Rose

1. Create a list of all the rules that, according to Rose, interfere with the "blockers'" writing. What rules, if any, do you find yourself forced to follow seem to get in the way of your writing?

According to Rose, captivating your audience within the first paragraph, composing complex outlines, and meeting the expectations of your professor are rules that interfere with the blockers' writing. I often feel that meeting the expectations of my teacher belittles my writing because I can not be as expressive.

2. Describe the difference between the rules that blcokers in Rose's study were following and those that non-blockers were following . What accounts for the difference?

The rules that blockers follow are precise, by the book rules that were probably taught to them in highschool. These rules restrict their writing process and fuel writer's block. Non-blockers, on the other hand, follow a more vague and lenient set of rules. If something conflicts with their sensibility or experience, they ignore it. The less precise rules are, the easier writing is for the student.

5. Can you think of mutually exclusive rules that you've tried to follow in your writing? If you can't easily or quickly think of any, comb through the rules that you follow for writing, and see if they're consistent with each other.

One rule that I consistently follow is to list all of the points I make throughout the essay in the first paragraph. I do not necessarily do this because I was taught to. I follow this rule more for my own sake, because it helps me keep on track when my words venture off topic or I begin to ramble. Other than that, I tend to write more for myself, while still managing to keep my audience.