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.