Sunday, May 24, 2009

Commentary

"What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure." --Samuel Johnson

Contemplate this quote. How does it relate to your efforts in this course and how do you think it relates to you as you pursue future academic and personal goals.

91 Comments:

Anonymous Austin Russell said...

First of all, I'd just like to say that I don't think this quote applies to William Faulkner.

This quote is a slight variation of the old saying, You reap what you sow.

This is an AP course, and an AP course culminates in the reception of one's AP Exam score. As of yet, I have only put in the effort for my final works (AP essays), but am unaware of the responses they have garnered, pleasureful ones, with any luck.

As for the future, as long as I continue to work hard, hopefully I can continue to reach my academic and personal goals.

5/24/2009 10:55:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Writing is an exercise, if you don't put effort into it, your just wasting your time. You see pitiful results for pitiful work.
At times having English 1st period is discouraging because my mind is still waking, I'm hungry and I'm already pondering about going home. I know my effort is not at its peak, and I am further assured when I receive my grade. That is also the time I usually read over my work and laugh because it was worst than I thought. Writing is made up of what you put in it and what the reader gets out of that. If you just write a bunch of halfheartedly, disorderly randomness, there is little greatness that a reader can convey.
Pertaining to the future, I think this says many things about my own academic potential and personal goals. For in writing, there is no beauty in that which is done with little love, and little love for that which is without beauty.

5/25/2009 04:26:00 PM  
Blogger cathy said...

This course required of us numerous in-depth analyses of difficult passages. The substance and diction of the passages often made it all too easy to slip into autopilot, writing miserable reflections. No one can enjoy reading a miserably written passage. In order to provide a pleasurable reading, we had to put a little lively effort into the writing process.

Autopilot doesn't get a person very far. Even planes can't make an entire trip without a human pilot actively flying. Success in academic and personal arenas generally requires interaction with other people. Effort must be applied to the activity in order to make it register as an accomplishment to other.

5/25/2009 05:31:00 PM  
Blogger Smudge said...

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5/25/2009 08:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Jordan said...

I would like to point out that "efforts" doesn't necessarily mean laborious scholarly research or hours of study; in my personal experience, my best compositions have been products of intense self-examination or of some well-earned insight.

Writing isn't like other scholarly pursuits; it is the transmission of thought and feeling onto a page, and the hope that another person will experience what you did when you composed the piece. This "effort" does not translate directly into the academic effort that most are used to, and I think that interpreting it this way misses the point of writing in general.

5/25/2009 08:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Johnathan said...

Producing and comprehending great writing was essential in understanding and "getting by" in this course. Part of the definition of great writing is a literary work that engages and relates to its audience. This course was a rigorous one because it often challenged us to comprehend literary works that lacked one or the other essential parts that makes a literary work great. Besides that, I have learned a lot form this course and have enjoyed it. It has taught me some very valuable lessons that could aid me in the pursuit of my personal and future goals.

5/25/2009 09:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

5/26/2009 12:43:00 AM  
Anonymous Hannah said...

The technical definition of my biblical name, Hannah, is “the grace of God”. In the bible I’m even cast as the mother of one of the disciples, or so I’m told. The truth of the matter is I’m the clumsiest atheist most people could care to meet. This definition alone leaves me in an unfamiliar territory that I’m unwilling to accept as my finite path.

5/26/2009 12:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Hannah said...

Generally I only write well when I'm passionate about a prompt or an idea for a story or essay.
This course has helped me to write well even if the prompt is uninspiring or even dull.
The effort, though, is relative. Some of my best pieces have been almost effortless. The effort comes only when I'm told to write about things that don't matter to me.

5/26/2009 12:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Leala said...

I disagree with the quote. Some of my best writing has been almost effortless. When someone gets inspired, it is often easier to write hundreds of words about a topic: the words can flow freely because the author is truly interested in the subject.

Also, writers can spend hours researching a topic, brainstorming ideas, etc. They have put a great amount of effort into their writing, however, if the writer is not truly interested in the subject matter the piece often falls flat, lacking the analysis that would make it "good."

5/26/2009 07:49:00 AM  
Anonymous Emily said...

I agree with the quote. The more time and effort that is put into a piece, the better the piece seems. At times, though, it is impossible for the reader to be able to tell how much effort was put into a piece. They have to make their own conclusions.

In the course, the quote applies because the more I procrastinate before an essay, the less effort I put in when I finally start it. By procrastinating and putting forth as little effort as possible, I feel that my true interest cannot be seen through the writing. A reader will not see that I have passion about my writing.

As for future goals, it applies to me because I have to learn to put greater effort into my work and take pride in it. The more effort, it seems, the more pride a person has in the work they are producing.

5/26/2009 09:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Allison T said...

Writing a story which can capture the hearts and minds of a wide range of people is a gift bestowed upon a very select few. Do you think the great writers analyze their use of rhetoric and grammar? Writing is an art, not a science which can be solved with formulas and charts. Pure writing comes from the passion of the writer and can be seen as they exude that passion upon the paper with ink or as they “punch the keys!” Passionate writing comes off as natural and effortless whereas meticulous formulaic writing comes off as sterile and unappealing to the reader.
I understand that when a prompt is thrown at us we don’t always have the luxury of inspiration and in that case the structured writing is effective. Whereas I could write a full dissertation qualifying the impact of globalization I would have struggled to muster out a paragraph about the complexities of the use of the penny had it not been for this course.

5/26/2009 04:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Jazz said...

I think the quote is very true. I'm not the greatest writer in the world, and most of the time when given a writing assignemnt, I write the first thing that pops in my head, and move on. For me, writing doesn't come easily, and it's not my favorite thing to do, but I do it because I have to.

What I got out of this quote, is that maybe I should focus on puttng greater effot into the work that I write, and take time to think about it, because the more time and passion I put into my writing, the more people will enjoy it.

