Section 1: A discussion of how your identity, as a writer, and your

understanding of the processes of written composition have developed

during the unit.
In addition to citing supporting references to the literature, draw on
entries in your writer’s journal and at least three pieces of polished
writing (developed from the writer’s journal) to demonstrate your self-
exploration as a writer (1000 words).
Give each of the three pieces a title and append them to section 2.
When referring to each piece in the text reference the title.

Personal; writing reflection.

I have always thought of myself a good writer. I kept a diary from when I
was young as I like to recorded important events in my life. I wrote from
my heart and did not care about grammar or spelling as no one would
read this except me. However, as I went through this unit I learnt about
how to make my writing creative. Sabeti, (2016) mentioned that the
linear process of writing is the opposite of creative writing that allows
students to express themselves and enjoy writing rather than sticking to
set the linear process of writing. The set or formal way of writing makes
one lack confidence and enthusiasm for writing, rather and just trying to
truly express yourself and bring out your true creativity. I experienced
that I did not enjoy writing in the set formal way at school and hated
when I felt dumb because of my spelling mistakes and I was made to
feel that I was a bad writer and could not improve. I would negatively
define my writing skills which I found hard till this day to change as
Gardener (2018) mentioned. The linear prosses of writing mentioned by
Pritchard and Honeycutt (2005) was what I experienced in school. This
type of approach made me feel disengaged to write. Compared to when
I was homeschooled my homeschooler would give us tasks to choose to
write about and she would correct us in an encouraging way that did not
demotivate me. We would be able to use our surroundings or an event
that had occurred to write and express our self and our feelings. My
homeschooler allowed me to use the environment text that I would find
at home In my writing which made me excited and engaged to write as
McMahon and Wellhousen (2010) mentioned. In school, I experienced
teachers that would set you with writing work and then they would check
the students work when they were finished, rather than being engaged
and interested in the student work which showed me as a student that
my work is not important for the teacher similar to what Horst (2012)
mentioned. Having to be a writer in this unit surprised me. However, it
did teach me about writing, as is made me reflect on my past as a
student and how I was taught writing and what I liked and disliked about
my learning process. I have also built an understanding while completing
this unit about how teachers should approach teaching writing. As well
as the affect teacher’s attitude of writing a can have on their student
writing and its quality. I also understood the benefit of a writer being
connected with their writing task. As Cremin (2015) mentioned about
school students’ identities as writers, she talked about what Bourne’s
(2002) said that such identities are shaped by one’s factors such as
home environment, peers and are developed by literacy practices and
interactions. My writes identity was shaped by my environment which is
why I connected best with the writing tasks that were about nature.
Some of the tasks in the writer’s journal I found hard to connect with or
write about. Generally, the writing tasks that were about nature or the
environment I found were more enjoyable as I could connect with them
easily. I do believe that I need more time to improve my writing skills and
that may take a while to build up. I do feel that the tasks needed to be
explained better and maybe it would be better if there were more weeks
to develop better.
The first task was the most enjoyable for me as I could connect with
what I was writing about, in (My Backyard) I talked about how I viewed
that yard and what I valued in it. I described the most precious memories
of childhood that I enjoyed.
In the (calm father) writing was very different for me I had never written
something similar
In (The world in puffy’s eyes) was different yet interesting to complete.
Completing this unit has promoted me to start keeping a writing journal
to improve myself in writing and hopefully become a better writing
teacher.
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APPENDIX

