Is the Academic Paper Dead?

I want to write. There was never a time in my life where I wasn’t writing. I don’t see there ever being a period where I wouldn’t continue to. However, I was terrible at writing in high school. I still struggle with it today. While I may love writing stories, plays, and even my miscellaneous thoughts down, I seem to always have trouble when it comes to formal writing assignments. I was consistently a B student in my English classes because of my inability to formulate a proper academic paper. When it came to less formal writing assignments, it seemed to be the exact opposite. If I was free to write on a topic that I was actually interested in, I was more likely to have stronger writing.

It may have also not helped that I went to an ultracompetitive high school. I was terrified to write anything for fear of scrutiny from my classmates. I felt as if my writing was in some way not on par with theirs and perhaps because of that I was afraid to take risks; the thought of anyone reading my paper and thus giving me criticism terrified me. Sharing anything that I had written would open me up to ridicule.

I was worried about coming to college because I thought that I would be unable to excel in my classes due to my inability to write a proper academic paper. It was to my surprise that we were actually able to explore writing in different ways, such as the blog post. I notice that my words tend to flow more easily in these. My arguments tend to be stronger and my opinions hold up because I don’t feel the restrictions that I would in a traditional essay. A lot of times when students are forced to write a paper they must stick to one opinion even though they may have contradicting thoughts.  In a blog post, the writer can jump from different points of view.

Blogging this semester has taught me to be less afraid of sharing my writing with people. I have lost a lot of my inhibitions, maybe that’s because the people in our class are more encouraging than most or maybe I’ve just learned to care a little bit less about what others think.

I do think that students should still learn the structures of an academic paper. Nevertheless, the world is changing, people are texting more than they are talking and it must be accepted that the traditional ways of writing are gone. There is definitely a generational gap between many professors and their students. Teaching students how to blog and using it as a tool for creativity can help resolve those differences. 

Missed Opportunities

Missed opportunities are some of the greatest tragedies in life. We never forget about them. They stay in our heads forever because we so often think maybe. Maybe if I had just done this or this or that then maybe things would be different. I can’t count how many times I have been frustrated because I didn’t go for what I wanted or I messed up a situation. Typically, I was just too scared to do something. You know what though? We get one shot in life. We have one chance to make something matter and life is so short, we never really know what will happen the next day, so why not reach out and do something unusual? Something that is out of character. Maybe things won’t turn out the way we want, but few things ever do in life. We should at least try. 

My Observations on other Classmates' Blogs

I often like to explore what other people in the class have posted and compare my own writing to theirs. Often, I feel like my own writing is lacking after reading everyone else’s. I have realized that we have such a diverse group of people in this class and have enjoyed getting to know them through these blog post entries. There are so many people in this class who could seriously consider pursuing a path in writing.

I have a couple of favorite blogs, but I have noticed that people seem to surprise me with their posts. Those who I feel may not write the most significant posts turn out to have some of the best later on.

I love it when people write personal posts. I enjoy the pictures that accompany these because it helps to give me insight into what they were like before they came here. People change a lot once they come to college and often the people who they were in high school seem completely different. However, the pictures people post need to have some significance to them. Sometimes the pictures that go with the blogs do not have a caption or they simply do not draw the reader in (I admit that I am victim to doing this). I noticed that those who included videos usually have the stronger visual elements to their blogs, especially if they describe in detail why the video is so important. I have thought about including videos in my own blog, but struggle to find ones that I feel are significant.

I also enjoy the blogs that deviate from traditional writing styles. These types of blogs draw the reader in because you never know what direction the writer will take.

Recently, one classmate wrote a poetic peace that I absolutely loved. I think that mixing up the traditional blog posts and experimenting with poems and stories is a great idea for keeping readers interested. 

Character Development

Phase 1

I’m sitting on the first floor of Alice Lloyd people watching. I typically see this person sitting down here at the computer multiple hours during the day (not to be creepy). He is a black male who appears to be about 19 years old. He is about six feet tall and very muscular. From listening to his conversation with two girls, he played football at Michigan at one point, but was injured and is no longer able to play. He has one earring in and thick, black-framed glasses. He has a slight stubble, but then again most of the males here do.

The girls he is talking to are being very flirty. They tease him and ask, “can you still wear the football swag if you’re not on the team?” He tells them to shut up. He has an assertive, yet playful way about him. He seems like the funny goofball who still holds everything together.

Phase 2

This character I have created is Brandon White from a medium sized town in Virginia. I imagine him coming from a supportive yet football oriented family. He is very smart, as I can tell by the homework he is always doing every time I see him.  Now that he is unable to play football he is focusing all of his energy on getting into the Ross School of Business. Losing football allowed him the ability to explore other passions that he had never contemplated before. However, he faces the risk of losing his scholarship. He does not have the money to own a computer unlike many students and he must use the computers at the school. His undiscovered learning disability, something he has struggled with his entire life, seems to be more noticeable than ever. His pride prevents him from getting help. He is also struggling with the love he has for his ex-girlfriend, the girl he left behind in his hometown. His father who was the football coach in his hometown did not approve of their relationship because he thought that she was a distraction. His father was insistent that he get a scholarship to play football somewhere.

Brandon is at a turning point in his life. He can feel the pressure boiling up around him. This is a moment in his life where he can decide where to take his life. The choice is up to him, but the stakes are high.  

Social Media in College

My generation is experiencing a new aspect of social life that has never been seen before. Social media has changed the way people interact and behave. Every single second of college life can be documented because of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. An embarrassing moment can never go away because of the potential to be put out into the world, making it difficult for students to actually make mistakes. It is also extremely hard to disappear or disconnect because a friend is always keeping in contact with them through text message. 

Text messaging is both a blessing and a curse. I love having the ability to keep in contact with my friends 24/7. It makes a large university feel small. My best friend from high school went to college in Pennsylvania and I know without the ability to text or Skype her I would be absolutely lost. However, there are times when I wish that I didn’t have to keep in contact with so many people. When I need to focus on my schoolwork, putting away my phone proves nearly impossible. I am always afraid that I will miss something. My friends are a source of comfort and talking with them always makes me feel better.

Another problem with texting is that messages can be misconstrued. There have been so many times that I became upset after not receiving a text back or simply getting a text that I interpreted in a malicious way. People like to pass along information that they have heard further escalating the problems at hand.

I think the thing that bothers me the most about social media is that it’s totally impossible to disconnect. I can never escape people. Even if I tried to go without my phone for a day, I know I would break and go searching for it.

I will always be able to keep up with what the people in my high school are doing now due to Facebook. Any form of escape is impossible.

It isn’t that I dislike social media, it’s just that sometime I wish it wasn’t always around.