5/26/2009 04:20:00 PM  
Blogger Mary McCormick said...

Effort can be applied during the process of writing and the end result can be just as miserable as when a lackadaisical approach is employed. During this year many of the prompts given have been based on a topic I did not care for and unwillingly wrote extensively about; and those essays reflected the concern I carried for the subject matter. But there have also been instances where the opportunity to share my commentary was an exciting one, and my willingness was restrained by a lack of skill.
A piece of writing cannot be judged by whether the author labored meticulously or scribbled a response, the writing should be judged by the quality of work that is produced.
Hopefully when I do put effort into my various endeavors it will garner some sort of reward, if not then another attempt is in order.

5/26/2009 06:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Bianca said...

Effort is required during the writing process if one really does want to convey his thoughts thoroughly to readers. At times, when I am given a prompt that inspires me, I feel as if I begin writing without effort. I fear that the "effort" I am putting forth is not enough to produce a work that is worth being read. I learned throughout this course that I forced myself to write essays in response to prompts that do not interest me at all. Most of the time my responses to these prompts were incoherent, psycho babble, but I have learned that if the effort to write, not adequately but effectively, must be consistently exerted. As for th future, if I continue working hard and performing to the best of my abilities, I hope that I will be able to reach my academic and personal goals.

5/26/2009 07:31:00 PM  
Anonymous DeJulius said...

I disagree with the quote. The amount of effort put forth is far less important than how the reader perceives the message. My mom has always said that it is important to write to the audience, to consider what they expect from your writing, taking into account their opinions, personality, and biases.

I personally think it’s sad that we have to write to please others in order to make the grade, when how we feel about our writing should be the only measure of a successful piece. But as we all move forward in life, we will continue to confront circumstances where we are coerced into writing to please, whether we believe what we write or not. The grand manipulation, or as some would say, playing the game. Call me a cynic.

5/26/2009 08:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Maddie McKay said...

There is a certain element of style that an effective writer possesses. For a written work to be enjoyable, this element, a subtly conveyed aptitude and zeal, must be present. When a piece lacks this certain intangible quality, it sinks below the level of mediocre, and becomes a task to read.

The effort referred to in the quote is this kind of care taken to convey a certain passion regarding a subject, or at least the act of discussing it. While great effort can be made towards simply finishing an assignment for the sole purpose of achieving a grade, the effort mentioned by Johnson is the kind that is put forth not for the evaluative reward, but for the inner reward that is the joy of writing it.

The overall goal then, when completing an assignment or task, whether academic or personal, should be not only effort for the sake of completion, but effort for the sake of learning, self-improvement, and most of all, fun. One can only hope that the reader will pick up on and even share in this literary satisfaction.

5/26/2009 09:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Kevin said...

Effort on part of the writer is needed to garner a response, whatever it may be, from the reader. The required effort has two focuses: to go above and beyond the norm while adhering to the desired purpose. At times the most complex and laborious of works can be unpleasureable to the reader because of its unfocused purpose and effect.

In this course I had to keep in mind the reader of my writing, ultimately an AP grader. To elicit the desired response of a high score, my efforts focused on mastery of the language with coherent analytical or persuasive thought. Effort to go above and beyond the norm is also needed to shed new light on the topic which attracts the AP reader's attention. In my future goals the purposes and audiences of my writing need to remain clear, be it theses for college professors or storybooks for toddlers. In any work I write, the purpose needs to stay focused while explaining beyond what is simply visible.

5/26/2009 09:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Valerie said...

The quote does not just relate to writing, but to any work that is put forward in any environment.
It is quite clear that those who seem to care more about their school work and future goals put way more effort into their work than those who do not. In return they are rewarded for their outstanding performance. However, some people can be just naturally gifted in an area and writing without much effort for them may be equivalent of the writing of someone who is not as talented, but has tried his or her best.
I have worked hard in this course to turn in assignments on time and usually succeed. It's hard, but nobody said it would be easy, but if you put forth the effort the results wil be worth it.

5/27/2009 04:00:00 AM  
Anonymous rosaura said...

Effort is always a good thing to put into writing however, writing for some is something that simply flows through them and they find it an effortless task to write outstanding writing materials. Writing is something that has to have not only the will to do it and the effort, but passion and ideas, which if absent, may still produce mediocre work even if the person worked hard on the piece.
In this course we were definitely challenged to put in both effort and passion into our writing because at times we may not have been inspired to write or we may have just not wanted to be here at school. And as for my future goals and plans as long as I maintain my focus towards what I want and keep my passion in it and put effort to it then things will turn out for the best.

5/27/2009 05:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Sean Troxel said...

One cannot write a masterpiece within a day, no matter how much effort is applied within those hours of planning and execution. Any one who wishes to write well cannot simply pick up the and put a lot of thought into the prompt before them and think that what is written is good. Instead the effort applied to writing is the effort of a lifetime of reading, writing, editing, and improving. Not over days but over years do the skills of a masterful writer develop, and only by continuously applying time and effort can a writer grow in his ability and become an artist of the words. Then, as it is for me this very instant, when called upon the words will flow freely and perhaps even gracefully out of my mind and onto the medium, be it paper or screen. I write well - at least I've been told I write well, since I do not believe myself to be an unbiased critic - because I read as much as I can, and I write in my free time, and I put my skills as a writer to test when I can. Therefore, over time my writing has improved to the level it is at today, but I know that there are much greater heights to be obtained, and I hope that one day I shall have true mastery over this ability and be able to mold it into whatever I dream.
As for the pursuit, I know that the same principles apply, that what is deeply desired is not gained in a day or a week, but worked toward laboriously over a sometimes agonizing stretch of time. I have put forth my best effort even since I was young, and because of the continued application of my abilities I have come this far, and I know that to continue forward and reach the goals within my soul, I cannot slack off now, but I must persist in honing my skills and in improving my character. Only by constant effort, may I perhaps one day earn the treasures I seek.

