The pile of paper overflowing in my recycling.
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Thoughts on QUality vs. quantity
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INsight
For some reason, I have a mindset that tells me the more I write, the greater my grade on a particular assignment will be. I tend to fill up the space provided for an answer, even though the answer required might only be a few words or just a sentence. I find myself covering the page with words because the answers to questions look unfinished to me if there are not enough sentences to fill the lines or word count given. For example, on the last English exam, I was given instructions to write an essay approximately 1000 words in length. I knew that was about four or five pages and that I was capable of writing an essay in that parameter. During the exam I continued my essay until my ideas were covering seven pages. Once I passed the five page mark, I thought, "I have the room and more great ideas to add, I should continue". An essay within the word limit would probably have been worth the same grade or higher. Overall, the quality of a 1000 word essay is usually more eloquent and sophisticated compared to the quality of a seven page essay.
I have had good and bad comments about how much I write or that friends are just amazed at how long my written responses are. This has influenced me to continue to write in quantity and maybe not as much for quality. I have been told before that quality is better than quantity but it has been hard to adjust from what I am used to. This year, I feel I have improved a bit on this characteristic of my writing. I think I have become better at editing out what is repeated, and which ideas are redundant or unnecessary. Through this class and the writing assignments we have completed, I am now more confident and satisfied with the writing ability I have developed which I will be taking to university next year.
I have had good and bad comments about how much I write or that friends are just amazed at how long my written responses are. This has influenced me to continue to write in quantity and maybe not as much for quality. I have been told before that quality is better than quantity but it has been hard to adjust from what I am used to. This year, I feel I have improved a bit on this characteristic of my writing. I think I have become better at editing out what is repeated, and which ideas are redundant or unnecessary. Through this class and the writing assignments we have completed, I am now more confident and satisfied with the writing ability I have developed which I will be taking to university next year.