Murray and Strasser

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2. In what ways, according to Murray, is writing autobiographical?

          We often write from past experiences. We can only call on what we know for inspiration.

     Can you categorize the way that Murray believes writing is autobiographical?

          - Expanding on personal experiences

          - Creating something from the heart/feelings

          - Writing about something unknown based on your own research

5. Consider the implications of Murray's arguments: If he's right, how do his ideas change the way you think about writing? Would they encourage you to write any differently than you currently do?

          Murray's ideas are interesting, and I believe them to be true. However, it will not change the way I write.

6. Consider the last few texts that you have written, whether from school, work, or personal reasons. Consider the ways that these texts are--or are not--autobiography in the sense that Murray describes.

          Everything I have written in the past has been based on my personal experiences and research. 

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1. Strasser writes that "The devices of grammar and rhetoric remain superficial skills until a writer employs them to express important and powerful feeling, thoughts and ideas. Why? And do you agree?

          What Strasser is saying makes perfect sense to me. Focusing just on grammatical skills creates a false idea that writing is a chore and you aren't allowed to play with it. I often find myself feeling the same way.

2. What seems to be the issue for Strasser is creating "personally meaningful writing" in response to school assignments. Is there anything in Stanley Fish's advocacy of a writing course that teaches reasoning which would rule out such personally meaningful writing? In other words, is Strasser write to assume that Fish's insistence on writing in order to exercise one's grammar will actually lead to meaningless writing?

          When you are forced to forced to work on strictly grammar, all the fun that can come from writing is taken away. It takes away the freedom that can be had in writing.

3. In your experience, does school create a separation of mind, body, and spirit that Strasser quotes bell hooks as identifying.

          I believe that school CAN do such things, but it's not usually the case. I suppose it would depend on the teacher. In high school, one of my courses required us to write 500-1000 word responses to different prompts, about every other day. She wanted us to follow all grammar rules as closely as possible and to keep a professional tone throughout. When all you write is mock business memos and unimaginative responses, you find any trace of creativity you may have starts to whither away.

440 words. Confirmed using www.wordcounter.net