RE: Big Yes for Formulaic Writing

[Robin R Wright <rrwright@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>]

On Tue, 2 Jun 1998, Katherine Fischer wrote:

> 
> Actually, I just try to avoid all the labels.  "Creative" is incorrect.  
> "Alternative" implies that there is some mainstream I'm supposed to bow
> to.  I like the term "writing."  If someone accuses me of
> condoning "creative writing," I ask questions.  "In what ways does this
> essay answer the essay question?" or "In what ways does this essay fail to
> respond adequately?"  If someone responds, "Well, I mean it doesn't even
> have a thesis!" I might respond, "True.  Admitedly, it doesn't have a
> thesis.  I agree.  But does this lack get in the way of the essay being
> successful?"  In other words, I try to stick to the question of whether or
> not the essay does the job (whatever that might be).  Same thing in
> approaching the traditional essay that has all the correct parts but fails
> abysmally to offer any thought beyond the form.  "Yes, this paper has a
> thesis and a nice conclusion.  I agree.  But what exploration of the topic
> does it offer?  What does it add to the overall discussion of this topic?"
> If it's an essay on lowering the drinking age to 18 and relies heavily on
> the same three arguments launched for the past twenty years, I might point
> that out to my colleagues.  
> 
> But, hey, Wendy, I don't have answers for all situations, believe me.  I
> do have the good fortune to work at a small college with pretty
> open-minded colleagues who are graceful enough to listen much of the time 
> to things they don't necessarily agree with.  Part of what stirs me so
> strongly in this whole business is that I've taught writing for
> twenty-five years, read colleague's writing for twenty-five years, as well
> as struggled with my own writing for a whole lot longer than twenty-five
> years and as often as I have read writing rooted in the standard form for
> academic writing, I have found precious little of it to be very good.
> This is not becasue writers are incapable.  It is becasue they are capable
> of so much more and they are being asked to settle for so much less.  At
> least that's one woman's opinion.
> 
> Katie
> 
That's two women's opinion.

Robin>