Peter Elbow's Freewriting  http://mgunby.wikispaces.com/file/view/Freewriting.pdf

Sample summary 1

            Peter Elbow’s essay, “Freewriting,” simply states the effectiveness and benefits of the writing process of freewriting.  By doing so, Elbow creates a clear distinction between freewriting and writing: in the regular writing process editing consistently interrupts the natural creativity the mind discharges.  According to Elbow, if freewriting is done frequently and appropriately, freewriting will solve one’s editing qualms.  Practice will eventually make perfect and the once tedious, sporadic process of writing will eventually become an efficient and cohesive process.

Furthermore, Elbow uses another strategy to explain the usefulness of freewriting: analogizing it with speaking.  He explains how one’s voice and one’s words connects to an inner power and exhibits it proudly.  Elbow states this inner strength can only be displayed if one is completely proud and confident in his or her words.  Freewriting, Elbow claims, will ultimately dissolve any uncertainties that editing exhibits.

Consequently, the concept of freewriting allows a writer to be comfortable with what he or she is saying.  Elbow argues freewriting is a fundamental writing technique each writer should use in order to become a successful writer.

Sample summary  2

In Peter Elbows essay titled Freewriting, he explains how free writing can help improve your writing.  Freewriting is a way to relax and improve your writing skills.  All freewriting is, is writing nonstop without correcting or checking what you already wrote. According to Elbow, you should try to free write at least three times a week, and each time write for a few more minutes.  If you get stuck you should simple write “I don’t know what to write, I don’t know what to write,” until an idea or statement pops into your mind.  Elbow states that it doesn’t matter what you write because your freewrite is only for you to read unless you decided to share your work with others.  He also explains that you shouldn’t stop to correct spelling or grammar or even to re-read what you already wrote.  A lot of people get nervous when they write because their scarred their grammar might be wrong or they might be misspelling a lot of words, but when you freewrite spelling and grammar shouldn’t be on your mind.  Elbow explains that freewriting is non-editing, while you’re writing you should be concentrating on writing, not spelling, grammar, or what you previously wrote.  After you freewrite you can go back and correct any spelling mistakes or grammar that you may have used incorrectly.

Sample Summary  3

In Peter Elbows Free writing Essay he expresses many examples and great ideas on how free-writing improves your writing. Throughout the essay he points out many different examples. Elbows thinks that practicing free-writing will make you better at it, then essentially make you a better writer.   He explains how to free-write so well that it makes sense to everybody. In the essay he tells you not to edit while free-writing. Editing while free writing puts a block on your thoughts, when you have a block you can’t write. Since you’re not editing he says to just write, no matter what your writing, just to write This essay will make it easy for people around the world to free write without any worries.

Sample Summary 4

            According to Peter Elbow, Freewriting can and should be utilized as people develop and enhance their writing.  In the essay entitled, “Freewriting” Peter Elbow begins by explaining the process of freewriting.  Elbow states that writers should write for a period of time without stopping; no matter how coherent or incoherent.  He believes this will greatly improve a person’s writing.

            Elbow goes onto explain that a person’s  freewriting  can be read by another but not evaluated, due to his belief that freewriting can be coherent or incoherent.   Elbow believes there is too much editing while producing.  Elbow explains in freewriting one should not think or edit, just write.   Elbow then compares freewriting with speaking, because we tend to speak freely without worrying about consequences.  Unlike writing where we have an opportunity to edit our thoughts and make them perfect.  Elbow states, if practiced regularly freewriting can break the habit of constant editing while producing.

According to Elbow most people struggle at the beginning of a writing, which leads to constant editing and then has a negative effect on the entire writing.  Elbow points out not to get discouraged at the beginning of a writing, we can always go back and edit when finished writing.  Elbow explains that constant editing can diminish the writer’s power and voice. Elbow concludes by saying that eventually some of your freewriting voice and power will carry over into your regular writing.

Sample Summary 5

The article we read is called “free writing” by peter elbow. The main idea of the essay is how free writing makes writers better. When we write we tend to proof read our work while we are writing things down. Elbow wants us to stop doing that and just write. It doesn’t matter what it is but write whatever is on your mind. In the article he explains how to use free writing and how to use your whole time while free writing.  We all proofread while we write because we are so afraid to be wrong. We want to sound correct when we write, so that we sound educated, You write to get all your thoughts and emotions out on paper, to know that they are not all bottled up inside.
              To me what elbow is expressing is that each time you write add more time on to the time before and so on and so forth  but do not stop and check your work or stop to think of what to say next. Elbow wants you to get lost in your words in your thoughts even if they make no kind of sense, writing helps clear your heads and thoughts, and it allows you a way to express your feelings. Hopefully when you are done free writing and after you do it for awhile you will be used to writing in that format and you can carry that over the your regular writing, never doubt yourself even when writing a free write, just let the words flow.