First and foremost, Nancy Sommers’ writing was quite contradictory. I am not sure if that was her intention, considering how she ended the paper. “Good writing disturbs: it creates dissonance” (387), I’m assuming since she has written this academic article and many more she is considered a well experienced writer as well as a “good writer”, rightfully so. Therefore, she is creating her own version of dissonance by having ideas clash and contradict? Furthermore, I felt as if I was having an identity cris in terms of my place in academia. Am I still considered a student writer until I receive my Master’s degree? If an experienced writer is just someone who has ventured out in writing and has been exposed to new ideas, then I feel as if I would be one. On the other hand, almost everything a student writer does, for example following a linear model—I do too. I tend to follow the structures that I have been taught in my many years of schooling. Additionally, as a student who is currently concluding their graduate thesis, I personally find it beneficial to use a thesis statement as a controlling device in my introductory paragraphs. I believe establishing your thesis in the introduction will inform the reader of your stance, as well as help YOU the writer to bring back all your facts to your main point. This I what I was taught, and this is the type of pedagogy I still follow. If I am not supposed to follow the directions of my professors, then what is the point? But I guess the topic of authority comes into play because as a student you put all your faith in your educators because have more experienced insight. Now, on the topic of experience, it seems that experienced writers have multiple drafts when it comes to revision, and I can confidently say that I have only completed 1 draft which I read over a few times until I click submit. So, are you an experienced writer for not having structure and causing havoc in your writing? I’m a bit perplexed by Nancy Sommers.
Am I an experienced writer?
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