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September 08, 2005
Blessed Chain of Association
Since it would never do for a professor to be too optimistic, I'm trying to maintain some semblance of appropriate cynicism. Still, I can't help but be excited about the things that I'm reading from my Basic Writing folk. It's not that their drafts have exhibited spectacular coherence, correct syntax, or engaging style. They haven't. But, in their freewrites thus far, there have been delightful moments of discovery in the middle of muddle. Stuff -- wonderful, insightful, amazing stuff -- keeps appearing in the most unexpected places. One draft about basketball took a surprising turn towards unpacking a difficult home life. Another freewrite started off discussing the author's prowess at Playstation 2 Madden and ended up talking about being mistakenly pulled over and handcuffed on his way up to Covenant for the first time.
Perhaps part of the appeal lies in just how unpretentious their prose really is. They hand in drafts about racial profiling, voodoo, relationship abuse, and religious riots written in a matter-of-fact tone. It's so clear that they each have *something to say* rather than just an experience to relate. It's so easy to want them to become better writers. And it's so daunting to realize that such improvement is now partly my responsibility. I think I've found a job I love.
Professorial Masquerade | By elissa | 04:30 PM
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