
As a practicing writer you can construct your opinion by reading and interpreting other writers work. Also, you can create your opinion by listening to friends, family or even strangers. All of these interactions are a reliable source for writing, but there is a more effective source for writing as Murray stated in “The Interior View”, “my main resource has been myself” (25). The exterior view does not include your opinion or emotions, but they are factors you should follow as a practicing writer. As the writer of the text, your experiences are essential and your emotions give shape to the writing that yourself and other readers can identify with. In his essay “The Interior View: One Writer’s Philosophy of Composition”, Donald M. Murrays argues by using the specific word choices “interior view”, “subjectivity”, “own” in combination with his style to follow our interior view, not the exterior view, for our writing process. 

Murray has an interesting way of writing in the third, fourth and fifth paragraph of page 25. He has a mix of getting to the point very quickly, combining it with a personal memory, which is supposed to serve as advice, and then he is straight forward again. Something to take a closer look at is his word choice, especially in the first of the three paragraphs. The first word to take a look at is “interior view” (Murray 3). This is actually the first time he uses this term in the text, and he does not just mention it, he also introduces this term directly in the first sentence he is using it in. “Interior view” is the base of the entire text, and when he uses it for the first time he almost sums up the message of the entire text, or the advice he wants to give the reader: “There should be, however, serious consideration of the interior view of composing seen by the practicing writer” (Murray 3). The timing of the usage is interesting, because theoretically you actually do not have to read the text anymore, you could stop right there and decide whether you follow his advice or not. 

Another word to look at is “subjectivity” (Murray, 3). The definition of subjectivity is obvious: you consider something subjective by looking at it with your experience and with your personal opinion. In this moment it is just you, nobody else, so no exterior view. Often “subjectivity” is considered wrong by us, because society does not necessarily support it, but here it is emphasized and praised by Murray. By using the strong word “subjectivity” in this specific context, you as the reader start thinking that it is actually good and useful, but he also subliminally supports the idea of the “interior view” by that. You could argue that Murray fills you up with strong words and phrases in these first two sentences in the third paragraph. But this is indeed helpful, because it makes it easier for you to believe it and easier for him to address and convince you of his message. 

There is a third word that is interesting to look at, which also supports this process. In the last sentence of the third paragraph he repetitively uses the word “own”. Here you can see an interconnectedness of his word choices, because “subjectivity” supported “interior view”, and “own” now supports “subjectivity”. The effect of repetition is it adds conviction, it reinforces a message. So what it does is it reinforces the message that you should use your “subjectivity”, you should use the “interior view” instead of the “exterior view” (Murray 3), and it reinforces you to first look at your “own mind” and “own emotions” (Murray 3) when you “try to write every single day of […] life” (Murray 3). But that is not the only time he uses the word “own”. He also uses it before a key word, “subjective” (Murray 3) and actually repeats it right after that when he says “own involvement” (Murray 3). “Own” is definitely the most important word choice he placed in these three paragraphs. But to sum it up Murray chose a clear pattern of strong words, which support each other and makeup to the message he wants to share, but chose the word “own” to have the biggest impact.

The style of the three paragraphs is also an important element in his argumentation. In the third paragraph he is very straightforward, the fourth paragraph however is a flashback and is written very elaborately. And then the fifth paragraph is extremely straightforward again. By following this structure he gives the reader an idea of his message, then draws him/her in with a personal story. Murray does this to put the reader on the same emotional stage as the writer, so it is easier for you as the reader to identify with him. He also does a good job of putting some humor in it, for example he says “and unfortunately purchased” (Murray 4). Through all these factors which come together, the reader feels some kind of connection to him, which makes it more manageable for him to transport his message. After he has your attention and your feeling of being connected with him he again is very straightforward and gets to the point quickly: “As I have written about the process of writing my main resource has been myself” (Murray 5). It is not easy to disagree with his idea after following this specific structure and the use of these very powerful words. 

All in all we can say Murray knows what he is doing, as he does a great job of convincing throughout the entire text. His rhetorical strategies are well chosen, and placed in the perfect spot in the essay to have maximum impact on the reader. There is no way that just following the exterior view makes you a good writer, you are the person who writes the text, so why not use yourself. You are the best source you can get! If you want to find the answer how to write, then that’s an answer you can only find in yourself.


                   