What are the humanities?

The humanities can be described as the study of how people process and document the human
experience. Since humans have been able, we have used philosophy, literature, religion, art, music,
history and language to understand and record our world. These modes of expression have become
some of the subjects that traditionally fall under the humanities umbrella. Knowledge of these records of
human experience gives us the opportunity to feel a sense of connection to those who have come before
us, as well as to our contemporaries.

What is art?

It refers to the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form
such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional
power.

What is creative writing?

Creative writing is any form of writing which is written with the creativity of mind: fiction writing, poetry
writing, creative non-fiction writing and more. The purpose is to express, whether it be thoughts,
experiences or emotions. Rather than simply giving information or inciting the reader to make an action
beneficial to the writer, creative writing is written to entertain or educate someone, to spread awareness
about something or someone, or to simply express one’s ideas and opinions.

Creative writing is also a great learning tool, a means to explore the world around us and challenge
assumptions. Creative writing exercises and workshops offer much more than just the training of writing
skills. In professional life, creative writing might help you find new ways of presenting knowledge and
experience to various target groups, and to improve your skills of persuasion. For educators, creative
writing provides a great way to broaden the curriculum and give students new, different challenges.
Creative writing enhances our imagination and understanding of strategies that help us to create original
ideas and new solutions to challenges we face. Thinking about personal growth, creative writing also
provides us with a means to become more comfortable with sharing our own thoughts, to get to know
oneself better, to explore our own strengths (and areas we may need to improve), how to get in touch
with feelings, as well as to improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Writing can help us to find self-
forgiveness and healing.

How is technical writing different from creative writing?

 Technical writing is not literature; it’s neither prose which recounts the fictional tales of
characters nor poetry which expresses deeply felt, universal emotions through similes and
metaphors.
 Technical writing is neither an expressive essay narrating an occurrence nor an expository essay
analyzing a topic. ! Technical writing is not journalism, written to report the news.
 Technical writing does not focus on poetic images, describe personal experiences, or report who
won the basketball game.
Instead, technical writing is: —an instructional manual for repairing machinery —a memo listing meeting
agendas —a letter from a vendor to a client —a recommendation report proposing a new computer
system

Technical writing is communication written for and about business and industry, focusing on products
and services: how to manufacture them, market them, manage them, deliver them, and use them.

Technical writing is written:

 in the work environment (in the office, from 8:00 to 5:00, not counting overtime)
 for supervisors, colleagues, subordinates, vendors, and customers

Technical writing, which must be understood easily and quickly, includes:

 memos and e-mail

 letters
 reports
 instructions
 brochures and newsletters
 the job search
 web pages
 fliers
 PowerPoint presentations
 Graphics

How is academic writing different from creative writing?

Academic writing is concerned with facts rather than

vague assumptions. It is based on a critical
judgement of complex ideas and information, rather
than an appeal to emotions. Academic language is
clear and concise. One should use formal language,
references and supporting evidence to defend an
argument rather than try to convince the reader
using emotive language or judgemental words such
as terrible, appalling, fantastic, or incredible. The
tone of the words one chooses should be formal
rather than conversational in style. In other words,
these words should exude the tone of being polite
and cordial rather than chatty and pushy. Note how
the words polite and cordial are formal and the
words chatty and pushy are informal, and each suits
the style they are describing. Avoid colloquial
language: figures of speech, idioms, and clichés.
Creating sensory images

Creating sensory images is a strategy readers use to think more deeply about a text. It is when a reader
combines their schema and the information in the text to create an image in their mind. This image can
represent all of the five senses (visual, smell, taste, sound, touch or feeling). Creating sensory images
also helps a reader draw on specific details in the text (e.g. a character’s thoughts, words or actions;
elements of tone, meaning or beauty of a text), creating an interaction between the reader and the text.
When readers make sensory images as they read, it helps them understand and enjoy the story more. It
is as if you are experiencing the text as it is happening and it is hard to stop reading.

Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley

O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being,

Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead

Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,

Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,

Pestilence-stricken multitudes:

O thou,Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed

The wingèd seeds, where they lie cold and low,

Each like a corpse within its grave,until

Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow

Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill (Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)

With living hues and odours plain and hill:

Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;

Destroyer and Preserver; hear, O hear!

Other examples:

1. The poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth uses imagery throughout:

A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the
breeze.Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending
line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
2. Charlotte's Web is full of imagery, such as this passage describing the fair: "In the hard-packed dirt of
the midway, after the glaring lights are out and the people have gone to bed, you will find a veritable
treasure of popcorn fragments, frozen custard dribblings, candied apples abandoned by tired children,
sugar fluff crystals, salted almonds, popsicles, partially gnawed ice cream cones and wooden sticks of
lollipops."

3. Romeo's description of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet is full of imagery:

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their
spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek
would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region
stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night.-- See how she leans her cheek upon
her hand!

4. Stream of thought

I was standing beside the blinking lights of Banco De Oro at the long side walk of Taft Avenue when
someone called “James!”

I turned to the source of the voice and upon seeing the face of the one who called me, my eyes grew
large, and I stood speechless, seeing a thousand mists flying around the scorching and dusty spaces of
Manila.

It’s dreamlike.

I hear her footsteps, coming towards me. I hear the sound of waters near the shore, molding the
crumpled plains of sand.

Time, I think, was fooled and chances are all at hand.

Different settings seem to emerge every time an inch expires.

Word riddles:

1. I have a head, tail, but no arms and legs. What am I?- Coin
2. It walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three legs in the evening. What is it?-
Man
3. All about, but cannot be seen; Can be captured, cannot be held; No throat, but can be heard.-
Wind
4. I’m full of holes, yet I’m full of water. What am I?- A sponge
5. The more you take, the more you leave behind.- Footsteps
6. Glittering points that downward thrust; Sparkling spears that never rust.- Icicle
7. The one who makes it, sells it. The one who buys it, never uses it. The one that uses it never
knows that he’s using it. What is it?- Coffin
8. What’s black when you get it, red when you use it, and white when you’re all through with it?-
Charcoal
9. You heard me before, yet you hear me again, Then I die, ’till you call me again.- Echo
10. What kind of tree can you carry in your hand?- Palm