Bawarshi-The Genre Function

Anis Bawarshi is arguing the idea of the author-function. Bawarshi feels the author-function delimits the value of the author. The author-function does not refer to the real writer. The real writer is the individual who's name precedes and independently exists of the work. The author-function holds the author as part of a literary genre. Bawarshi feels that when we subject basic writers to this idea of author-function we are not giving them status as authors but rather literary works. He believes that genres functions. He states that "genres are implicated in the way we experience and enact a great many of the discursive realities." The point he is trying to make is that its not what the writer writes about that defines a genre yet, it is how the reader engages with the text and experiences it that constitutes a genre.

Devitt-Generalizing about Genre

In this essay, Devitt explains the new concepts of genre that is developing and she offers some suggestions on how it effects our thinking and writing. In the beginning of the essay, Devitt addresses the old conceptions of genre. She explains that genre is merely a sytem of literary criticism that divides writing based on it's forms. This makes genre a a normalizing and formulaic concept. Writers find it hard to break out of the generic constraints. However, this form of knowledge and genre is not easily discarded due to it's long history. This type of generalization has lead us to create the five-paragraph essay, the introductory paragrpah, and even the fourteen line sonnet. While this general concept of genre is all we know, Devitt explains a new concept that is developing. This new concepts relates genre to a rhetorical situation. The rhetorical response to writing or a text is what classifies the genre. The text not only reflects the genre but, it reflects the situation as well. This new idea has the ability to connect the reader and the writer as well as the process and the product. It is believed that this will help people better understand the concept of genre.
I think this is a fscinating concept. I agree with the new concept of genre. It seems more interesting and easier to understand. However, I also think it will be very hard to stray away from what we already know. Letting go of the old concept will not be easy.

Moss-Literacy in African American Churches

Beverly J. Moss analyzes a conversation between two communities in which she belonged to. The first community is her academic community and the second is her church community. Moss discovers the ways in which these two different communities use literacy and how they relate to each other. In order to guide her analysis, Moss used four basic questions to generate research. These questions consisted of:

1. What constitutes a text, particularly a literate text, in this setting?
2. How are what has been traditionally viewed as the components of the rhetorical situation,-rhetor, audience, message-affected by an alternative view of text that I argue for in this book?
3. How does this "new" concept of literacy and text function in African-American churches?
4. How does this alternative conceptulization of literacy and text impact on traditional notions of literacy and text?

The questions Moss used to generate her research helped me when I was working on my Literacy in Communities project. I really used her essay as a tour guide when trying to create ideas for my paper. Although my topic (Organic Community) is a much different topic than literacy in African-American churches, I was able to look past the academic setting of literacy and text and focus on how people use literacy everyday after reading her essay. In my project I tried to answer at least two of her general questions or address them in one way or another. I also agree with her views on literacy as a social process. My project was very much a social community and the process in which they use literacy really proves that. Moss' piece was an incredible help towards my project. After reading her essay, I felt more comfortable with my paper.

Gere-Kitchen Tables and Rented Rooms

Anne Ruggles Gere explores the idea of extracurriculum composition in her essay Kitchen Tables and Rented Rooms: The Extracurrciculum of Composition. Gere describes the way different communities use composition and how the meaning of it has changed over time. The two different towns use literacy to form workshops, reading clubs, and ways for ordinary people to express themselves through writing. The workshops allow for these average people to become motivated writers, better their writing skills, and encourage constructive criticism. The writing in these communities has even helped create clubs and literacy shelters for homeless people or laws to for better farming practices. I can relate to the people and workshops discussed in this essay. I have always found the writing workshops to be extremely helpful as well as interesting. I enjoy hearing what others have to say and love getting feedback on my writing. Although most of my current writing is for school purposes, I find the workshops allow me to get the best grade possible. Writing workshops allow writing to evolve and I feel improve literacy throughout communities.

