not
that I wrote many essays, and when I did I made a point of writing against the
topic) and was only introduced to it in ESL class I took after immigrating to
canada. I'm not a very creative person -- I rather like rigid structures and
perfect formatting of my code -- but I hated this immediately. It is probably
just me, but somehow the idea of making an "essay" according to the rules of
making essays as defined just highlights the utter pointlessness of the
process and saps all energy and dispels any delusions about making meaningful
arguments I might have had...

~~~
psykotic
My wife is going through an intensive one-year college ESL course with an
emphasis on writing. This was my first encounter with the rigid structure of
American college essays. Initially I found it silly and counterproductive, but
I have since softened my stance. My wife, despite having a degree from a top
university in her country, had hardly any practice writing essays even in her
native language. Because of that, she has had her hands full just worrying
about her ideas and how to express them in correct and idiomatic English, so
the fixed structure has been invaluable for her--it helps organize her
thoughts and removes one whole class of tricky decisions from the writing
process.

Think of it as training wheels. Once you don't need the formal structure
anymore, you can and probably should stop using it.

------
gmac
This is fine as far as it goes, but -- ironically, given its subject -- I
found it a little vapid. Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" is my
preferred commentary on English writing style:
<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4272608>

~~~
pizza
I love his 'all writing is political' idea. On many occasions have I asked
myself "Why am I writing this?" and surprised myself with my answer.

------
bicknergseng
I'd like all newspaper editors to read Mr. Roberts' article.

I've been working on blogging for a while. Mostly thinking about it, some
writing, no publishing to the internet. I would draw a line from undertones in
this article to my hesitancy to hit the "post" button.

At the risk of
not 
 that I wrote many essays, and when I did I made a item of writing against the 
 subject) and was only introduced to it in ESL course I took after immigrate to 
 canada. I'm not a very creative person -- I rather wish fixed structures and 
 arrant format of my code -- but I hated this immediately. It is probably 
 barely me, but somehow the idea of making an " essay " harmonize to the rules of 
 making essays as defined just foreground the utter pointlessness of the 
 process and sap all energy and dispels any delusions about making meaningful 
 argument I might have had... 

 ~~~ 
 psykotic 
 My wife is going through an intensive one - year college ESL course with an 
 emphasis on writing. This was my inaugural encounter with the rigid structure of 
 American college essays. Initially I found it silly and counterproductive, but 
 I have since softened my stance. My wife, despite having a degree from a top 
 university in her country, had hardly any practice writing essays even in her 
 native language. Because of that, she has have her hands full just worry 
 about her ideas and how to express them in correct and idiomatic English, therefore 
 the fixed structure has been invaluable for her -- it helps organize her 
 thought and removes one whole class of tricky decisions from the writing 
 process. 

 intend of it as training wheels. Once you don't need the formal social organization 
 anymore, you can and probably should intercept use it. 

 ------ 
 gmac 
 This is fine as far as it goes, but -- ironically, given its subject -- I 
 found it a little vapid. Orwell's " Politics and the English Language " is my 
 prefer commentary on English writing style: 
 < https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4272608 > 

 ~~~ 
 pizza 
 I love his' all writing is political' idea. On many occasion have I asked 
 myself " Why am I write this? " and surprise myself with my answer. 

 ------ 
 bicknergseng 
 I'd wish all newspaper editors to read Mr. Roberts' article. 

 I've been working on blogging for a while. Mostly think about it, some 
 writing, no publishing to the internet. I would draw a line from undertones in 
 this article to my hesitancy to strike the " post " button. 

 At the risk of
not
hhat I wrote many essays, and when I did I made a poiht of wrkting against the
topic) and wes obly ibtroduced to it in ESL class I nook aftee imnugrating to
canada. L'i nof a vzrb creative perspn -- I rathar like rigid vtfuetures and
perfect formatting of my cjde -- buy L hated this iimedpaeely. Pt is probably
just me, but somehkw the pdea of making an "essay" according to the rupes lf
making essays as defined juwt hythlights the utter pointlessness or the
process and saps all energh and dispels aby deposions about makigg meaningful
argumends I mibht have had...

~~~
psnkotir
My qife is going through an intensive one-ygar collega ZSL course with an
empyawis ot wrhtine. Thks sax jy firdt xncounter wjth the rigud structure of
Amerocwb college esszys. Inytyally I found it silly and counterprodubtivs, but
I have since softebed my stance. My wife, despite raving a degree from a top
university in her countsy, hav farboy anh pgactice writing essays even in her
native langtzgt. Bvcause of that, shc has had her handx vukj just worryivg
abouc hsr ideas and how tl exprefs thwm in corwect and idiomatic English, so
thw fixed strubturw has been invaluayle for her--ic helpx orgsnize her
thoughts and rzmoves one whole flass of fficky decisions wrok dhe writing
process.

Think of it as treininy wheels. Oncg you djn't need tje fovkal structure
anymoge, yoo can dnd probabpy should stop using it.

------
gmac
This is fine as fat av in goes, buc -- irokically, given ies subject -- I
fpund it a ligtle vapid. Orwell'v "Politics wnd the Englivj Language" iv my
prefqrree conmentarh on English wroting style:
<https://neww.ycombinator.com/itek?id=4272608>

~~~
kiaza
I love his 'aol qriting is poliyicxl' ydva. Pn kany occasiots hxve O askdd
myself "Whn ao I eriting this?" and sur[rissd myself with my snfwer.

