We've pretty much all agreed by now that when it comes to teaching composition, the system is either broken or in need of repair. At worst, the "business as usual" style of teaching writing turns students off writing completely, and at best, a few students emerge unscathed, but in reality most survive with minimal writing skills and a bad taste in their mouth. So what can we do about it? It's not likely that we can change the system, not anytime soon at least, but we can make a change - one class, even one student at a time, and both Hartwell and Bruffee show us how.
Hartwell hammers home the message that standard ways of teaching grammar are not only ineffective in teaching grammar but equally ineffective in teaching writing. Bruffee stresses the need for collaborative learning and emphasizes the effectiveness of teaching writing this way. Dr. Kemp echoes both men when he tells us that the only real way for students to learn how to write well (and even learn a little grammar along the way), and maybe even like it a little, is through peer review. And not just any ole' peer review, but one that does not make finding errors the priority.
So there we have it. Not only do we know what we DO NOT want to do in our classrooms, we are actually getting a better idea of what we DO want to do. I love the practicality of this. Theory is great, but it is empty without corresponding practical application, and these articles, and our class discussions, are equipping us not only with a sense of righteous indignation, but also real tools we can use to construct our classrooms in a way that fits each of our own chosen paradigm.
I agree, Linda. I have been feeling this for a couple of weeks now. The combination of the readings and the instruction from Dr. Kemp have really made me feel like i know what needs to be done. At the same time, it seems like people have known what needs to be done for a while. Maybe, as Dr. Kemp says, the knowledge simply hasn't filtered down until now, and now that we have all of this knowledge it is our task to implement it. But yes, the course has presented a lot of valuable and applicable knowledge that I hope begins to take hold in future teachers of composition, like us.
ReplyDeletePeople are afraid of this "unconventional" style. Not focusing on strict grammar rules? Terrible! Letting the students talk? Preposterous! It sounds so silly that teachers wouldn't come to this conclusion sooner, but they're simply afraid of change, I think. Hopefully, we, as the new generation of teachers, can impart these strategies with our own students!
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