting Burr and Burr’s letter continues and Hamilton uses it to hide his true feeling of the fight. That he didn’t want to fight because it went against his morals. Hamilton had been in several duels before but the duels that he was in some never even made it to a battlefield and in the others, nobody was shot. He does not want to duel Burr at all, but will forever defend his honor and defend his views of Burr who he finds diabolical.
  14. Hamilton believes that he can’t be expected by a sensible person, by any gentlemen to have to respond to the poor letter written by Burr, so he won’t respond with a simple yes or no to the question. He attempts to push the argument back so that he doesn’t have to answer the question now.
  15. He won’t answer the question that Burr has asked him whose basis was on the words of another man. If Burr’s argument is on the basis of another man it is not the argument of a true gentleman so Hamilton is not obligated to respond to it. And he won’t.
  16. Again knows that this is just the beginning of the affair of honor between him and Burr. He understands that his statements against Burr are worthy of a duel that he has to participate in to maintain his public figure. But he doesn’t want to and tries to push it to a later date. He mentions Burr’s next letter. Burr’s next letter was more enraged and to the point.
  17. He had never even heard of the letter that was written by Dr. Cooper until the letter was delivered by Burr’s second who delivered all of Burr’s letter to Hamilton right up until the duel. Burr uses this letter to create a stronger argument that Hamilton has tried to taint his character which to them had the same as ruining his reputation and his honor.

 

Citations

BAKER, THOMAS N. “‘An Attack Well Directed’ Aaron Burr Intrigues for the Presidency.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 31, no. 4, 2011, pp. 553–598. JSTOR, JSTOR,

Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. “Andrew Jackson’s Honor.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 17, no. 1, 1997, pp. 1–36. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3124641.

Bell, Richard. “The Double Guilt of Dueling: The Stain of Suicide in Anti-Dueling Rhetoric in the Early Republic.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 29, no. 3, 2009, pp. 383–410. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40541855.

Freeman, Joanne B. “Dueling as Politics: Reinterpreting the Burr-Hamilton Duel.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 53, no. 2, 1996, pp. 289–318. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2947402.

Rorabaugh, W. J. “The Political Duel in the Early Republic: Burr v. Hamilton.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 15, no. 1, 1995, pp. 1–23. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3124381.

Chris. “Dueling History: An Affair of Honor.” The Art of Manliness, 28 May 2018, www.artofmanliness.com/articles/man-knowledge-an-affair-of-honor-the-duel/

Hamilton to [?], Sept. 2I, I792, Hamilton Papers, I2:408

[Van Ness], “Correct Statement,” 62–63

James S. Biddle, ed., Autobiography of Charles Biddle, Vice-President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, 1745–1821 (Philadelphia: E. Claxton, 1883), 305; New York American Citizen, January 6, 1804.

Dr. Charles D. Cooper to General Philip Schuyler, April 23, 1804, on Hamilton’s opposition to Aaron Burr’s run for governor of New York in 1804. A copy of this letter was published in the Albany Register on April 24, 1804.

Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States (New York. Printed for John Lang, by George F. Hopkins, 1800 [Copy-right secured]

The Art of Duelling. London: J. Thomas, F.C. Westley, R. Willoughby, 1836,P.1

Trees, Andrew S. “The Importance of Being Alexander Hamilton.” Reviews in American History, vol. 33, no. 1, 2005, pp. 8–14. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/30031480.

Adair, Douglass, and Marvin Harvey. “Was Alexander Hamilton a Christian Statesman?” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 12, no. 2, 1955, pp. 308–329. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1920511.

Cogan, Jacob Katz. “The Reynolds Affair and the Politics of Character.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 16, no. 3, 1996, pp. 389–417. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3124057.

BAKER, THOMAS N. “‘An Attack Well Directed’ Aaron Burr Intrigues for the Presidency.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 31, no. 4, 2011, pp. 553–598. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41261652.

