Krystal Bowen Rhetorical Analysis 11:30-12:20 The Composing Processes of Unskilled and College Writers By: Sondra Perl

Summary: All of the reading that we have done has been some form of experimental research were the understanding of the writing process is the main focus. However, even though that this is the case no one has specifically focused on unskilled writers; a fact that I was oblivious to until reading this article. Even though this article was written almost forty years ago its relevance still holds true today, were average writers are given more emphasis. The purpose of this study was to create a new way to study writers writing, because as long as average writers retained the central focus of all writing experiments the research process will lack the ability to apply to other writers. The second purpose for this experiment is to pay attention to readers who were previously ignored by prior researchers because they werent classified as good. This experiment unveils the writing process through the analysis of five unskilled college writers. Who in order to learn from them there needs to be a understanding there bad habits that hinder them through the writing process; learning there similarities between writing styles and structure are some of the information was gathered through the think aloud process. This research created a format for describing the inconsistency with movements that occur during composition which include; standardized, categorical, concise, structural, and diachronic. The breakdown of this method allowed for patterns to be apparent among writers. The classification of writers as average of Analysis: The authors use of elaborate vocabulary and clinical tone made it easier for me to read because it is well structured and organized. I appreciated that the she transferred the information unto charts and graphs, because it is easier to see the difference between how much Tony was able to write more effectively while still displaying the relevance of the information. This mix of data display allowed for me to interpret the data easily because as I read along I was consistently using rhetorical questioning, and by doing so it lead me into the next section. I can relate to Tonys reading strategy because I am consistently editing my writing as I go along instead of writing freely and going back later. A tactic that I always felt handicapped me but wasnt reassured of that thought until this paper. Perls research was very benifical to me as a first year writer, because she allowed for me to learn were I am as a writer instead of just teaching me more structures or stylistic approach to writing. By doing so as a first year student this helps to teach me where I stand and what I have to improve as writer. She challenged the typical concept that there are skilled and unskilled writers because she shows how being labeled is very restricting, because teachers do not take the time to learn what kind of writer you are but, you still dont know how to improve your skill. Her commonsense approach to the uselessness of analyzing a good writer is refreshing because if you already have the need skills and ability to write effectively

unskilled forms a negative connotation that results in the punishment of being labeled remedial or going to a beginner class. Teacher commonly just teach you what they have to instead of learning and teaching you were you are as a writer but now as a result of this experiment a replicable process as been made.

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