5/27/2009 06:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Sarah Edris said...

In a timed writing, passion for the subject usually isn't involved, and so one must instead put effort and structure into the writing in its place. Analysis and thought must occur, even when one doesn't care about the topic, even if it is about the importance of the penny or zero tolerance in schools. It is only with this effort that coherent and essentially good writing can take place, that the reader, be it an AP grader or a peer, can understand and perhaps gain insight or pleasure with. Even with the seemingly effortless writing that comes when one is absorbed with the topic, effort must still be put forth to keep hold of those rules of writing and convey clear and convincing thoughts, already organized, to the reader, instead of what could just be considered a rant. Before this course, I never thought of writing as something you had to put effort into if you wanted to see a good finished product, making it really no different from any other class. However, it is necessary, and simply labeling yourself a bad writer is no excuse for a poorly written piece. As for my future academic and personal goals, this quote can be applied to nearly everything. You get what you put in. Skill or passion can only get a person so far. Only with effort and hard work can one succeed in what they want.

5/27/2009 06:07:00 AM  
Blogger Zoe White said...

As the quote pertains to this year, and the future, practice should make writing easier. The more connected to your 'voice' or particular style you become the easier the writing should flow. The discovery of your inner voice should make the reading of the work more pleasurable. The writing becomes less stilted and should flow more naturally. How easily written a piece of writing is, is the test of how natural the writing of it is. When you feel strongly for a subject, the writing is more passionate and comes more easily. This quote can sometimes be true but mostly I believe that the easier it is to write something, the more easily it is read.

5/27/2009 06:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Jessica Danielle said...

When I am very intrigued by a topic or I am very passionate about the topic I can write something effortlessly. If somebody tells me to me to write a 1000 word essay about dancing I will be able to write it with ease because of the passion I have for dance. Passioin from a writer, whatever they are talking about, can be read with pleasure because the reader can somewhat feel the passioni of the writer from the tone in which they write.

5/27/2009 06:55:00 AM  
Anonymous Carlos said...

Like Burke, Johnson believes that "one who does nothing is a great mistake," since not only does it demonstrate one's apathy, but ignorance as well. If we aren't gong to bother accomplishing small and trivial tasks, how can we expect to be entrusted with big and important ones? During this course, we would be assigned essays, analyses, and papers, and if we organized our time well, every assignment we would do would suddenly become very easy to accomplish, and we wouldn't have to stay up until 3:00 AM in the morning to write a paper we were assigned a couple of weeks earlier. Hence, if we spent our time well, and were successful to balance that time to accomplish each activity we would participate in, we would be better prepared for the future and successful in meeting our goals and objectives.

5/27/2009 08:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Christine said...

I agree with Johnson. Works written without effort, show how unnecessary the writer thinks his work is and how unnecessary the work is to read.
Most of the essays for this class I wrote without effort or passion, another factor needed to make a written work ,work, so I immediately knew they were worth nothing. Hopefully in the future I will be able to write better with the types of prompts given to us in this class, not just ones where I can make up a story. Hopefully.

5/27/2009 09:07:00 AM  
Blogger lexi said...

Some would say that effort is not necessary, especially under certain special circumstances. For others, effort is the key to success. In my opinion effort is needed in order to provide the quality of the written piece. Yet to some, writing comes naturally and still it can be a written work that is better than a person's who took numerous hours on the same subject. In this course, I believe I have developed the skills to realize how much effort is needed for a certain prompt. It is very useful and saves me time, time that is very vital when taking the AP test. In the future I hope apply this same "measurement" technique of effort to my job and in managing my time.

5/27/2009 01:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Brittney L said...

Relating to this course it really depends on your writing skills. For the excellent writer, effort is not always necessary since you can still probably write something quite good about the subject regardless of personal interest. For your more average writer it can be quite visible for lack of emotion and diverse usage. A lot of standard test prompts are usually dull to the student so it's important for one to gain enough skill so that isn't so painfully obvious to the reader. However work with passion and effort will always be better. Always knowing how much effort to put into a writing is important to since sometimes one doesn't always have time to put their best foot forward. For future goals, I wish to learn how to analyze how much effort to put forth based on the amount of time I have left in order to speed up my writing skills and overall quality of work since quality, efficient writing is always necesesary for almost any job.

8/24/2009 06:38:00 PM  
Blogger Ingrid said...

I think this quote can be imposed on practically anything you do; just make a few minor changes and you got yourself the perfect advice for mostly all that you partake in throughout your life. For example: "What is cooked without effort is in general tasted without pleasure." But cooking wouldn't help me get an A in English. Writing with effort on the other hand, will, because literature is read for insight, enjoyment, knowledge, and overall reasons that have a benefit. Benefiting from something is often pleasurable.

As I pursue my ambitions this quote can help me create wonderful essays and reports that other people will benefit from, and of course I will have the satisfaction of gettin good grades, compliments, and approval from my readers.

8/26/2009 04:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Lucas said...

I agree with this quote by Samuel Johnson. If an author writes without effort it shows. Bad writing is hardly worth reading and isn't very enjoyable to read.

In this class, we should try and make our writing stand out with obvious effort. If we pay attention to our writing and put forth the effort, we will be doing a favor to ourselves and those who have to read what we write.

8/26/2009 04:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Gerardo Padierna said...

Effort is (for the most part) needed in order to produce pleasure in the mind of an educated reader.In this imperfect world there are exceptions.Sometimes literary works are written effortlessly but receive the highest praise.

In my case, effort is needed to not only bring in a bon note in English III but also to give myself the satisfaction of having tried.Besides, I'm not good enough to write something that is reasonably competent without mixing in a pinch of effort.

