My Semester in a Blog

Many things have changed since those hot August days we spent sweating in class, only to get out of class to walk home and sweat some more. I’ve changed a lot as a person – my understanding of grammar has exploded, and I think I might have grown a little taller. I was a younger person – my mind less-developed. My knowledge of grammar was pretty much limited to my own writing, where the knowledge of grammar overall is what I was striving for. Although I was fairly confident in my grammatical skills at the beginning of the year, there is no doubt they have been sharpened like a diamond and are ready for a lifelong era of excellence.

Of all of the skills attained while on my path to becoming an English major, perhaps my most anticipated was just learning the terminology. I knew more than enough rules at the beginning of the semester to write like the scholar I am, but didn’t know what they were called. After a semester in Barbara’s Grammar Camp, I know what these rules are called, and have learned a few more in the process. These rules have become a part of my writing and are undeniably the best thing to happen to my writing – aesthetically and grammatically. My favorite of these clauses is the AWWWUUBBIS strategy (which I have used a few times in this blog) for its simple effectiveness. I’ve used the concept of introductory clauses for some time now, but to know the exact method for using them gives me the confidence to use them along with other lesser-known grammatical strategies.

Of the many things you have brought into class and shown us throughout the semester, the most interesting was Gary Provost’s take on the importance of sentence length/structure. The piece was brought in perfect timing, because my sentence structure was a worry of mine. As I wrote in the first blog, “Sometimes I am unsure whether or not I should end a sentence with a certain word, or if I can’t because of a weird rule. This goes back to the issue of having a strong grasp on the subject and being uneasy in some areas of your writing. I have found that being weary of a topic causes me to change my writing style, and I will start being passive or not make any sense.” Because of my inflated ego and over usage of confidence on a daily level, I need to be sure that what I’m writing is safe and sound. If I am weary of a sentence, or unconfident in my understanding of a rule or concept, it will most definitely show in my word choice and structure. But this is where Provost comes in. He stressed the importance of sentence length. Each sentence must vary or else the writing begins to sound boring – a writer’s nightmare. From this I have begun my path to writing excellence. Whatever that means.

As I reflect on the word-work we’ve done this semester, I have at least gained a sense of confidence – if nothing else. Now I know I can grasp the concept of grammar. If I just continue to put in the work I have been putting in, and devote some of my academic attention on grammar, I will keep developing skills while successfully using the ones I already know. Perhaps the most important concept to remember from this semester is to be myself as a writer. My knowledge of rules will always be in the back of my head. I need to learn to suppress any lack of confidence that might creep into my mind and let my creativity flow – it’s worked so far!