Hamilton, A. Boyd. “Hamilton.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 17, no. 2, 1893, pp. 175–184. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20083532.

Lind, Michael. “Hamilton’s Legacy.” The Wilson Quarterly (1976-), vol. 18, no. 3, 1994, pp. 40–52. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40258878.

“Communications.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 53, no. 4, 1996, pp. 850–852. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2947169.

Freeman, Joanne B. “Grappling with the Character Issue.” Reviews in American History, vol. 28, no. 4, 2000, pp. 518–522. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/30031197.

Typing Games

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by: Emily Moseley

I wouldn’t say that Alexander Hamilton and I are similar; however, one thing we both have in common is a knack for speed-writing. He wrote like he was “running out of time” because he has so much to say, and, during the Revolution and in the midst of creating a country, time was not on his side. I, however, am usually running out of time because of my procrastination (a very refined skill of mine) and because I’m a fast typist.

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In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, typewriters did not exist. It was pen and paper, and even then the pens were not the roller-ball ones we have today, they were much less efficient ink pens. So writing, at least from my perspective, would be worlds different if I were to travel back in time because I’ve been typing everything since as long as I can remember. (Don’t get me wrong, I have great handwriting, I’m just slow.) I went to a small school all my life with, let’s say, a limited computer class that consisted of mostly typing games from second to fifth grade. So, as a bored lower-schooler, I poured all my effort into learning how to type and type well. If you asked, I couldn’t explain why, it was just fun. Something about the clicking of the keyboard and that slight rhythm that you find when writing notes or an essay inspired me. And the reason I say that I would not survive in Hamilton’s time is because I try to type at the speed of my thoughts: a little over 100 words per minute. Anything slower and I would just forget where I was going with my last sentence or lose my train of mind.

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I am in no way a writer, nor do I ever aspire to be; but I recognize that it is an invaluable skill to have. And by taking joy in the little things like the sound of your keyboard strokes and the satisfaction of typing a sentence super fast, I can make writing more enjoyable and try to find that rhythm to make my writing flow not only on the screen but when I’m typing as well. My writing practices are pretty structured. Once I actually start the assignment, I go in deep making outlines, taking notes in the outlines hoping that one sentence might inspire a paragraph later on, and then writing the essay in color. I know it sounds weird, but when I’m envisioning something, especially a more academic or dry topic, I try to find the distinct parts of the topic and how I’m writing it so I can color it in my essay and make sure I’m balancing out every topic I wanted to hit on. (It’s kind of like when you buy binders/notebooks for class and history for some reason had to be blue and science green, like there’s no way you could take notes in anything but that color for that class. Yeah, it’s like that.)

Sometimes when I procrastinate a little *too* much, I skip right to the actual writing and still color coordinate so I can kind of see an outline and where I’m lacking information or perspective. It sounds tedious, but it lets me go a lot faster knowing that I can type whatever I want as fast as I want and then sort it later. It’s not til I do my final final (yes, we all have those files named “Final Essay” and “Final Essay 2” and even “Final FINAL Essay”), that I remove the color and am comfortable where everything stands. Also working in google docs helps tremendously because you can comment however much you want and then if you need it revised or proof-read, it’s so easy for someone else to add onto your comments or see your train of thought.
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Lastly, as far as deadlines go, I have a love-hate relationship with them. I will (no matter what) stretch my projects, papers, etc. to fit whatever time I have allotted myself. But I also use Google Calendar like it’s my job. Let me tell you, checking off one of the tasks is one of the most satisfying things because it crosses itself out, turns a different color, AND has a cute check mark by it. So, naturally, I set goals for almost every day when working on a project not only for the satisfaction of checking that little blue box, but also to keep me on track and working on the project before the actual hard deadline.

