Self-Expression is Not Homework
November 11, 2009 | ama83
Writing your own opinion doesn't have to be so hard.
Most people recognize art as a form of self-expression. Artists show their feelings and opinions through their artistic work. Usually, this is respected and/or admired by fellow artists or even people who wish they could express themselves in a creative way. However, when it comes to writing compositions, very few people actually look forward to writing down their own thoughts.
Instead of looking at essays as a form of expressing themselves, many students see it as one of the worst forms of homework.
Students who already know the joy of writing can look forward to writing down their opinions. I just happened to be one of those students who thrilled at the notion of expressing my views on paper. But students who hate sitting down at a computer and writing out pages and pages of a composition can only see the essay as tedious work.
What these students do not realize is that the essay is their chance to finally voice their opinions and views. The teacher is actually asking for your opinion, wanting to know what you think of an issue or book. Don’t you want to give it?
In front of the whole class, voicing an opinion can be intimidating for some of us. I always hated having short debates with other students who disagreed with my interpretations of certain books in literature class. Writing an essay was my chance to go uninterrupted.
Everyone has an opinion. Whether we verbally voice or keep it to ourselves, we all have our own ideas of why or how things should be done. Why wouldn’t a student want to jump on that opportunity with an essay? Quite often the strength in an essay comes from an opinionated student. Of course, writing logically and coherently helps too.
Yes, sometimes the topics are boring or out of our comfort zone. That does not mean you cannot express some of this in your essay. There is always a way to show your feelings about a matter in a diplomatic and mature way. Writing is one of the best ways to practice presenting your opinions in a logical manner.
As for myself, I never found it easy to explain myself on the spot in class. But, when I would write down my views, I had plenty of time to think things through and present my opinions clearly.
Compositions force us to write with reasons. We cannot simply write, “I think this author’s message was stupid,” because then we would look stupid for having such a lousy argument. And yet, if we force ourselves to think of specific reasons why we do not like the author’s message, then our views are expressed clearly and we can feel a sense of release.
Self-expression is all about releasing our joys or frustration. When people misinterpret our views, we can become even more frustrated for being misunderstood. This is where practice in writing comes in handy. When the art of writing is mastered, the window for self-expression opens all kinds of possibilities.
People like Barack Obama and Malcolm X knew how to express themselves eloquently, which gained them respect. Writing properly to express your own ideas and opinions helps students feel empowered and confident.
Writing should not be looked at as form of confining work. It should be looked at as a way of voicing views.
I have always loved writing, but started a family early in my life and so I didn’t finish my college education – English classes. So now I express myself by writing recipes and stories to go with them. Writing my recipes is a way for me to express myself; my cooking, my recipes, can actually tell my moods!