Radio Essay Remarks

   Three students from another class stared at me intently, curiously pondering about what my response might be, as one of the students asked what the most difficult aspect of our class was. I felt a great deal of pressure fall on me at the moment because it is almost impossible to explain this new process through words. I can tell someone what it is like for me, the experience, but they will never truly know unless they experience it themselves. I am personally very happy with the way this class presents constant challenges. Regardless of what your particular major is, I think we can, and will, become stronger writers after the revision processes and tips we are gaining in class. Through these assignments, we are making small, condense pieces, but it feels like our work in under a magnifying glass. Our work is more crucially analyzed because there is more to be remembered in small body of work. Each error sticks out blatantly. There is really no room for error. It will very unlikely go unnoticed. The biggest challenges for me were trying to compel listeners in a short amount of time. I am used to creating an intro and a conclusion in my work. This process feels like I am jumping ahead to page 4 or 5 in my writing; something that feels unnatural. Jumping into the fire right away will most likely continue to be the most difficult aspect for me as the class goes on. Knowing what to cut, and what to keep, goes along with this same process, and can feel frustrating.

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 4, 2018 at 12:31 PM

    I think you make some very real observations in this class so far. I agree I think that this class will help us become better writers because if the pressure in every little error, I never thought about like a magnifying glass before but that is pretty accurate it feels. I agree that jumping into the fire is a scary concept (both literal and in the class context) but I also think that it is this idea and challenge that is the ultimate tool to make us better writers. I am like you and always want a good strong introduction and conclusion so it's super weird to step outside of that, but I think that's why it's kind of fun it just takes out the extra step I guess.

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  2. UnknownFebruary 4, 2018 at 2:29 PM

    Great points made here about trying to explain to other people how this process works. It was so interesting to go through a process like this and truly see what goes into and what is required for producing good work. I relate to the point you make about the way each error sticks out. For me the process was unique in that its not only language but also sound and delivery errors that hop out. Good luck going forward.

    -Lilly

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  3. UnknownFebruary 5, 2018 at 8:13 AM

    "The biggest challenges for me were trying to compel listeners in a short amount of time"

    Yes!

    I think, when we write and expect our work to be read, we have a slight advantage--the reader has already made a commitment to be there. You can certainly lose them, but they have already met you halfway.

    With a radio essay, it's different. People tune out all the time, even in regular conversation. That commitment to engage with your words isn't there; you have to demand it.

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