As you read, Yancey believes that “reflection” allows students to become agents of their own learning. Other theorists view reflection as a means of looking back so that we can understand how to move forward. After reading Yancey's theory of reflection, I want you to reflect on reflection. Using specific evidence from the reading to respond to the following questions:
*What is Yancey's theory of reflection? How does she connect it to composition?
***Note: she defines reflection in several different ways, so I'm not looking for everyone to use the exact same definition. Use the one that stuck out to you or that you were drawn to.
*Make your own connections between reflection and writing--where does reflection fit into the writing process? To your writing process?
*Why is reflection "important" to you as a writer, a thinker, and a knowledge-maker?
250-450 words. Engage with your peers.
Due: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 by class time.
One of Yancey’s theory of reflection is, “in method, reflection is dialectical, putting multiple perspectives into play with each other in order to produce insight.” In composition, this creates a procedure of looking forward and reviewing at the same time and produces a dialogue between the two. This entices discovery and challenges the very content of what is being written as a sufficient descriptor of the situation.
ReplyDeleteReflection, to me, is the method of refining raw thoughts into a coherent, well-written piece of discourse. Reflection should occur after the original thoughts are spewed into and original essay. If a piece of writing is reviewed at the same time it is being written, the work produced is more of a manipulation than an original. I follow this model when I write my writing pieces. My first draft is a splatter of all my thoughts and ideas. My second draft is a refined version with correct grammar, better description of ideas, and more suitable vocabulary to express my thoughts. My third draft is a polished work; what I view as the best the essay can be at this point. This reflection and review process allows me to not only fulfill the Strunk and White requirements, but also to completely form and flush out my intended thoughts on the matter.
Reflection is important to me as a writer, a thinker, and a knowledge-maker because it is the best way to learn. Learning a subject once leaves a taste of the information. Reflecting on a subject refines the information, extrapolates how information can be used, and allows for the information to integrate with all prior knowledge we have. Reflection is the most essential thing a writer, thinker, and knowledge-maker can do to truly understand something.
I wish I had your patience to go through my writing multiple times! Maybe then my grammar would be better. I agree with the idea that reflecting on a subject allows us to really understand the information. Too often have I read something once, didnt understand it, then promptly forgot it. If I had reflected on it, there is a good chance I would of understood it more.
DeleteI am happy to know that I am not the only one to "read something once, did not understand it, then promptly forgot it" as Francoise said. The process of reflection is indeed the key to avoid this situation by embedding ideas into our brain.
DeleteI love the way Francoise mention the problem. This is why reflection comes into play. I believe that this is when contemplative matter the most. After process all the though, we can put in our own word, reflection. Which will be much easier to memorize.
DeleteThe idea that composition and reflection are in a constant dialogue is a great point. I always find myself reflecting on what I just wrote and seeing if it is the most effective way to get my point across. Then, I write the next paragraph. Reflect. It is an ongoing process that is exactly a dialogue. Great observation.
DeleteI love the way you explain your three different drafts of writing. Mine are the same way! My first draft is always just getting every possible thought out of my head and onto a piece of paper. After I reflect on it and notice an embarrassing amount of simple grammatical errors, I revise it into my second draft. By the third draft, it turns into a pretty spiffy paper--especially in comparison to the first version. This is living proof that reflection is necessary as long as you want a nice paper.
DeleteDrafts, drafts, drafts! I understund the need for them but I really like to write and pump out ideas from my brain. Usually they look, sound, and feel good but if not it's back to the drawing board or something along the lines of what I am doing/thinking. Totally my personal opinion, but first draft is the best draft--it's the ideas you scribbled like a crazy person on to some paper. Every idea.
DeleteThe definition of reflection that really stuck with me would be that it means “self-assessment, sometimes oriented to gap between intention and accomplishment”. Reflection for me is the way that I change my writing from me trying to put down my intentions to handing in an accomplishment of writing. Yancey connects it to composition by saying that by reflecting on the composition, the composition itself is understood better and enhanced beyond what it originally was.
ReplyDeleteFor me, unlike like Josh, reflection doesn’t really happen after the first rough draft. That is not to say that I don’t reflect on my work after I write. Mostly, however, I will often write a paragraph, then reread it and reflect on what I have just said. In fact, I would say that I reflect more while I am writing than after the first draft is done. It had to do quite a lot with the fact that while I am writing, I will write a sentence, then sit there and think about how I can improve that sentence. I do not have the patience to go over my work multiple times after I have already written it. I tend to reflect on the fly. Regrettably, that does mean that my work may not be as polished as it could be. I do not review it and reflect any more than once normally after it has been written.
Reflection is still important to me however as a writer, a thinker, and a knowledge-maker. Even though I do not often take the time to reflect on my writing as a whole more than once, I do reflect on it, and that has made my writing better than it would be. Reflection really forces one to think about what they have said and written, and it makes them think about if they wrote how they really think. It also makes them see if they explained their ideas clearly.
