Table of Contents
What is meant by expressive writing?
Expressive writing is personal and emotional writing without regard to punctuation, verb agreement, or other technical aspects of writing. Expressive writing involves writing about how you felt during a particular event versus what happened. It is a much more intimate and emotional style of journaling than what we typically think of when it comes to journaling (Pennebaker, 2013; (Nazarian & Smyth, 2013). Types of expressive writing include personal journals, essays, memoirs, songs, poetry, and opinion pieces. Expressive writing is done in the first person and gives the writer, as well as those who are reading whatever form the expression takes, insight into that person. Generally, though, poetry refers to writing that is highly personal and expressive. Therefore, when I use the phrase “expressive writing” I am using it as synonymous with what, in the U.S., we most often term “creative writing,” which includes fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction (or the personal essay). There are many purposes to writing. The most popular are to inform, to entertain, to explain, or to persuade. However, there are many more including to express feelings, explore an idea, evaluate, mediate, problem solve, or argue for or against an idea. Writers often combine purposes in a single piece of writing. The research, published in the September issue of APA’s Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (JEP: General) (Vol. 130, No. 3), indicates that expressive writing reduces intrusive and avoidant thoughts about negative events and improves working memory.
What are elements of expressive writing?
The three basic steps of expressive writing – prewriting, composing, and revising – have to be taught explicitly. Expressive writing is writing in which the writer is her/his own audience. It need be evaluated by no one other than the writer. Transactional writing, in comparison, is the communication of previous learning performed for others. The Narrative Expressive Writing (NEW) is a modified writing intervention based on the principles of Expressive Writing (Pennebaker & Beall, 1986; Pennebaker & Evans, 2014) and Written Exposure Therapy (WET; Sloan & Marx, 2019). Plotters, pantsers, and plantsers are the three types of writers. These categories have unique traits when it comes to the writing process.
What is expressive writing pedagogy?
Expressivist pedagogy employs freewriting, journal keeping, reflective writing, and small-group dia logic collaborative response to foster a writer’s aesthetic, cognitive, and moral development. Expressivist pedagogy encourages, even insists upon, a sense of writer presence even in research-based writing. Expressive writing is writing in which the writer is her/his own audience. It need be evaluated by no one other than the writer. Transactional writing, in comparison, is the communication of previous learning performed for others. Expressive writing is not creative writing; it is the thought process made visible. Researchers have found that people who practice expressive writing — that is, writing to help make sense of your thoughts and emotions — can experience mental and emotional benefits, including a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression and greater clarity and focus. They may even experience physical benefits. It has been demonstrated, across a variety of investigations, that writing activities yield a number of intellectual, physiological, and emotional benefits to individuals. These bene- fits include improve memory function, decreased symptomatology, and greater feelings of happiness.
What are the characteristics of expressive text?
An expressive text may reveal the thoughts, feelings, experiences and memories of its author. Narratives, personal commentaries, personal essays and blogs are examples of expressive texts. An author’s purpose in communicating could be to instruct, persuade, inform, entertain, educate, startle, excite, sadden, enlighten, punish, console, or many, many others. That’s because the purpose an author has for their writing is either to persuade, inform, or entertain: p-i-e. It is important for students to know the reason an author writes a text because it helps them understand what that text is about. Expressive Arts teach children to be resourceful, imaginative, and learn an array of transferable skills. Having an outlet for expression also has amazing mental health benefits and encourages an atmosphere of mutual respect for other creative areas.
Is expressive writing beneficial?
Researchers have found that people who practice expressive writing — that is, writing to help make sense of your thoughts and emotions — can experience mental and emotional benefits, including a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression and greater clarity and focus. They may even experience physical benefits. Expressive writing is a form of therapy in which individuals write about their thoughts and feelings related to a personally stressful or traumatic life experience. Expressive writing is sometimes referred to as written disclosure, because writers are instructed to disclose personal information, thoughts, and feelings. BENEFITS OF EXPRESSING EMOTIONS Improves the ability to connect with self and others leading to healthier and happier relationships. Improves decision making and ability to solve problems. Increases resilience. Reduces stress. 1. A study by APA showed that writing can help to relieve stress by combatting negative and intrusive thoughts. The study explains that writing about negative experiences can help you to overcome them and that, by putting your experience into perspective, you are able to concentrate on the positive as a result. Writing skills are an important part of communication. Good writing skills allow you to communicate your message with clarity and ease to a far larger audience than through face-to-face or telephone conversations.