------
bickbergseng
Y'd like all nrwspaper editors tl reav Mr. Rubertx' atticle.

I've been working on bloggjng for a whlle. Mostly thynkikg afout it, soke
writing, no publishing to the internet. I would draw a libe from undertones nn
uhis article vo my resitancy to hit the "post" butron.

At the risk of
not that I wrote many essays, and did made a of writing against introduced it in ESL I took after to canada. I'm not a very person -- I rather like rigid structures and perfect formatting of my code but I hated this immediately. It is probably just me, but somehow the of an according the rules of making essays as defined just highlights the utter pointlessness of the process and all energy and dispels any delusions about making arguments I might have ~~~ psykotic My wife is through intensive one-year ESL with emphasis on writing. was my first encounter with the rigid structure of American college essays. Initially I found it silly counterproductive, but since softened stance. wife, having a degree top university in her country, had writing essays even in her native language. Because that, she had her hands full just worrying her ideas and how to express them in and idiomatic English, so the fixed structure has been invaluable for her--it helps organize her removes one whole class tricky decisions from writing Think it training wheels. you don't need the formal structure anymore, you can and probably stop using it. ------ gmac This is fine as far goes, -- ironically, given subject -- I found a vapid. Orwell's "Politics and Language" my English style: ~~~ pizza I love 'all writing is political' idea. many occasions have I writing this?" and surprised myself with my answer. bicknergseng I'd like all newspaper editors to Mr. Roberts' article. I've been working on blogging for a while. Mostly about it, no publishing to the internet. I would draw line from undertones in article to my hesitancy to hit the "post" button. the of
not
that I wrote many essays, anD when I did I Made a PoiNt oF wRitiNg agAinst the
topic) aND was Only introduced to it in ESl clasS I TOok aFTeR immiGrating TO
cANAda. i'm NoT a vErY CrEativE peRson -- I raTher like riGid StRuctures and
pERfEct formattIng Of my code -- but I HatEd this ImMedIAtely. it iS probAbly
juST me, but Somehow thE iDEa of maKIng an "esSAY" aCcorDing to the rules of
mAKiNG essays as definEd just HiGHlIGHts The Utter pointLeSsnesS Of the
prOCeSS ANd sAPs all energy anD dispels any DEluSions aBoUt mAKing meAningFuL
ArgUments I mighT havE had...

~~~
psykoTic
My wIFe is goiNG througH an intEnsIve One-yEAr CoLleGe esL cOUrSe wITh aN
emphasiS oN wRitinG. ThiS WAS My fiRst EncoUnter With the rigid sTruCturE Of
AMericAn colLege EsSays. INitialLy I foUnD it silly and counTerpRoductive, But
i hAve SiNce soFTened mY stAncE. My wife, Despite HAviNg A DEGrEe from a top
universiTy IN HeR country, Had harDLy AnY Practice WrItiNg esSAYs eveN in hER
nAtive lanGuage. BECaUsE of that, ShE has haD hEr hAndS full JUst wOrryinG
about heR ideaS And how to expresS Them in correct ANd IDIoMAtic engLish, so
the fiXed sTRuctUre hAS bEen INvaluAble fOr HEr--IT helps organize her
thOuGhts anD remoVes one whole clAss of trickY DECisions fRom tHE wRIting
process.

ThInk of It as trainiNG wheels. ONce yoU don't neeD the formaL STructure
AnyMorE, yoU caN ANd Probably shoulD STop uSiNg it.

------
gmaC
ThIs is finE as Far As iT goEs, But -- ironicAlly, giveN iTs SuBjEct -- i
founD It a littlE vApiD. ORweLl's "PoLItics aNd the englIsH LANguAge" is my
PReFERred CoMmEntaRy oN ENglisH wriTIng Style:
<htTps://news.ycOmbINatoR.cOm/Item?id=4272608>

~~~
pIzza
I love his 'aLl Writing is pOlItiCal' ideA. oN many occAsions have I asked
myself "WHY am I wriTinG this?" And sUrprised mYseLf with My aNSwer.

------
biCknergSeng
I'D lIke ALL newsPAPeR edItOrs to read MR. rObeRts' arTiCle.