Yancey refers to several theorists' thought to define reflection but what stuck out to me is reflection as a “mode of behavior indicative of growth of consciousness”. Yancey explains that reflection occurs in response to a problem and allows theorizing and learning from our own practice. In composition, reflection is ever-present and a process of projection, retrospection and review goes on in order to make a product better than prior.
DeleteFor me, reflection fits into each step of the writing process. Before writing I reflect on what should be the best manner to pass down my thoughts. While I am writing, I use the same technique as Francoise, thus I reflect sentence after sentence. I do not use draft, I reread what I just written, trying to improve it and fitting into the paragraph. After writing, I reflect on: does my writing correspond to my thought? What could be the other way of thinking? I feel that the theory of Yancey works for me, I become agent of my own learning through reflection and I enjoy feel my thought evolve thanks to this process. It represents a kind of pride.
Reflection is “important” to me as a writer, thinker and a knowledge-maker because it is the best way to understand our surroundings' world and thus be able to act into it as a well thought out person. Moreover, reflection allows me to learn from my past mistakes, understand why I did them and then be “better able to accommodate with the next iteration of a similar instance” as Schon said. Reflection is essential to learn and understand our society where everything is moving forward.
I also reflect more during the actual writing process then after I finish. I find this to be the best way to write because once you finish, the paper is very clear and says exactly what I wanted it to say. Although, I agree it is still important to read it over again after the draft is done to make sure there are not any organizational issues.
DeleteThat actually seems like it would help a lot. I usually wait until I'm done with at least a paragraph then reflect. I think I do this though just so my brain can take a break from spewing out all these ideas. But reflecting after each sentence... that's a good idea. I feel like that way you wouldn't really get any (somewhat) repetition. I think I say the same thing but in different wording sentence after sentence. I'm going to try your reflecting process!
DeleteI agree with you and Becky. I think that reflecting and revising while writing could be a beneficial habit. But at the same time, I think I would still go back and reflect and revise at least one more time before I title my piece a 'final draft'. Overall, your writing is interesting and well organized, so this technique must be working for you!
DeleteI have the same writing process with you.Reflection also always happens when I am writing, not only after the first draft. I always need to re-read what I have written to smooth my thought and expend plot. It helps me to make connection with entirety writing, and make great consistency.
DeleteThe theory that stuck out most to me was the first one Yancey talked about. Yancey stated that reflection is a “growth of consciousness.” This “growth” serves “as a means of going beyond the text to include a sense of the ongoing conversations that texts enter in to.” To me, this statement means that reflection does not involve just simply going over your work to see what you did well and what you did poorly and should improve upon. It does have these aspects, but it more importantly tells more about the issue at hand and why the writer chose to write about it. Yancey makes this connection with composition that the reflection of the writer strengthens the original work, giving more context behind their arguments.
ReplyDeleteI think reflection is a large part of the writing process. By reflecting on your work, you can better understand the mistakes you made and learn to correct them for your next piece. In addition, reflection also reiterates what you did well. Finding what you do well in writing and repeating it is how learning occurs. I reflect on my own writing all the time because of this reason. However, I don’t have a specific, draft-oriented reflecting process. The first type of reflection Yancey states is the reflection in action. This type is the one that I implement the most throughout my writing process.
Reflection is important because, like Josh said earlier, you will not learn unless you look back at what you wrote. If you want to coherently put together that groundbreaking argument in your paper, you have to know how to effectively write. The learning comes through the reflection process and without it, writing does not improve.
I have the same idea with you. When I revise my writing, it is much easier to realize the mistakes I made. I cannot be aware of all the grammar or word choice when I write the first draft cause there are to many things I need to take care, such as structure of entirety writing or logicality of the statement and representation.
DeleteI tend to agree with the Russian psychologist Vygotsky that reflection can be on anything. However, scholarly writing is different from other types of writing. “A class assignment” is almost always aiming for a certain prospective, which I think plays an important part in scholarly reflective writing. The most common characteristic for academic writing is that it focuses on the thought process and the development of writing. According to Yancey, composition of reflection can be best described as “both process and product.” Yancey’s opinion refers to the goal of writing as being your own thought process that you have shown in the form of writing.
ReplyDeleteThe connection between reflection and me, as a writer, is that I truly believe reflection is the mirror to my identity. My reflection on the thought process starts from understanding the contents and the assignments. Most importantly, the product will determine the outcome of the paper. Therefore, the way that the writer communicates with the audience will play a significant role. Writing a good reflection not only brings me a good grade, it also shows my understanding and development as a thinker. Moreover, deliberating on the topic will make me become a wiser man.
