Reading response CR, pgs. 229-240

Sheila Olson
English 102, Section 13
Christy Vance
11/17/09
Reading Response - CR pgs. 229-240
Bruce Ballenger's helpful hints and tips for re-writing (and possibly re-researching) our research papers offers several interesting things to consider. Some of the exercises that he suggests, such as using two different colored highlighters to show areas of your own voice and areas of facts and quotes from sources, sounds like a useful exercise to do. i think I will probably (or maybe not) be surprised by what I find. It seems like it has been a very long time since I wrote my ethnography, so it will be interesting to go back and visit areas that need improvement, or areas that no longer seem relevant.
Although we did have classmates read our rough dratfs, I think it will also be very useful to have someone else read the final draft again.
Another exercise that sounds like it will be useful is reorganizingt the draft using the cut and paste method. Organizing the steps and progression of my paper was one of the biggest challenges I faced when originally writing my ethnography, and I think this exercise of physically moving the pieces around sounds very promising.
Finally, although it sounds awkward at first, I think I will try reading my paper out loud as Ballenger suggests, to see if it really sounds like me, or as he puts it, "does it sound flat or wooden" (237).
Overall, the assigned reading was very helpful, and the point is to re- everything, from thesis to research to voice.