Journal #7
(Image: circular patterned loop)
The looping activity was very interesting as a concept to flush ideas out. I think it is very effective at pinpointing different things in a perspective paper or assignment that someone would write on. For example the literacy encounter assignment and its main idea can be traced back to the looping activity. Even if the ideas conceived through the looping activity are not used, it is still a useful tool to find ideas you might use in the future.
During the activity itself the first question asked was simply a short description of what the literacy encounter was. This allows the writer to get a basic foundation for the rest of the activity much like the foundation for the paper itself. Moving on to the next step which was to free write about the significance of the literacy experience. This forces the writer to explain themselves in a way that makes sense to them, allowing the meaning behind the specific experience to be revealed in a short quick write about it. The reason this is so important is because without a meaning behind the experience the assignment would be rather bland. Without a significant change or effect on the person's thinking the experience has no effect. The next step was arguably the most effective as it pinpointed the main idea of what the experience meant. For me, it was the revelation that writing can be more than a chore, and is something that is important dare I say enjoyable; something to build upon. This sets the tone for what your going to write about for the rest of your assignment. Moving forward to elaboration on the point that was written in the previous step which allows the writer to reflect on that main idea. The last and final step is to evaluate the loop that was just made, did it work, did it not wok? Do you need more loops or is it perfect? This is effective because it leaves it to the writer to decide whether they need more or not.
The primary insight I found was the main idea for my paper. All writers know that this is the most important and critical part of writing is finding what to write about. For the literacy assignment it is the first debate case I ever wrote and how that affected my perspective on writing as a whole. This revelation during the loop assignment allows me to focus on different parts of my paper, expanding what parts I should write on, and the stress of where to begin vanishes in my rear view mirror. The loop activity is a great tool not only for writers but for anyone struggling to flush out an idea that they might have. I think I will certainly use it in future writing assignments as it makes finding the main point of an essay easier. It is an efficient way to start your writing process and in writing efficacy is key.