Tyler Cicardo

3/2/2015
Senior Seminar
Reading Response #5
1. The author, Howard S. Becker, recalls his experience teaching a seminar on writing for
graduate students, and offers helpful tools and tips to achieve accurate and successful
writing along the way.
2.
a. Rhetoric- the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use
of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
b. Sociology- the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human
society.
c. Rough draft - the first version of a piece of writing.
3.
a. In my Intro to Public Relations class, my professor stressed the importance of
clean, efficient writing, keeping it short, sweet and to the point. The author
touched on this on p. 7.
4.
a. I really enjoyed the authors first day exercise, having the class go around and
state the strange rituals they have when it comes to writing. I found that very
useful, and could see myself responding with some of the answers that his
students gave (p. 3-4).
b. On p. 10, it occurred to me how important it is to actually take the time to
proofread, correct and perfect your writing. As the author stated, most college
students have several papers due simultaneously, and tend to churn out a paper the
night before it is due (guilty as charged). But the author stresses the importance of
a rough draft and re-writes, which I thought was very helpful and informative.