I must say that when I read Qualley's book I wondered where the traditional writing fit in? Should I still teach it? Should I combine traditional and essayistic writing together? Are they completely separate? After our discussion today, and please correct me if I'm wrong or if you have something to add, traditional and essayistic forms of writing are both necessary for the development of a well-rounded, educated, ever-searcher of knowledge individual. It's not enough for me to simply focus on one or the other. I think the best practice is showing the connection of both forms in one topic of writing. Writing is a process that should move in and out of formal and informal, objective and subjective, and reflective and reflexive...the writing process should never end. You should never think you've got a finished product.
One thing I WILL put more emphasis on in my classroom is this wonderful idea of searching for knowledge--in text, others, world, and self. So much is left undiscovered by not taking this walk. Exploration is vital to real learning.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
wow - you said it well - I won't try to improve
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Bobbi. I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteI believe if we looked at essays through history we would find a non-traditional element among the "traditionalist." Qualley says that the attitude one assumes in writing a non-traditional essay includes the following: "playful" and "inquisitive." Many journalist have always taken such an approach.