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I know I’m not the only procrastinator out there, but I hope the way I try to combat it is helpful. I procrastinate because I am scared of that blank white paper (yes, I change the background color to beige or something to make my intermediate writing more interesting), and I feel like once I start the essay it’s permanent. So I outline, I prep, I take notes, I color-coordinate everything, I make tasks and deadlines, and THEN I can start writing once I’ve gotten myself situated. So that is my writing style, wacky but it works most of the time.

Blog 4: My Writing Process

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By: Zac Frederick

In high school, I participated as a member of our debate team for four years. For me, this experience shaped the way in which I write more than any other factor. Each and every month the team was given a new topic to debate, and the extensive research that followed was all in the effort of proving or disproving a specific idea. Every research article, factoid, argument, and opinion each had to relate back to the given argument in that sense. Because of this, the way that I tackle the writing process usually follows this pattern. I usually will begin with a broad argument that I wish to prove, and the entirety of my efforts from then on go towards the betterment of that original argument. My process continues with research, usually in an online database or something of that nature, and I compile bits of pieces of information I believe will be useful into a document of some sort. Following this, I organize the completed compiling of information into various contingencies of the original argument, and only then does the actual writing process begin.

This process has worked for me for all of my years of high school and college thus far. Of course, no method is perfect. One major downside to my method of beginning with an idea first and supporting that hypothesis throughout the entirety of my research is that this leaves very little room for fluctuation from the initial argument. Very rarely, if ever, does my initial argument deviate from what I claim at the start. Each and every point I discover I either use, as it supports my argument, or I discard, as it doesn’t quite fit. While this has worked for me, the unavailability to develop a new argument from all the data received is could be considered as somewhat of a disadvantage, but keeping in mind that initial perceptions aren’t always 100% accurate is how I can learn from analysis.

Blog Post 4: My Writing Style

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By: Kristen English

Image result for procrastination

I have always had a love/hate relationship with writing ever since I first learned how to write. My teachers and peers would always say that I had a knack for it, but for some reason I always despised the writing process. For me, I think procrastination was the biggest issue that I faced when writing. I would always (and even still do now) put off starting an assignment or piece of writing until the very last minute. However, once I actually sit down and start, the ideas just kind of naturally flow out of me.

I would describe my writing style as very matter-of-fact with an element of realism. For me, I hate when I’m reading something that doesn’t flow the way a real-life conversation would. I feel like the way to connect with your audience or readers on a deeper level is to write in a way that they would relate to. Blogs are such a popular way to reach audiences in society today and I believe that it’s due to their realistic nature. With blogs, one has the ability to write down and publish their thoughts on any topic without the formality of most print media. That’s probably my favorite aspect. I strive for anything I write to have this realistic and relatable feel as well.

My favorite environment to be in when I write is a very laid-back vibe with other people in the area. I mainly go to coffee shops around my apartment and set up camp for the entire day if I know I have an assignment coming up, or if I just want to journal and write down some of my thoughts. I like to be around other people when I write because it helps me draw inspiration. I am very much a people person and I have found that, for me personally, I work better when others are around.

Writing isn’t my favorite pastime by any means, but I would say that there is something quite calming about sitting down in my favorite coffee shop, with my favorite coffee, and just writing down my thoughts. I am constantly reminded of how therapeutic it is every time I journal or write about something that I am passionate about. Once I work on my procrastination issues (ehh maybe I’ll start tomorrow) I am confident that I could become a better writer overall.

Blog Post 4: My Writing Process

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by Noah Hammond

I don’t see myself as a very good writer. I usually end up talking in concise sentences that end up sounding choppy and irregular when read through normally so my ideal writing practice would be to make sentences that flow well together while keeping the reader’s attention. I do feel like I’ve gotten better throughout high school and my first English class in college though. My process is to come up with a general idea of what I want to say and start writing. I find that starting to write is the hardest part for me so once I get some words onto the paper I start getting more ideas.