8/26/2009 05:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Caleb J said...

Unlike other quotes, which inquire deep thought before being released from a person's mind, I believe Samuel Johnson was just reiterating common sense. Writing, although different from any other activity, is just like anything else in life in the sense that you reap what you sow. We must realize that this saying doesn’t just apply to a sport or a hobby, but it also applies to writing.

8/26/2009 05:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Trent Smith said...

"Don't be a s***head, if u write crap then you will get crap back" is what a great man told me from a mere 4 hours of his prescence across the span of 2 days.

Correa is telling us to put effort and thought into our work.
This process involves time input and a degree of commitment to developing the key points of our arguments.

This quote can be adapted to the life lesson that if you live your life doing the minimum bare, then your life will end up minimum and bare.

8/26/2009 07:13:00 PM  
Anonymous James Ramsey said...

In this quotation, "effort" can be equated with "care"; the conclusion that "What is written without care is in general read without pleasure" would also hold true. Samuel Johnson was saying that effective writing requires effective thought. One cannot think effectively if he or she does not care or puts little effort into the thinking itself. This is not to say that one cannot write an effective piece if that person doesn't really care for the subject matter; rather that that person must at least place careful consideration on what he or she is writing. For example, avoiding fallacious argument, writing in such a way that can appeal to more than one audience, and using sophisticated (but not esoteric) language are all traits of a well-thought-out piece. If a work is carelessly written, then learned and normal people alike will identify and detest of the carelessness that is unavoidably displayed in such a work.

8/26/2009 07:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Chvojan said...

When little effort is put into any activity, especially writing, it makes the task (or, in this case, literary work) laborous and provides no enjoyment in the outcome.
I think Caleb has a point. "You reap what you sow." Effort has to be put into something to get anything from it.

8/26/2009 08:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Taliah R said...

In order to capture and KEEP the attention of your readers, you have to put something into it, or else, your readers won't get anything out of it... Writing requires thought.

It would be wise to follow the meaning of the quote in this course in order to, hopefully, recieve the grade one wants. Sometimes an honest effort has been put forth but with a misunderstanding of th task at hand. Asking questions and re-assesing the topic may be neccessary.

8/26/2009 08:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Lauren said...

Nothing comes easy. We are always going to have to put some amount of effort in to anything and everything we do. When it concerns writing, for some this is an easy task to complete. For others, it requires more thought and patience. Because there will always be a better way to get your point across to others.

8/26/2009 09:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Julie Nguyen said...

If you yourself do not put in some blood, sweat, and tears into your work, how can you expect anyone else to even care about it? When writing, you want to inform and also entertain the reader at the same time so that they will not lose interest in what your words are portraying. In this course, and in life especially, we're trying to improve our skills so that we will be able to produce something great. If we never put in any effort, then why would we even be trying?

8/26/2009 09:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Adelio Lopez said...

I find this quote to be very true, not just in literature, but in many aspects of life. Success does not come without a price and that may very well be the effort you incorporate in to whatever you do. Strong feelings do not come out of indifference. True works of art which are thoroughly enjoyed are in succession of the artist's vigorous, passionate, and meticulous thought and quality of work.

Whether it is a painting, composition, song, or any other art form, this short quote can be very well applied to several endeavors.

8/26/2009 09:43:00 PM  
Blogger Abby said...

Effort cannot be mistaken for creativity or inspiration; creativity leads us to put greater effort into whatever we do. Once we know what we're writing about, what we want to accomplish, what point we want to get through and how, everything becomes easier and the effort is easily put into the task. On the other hand, when we have no idea what we're doing, it is very difficult to put effort into anythng because we usually just want to give up. I agree with the quote, if we put no effort whatsoever into our writing, it will be very difficult to make it pleasurable. If we cannot enjoy our own work, we cannot expect anyone else to do so.
Now there is a difference when the effort is put into the work and the piece just sucks. That wasn't lack of effort, but lack of skills; in which case the effort must be put into gaining greater knowledge and more skills.

As for my future goals, I can definetly say that putting more effort into everything I do will probably make me more successful. I may not always get where I want, but the effort will get me further than where I would've been if I would've done nothing.

8/27/2009 05:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Caribou said...

Effort must be placed into anything to make it worth reading.Babies would die if parents didn't feed them. Writing dies if authors don't put effort into them. I think that to have to be successful in anything, especially in this course, you must actually strive for success.You must actually say " Hey I'm gonna try and I'm gonna put my best foot forward." Granted your best foot may be wobbly, cause you to stumble, and occasionally you will fall flat on your face BUT the fact of the matter is your trying. That's the important part.

8/27/2009 03:35:00 PM  
Anonymous Evan Ott said...

Though the converse and inverse of this statement may not be true, in general, pleasurable reading requires effortful writing. For reading to be enjoyable, the writing must prove interesting for the reader. Whether through rhetorical devices, strange new concepts or engaging plots or themes, writers wanting to produce enjoyable pieces of any kind must strive to do so. Creative writing, though spawned by sudden bursts of inspiration, requires effort for the writer to convey that which has sparked their own interest.

When applied to this course, the quote becomes more of a recommendation to put forth effort into writing assignments. Whether in class or on the AP exam, boring writing does not bode well for the writer, as a bored reader is more likely to miss details crucial to the idea the writer wishes to convey.

When the idea is taken to the "next level," life within and outside of academia, the basic advice to be gleaned from the quote is simple: to accomplish a goal, be it academic or personal, effort must take place. Save rare circumstances, students cannot receive an "A" without effort, neither can people accomplish their goals without trying.

8/27/2009 03:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Lamar said...

