Discourse

I think that these two discourses are a lot alike, but also different. They are different in the sense that the little boy grew up on the streets and the man did not. They are alike because they both share a love for music.

What was I taught never to do as a writer

First, I was taught, with some of my previous teachers, to always make an outline before I start my paper. I always thought that this was necessary until I had one professor that said otherwise. For example, before I had to write a paper for his class, he pronounced by saying that writing an outline was optional and that if we did not want to write one then we did not have to write one. Therefore, I didn't write the outline and went about writing the paper without planning ahead what I was going to write about. Later, when I received the paper back, the teacher gave me an A and said that it was the best paper I had written all year. Furthermore, with that experience I gained knowledge about myself that I do a better job on papers if I do not prepare ahead of time and rather write the paper out of spontaneity. Although, I do feel as though this method does not work for everyone. I think this because everyone is different and some people do better with a plan going into the paper.

Second, I was taught, not necessarily on purpose, to write what the teacher wants to read. Although, I think that all the blame can not be put upon the teacher. I think that the student has to receive some of the blame too. I think this because the student, when in his/her younger years has to write a paper, they more so focus upon what grade they will be receiving, and not as much on how creative they can make the paper. Thus, the student will be wanting a good grade so bad that they will write more so to what they know the teacher wants to read, and not as much their own thoughts. Now, I am not saying that every child is like this, but I think that the majority of young students are. Now, on the other hand, I think that when teachers give students their opinion of a topic, which would be on the specific paper he or she would be writing, I think that sometimes they fail to realize that this might inhibit a student from using their own thoughts and opinions. Again, I don't think that a lot of times teachers mean to do this, but I think that it might be best to exclude the teachers opinion so that the students have no choice but to use their ideas and opinions on the paper. I think that many times the teacher wants to try and help out people that are stuggling with ideas and so that is why the teacher voices their opinion, in order to help the student get started.