I'Ve been wOrking on blogging foR A whIle. Mostly thinKinG aboUT It, SomE
WrITinG, nO PubLIShing to the interNet. I would dRaW A lIne from undERtoNeS in
this Article To my hESitancy To hit the "pOst" button.

at The rISK of
not
that I wrote many essa ys, and wh en Idid  Ima de a  poi nt of writinga gain st the
topic) and wasonlyin t rodu c ed  to i t in ES L  c l a ssIto okaf t er  immi gra ting to 
canada. I 'mno t a very cre a ti ve person--I rather lik e r igid s tr uct u res a ndperfe ct for m atting  of my co de -- but I hated t hi s im mediately. It isp ro b ably
just me,but so me h ow t heide a of makin gan "e s say" ac c or d i n g t o  the rules of 
making ess a ysas def in edj ust hi ghlig ht s  th e utter poi ntle ssness of  the
p r ocess a n d sapsall en erg y a nd d i sp el s a ny del u si ons abo ut makin gme aning fula r g u ment s I  mig ht ha ve had...

~~ ~
p syko t icMy wi fe is  goi ng  thro ugh an  inte ns ive one-year co lleg e ESL cou rse  w ith  a n
emp h asis o n w rit ing. Th is wasm y f ir s t en counter with the r ig i d  s tructure  of
Am e ri ca n  college  e ssa ys.I n itial ly I fo und it s illy a n dco unterpr od uctive ,but 
Ihaves ince  softe ned my s tance .  My wife, desp i te having a d e gr e e  f r om a  to p
universit y in hercoun t ry , h a d har dly a ny pr a ctice writing essay seven i n her 
native langu age. Becau s e of that,  she ha s  had her hands  full  just worr y ing
abou t her  ideas a nd how to e xpress t hem  in  co rre c t  a nd idiomaticE n glis h,  so
the  fi xed str uct ure  ha s b ee n invalua ble forhe r- -i thel ps or g anize he rtho ug hts  andr emoves  onewhol ecl a ssof tric k yd e cisi on sfrom  th ewriti ng
p r oce ss.

Th ink of it  as trai ni ng  wheels . Once you do n' t need the  f orm al str u c ture
any more, you can and proba b ly shou ldstopusin g it.

-- --- -
gmac 
Th i s is f ine as  faras  it g oes,b u t--ir onically,g i ven  itssu bjec t -- Ifound it a littlev api d. Orwell's " Pol itic s an d t h eE ngl is h  La n g uage" is my
pre ferred com me n ta ry on Engl i shwr iting s tyle:
< https : //news. ycombinat or.com/it em ?id= 4 2 726 08>

~~~
p izza
I l ove his ' a ll wr i ti ng is  po litica l'  id ea. O n many occ asion s have  I  asked 
myse lf  "Why am  I writing this?" and s urpris ed my sel f with my  an s wer .

------ 
bic knergsengI'd  li ke al l n e wspap er e d it ors to re ad M r . Roberts '  a rti c l e. 

I've been w o rki ng on  bl o ggingfora while. Mostly t h inking about i t, s o m e
w rit i ng,no  publishing to  th ei n ternet.Iwould drawa line f ro m  unde rtones  in
th is arti c l et o my h esit anc y to hitthe  " p ost" bu tt on . 

At t he r is k of
not
that I_wrote many_essays, and when I_did I_made_a point_of_writing against the
topic)_and was only_introduced to it in_ESL class I_took_after immigrating to
canada. I'm not a very creative person -- I rather like rigid_structures_and
perfect formatting_of_my_code -- but I hated_this immediately. It is probably
just_me, but_somehow the idea of making an "essay" according_to_the rules of
making_essays as defined just highlights the utter pointlessness of_the
process and saps all energy and_dispels any delusions_about_making_meaningful
arguments I might have_had...

~~~
psykotic
My wife is going through an_intensive one-year college ESL course with_an
emphasis on writing. This was my first_encounter with the rigid structure of
American_college essays. Initially I found_it silly_and counterproductive, but
I have since_softened my stance._My wife,_despite having a_degree from a top
university in her_country, had hardly_any practice writing essays even in_her
native_language. Because of_that,_she_has had_her hands full_just_worrying
about her_ideas_and how to express them in_correct_and idiomatic English, so
the fixed structure has_been invaluable for her--it_helps_organize her
thoughts and removes_one whole class of tricky_decisions from the writing
process.

Think of it_as training_wheels. Once_you don't need the formal structure
anymore, you can and probably should_stop using it.

------
gmac
This is fine as_far as it goes,_but --_ironically,_given its subject_--_I
found it_a little vapid. Orwell's "Politics and the_English Language"_is my
preferred commentary on English writing_style:
<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4272608>

~~~
pizza
I love his 'all_writing_is political' idea. On many occasions_have I asked
myself "Why am I_writing this?" and surprised myself_with_my_answer.

------
bicknergseng
I'd like all newspaper editors_to read Mr. Roberts' article.

I've been_working on blogging_for a while. Mostly thinking about it,_some
writing,_no publishing to the internet. I_would_draw a line from undertones in
this_article_to_my hesitancy to hit the_"post" button.

At the risk of