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I write best without any distractions since I can easily get sidetracked while trying to finish an assignment. I like to put on music so I have some background music. Chewing gum also helps me focus. I’ve found that prewriting helps me organize my ideas into logical sections, but unfortunately I don’t always take the time to do so. For many assignments, I end up using the deadline as motivation and rush through it. My favorite way to procrastinate before a deadline is to read, play basketball, and do wholesome things that I never do when I have nothing due the next day.

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I love having a bag of pretzels next to me whenever I write because I can just keep eating them without getting full, and it gives me something to do while I’m thinking of what to write next. I have a love hate relationship with deadlines, since I would never really do the assignments without them, but they stress me out to no end.

Pen, Paper and The Writing Process

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By: Rahmel Bailey

Ideally, I begin my writing process by trying to understand the prompt or the purpose for me writing. This usually takes me several minutes to read the instructions, and if it is a personal writing I find the correct notebook for that purpose. I have different notebooks where I organize different things. My next step, probably the most important, is to take out my pen and begin writing down all my initial thoughts. When I do this I attempt to empty my mind of all the irrelative thoughts. I quickly scribble sentences,

 

 

phrases, and words that I find fit and address the purpose. I attempt to write them even if doesn’t all make sense.

However, there are many instances when writing especially when I am not the most interested in the piece and I can’t think of any ideas to get on the page. In these situations, I again first attempt to understand the purpose and stare into space for a while. I sit somewhere from 10 to 30 minutes in silence at a comfortable place and begin brainstorming. I attempt to clear my mind and focus on the task of writing alone and begin thinking, rereading the prompt until thoughts come into my head. I think of how I can make it sensible and interesting to me.

The next step for me is to go over those thoughts and organize them into paragraphs, taking out the non-essential ideas and keep the most important. I also find the points that can be expanded on and turn those into their own paragraph or large snippets of a paragraph, while other points remain a sentence or two.  I then create a thesis statement that brings the entire piece together. Once the thesis is created and there is an outline of the organized paragraphs I can begin to write my first draft of the essay. I do this by trying to write details for each paragraph or for snippets of the paragraph.

Once my draft is completed and has been edited for grammar I try to take a break and not look at it for several days. Then I come back to the writing and reread the piece and find ways that it can be improved. I then brainstorm the ideas and update my writing.

The Most Difficult Part of Writing is Starting

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By: Ian Byers

When I write,  my actual writing practices are not too different from what my ideal would be, but there is always room for improvement. For my ideal, I would like to learn how to write more quickly. In reality, I spend quite a lot of time when it comes to individual word choice and tend to think too much about having precise vocabulary. Although I feel that this allows for a truer expression of my thoughts, the negative result is that I spend far to much time on first drafts, when this work is better suited for revision and editing after I have a complete draft. As for prewriting, I don’t necessarily make a written outline before I start, but I do take a few minutes to think about the general structure of what I want to write before I start. Because of how I write my initial drafts, I tend to not change much when editing, besides mistakes and typos. When I revise, I do sometimes rethink my plan that I came up before I started writing and decide to restructure my entire project to one degree or another.

Of course, all of this only applies when I am not procrastinating, which I do often for most of my work, not just writing assignments. My most common form of procrastination is simply not starting an assignment until shortly before it is due. This is extremely efficient at wasting time, and very easy to do. Once I have started, I usually work contiuouly without many breaks. However, if I am listening to music, I sometimes get caught up in it and don’t realized I have stopped writing for a few minutes. I don’t like to set rewards for finishing, as these tend to just distract me more than motivate me. Deadlines, however, are extremely helpful. Stress and time limits make me less prone to procrastinate, and they also force me to write more like I would want to, by making me finish my first draft quickly just to know that I have some working product to turn in, even if it isn’t great.

The main thing which may inhibit my ability to write well is the environment. I’m not super picky, but I do prefer being in a quite area. If there is noise, then listening to music can help.

Overall, I do have some weaknesses in how I write, but I am well aware of them. Thankfully, I have also learned to procrastinate less, as nothing good ever comes from it.