This week we were assigned to read The Sea of Information by Andrea Barrett and, "Prepare for discussion three passages
that express an insight about creativity." -Mr.Allen. When it came time for me to look over the homework assigned on the class website, I read the above explanation for the assignment incorrectly. I thought that it had meant write about three passages that explain how she expresses her creativity.
Boy was I wrong.
The next day there was a quiz on the essay, and for the quiz we had to write down almost the exact same thing we did for homework, and it wasn't until I was flipping through the essay looking for useable notes that I realized I had done the assignment completely wrong.
By sheer luck I had underlined the first of three ways that she, "express[es] an insight about creativity" and that ended up being the only thing I wrote down the entire quiz.
The next day we went over the answers that Mr. Allen believed to be correct and I noticed that the answers were almost describing exactly what I didn't do to complete the assignment right. The Sea of Information seems to be indirectly related to how someone can be a good student. Her first point was:
#1. "Study the work of other creators and be a good student.
The work of others in terms of structure and language can
inspire you to create (10)." (Mr. Allen's 1st answer)
This first point informed me that to be a good student I have to take the time to study in depth the creations of other 'creators' essentially. If I had done exactly that, I would have been able to read the entire essay and point out exactly where she gives insight about creativity. Not only does this relate to my incomplete assignment, but also to my creative thinking process. In addition:
#2. "Inhabit other worlds through reading. This allows the
creative mind to think in other realities and live beyond its
own, generating a richer pool of ideas for creative work
(14)." (Mr. Allen's 2nd answer)
The second point in a way was informing me of the importance of expanding my creative mind by thoroughly reading the essay and other literature. By doing so, I won't miss it's main points and I'll be able to do the assignment correctly while also helping my creative mind to think beyond my own reality. Lastly:
#3. "Finding the voice of your work is very important. You
have to feel your way into it by constructing the basic frame-
work of the work, then add the details later. In other words,
be willing to sketch (18)." (Mr. Allen's 3rd answer)
Finally, the third point is a way to bring all your thoughts together and figure out what your personal voice is in your work. By doing so, you'll be able to set the foundation of your creation and then have options as to what your next move will be based on that foundation. For me it means following the guidelines of the homework while adding my personal thoughts or voice to the work as well.
The Sea of Information informs students like me on how to be a good student by giving step by step instructions on how to accomplish that. They are related because, perhaps without knowing, she (and Mr. Allen!) created a guideline for students to follow when it comes to being a good student. The relationship between these two subjects matters to me because I am the kind of student who has a lot of trouble thoroughly reading the packets that my English teachers hand out. This essay gave me insight into the things that I am doing wrong when it comes to analyzing stories or essays and how I can change the way I approach the assignment (or my creative mind).
The next time you encounter a homework assignment that seems difficult, remember the instructions that Andrea Barrett and my teacher Mr. Allen taught here today.
Until next time,
Rachel.
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