"Effort," is essentially an exertion of physical or mental power. It does not necessarily require hours of study, analysis, or tedious school work. A writer who is passionate about what they create, is going to exert most, if not all of their efforts into writing. It is the same for any artist. Someone who picks up a violin can call themselves a instrumentalist, but if they do not put their heart and soul into the music, they will never be able to inspire or evoke emotion into their audience. A man can buy a paintbrush and call himself an artist, but if he does not put forth the effort to practice and learn, he will never be able to call his work a masterpiece.

I realize that this year will be my most difficult yet, and idleness and laziness will be unacceptable. The passion will not always be there when I write, but the most I can hope for is that I do my best and put forth maximum effort.

8/27/2009 04:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Karen Carrasco said...

One knows that when trying to achieve something and one doesn't work hard for it, the results are most likely not what we wanted. Although this quote is fairly short and simple, it is one of the most important things one should consider when writing.
I agree with Abby with once we know what we are writing about, it all comes together. Because if we don't, it's hard for us to let our ideas to spill out. With this course we have to work hard and puts loads of effort. The effort you put in towards something is what you get back in return.

Like with everything in life and future academic and personal goals, to be successful I have to apply all the effort I can, so I can achieve all my dreams I want to fulfill. No matter if it's writing, studying, learning a new sport or new dance, the effort you put will determine your success.

8/27/2009 04:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Karen Carrasco said...

One knows that when trying to achieve something and one doesn't work hard for it, the results are most likely not what we wanted. Although this quote is fairly short and simple, it is one of the most important things one should consider when writing.

I agree with Abby with once we know what we are writing about, it all comes together. Because if we don't, it's hard for us to let our ideas to spill out. With this course we have to work hard and puts loads of effort. The effort you put in towards something is what you get back in return.

Like with everything in life and future academic and personal goals, to be successful I have to apply all the effort I can, so I can achieve all my dreams I want to fulfill. No matter if it's writing, studying, learning a new sport or new dance, the effort you put will determine your success.

8/27/2009 04:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Julia Haschke said...

Without effort, writing lacks a certain element that draws the reader in, and keeps them from putting the material down or losing attention. This certain element is different for all writers, but cannot be created without thought or planning of some sort.
Effort, however, does not equal enjoyable writing. A writer needs to use other components, such as correct grammar and tasteful word and topic choices, to make it appealing to the reader.
I don't expect to succeed in this course or life in general without effort. I believe if I give an effort, I should get something back in return. In the case of this course, it would be more knowledge and a good score on the AP test.

8/27/2009 04:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have mixed feelings on this quite. I recognize that a work with time and thought will be far more enjoyable opposed to a work that was written in five minutes. The only opposing factor, in my mind at least, is that some people, such as rappers or idiot class clowns, are able to come up with witty things fromt he top of their heads without effort. This is the small example that shows a flaw in this quote.

8/27/2009 05:10:00 PM  
Anonymous Sameena T said...

If u don't put effort into what you are doing then whats the point of doing it. It's a waste of time and time is too precious to waste especially when it seems like there isn't enough of it to do everything that u need to do.

Writing is not something that I love to do but when I have to do it, I try to make sure that whoever is reading it doesn't fall asleep! Whatever it is that you do, make sure to put something into it so it has some kind of substance.

8/27/2009 05:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Blakely Bates said...

This quote not only pertains to written work, but can be applied to all aspects of life. If a person isn’t going to put any effort into their work, their education, or even their personal life, they will not be able to experience and enjoy the benefits that come with that hard work and effort. Why waste the time when you won’t reap the benefits? No matter what I am doing in my life, I know that the only way to fully find pleasure and enjoyment is to work hard and put as much effort as possible into the task at hand.
I agree with Julia when she says “effort does not equal enjoyable writing.” Although someone may put an unbelievable amount of effort into their writing, if the topic is uninteresting or is difficult for other readers to relate to, there will be a decrease in the amount of pleasure one will have when reading.

8/27/2009 05:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Schildt said...

Effort should be poured into something if you expect it to truly infect your readers with pleasure. Like Emily was saying, your passion for what you are writing will show through in the words and only captivate the reader more.

Anything without effort will go nowhere. If we want to draw in the reader (you) in an English essay to make a high grade, we must put effort forth to achieve it. You will reach your academic and personal goals the same way, with effort. The goals will come nearer as you work harder.

8/27/2009 05:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Rebecca Stimson said...

The general premise of this quote - that effort is required to create something with merit - is, to me, sound. Something that was constantly edited, reworked and re-inspired will be more complete and clear (and therefore more readable and pleasurable) than something that spewed out of a writer's pen like an octopus's ink.

This quotation's truth is reflected in our grades as students in this course. When we put more effort into our writing, it gets better and we become better writers, which gives us better grades.

In the future, effort will be required for me to achieve everything from a college degree to a promotion at work. The effort I put into my pursuits will determine my success.

8/27/2009 05:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Emma Fullinwider said...

This quote does not relate well to my writing. I have put a lot of effort into some written pieces, and I'm sure some of them have been read without pleasure. On the other hand, some of my best pieces have been written with very little effort. "In general" should be highly emphasized for my written work, but I guess it depends on what writer you apply this quote to.

To pursue my goals, I plan on putting effort where I feel it is needed. This quote does not change my perspective on future written assignments.

8/27/2009 05:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Sam Forgerson said...

In most literature, something written without effort will not have the same quality as a well thought out piece. It will most likely lack a certain quality, and may not have aspects that are in most good work, such as rhetorical devices, or other more in depth techniques. When written carelessly, it is difficult to add depth to your piece while not trying, leading to disappointment for a reader.

8/27/2009 05:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Lilli said...

It is evident in a literary work or an assignment (in a student's case)whether much effort was put into it. A reader would easily observe this, as well as receive no interest in it. I agree with Johnson; effort in writing relates to a reader's pleasure.