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My backyard
Many people call it the backyard, but to me, it is more than just a yard, it
was my favourite place. Its soft green grass was the first I crawled on as
a baby.
It is where I learnt about enchanting colourful flowers attracting the
buzzing bees to their sweet nectar to make their yummy honey. How
seeds in the brown dirt grew, as I would quench their thirst with my
heavy watering can, blooming beautiful blossoms that turned into veg
and fruit. I watched the greyish blue pigeons nourishing their young to
grow strong, I saw those young pigeons master flying in the clear light
blue sky.
The orange and brown bricks layered on pathways around my home,
with green weeds and grass peeping out from between the small gaps
and holes, that long pathway took me to the garden, which I would see it
as my Mothers mini-farm, harvesting the crop of yellow corn and green
peas was such a sweet treat.
The grassy plains of my yard were not strait; it had little hills and
trenches, which you could stumble over, with bare patches of dirt,
becoming muddy puddles on rainy days. I loved those hot summer
nights sitting on the cool grass with my big brother under the white
twinkling stars listening to his thrilling stories with the cicadas cheeping
in the background.
Lying on the lush green grass on the sunny days, I would look up to the
fluffy cotton-like clouds watching them changing shape while listening to
the tiny insects whispering to each other, I would daydream about my
future.
At the end of my forest was a high wooden castle, to enter that castle
was an adventure in its self, you could climb from the front slippery grey
metal caged wall. You could also sneak up into the castle from the
bottom dark stable with grey dusty spider webs, and odd weeds; I would
climb up the wobbly ladder and enter the castle through the hidden trap
door.
Up in the castle, you could see my mother’s farm on your right and your
left was a small wooden beige cottage with a door and three windows.
We had the best adventures in the castle my siblings and me, hiding the
castle from pouring storms was the best.
Between the castle and the cottage was a big tree that gave us delicious
purple plums to have as a snack, on that tree I had calved the first letter
of my name. I tried to climb the tree like a fearless adventure, but I only
climbed halfway and sat there looking at my yard in proud.
Hanging between the castle and tree was my father’s hammock to rest
and relax; when he was not in it, I would crawl into it and wrap myself in
it like a caterpillar in a cocoon and hide.
When my brothers would invade the castle and claim the ownership of it.
I rush off with my sister to the cottage, hide, to have some girl time, we
would have a tea party with our toys and dolls, or play family games, and
as if we were mothers and had children and would take them for a walk
across the grassy plains of course.

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3– People Watching.
Sit at a café and discretely people watch. Identify someone who
interests you and note aspects of their appearance, mannerisms,
movements etc. Imagine what their life might be like. Write a character
sketch based on the person you have observed.

The calm father

In a non-formal café sat a man flipping through the paper that was with
him. His back was hunched as he pondered over the paper on the table.
Reading with concentration as he rubbed his chin. He did not care or
seem to bother with the sweets or the coffee that would be served. He
only took his eyes off the paper to observe the children in the café’s play
area as they squealed with happiness. And then he would once again
return to his paper. He must care about the environment I told myself, as
he was holding with him an empty reusable shopping bag. He took his
phone out of his pocket he may have checked the time as he went back
to complete his reading. He walked towards the play area and talked to
two children. I understood from his conversation that they must leave to
go shopping.
As he rose to leave, he gave me a warming smile that reflected on my
face. He seemed a calm and happy man.

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6
Writer’s Journal – Metamorphosis. Briefly observe a living creature.
Watch its behaviour; how it moves, where it goes. In your journal,
describe the world through its eyes; interpret the world through its
thoughts
The world in puffy’s eyes
I am puffy or that is what my friends from my favourite place call me, I
was named puffy because I have a puffy neck.
Every morning I wake up early like other birds. I fly over to a house I am
familiar with. I perch on the rooftop of the house next to it and wait for
someone of the family to come out. In the morning three children usually
come out two girls and one boy. The boy looks about 8 years old; the
elder girl looks about 11 and little girl seams about 5. They run out early
in the morning barefooted, still dressed in their pyjamas, and untidy hair.
They usually bring us some bread that they break up and offer me and
my friends to eat from their hands. It seems that these children are the
first to wake up in this house, as usual, an adult will call them to go in
and have breakfast. In the midday to afternoon, the mother or the elder
sister of the family will come out and chuck some soft white rice or other
yummy food leftovers on the ground. I come down from the rooftop and
land on the soft green grass I see the sister observe me and my friends
eat. They care and fear that the other mean birds like the magpies will
steal our meal. Sometimes as I am having my meal the two-year-old boy
comes out chasing us screaming ‘AAAA’, l walk across the other side of
the backyard and do not fly away as we know that he is not a threat for
us. I have become fatter since eating at this back yard, what can I do
they feed us good food. I am the most confident and fear the least for
this family which means that I get the most food compared to my other
friends. This backyard to me is a safe sanctuary I am always sure that I
will find food and a safe shelter here. My red pigeon feet are familiar with
walking on the grass or the red brick layered path.