Assignment UNIT ONE: Why Writers Write The Question: In "On Keeping a Notebook," Joan Didion writes, "How it felt to me: that is getting closer to the truth about a notebook." Write an essay that interprets what you think the truth is about why Didion keeps a notebook. Didion never explicitly says why she keeps a notebook, but in her essay she does offer many different reasons for writing. Therefore, you need to interpret those reasons to make an argument for the main, implied reason that Didion keeps a notebook (or "the truth"), and then prove that to your reader using evidence from the text. Due Dates: On Wednesday, September 15, a typed thesis and list of evidence (i.e., at least four quotes) are due to upload to Canvas. On Thursday, September 16, a typed introduction and one body paragraph are due to post on Canvas. On Monday, September 20 a three-page, typed draft is due for a peer review to post on Canvas and to bring in as a hardcopy. On Wednesday, September 22 a revision of the draft is due for in-class, line-editing, Bring in as a hardcopy. You will submit the final, 3-4 page paper on Thursday, September 23 on Canvas. Important Reminders: Late assignments and papers will be subject to the penalties detailed on the syllabus. This is worth 10% of your grade. This paper and all others must abide by MLA guidelines, which means: 12 point size, Times New Roman font, double space, one-inch margins on all four sides, and last name and page number in the upper right of every page in the header). All words and ideas need to be your own. If you receive tutoring at the Writing Center, please let me know. Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy will result in formal sanctions. (See syllabus for the policy and punishments.) As a promise that you have not violated the Academic Integrity Policy, you must type at the bottom of the last page, "I have neither given nor received any outside assistance on this assignment," and then sign your name.

On keeping a notebook

Diary lovers and keepers frequently find it difficult to articulate what it means by expressing their feelings and concepts in writing which seems so important. A personal desire unquestionably inspires the personal diary, but mostly these works are not published. According to Joan Didion, putting down one's thoughts is important for a personal purpose whereby the content can only be meaningful to the maker(Joan Didion: pg. ).  Having one's diary safe for so long is not motivated by the urge to keep records for other people to read, but the willingness to have a flashback of the life one had as time goes by.

 Joan begins her work with a quote from her diary. It is just oblique enough to be intriguing. She can invite her audience to evaluate her work using colloquial terms or queries. She can ponder the reasons she did it and guides the audience on the meaning of every text. Her voice and the connection created is the motivating element through her work. The story sounds more of a loser but more open, founded on the thoughts and expressions than the facts. Her writings are unique due to the casual investigation explaining why she keeps a notebook.

Life goes so quickly since one is busy with school work, family, and other responsibilities. This makes it difficult for one to create time for them (Joan Didion: pg. 2). Reflection on past activities by writing is the only permanent way to put all memories close to them. Although Joan did not manage to keep all the records of her life, she brought about this important point of keeping a notebook. People can tell their life stories just through memories, and it is the most special thing to people. One can revisit a certain moment, whether it is important or random, which could be of the essence to one’s life (Joan Didion: pg. 2).

Nevertheless, the manner she responds to these questions mirrors the elements of the text.  Didion might have written this a convincing essay. She explains why people ought to maintain a notebook, or she might have written it as an article explaining the importance of having a diary. Alternatively, she responds to the queries while pondering them. The article is not structured so that it was a systematic, planned examination of the topic; instead, it's essentially an examination of her ideas. This implies that writing one’s thoughts, feelings and activities will make some days remarkable and can be remembered even after a long period of time. Treasured moments will be captured together with the bad days and thus can be referred to in future.

I believe that Joan managed to put her plan across. Giving examples in the staff's text she had put down, for instance, the recipe memory, tells us that her notebook was quite random (Joan Didion: pg. 5). The structure in which it is set cannot tell the day-to-day happenings. Occasionally, we find that she has several rhetorical questions in her book since she does not remember what motivated her to write the stories. Even though she can relate with the person, she was through the activities put in the notebook. Sometimes I find myself writing things when I think hard. Thus, I am able to relate to Joan's situation.

In most cases, people do not have deep meaning when they are putting down their feelings. Whether the story was interesting or just random, many people do not think about them. Therefore, one can always write out their mind when they feel to. It also helps one’s mind to relax, especially if the story is touching or rather sensitive. Joan advises one can to write for the sake of outing it down.

 Joan makes an important phrase while concluding the essay. That as time goes on, people gradually tend to forget their past and where they come from. Growing older, all the memories of heartbreaks, childhood recollections, and adolescent memories fade away. Having a diary, one can reconnect with themselves, having put down their thoughts and experiences.   The author aims to explain how a diary is important (Joan Didion: pg. 6). For people reading the article, the writer uses a wistful voice for them to connect with her. She employs figures of speech such as flashback, sorrow, and symbolism, among others. She captures the viewer's interest by employing these tactics.

Having read Joan's work, this situation seems all too similar to me. My initial instinct is to scribble so that I can remember. It can be difficult to start writing when you eventually get back to the realism as to what it implies, revisiting the toughest moments, attempting to depict the greatest.  Therefore one could say that putting down their thoughts will be of great importance but can also bring effects when one recalls the bad events in life and end up tearing down.