The illustration has been taken from “˜The Curious Writer’ by Leslie Marmon Silko. These details are not exhaustive but only present a mere sample of the various ways to assess critically a published work of art. Our aim is to focus on various ways of constructing positive criticism in an essay. Students have been writing all through their academic life, those moments of reflection, surprise and questioning have convinced them that the power of inquiry is the heart of all academic writing. The book provides students with writing prompts that let them focus on their question before exploring the idea of research and experience. “˜The Curious Writer’ offer students with prompted guides to make such decisions. Professionalism is the major issue that the reader has emphasized on as a matter of fact. Then, is it possible to have a curious researcher, a curious reader and a professionally curious writer?
The book covers much of what are contained in the instruction manuals of most of the syllabus. What are found in this book are suggestions to teaching the writing course. Additional activities has also been included in these chapters as a supplement to the teaching assignment. This is an assignment-oriented guide that stresses on connections between academic and personal writing. It offers a unique, personal and entertaining author’s voice. “˜The Curious Writer’ has grabbed the interest of students and has been quite motivating to guide writers. It emphasizes on inquiry of both the driving force of process of writing and the discovery of learning. The principle applied in the book is where the writers begin with asking a question, other than the answer. This has enabled them to achieve better results in their works of art. The writer treats research, critical reading skills and revision as an organic process of every writing process (Chaffee, Christine and Barbara pg. 40).
In each of these eight chapters in the book, the author has outlined the natural component of a creative procedure. It provides an important coverage that supplies a unique resource tool which is the internet. In my view, the book is useful to those writers who have the curiosity to reveal the secrets and techniques to their readers. It has taken into consideration the fact that authors have the desire to share more with their reader, and it is thus their duty to maintain a level of informational curiosity.
For one to make a good writer, there is a need to maintain a live topic throughout the sight. The book emphasizes on this important in guiding the writer on the need to serve more than just one purpose. For instance, a biographical material should have the intentions to inspire the readers while political writings should serve legal and diplomatic purposes to assure social justices.
For any work of art to command the required authority to the reader, it should have the qualities of reflective writing. After each and every assignment chapter for sample reading, there are about four to six questions that require. In this text you, will find notes that have the reflection of academic inquiry and so many ideas have been outlined within the text. These ideas can be composed in a journal or as a personal reading response (Ballenger & Bruce pg. 34).
To make sure the students have a deep and clear understanding of what they are taught in class, practical assignments are the most appropriate ways to ensure application of the theories done in class are workable. “˜The Curious Writer’ seems to have taken this into consideration, it has all that is needed to assist students in understanding the purpose of every type of essay and the common features found in both. In this book, Chapter 4-11 has been used specifically to help students evaluate and generate their own concepts for the topic and then draft an essay.
We also have to consider whether the student has the basics required to generate their own ideas, build them and discover a promising subject for their essay. Therefore, to ensure that the students are able to prompt their ideas in a clear manner, the students are allowed to review their generative writing based on particular questions for the subject. These prompt questions can be responded to at the convenience of the writer, may it be at home, during class time or online based on the mode of learning used. Activities for a generative writing have been provided for in the instructor’s manual under every chapter or at the textbooks website.
In order to avoid moving away from the topic of discussion, review of the essay and the argument should be encouraged. In chapter 8 of the book, it allows students the opportunity to review and revise their earlier essay and then compose their research essay. For an essay to fulfill the requirements it was meant for, it should have several existing alternatives depending on the length and the goals of your course. Instead of asking the student to read their entire subject, consultations and revision strategies should be provided for at the end of every chapter. The numerous quizzes and exercises help the students to understand the chapter concept, reflect on their thinking and writing.
The main shortcoming to the text is that the author has relied so much on personal opinion rather than quantified empirical data. The absence of supportive evidence leaves us with no way to judge the rationality of his conclusion and to some extent undermine his work.