Whenever an assignment is given to me, I first begin thinking about how it will be organized. It needs a good flow, as well as proper grammar. I try to make it engaging or at least interesting. In this course, I will apply myself and put in substantial effort. I hope that it will end with a good result, but I am open to improvement. (I'm one of those who doesn't like to revise, but that doesn't mean I don't or won't do it.)

In relation to past schooling, I have learned that hard work and maximum effort generally provide a positive outcome. When no effort was applied, I felt that the situation would end badly, and it often did. In the future, I will continue to do the best I can.

8/27/2009 06:02:00 PM  
Anonymous Maegan Jernigan said...

In general, this is very much true. However, even if you put effort into something that you have no passion for, it might not turn out to be your best work. But if you have a passion for writing at all, I find that it can often make the dullest topics come to life with a little bit of effort. If you don't try, how can you expect to like the product?
This course, much like all AP courses, requires effort to succed in. Putting in an effort will make it a more enjoyable experience because you will end up liking what you read and write. This is a great quote to live by because you need to try to succeed, so put an effort into all that you do and the improvement will show.

8/27/2009 06:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Haley Miller said...

Effort is needed to succeed in every aspect of life. However, when it comes to writing I don't believe that is always the case. I agree with Emma when she states that no matter the amount of effort put into writing, it might not always be satisfying. I can give my all into an essay and it still may not be pleasurable to the reader. I do agree that enjoyable writing doesn't exist without some form of effort. But I also believe the degree of entertainment is dependent on the skills of the writer and the personal preferences of the reader.

8/27/2009 06:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Esthie Gil said...

When you write, you have to appeal to your reader. You have to take into account their interests and opinions; you cannot look at it from just one perspective, because then your writing becomes dull and it does not give your reader pleasure. Good writing is not just techniques and grammar; it has a dependency on your audience and how well you identify with them. Having said this I think, my best writing does come from some irrational feelings and a lot of input. I have realized that I write my best when I am either under constant pressure or completely free of stress. Consequently my academic writing will keep variation, but hopefully it will be full of substance. My personal goal for this year is to project those emotions and appeals onto my writing in a more concise way.

8/27/2009 06:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Paula Conway said...

The quote is true to a point, but i agree with Rebecca. Its nice to have a really great paper, but the more you revise and rework something, the more individuality it loses. Yes it will be a correct paper, but would it be your paper and not the person who is making you revise it over and over??

The quote finds truth in the fact that you paper needs to be at a certain standard, and not just words thrown on a paper. Your paper needs to have enough thought put into it so that it makes you points clear. If your reader has to question what you paper is about, then you need to think about it more, but if your paper sounds like it has been written by a robot or something, then you need to put a little more "you" into the paper.

You have to find a happy medium, and when you find that your papers will appeal to both you and the reader.

8/27/2009 06:37:00 PM  
Blogger C.C.J. said...

I believe the quote but at a certain extent, some people just aren't good at writng no matter how much effort they put into it. On the other hand, those who are writers should put effort into their writng to appeal to the readers.

In general, when I take my time and put effort into my writing, I can let someone with substance read and enjoy my essay. This year I will have to put my nose to the grindstone, which takes effort, to achieve my academic and personal goals.

8/27/2009 07:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Allika Williams said...

Any goal worth pursuing requires self-sacrifice. I know this too well. It is inevitable.
Last school year was marred by too much self-induced misery and I was nearly driven to the brink of insanity. But I have to admit, the insomnia and panic attacks were worth it: nobody could be as proud as I was of my TAKS and AP scores. This year I know what's expected of me. I'm not being tricked into tooth-grinding, brain-bashing work. I come prepared to immolate myself, even though I know some of the hardest working people will never be valedictorians. After two years of TAG-hood, staying up until 2a.m. to finish homework has become instinctive.
I interpret the quotation as meaning what we devote ourselves to over a lifetime will either reap benefits or consequences, from the 15-minute essay that has been given a grade of 30% to the grandchildren who can't find anything to put in your eulogy. If you can create something you're proud of, it's worth the work.
~Allika Williams

8/27/2009 07:06:00 PM  
Blogger Princess Asia said...

I agree with the quote. Writings that I've read that the author didn't really put much effort into were very dull and without substance as you would say. Even if the work isn't written very well, it shows an effort and makes the piece more interesting.

This quote is a sort of advice piece for our future writings saying that if we try our hardest then we will be rewarded with our best writing.

8/27/2009 07:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Asia Wright said...

Sorry thehype is me. I didnt mean to do that

8/27/2009 07:13:00 PM  
Blogger Jayci said...

Frequently in my writing I find that too much effort can be unhealthy. I tend to force my writing out with so much effort that it often sounds awkward. It is essential in the writing process to find "middle ground", in which you put forth a considerable amount of effort without making your writing sound rehearsed and tired. While writing a paper some people (myself included) tend to edit and edit until their original ideals were lost, causing the paper to lose some qulity in the process. In other words, you can put mounds of effort into your work and the paper could still turn out to be inferior, either because it's just a bad paper or because it's overpowered by effort.

In regards to this course, I will have to learn to find that "middle ground" for myself.

8/27/2009 07:14:00 PM  
Blogger Britni Cuington said...

I totally agree with this quote. If I were to read something that sounded like it was written without effort (like bsing your way through an essay), I would absolutely have no pleasure or enjoyment in reading it. This quote will haunt everything I write this year because I will know that I need to do my best and stay on top of my game this year so that Correa wont be bored with my essays.

8/27/2009 07:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Angela said...

I think this depends on the degree of effort that is meant.
If by "without effort" he means someone wrote random things with no relevance or just sounds good and had no meaning behind it, then surely that is not read with pleasure.
However, sometimes writing is almost effortless when you are passionate or willing, and maybe effort is disguised in passion. I am not saying that all writing should be without effort. Yes, effort should most certainly be involved when attempting clarity and meaning. Most of all effort should be put in forced topics that may not be enjoyable.

