RE: Writing in the workplace (long)

[Jon Olson <jeo3@psu.edu>]

At 10:33 AM 5/4/98 -0500, Barry Maid wrote:
[snip] I would say that 95% of the time I get called in it's >to "teach 'em
grammar."  I'd also say that at least 90% of the time >grammar is the least
of their needs. [snip]>Perhaps the more important issue here is the
underlying one that maybe >we, as professionals, don't really know what's
important.  I'd suggest >just the opposite.  We *do* know what we're doing.
[snip] Now I would agree that we in the academy too often push >"our" kind
of writing on folks. [snip]
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Thanks, Barry.  You're helping me understand the rhetorical situation I
find so tricky:  I, the university professor, know what you need as a
developing writer; you, the workplace professional, think you know what you
need, but you're wrong.  

That may well be true, but that teaching stance doesn't always promote
learning, let alone dialogue.  So how can we identify our ways with theirs?

I love Barbara's time-on-the-phone example as a way to help them change
their minds about what they need.  --Jon, Penn State, jeo3@psu.edu