Why is reflection "important" to you as a writer, a thinker, and a knowledge-maker? I might take a slightly different approach from many people, but I believe that reflection is another way to solve problems. It does play an important role in my terminology. Looking at a problem, I create a response, in which I try to summarize all of the possibilities and convert them into my own solution. Sorry for being off the topic. But as a writer, a thinker, and a knowledge-maker, reflection is important because it is a way to communicate with one another. It does show your true identity because you actually put thought into it.
One of theories that Yancey provides is, “Reflection, then, is the dialectical process by which we develop and achieve”. By explaining this theory, she extends, “Speaking generally, reflection includes the three processes of projection, retrospection (or review), and revision”. She makes readily comprehensible connection between reflection and writing. She believes writing also includes three processes: 1. goal-setting, revisiting, and refining 2. text-revising in the light of retrospection 3. the articulating of what learning has taken place, as embodied in various texts as well as in the processes used by the writer. This theory really stuck out to me because it almost as same as what I understand about reflection and writing.
ReplyDeleteAs far as my understanding, reflection is a process that makes writing enhanced. When I am writing, I am used to write fast without word choice or modifying sentence at the first draft. I feel that focus on details too much when I write the first draft will make me loss control and consistency of entirety. Therefore, I need to write fast to keep my train of thought clear. After I done my first draft, it is time to reflection. Just like Yancey’s opinion, I will review the first draft, and revise places that need to be enhanced or places are not that rational. This method makes my writing more effective and ideal.
Reflection is important to me because as a writer, a thinker, and a knowledge-maker, I need to produce valuable pieces, pursue deeper thought, and digest knowledge effectively. However, most people, of course including me, cannot make optimal thinking or decision rapidly. We need reflection to deliberate things again to generate better outcome. It is like when you read the same book twice, at the second time, you always can absorb more information (It means that you are capable to notice more information or details rather than the book get more information than before) and have deeper thought. You even may have new feeling or impression about the book. Therefore, reflection is extremely significant to me.
As an ESL student, I feel like some time it's harder for me to get a clear understanding of reading some hard pieces. As you were saying that making a "cannot make optimal thinking or decision rapidly" sometime will cause the problem to me. So, I'm totally agree with you that re-read the book or the assignment will definitely give me a better understanding.
DeleteYancey explained reflection as a key process that helps us become agents of our own learning. She uses words like enhancing, extending, necessary, changing. These are very accurate, powerful words in explaining what reflection really is. Yancey goes on to describe it as deliberating self-awareness and learning from their own practice. You cannot avoid reflection in the composition of writing. It would be a sin to do so. Sure, it takes more time and opens up multiple areas of your brain to think deeper into your piece, but it is worth every second of it. It confirms some of your initial ideas and finds problems in others.
ReplyDeleteI loved when Joseph Harris said, “The process you teach turns out to depend on the sort of product you want. The effect of process teaching thus becomes not an opening up of multiple ways of writing but an inculcating of a particular method of composing.” That is so true! If you want a good product, you must include reflection somewhere within the process.
As a writer, reflection is a very important part in the writing process. You should never just write something down once and not look back at it or think about it at least once. That is how simple grammatical errors pop up multiple times throughout your piece, distracting any readers. I tend to reflect after each paragraph—mostly just to give my brain (and fingers) a break. I actually enjoy reflecting. I love looking back and seeing what I said and if it is worded correctly and if it sounds good. I find it interesting to see what my first thoughts were. My first draft is almost unconsciously writing out everything, then my second draft I always adjust things so it makes sense.
Reflection is a necessary step for all writers and/or thinkers. Just think of how jumbled up essays and novels—really any piece of writing (even a blog)—would be if writers never looked back at their work. I doubt anybody would even be able to follow what the writer was attempting to say. Sure, it may make sense to the writer. But nobody else would get it, and that is the important part. Needless to say, let’s all just reflect and everything is good in the writing world.
I like the point you make about reflection be a necessary component for any type of writer. I think this is very true because really where would the worlds literature be if no one had ever reflected on a piece they wrote. Or if we all just thought that the first thing we wrote was perfect? Things would be in shambles so I really appreciate you applying this theory on a broad scale elaborating on the state of chaos literature would be in if no one reflected on their writing. Reflection is very important and critical and I like the points you made throughout your piece!
DeleteIn “Reflection” Yancy discusses many factors that contribute to her theory of reflection. Her point about reflection serving as a “baseline against which development can be evaluated” jumped out to me as a unique view of reflection that personally I had never thought of before. It’s important in ever piece of writing to evaluate your work and gauge progress, which is what I think this point of Yancy’s theory is speaking too. When you reflect on a piece you can review what needs work and/ or what’s working.
