Thlog #2 (4/8/16)

From the reading on First and Second Order thinking I created this idea in my head that the creative and undirected First Order thinking was the “right way” to write, but after doing my PB1a I realized that writing is a combination of both as well as the writers personal preference. I have written a couple of papers First Orderly and I have been successful in writing them, they were even relatively easier to write compared to my usually long and disastrous writing process.

PB1a was different though because although I did not create an outline for what I was writing I followed the questions in the prompt line for line, like an outline. Once I got to the specific question, for example explaining the purpose of my genre, I used First Order thinking to project all my ideas for that topic, so everything that came to my mind relating to the purpose I wrote it down. Its relieving knowing that Second Order thinking doesn’t have to happen second, even if its effectiveness would probably be better. I think that using Second Order thinking can be helpful when someone is stuck or needs to make a guideline to push them along in writing.

 Honestly, I don’t think I would be able to have done PB1a without the guiding questions. If we had been asked to write a 2-page rhetorical analysis, based on what we have learned so far, on a genre of one’s choice my PB1a would have been complete garbage and BS. Reading #14 journal response and how their process was more self-directed kind of shocked me because of what I said one the guidance I had when writing PB1a. They described their thoughts on about how they would write a birthday card (their genre) and who they were writing for, they did this before actually answering the prompt. When I wrote my PB1a I would read a question with a genre in mind and see what kind of material I could generate, the one that I had the most input on is the one I ended up writing the whole piece on.

 The coolest thing that I got out of this week is that everyone brainstorms and writes in different ways. The way in which people think and act as either First Order or Second Order is irrelevant, but switching between the two and combining them in writing and other aspects of life can benefit people.