Background: At SPU, I completed a course called The Sentence, where we analyzed sentence structure, punctuation, and how these aspects work together to allow writers to accomplish their goals. I also completed sentence exercises that pushed me to write within extreme boundaries, such as this one. I wrote a 210-word paragraph consisting of only 6-word sentences. Please view my exercise below.
4/5/18
The Purpose of an English Major
What does an English major do? English majors read, write, and synthesize. They think
about what authors mean. Why write this sentence like this? Why use this terminology and
vocabulary? Sometimes the answers are frustratingly ambiguous. Sometimes we can’t speak to
authors. This can be due to death. Or they might be in prison. Therefore, authors’ intentions
can’t be determined. We must determine intent for ourselves. These are often guesses or
theories. Intent can be based on language. Structure and word order also matter. But what
about thinking about feelings? Language is used to describe feelings. Communicated feelings
help readers determine tone. Theme is also expressed through feelings. Personal emotional
reactions can guide reading. When writing, English majors desire creativity. How can ideas be
communicated creatively? What new ideas can I share? Which authors do I disagree with?
What do I want to change? Writing seems easy but is difficult. You want to communicate ideas
clearly. You want reader understanding and response. How can both goals be achieved?
Synthesis is about putting ideas together. Which authors agree with each other? Which authors
push against other authors? Ideas seem to clash and rumble. However, these ideas can be
interrelated. Persistence must exist for their discovery. This quality thrives in English majors.
Carissa Winslow 