ReplyDeleteReflection serves many purposes, but most of all it’s a way for one to get in touch with their work to better improve as a writer. When reflecting you are able to look back on a piece and review what you did that you liked, what you didn’t like, and what you can make better, ultimately achieving progress. Whenever I review I tear up some of my best pieces because I don’t think that they’re good enough. Reviewing shows me what I can change for my next piece to get it to where I want it to be.
Reflecting is important to me because it serves as a tool that slowly, with every piece, helps you become a better writer. Reflecting gives you knowledge about things and ideas to make you a better writer propelling you to learn about different techniques and ways to improve. It helps you look inside yourself and slowly change things about your work to make them more clear, or flow easier over time. Without reflection I don’t think that I would be where I am today because I would have never taken the time to learn from my mistakes. Also reflection is an important way to discover things about you. Writing a reflection on life, or on yourself is a great way to look deeper into some of the issues one may be dealing with, so I think reflection not only has an important place as far as writing goes, but it also can be beneficial when used as a personal tool.
Yancey's theory of reflection, basically says that as students we have lost touch with what we write, so as opposed to spitting out writing--that may or may not be written well--a student should, in a sense, take the role of the teacher and learn the writing. That is, students improve their writing by analyzing their own writing and as a result learn how to be better writers given they just read their paper on existentialism and the paper does not coincide with what they were initially wanting to write about and/or the assignment. By using reflection the work composed can be restructured and improved.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the reflection process does not necessarily have to immediately follow the writing of a piece. Planning, reflection whilst writing, and post-writing reflection are all a part of and are integral to reflection. Personally, I like to reflect on my writing whilst I write; the reason being is that I do not enjoy writing bland, unnecessary lines of "fluff." In other words, "Get to the damn point!" By reflecting while writing, one is able to make everything connect because an individual wants to stay in line with what was in the last line of text and so on, and so forth. Though, reflection while writing can at times prove difficult; many thoughts are floating around, you try to make them sound clear and concise, and boom, writer's block. That being said all the stages of reflection are integral to writing, one must plan their piece--have a general idea, one must think whilst writing--make it sound good, and finally one must reflect--re-read, correct, make it better.
Through reflection, one learns their modes of writing (Bet you already thought you knew them. Wrong!) Random, subconscious writing is basically all that a student writes, given they have become accustomed to writing in this way and have been rewarded (or punished) for said writing. By reflecting on these thoughts you begin to learn the modes in which you as a writer make art or crap. Example: my college application essay. Essentially, a fiery, empowered rant about how the U.S. shat on and is still shitting Cuba, and that we should stop doing so. Cool right? No! All of it, shit! Really, maybe I was and am being cynical, but I wrote it, felt really good after finishing, read it and it was crap; honestly I don't know how I'm in college. Back to reflection, as I read it over, it sounded nothing like me, more like a really pissed off--to give an example of a person who rants and doesn't back anything up--Rush Limbaugh (mind you, this a terrible person--how stupidity and fundamental fanaticism can get you places I'll never know.) I was quite dissatisfied and tried to improve it in any way possible, but being the lazy-ass I was during high school and after countless hours of convincing myself that it was acceptable, I submitted it and that was that. I can honestly say that is probably some of the worst writing I have ever done and am sorry to the Office of Admissions for making them review such a terrible, terrible piece. Had I not reflected on it, even long after I no longer had a copy--better yet I didn't want to read it again--my writing would not have significantly improved after that. So, in conclusion, reflection is essential to writing, one must know what they are producing and if that is what they want to produce.
The theory that I agreed with most was reflection is a “growth of consciousness”. This idea of rethinking a sentence or paragraph means the author is trying to improve the piece by expanding his or her initial thoughts. By doing so, the author’s mind should try to be creative and think up new ideas. For example, finding new ways to word certain ideas and go beyond the text is how an author may go about attempting to revise and reflect on his or her work. Yancey connects this to composition by stating that by reflecting on a piece of writing helps the reader understand and read the piece of writing easier. It also allows the piece of writing to become significantly enhanced.
ReplyDeleteTo me, reflection is a key piece to completely a piece of writing. By reflecting on my work, I can better my writing considerably. It gives me time to see exactly what I did wrong so that I can reflect, revise and make changes so my writing reads better, sounds better and is more intriguing. Usually, I will wait until my first or second draft is done before I truly reflect on my writing. My initial revisions are never really my last revisions. I will go over a piece of writing two or three times after a set of revisions to make sure it is explaining exactly what I am aiming to prove.
Reflection is important to me because it is what perfects a piece of writing. Allowing oneself to reflect and revise a piece also allows the author to fully exude exactly what he or she is trying to convey. Sometimes our first drafts are not our best drafts and by reflecting on previous writing, the author is given a chance to expand ideas and improve their arguments.
I agree with you. My first draft are never really my final revisions. I like to revise my writing until it looks perfect to me. It is always necessary to revise writing because there must have something need to be modified or at least need to be enhanced.
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