Harris- The Idea of Community

In The Idea of Community in the Study of Writing, Joseph Harris challenges the term "communities." Harris feels that there is nothing behind the term community. Since community is such a broad term, Harris explains that it has no positive opposing term therefore it is meaningless or sentimental. Harris criticizes Bartholomae's Inventing the University for trying to make communities distinct. Harris argues that students or writers cannot "reinvent" something that has already been invented. Harris claims that all writers, especially students, have access to any language or style of writing but choose to not use it. If writers have access to this language, they should have the ability to negotiate different styles in order to become a better writer. I do not agree with Harris' point. As a writer, I do believe there are different communities of writing. For instance, when creating my resume I would use a much different style of writing than when I am at school. I would have to adapt to the business community in order to have a successful resume. Using different styles of writing, language, and tone I am adapting to the different communities of discourse. There are different communities of writing for a reason. Each person takes in information differently and therefore needs specific styles of discourse to relay certain information.

Bartholomae-Inventing the University

From the essay, Inventing the University, David Bartholomae discusses the concept of reinventing voice to fit the needs of the audience. Bartholomae makes some very valuable points about the discourse community. He notes that writers, especially students, must learn to speak the language of the different discourse communities in which they are trying to relate to. The writer must first establish authority in their writing. The next step is to establish a relationship with the audience by forming the right subject and language. Another way in which Bartholomae addresses how writers reinvent themselves is through imitations. Students refer to imitations in their writing to relate to the various universal audiences. I can relate to this point because I see it in my own writing. I write using various styles or tone to appeal to my audience. For example, in school I try to use the more academic, formulaic, or formal writing but on my own time I choose to use the less formal approach by using slang or internet speech such as "lol" or "idk." I know that as a writer the intended purpose of my writing must adapt to the readers needs. Bartholomae did an excellent job in trying to explain and defend this argument.

Gilyard-Race Theory

In this examination of racism in the American culture I have never heard such a true portray of this long debated diverse-multi-cultural world and how it has come to be. This article starts off with a story of a student at Columbus University who is going to school, working hard, and gathering worldly knowledge. Makil is an African-American student whose professor challenges him to improve his composition skills. Throughout the essay many racial issues concerning rhetoric and discourse are addressed. Makil eventually turns in a paper of good quality and his professor questions whether it was a valid essay because of his race.The Article shifts views into how this story plays into what “race” is. Why does it have to be something brought up? Isn’t that what racism is in the first place? There can definitely be counter-racism too. This professor was trying to push the stereotypes further by trying to make the situation, a situation. The first mistake we make is by even laying out the framework through our head that White people are like this, Orientals are like that, and Latinos are this too. That is the underlying issue here. It’s just We, People are like that. We all are one, but through the media, through history and through our social lives we have become completely Racialized. I liked this article a lot. It has shined a new light on an old thought in my head. We never really take the time to step back to see that we are the ones who perpetuate “racism” ourselves by being prideful and proud of our heritage or false heritage. We all have the same heritage; we are all the same culture, just different ideas.

Lunsford-Feminism and Textual Ownership

This essay really caught my interest. It had never occurred to me that textual ownership or author's rights could be such an issue in the writing world today. I also did not look at copyrighting as something in terms of branding or creating an original piece of work. I had always associated the term copyright with writing. I believe that an author should be able to receive credit for their work without going through the corporate ladder. I agree with websites and blogs that allow writers to express themselves and enable others to view their work. While some writing is better than others, it is at the readers discretion to enjoy it or not. Publishing and claiming legal copyrights have become such a prolonged process that many writers are starting to question whether textual ownership is losing its power. Lunsford brings up several points as to why this is such a problem today. One point I agree with is that the shift in values of society has been the underlying reason. Everything today is corporate and if not they will soon be bought out by a corporation. It is hard to have anything original or organic and writing will soon be all corporate. Hopefully the internet can survive this change and help author's get their work out if they want to.

Heath- Dilemmas of Identity

The essay Work, Class, and Categories: Dilemmas of Identity written by Shirley Brice Heath explores the role different identities play in writing. Heath addresses the dilemmas of identity by forming a narrative that deals with different problems. The scene takes place in an urban area on the third floor of an abandoned school. Here, a group of kids from all different backgrounds are free to express different forms of art such as writing, dance, and even music. Throughout the essay, Heath looks at how each is affected differently based on their class, work ethic, or social background. Each kid was somehow shaped by the community around them.

