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Keep marking up the texts as you read them
Gentle reminder: please keep in mind that these exploratory writings are opportunities for you to practice your literacy craft. By writing consistently, you are working to become a better reader, writer, and thinker.
Moreover, the EWs have a significant impact on your overall grade. This (and every) exploratory writing will play a significant role in the way your final portfolios are graded. Please keep that in mind.
Also, be sure to put appropriate headers in all of your EWs: on the upper left of your paper, include your name, the EW# and title, and the date using three single-spaced lines.
On average, I think you should expect to spend at least two hours of your time reading and writing for each EW. Consequently you should devote about an hour to reading (and re-reading) and another hour to writing and revising.
1) Read the following in Habits of the Creative Mind:
Preface, pp. vii-x.
Chapter One, “Orienting,” pp. 1-6; 8-10-; 11-16.
2) Write: spend up to an hour writing and revising your responses to the reading. Your writing can take on any form you choose. For example, you can begin by addressing some of the questions that may have occurred to you at the onset – as well as during – your reading the text.
If you have trouble getting started (as we all do), try responding to any of the following prompts.
What are some of the more surprising insights you found – something that may have made you say something like “Oh! huh…”? Can you apply these ideas to your own life?
Does Habits of the Creative Mind seem like an odd textbook to you? Who is the imagined audience for this book? How do you know?
What topic might you choose to explore for the first major writing assignment, Project 1 “Be Interested”Actions?
Whatever topic you choose, you must demonstrate that you did the reading. This is a low stakes writing assignment, but try to make it look like an essay. Focus on paragraph structure. Give it a title. Give it form. Produce something that you’re proud of.