From reading this quote I do believe I should give all my effort into a composition in this course, but at the same time it doesn't mean my effortless writing isn't creditable.

8/27/2009 07:18:00 PM  
Anonymous Jake Little said...

Without having any interest in what you are writing, there is no real reason for anyone to take interest. The assignments given to us shouldn't be viewed as busy work. They should be viewed as an opportunity to express our opinions on whatever topic is assigned. If we want our opinions to be heard, we must put effort into expressing them.

8/27/2009 07:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Carolyn said...

This is both true and untrue in my life. I know that the more time i spend on an assignment or anything, the better it will be and the better I feel about it. I have to put pupose and effort into things I do to get a good outcome. However, sometimes I feel that I spend little energy and my work is great. I am still going to put effort into my work throughout the year even if I get bad grades. If I don't try at all, I deserve what i get. Without effot, I will lack excitment and passion.

8/27/2009 07:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Sofia Weir said...

This is very appropriate in the context of our academic futures, and definitely pertinent to what i predict my experience in this course will be. Samuel Johnson is correct in that anything good takes effort, although in terms of writing, the effort goes to making the writing proceed smoothly, to make it seem effortless.

8/27/2009 07:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Sofia Weir said...

Ha. ironic

8/27/2009 07:32:00 PM  
Blogger Jessica C said...

Generally speaking when I'm not interested in the subject matter that is presented before me and I am given the task of writing about it, my efforts might be greater (and my writing isn't always pleasing)than when I write about something that is intriguing. We can't depend on effort to be the only necessary material for a successful paper. We also need some sort of "inspiration" to make our work pleasurable. There are times when I write a decent paper without much effort as long as I am inspired. I feel that if I keep myself interested and focused on my goals (academic and personal), effort will be part of the recipe for my success.

8/27/2009 07:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Maryssa said...

This quote tells me that I, personally, need to stop drifting through my classes and actually think about what I'm doing. Since this quote can be applied to most aspects of life, I should probably try harder at everything I do.

It is also true that effort does not equal good writing. There are many people who put everything they have in a piece and still end up with complete rubbish.

Maryssa.

8/27/2009 07:33:00 PM  
Anonymous janeth C said...

After having spent two years (+ one in progress) at TAG, I can say that the quote is all two familiar. I say this is the sense that after spending my freshman and most of sophomore year working to my minimum capacity, I received the grades for it. Of course, I could not complain because I was at fault. I received what I put in.

In my opinion, its the same with our writing. If you write in a rushed manner, then your going to get a "rushed paper". If you don't want a dull piece then you must commit to it and put some effort into it. The output is only as good as the input. I think you can apply this to life in general. You can't expect to become someone in life by simply doing nothing.

8/27/2009 07:43:00 PM  
Anonymous Michael Flores said...

Not only do you have to put effort into your literary work but also passion and a certain pride towards your point of view toward the topic at hand. This is true in regards to a TAG curriculum and life because many a times the effort you put in is then reflected on your grade or the eventual outcome. In regards to writing, the bias of the reader will always be present unless you can invoke an open mind and relate in some ways with them. The true key behind writing in my opinion is not so much the time you take but the ability to reach a common ground with your presumable reader to a point in which he might want to finish your written piece.

8/27/2009 07:53:00 PM  
Blogger Abby said...

I disagree with Miles because if you look at Emily's post, she states that " 'Effort,' is essentially an exertion of physical or mental power." So when Miles says that rappers or class clowns are able to come up with witty things and put no effort into it, it's not that they are not putting effort into what they're creating, they simply don't have to put in as much effort as other people would. The simple fact that they are coming up with witty phrases is evidence that they are putting effort into it.
Effort isn't defined by our inability to do something, it's defined by the amount of work we put into a task whether it comes easy to us or not.
Granted, more effort is usually required when we have a difficult task to accomplish but that doesn't mean that no effort is input into a simple or easy task.

8/27/2009 07:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Breanna D. said...

I think this quote is partly true to an extent. With certain people, effort is not needed to produce an astounding piece work worth reading. I believe with people like that, writing comes natural and the subject at hand intrigues them. I am not the best writer, but I can see a huge difference in papers that I put forth full effort and care than with those that I don't. When I put forth no drive when writing, it's not worth reading, there is no substance. Caring about my writing and trying to do my best gives me the satisfaction that I made an attempt at something difficult for me. This quote inspires me not only for assignments in AP English but other classes as well to give the very best to every assignment. Giving all I have to situations in life as well will help me grow as a person and learn to live life proud of myself for giving it my all.

8/27/2009 08:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Laura Linscheid said...

It's simple, to make a piece of writing not sound rushed or lazy you actually might have to try.

This quote is exactly how life is because nothing great comes easily. I would rather take this quote and apply it to our lives rather than our writing in the sense that we are writing our own lives and if we don't put effort into our lives then our story won't be that great.

8/27/2009 08:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Kimberly Sherrill said...

In general, I have found that putting your all into a written work does by no means guarantee that it will be pleasurable to read. Perhaps it is merely my lack of skill that has kept me from outputting a work that was completely satisfying to me, or to anyone else for that matter. By any means, I take this quote to signify something much broader than writing and reading. The efforts you make in life are not guaranteed any type of recompense; but lackluster efforts can almost guarantee you lackluster rewards.

8/27/2009 08:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Blessey John said...

Time is of the essence. Like Sameena said if you're not going to put effort into something why waste your time and do it. Literature is supposed to bring out emotions and reaction in people, if a book is dull once the reader is finished reading it's the end of story. It won't be thought about in the future or referred to in future discussions. It would be as if the work of literature was never read.