I personally did not agree with this essay. While I do think that where a person comes from or what ethnicity, religion, or even social class you belong to does have a impact on writing, I feel the writer's beliefs are really what shows. A writer evolves their own identity throughout their life and who is to really say if we have just one identity. I have read many different pieces of literature from the same author in which each new piece they write they reinvent themselves. I don't think that any one person has just one identity but a combination of identities.

Royster-Voice

In her essay, When the First Voice You Hear is Not Your Own, Jacqueline Jones Royster examines the different voices any one person can have in rhetoric. Royster discusses a situation in which she was viewed as an African-American woman in her writing. Readers agreed that when she wrote like this she was using her "authentic voice." Royster was frustrated by this accusation because she felt that she had many voices and not just one authentic voice. I have had similar situations occur to me throughout my life. I have felt that my voice has been lost in the world at some point. One instance took place when I was a sophomore in high school. I began working at a Mexican restaurant as a hostess. I was the only "white girl" working at the hostess stand amongst Spanish girls. The Spanish girls would always speak in spanish which made me feel left out. I felt the need to adapt to my environment and learn Spanish in order to fit in with these girls. Although my voice had not been heard in my surrounding environment, I overcame the situation and adapted to my environment. Royster makes an excellent point that a person can have several different voices.

Berlin- Rhetoric and Ideology

In this essay, James Berlin discusses how ideology impacts rhetoric. Berlin divides the essay into three sections which represent the different forms of rhetoric. These forms include Cognitive rhetoric, Expressionistic rhetoric, and Social-Epistemic rhetoric. Each form of rhetoric is affected differently by ideology. The first form known as cognitive rhetoric. Cognitive rhetoric is a thinking process that has the end goal in mind always. It is a form of problem solving in which the writer is mainly concerned with recognizing the problem and finding a solution. Expressionistic rhetoric takes a different approach. This form of rhetoric is based on the author's experience. It is a sensory experience about what is real or what exists to the author. The rhetoric is the author's own personal genius. The power of this rhetoric is located in the author, text, and writing process. Social- Epistemic rhetoric is in a category on its own. This form of rhetoric exists through the individual's cognitive. Social-Epistemic focuses on the social community and how individuals are affected by the material world around them. The end goal/solution is only possible through a specific social group. Berlin explores these different forms of rhetoric to see how a writer/reader is affected by ideology.

Winds of Change-Hairston

When it comes to the writing process many teachers and students rely on the paradigm of current-traditionalism. Teachers tell students to organize their essays into the five paragraph theme and students use that process as a general safety net. In the education system, writing has always been taught as a strict process leaving little grey areas when it comes to form. Many teachers only focus on what is wrong with the paper rather than why it is wrong. In The Winds of Change, Maxine Hairston discusses how the writing process is turning over a new leaf and many teachers are trying to incorporate more flexible ways to write. One of the main problems with the current-traditionalism process is that it does not allow students to understand the concepts of writing. It merely shows them the steps to organize it. With the new change of writing that Hairston talks about, teachers are going to focus more on the content of the writing rather than the process itself.

I think it is important for students to understand why they are required to do things certain ways. As I have gotten older, I have realized in the educational system that high school writing and college writing are extremely different. In high school, my essays were graded more on how I organized my paper and in college it was based more on content. I feel that in high school I always taught to have the perfect product but in college I was taught to have the right information. I believe that in order to fix your mistakes you need to know why it is a mistake in the first place. By teaching students how to fix their problems instead of just reprimanding them for it, they will become better writers and know not to make the same mistake again. I think a new way of teaching writing is definitely needed in the education system.

Public Voices-Danielewicz

I think one of the most important aspects of writing an essay or anything for that matter is your voice. In this essay, Personal Genres, Public Voices, Jane Danielewicz discusses the importance of having your own voice when writing. Voice is the power behind the entire essay and really shows the reader where you are trying to go. Showing your voice can really change the way a piece of writing feels and I feel that it helps many writers relate to you as an author. Danielewicz reasons that as young people, we have the right to spread our voice through writing and to give insight behind our words. As far as academic writing goes, Danielewicz thinks we should be allowed to show more of our feelings and personal thoughts in our writing. I completely agree with this idea. Some of the best novels I have read have been autobiographies. I relate to novels more when they have real feeling behind them, show personal struggles, and engulf me with the authors true feelings. Without having a voice behind your writing it would not make as much of an impact to the reader.

