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This is a process analyses essay I wrote for English Comp 1 on how to improvise. Every situation discussed in this essay is directly related to the paper itself. And, yes, improvising saved me many times throughout Comp 1. However, it didn't save me in Comp 2 gonk
Please enjoy, and take my advise responsibily domokun .

On Improvising
Improvise: 1. To invent, compose, or recite without preparation. 2. To make or provide from available materials. (The American Heritage Dictionary)

Surely, to improvise is a very important talent for a college student to master. College is full of unexpected twists and turns to which the student will need to learn to adapt. Professors like to throw projects at their students on short notice, taking precious time with which to work on the project from the student and require him to use what little knowledge or materials are available to him at the moment. Even more likely is the event in which the student discovers his original plan is not going to work and has to start over with a new idea.

Perhaps a student were to show up to his English Comp 1 class and finds out he has to write an essay based on one of a series of given topics. Looking over the topics, he discovers he has no idea what to do with either one. That is when he puts to use the first definition of improvising by taking one of the topics and making up everything as he goes. By inventing a concept, composing the ideas he has formed, and reciting them onto the page, he has thus improvised and will hopefully be convincing enough to get at least a B. [yes, I did manage to get a B on this paper ^_^]

For definition number two, let us say that a certain student had to write a process analyses essay, and he chose to do it on Stephen King's writing process. To write that paper, he has to first research Stephen King's book On Writing. He begins by skimming through the book and finding important details and marking each with an appropriately labeled index card. After marking all the details he wishes to cover, he refers to his markers and reads the material. After taking careful notes, he may want to wait until the next day to write his essay to avoid using exact words and plagiarize the material.

However, he realizes that what he is trying to write is more informative than process analyses. He slaves over his idea trying to make his essay work, when circumstances, such as his car breaking down and having to work all weekend, prevent him from being able to pour the right amount of work into his essay. It is due the next day and he has to figure something out quickly.

That is when it hits him: what he has done over the weekend is gain experience in researching material for a paper. Recounting the steps he took in researching his paper, he then uses this information and the principles of improvising to reform his previous approach, turning his analyses on Stephen King’s writing process into “how to write a research paper.” Thus, he has improvised by replacing one thing by using the available material provided with his experience with something else. [This is entirely true. I was going to write a process analyes essay on writing based on Stephen King's On Writing (see my "Suggested Reading for Writers" post). I did come to this conclusion that it was more informative than process analyses, and my car did break down, making life difficult. However, I did not write an essay on how to research material as my act of improvision. Instead, I wrote this essay here on how to improvise ^_^]

Another thing a student can do is throw in extra words to increase his word usage if he is falling shy of his quota. By adding words or changing the vocabulary (for example, use “that is” rather than “that’s”), one can quickly increase his word usage to meet the quota. This is often difficult because, if not done properly, it can hurt the grade. Information should only be added if it builds on the idea and does not making reading difficult. [All of this here was written for the sole purpose of reaching the word count quota. And I do write "that is" rather than "that's" in essays for the reason described above]

When done at the right times, improvising can be a wonderful talent which will save many a grade. For those of us who live on the principles of trial-and-error, it is vital to our survival. [And all God's slackers said "AMEN!"]

Very nice. However I'm not convinced about the second example. The only reason the improvisation worked there, was because he still had the option to do a topic other than the one he researched, that's generally not possible, at least not to the degree you gave in the example.

Other that that, generally your writing flows well, and it was a fun piece to read. smile