I am not a writer. But in the past the essays I did put effort into I was happy with the results -even though it meant temporarily losing my sanity. In the future, I will not only put effort in my writing but into life as a whole and pursue my goals with hard work.

With effort the audience not only enjoys and reads a work of literature with pleasure but the author also gains a sense of accomplishment and confidence. It becomes a win-win situation.

8/27/2009 08:04:00 PM  
Anonymous Katelyn Absalom said...

Without effort, something of little value will be produced. If this is not applied to school and life I will not get the desired results. Good grades and great writing cannot be achieved through laziness.

8/27/2009 08:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Cathryn said...

It is true that things written without effort give no pleasure to the reader, but it is also true that a few things written with effort are not pleasurable for the reader. But the Samuel Jackson is correct in this quote.
When it comes to things that have not been written with any effort I rather not waste my time with them. There are plenty of other books that the writer put a lot of effort into to be read.

8/27/2009 08:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Mercedes Reyes said...

In order for us to get something, we must first give something, in this case we must give effort. Without effort, how can we possibly expect to get that satisfying feeling that comes from evoking pleasure in a reader? We all know that success is not achieved through luck or destiny, but rather through hard work and perseverance. Without hard work nothing can be achieved but failure and disappointment. So, in order for me to be successful in both this course and in life, I know I must put in hard work into everything I do. Hard work never goes unnoticed.

8/27/2009 08:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Michelle Mancilla said...

Well I've been watching this blog for a while, looking at all the comments. From what I can tell most of you would agree that writing without effort or motivation will result in a terrible essay (and in a terrible grade for that matter). I can't help but think that the quote can't be entirely true though. Some people can put all their effort into their writing and still not be able to produce something enjoyable for the reader. Of course the product would be significantly much better then as opposed to rushing. However if there was a continuous effort, for a long period of time, to practice and enhance their writing skills beforehand, then a possible enjoyable product can be produced. In all, no matter how much effort you may put on a writing piece, an extraordinary essay cannot be created without the effort of years of practice.
Basically, years of great effort can make anything of small effort readable and enjoyable. This is also how some people can write a fascinating essay with little effort as they had years of practice.
~Michelle M

8/27/2009 09:04:00 PM  
Blogger Jordan said...

This qoute, as it relates to my efforts put in to this course, proves quite true.

Effort, time, and thought are essential to a clear, well written piece of work as well as keys to achieving many thing in life. However, sometimes methodical revising and editing can drain the joy out of my work, striping it of it's original zeal. The same can happen in life. I must strive and work hard for the things I want but at some point I need to let go, misspellings and all, and take in the joy that gives me. I can only put forth so much effort. I and my audience will find pleasure as long as my passion is still there. Life proves the same in that, as long as passion for my goals is being put into action I will succeed.

8/27/2009 09:40:00 PM  
Blogger Bedford_la said...

This quote is really accurate because in life whenever you do something or when you try to accomplish a goal, you have to do it to the best of your abilities. If a person does not do things to the best of their ability their efforts are futile, because with minimal effort you receive a minimal response. It is important that everything that someone tries to accomplish is done with the best of thought.

8/28/2009 06:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Evan Battee said...

Without giving it much thought, I find this quote is easily true. If any work is written without much effort, the work is nothing but a mess. A substantial amount of effort is required for any piece, for effort is what makes all the great works of the world great works in the first place.

8/28/2009 06:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Amanda arroyo said...

I completely agree. I myself am usually a very lazy person and constantly procrastinate and or put next to no effort in writing. When something is written without effort not only will the writer himself will hate it, any other reader will not enjoy it. In the end I feel so bad about my work that I can't even look at it again. Basically, if you do not try in school or in life you will not achieve any greatness and will have nothing to be proud about.

8/28/2009 06:45:00 AM  
Anonymous ward said...

Samuel Jackson says this quote simply because he is in an industry where if you don't write with meaning and purpose you wont succeed.

8/28/2009 06:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anthony Ruiz said...

To substantiate my opinion, I certainly think that this quote is quite true and it will portray my performance in this English course. Why would one waster their time to read an effortless paper? If one does not have the compassion and the willingness to perform well, why even try? The negative and minute attitude will radiate throughout one's work in the near future. One that is compassionate, patience, and has the mind-set to learn, that individual will succeed in everything that individual desires to do.
Reading without pleasure is congruent to to be force to read. This characteristic can relate to me whenever I read. Whenever I read, I cringe at the idea of it and I do not have the open mind-set to gain literary knowledge as I should have. I never read for pleasure unless I am told so; my English abilities will always be a flaw of mine. It's just that English was never my best subject and it will never will be.

8/28/2009 06:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Emma Schweitzer said...

Effort and work are two things that garner quality. Lacking these two, the end product is essentially only measured in quantity and how much of it you have to go through to be done with it. That is no pleasurable experience, no one wants to go through that. I certainly don't want to. The quote yells at me to put effort into this course (and others) so I can have a pleasant time learning and defining myself while being a student. Understanding what I want to do and what I will put up with will help me figure out the goals I want to accomplish.

1/22/2011 10:13:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

this does not apply to chuck norris

5/15/2011 09:41:00 PM  
Anonymous Jennifer Simpson said...

The quote is true to a point, but i agree with Rebecca. Its nice to have a really great paper, but the more you revise and rework something, the more individuality it loses. Yes it will be a correct paper, but would it be your paper and not the person who is making you revise it over and over?? The quote finds truth in the fact that you paper needs to be at a certain standard, and not just words thrown on a paper. Your paper needs to have enough thought put into it so that it makes you points clear. If your reader has to question what you paper is about, then you need to think about it more, but if your paper sounds like it has been written by a robot or something, then you need to put a little more "you" into the paper. You have to find a happy medium, and when you find that your papers will appeal to both you and the reader.

10/26/2012 11:40:00 PM  

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