Becoming a Writer Essay

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In Russel Baker’s essay “Becoming a Writer,” he explains how writing changed from being heavy labor to a calling. He started with everything associated with English boring him up until 11th grade. He said how dull and baffling English grammar was, and he didn’t understand how to create interesting compositions. Baker mentions that he set himself up for a dry year based on rumors concerning Mr.Fleagle from other high schoolers. Then the “comic antique” appearance and the uninspiring delivery of the reading by Mr. Fleagle convinced Baker writing was dull. Assigned to write an informal essay from a mind-numbing topic list, “The Art of Eating Spaghetti” triggered Baker’s amusing memory of the first moment he shared with his family the exotic treat that was spaghetti. Then Baker sinks into his topic when he writes “Neither Doris nor I had ever eaten spaghetti, and none of the adults had enough experience to be good at it.” Only having time to write one essay, Baker turned in the one that brought upon him the discovery of writing about a meaningful topic he enjoyed. When he was writing solely for the purpose of doing it his way, he realized his delight in writing. Expecting a chastisement for not following the norms, Baker was in complete disbelief when Mr.Fleagle singled out his essay to be read to the entire class. He describes the satisfaction of having his words capture the audience. The author’s last point was that Mr. Fleagle counted amongst the finest teachers in school and that he had opened a door to a career possibility. I have made a comparable discovery of the joy of doing something for myself; however, it was not about my writing but about sports. From a young age, my parents decided that my brother and I should be involved in some kind of sport. When I was 4 years old, they signed us up for hockey, a game that kids where I’m from all loved. I would follow

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