Later on in the essay, Danielewicz talks about the structure of her classroom and how she teaches to help students bring out their personal voices. The way her classroom was structured really reminded me of my AP Language in high school. We did many peer reading groups and got together to review each others essays. I think this helps a lot when it comes to writing because students can see if their work is making an impact on someone else and where they can improve their writing. These kinds of peer groups can also help a writer define what type of writer they are. Whether it be fiction, autobiography, etc. writers can see their best qualities and choose the path that is right for them.

Cognitive Process Theory- Flower

This essay written by Linda Flower and John R. Hayes analyzes the cognitive process of writing that many writers use. In the essay, the authors address four specific points which are important to the overall cognitive process. These points include :

1. Writing is best understood as a distinctive thinking process

2. These processes have a hierarchal organization

3. Writing is a goal directed process

4. Writers create their own goals in two ways: Goals and Sub goals

All four points explained by the author summarize that the cognitive process of writing can be looked at as a stage model or predetermined process in which the writer must use to express themselves completely. One of the main themes throughout this essay emphasize that whether the writer chooses for his work to be a planned five step process or think they are just writing freely, all writing is a planned process. Our minds subconsciously plan out what we want to achieve in the writing process. Each writer considers their goals and organizes their work to represent their thoughts.

I can agree with this essay. I have used the writing process since I learned to write. Whether I choose to make a rough draft or pre-writing sheet where I establish my goals, I am always using some type of planning in my head. I think specific points I want to make in a piece of writing and then work around those. Writing really is a cognitive process.

Error-Williams

In the essay, The Phenomenology of Error, Williams attempts to define the meaning of error in composition. After all, what is an error? Who can determine what classifies an error and if an error occurs what is the consequence? In this sarcastic essay, Williams uses error as a tool to create a satirical tone which emphasizes his perspective on the importance of grammar errors. Throughout the essay, several words are misspelled and there are various errors contaminating this piece of composition. Williams purposely placed these so-called "errors" to judge how important an error really is. When it comes to error, there are many viewpoints as to what an error really is. Some of the questions raised in the essay discuss that errors can be judged by the reader, writer, and even the trustworthy textbook. While errors in writing are something that can be fixed quite easily and sometimes go unnoticed, it is inevitable that errors in writing are unavoidable. There is no cut and dry version of error. Some errors are so miniscule that to the reader it might not be an error however a certified english teacher might think otherwise.

I think that an error should only be important if the reader can notice. All writers are human and it is not possible to produce a perfect piece of art, literature, etc. Errors in life as well as writing are unavoidable.

September 1st- Crowley

From the essay, The Evolution of Invention, Sharon Crowley discusses how invention is the canon that provides a rhetorician in current-traditionalism with a systematic procedure for writing yet, challenges whether this formulaic procedure is acceptable for all writers. The article is divided between the major steps that take place when writing a composition. Each step is a guideline for a thought process that classical rhetoricians would agree make a well developed text. The first half of the article discusses the basic five paragraph essay that most students learn is the proper way to write. The five paragraph essay consists of an introductory paragraph which contains a main idea or thesis. The next three paragraphs should support the main points in the thesis statement. The last paragraph is the conclusion which sums up the entire essay. This procedure is meant to engage students and writers to plan out their writing. In the essay, Crowley points out that while this method may work for current-traditionalism, should this method be used for any form of writing? Crowley explains in her conclusion that she hopes rhetoricians can find a more useful method of writing to replace the current-traditional rhetoric.

I agree with the idea of the current-traditional procedure of writing for beginning writers. It is the basic format that anyone can relate to whether they are a writer or not. I do think that society should accept any form of writing, regardless of format, because writing is a form of expression therefore it should not be judged on a scale.